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Just as I reached the hem of my short skirt, I met the vampire’s hungry stare and smirked.

“Runa,” he choked, claws raking down the stone wall.

“Runa what?” I asked in a breathy whisper, guiding my fingers up the inside of my thigh.

“Don’t.” Rocks broke beneath his desperate grip.

The vampire was seriously pent up. When was the last time he’d let loose and blew off a little steam? Did he ever?

I didn’t live a life of restraint. I took what I wanted, when I wanted it, particularly if it felt good. Life was too short, especially with the false king on the throne.

“Don’t what?” I dipped my fingers inside my undergarment, stroking my swollen sex. Fates save me, I’d never been so wet.

Wind gusted. Victor moved in a blur, and my spine hit the wall. An iron grip held my hands above my head. I blinked, drawing into focus the vampire’s snarling visage.

Despite the rough stone scraping my flesh, I groaned, eyes rolling into my skull. The warmth of his body branded mine, and I arched my back, seeking more of him.

“Runa,” he gasped, his expression a mask of both pain and pleasure.

I tipped my face to his, our noses touching. “Release me and we can both feel good.”

“Can’t,” he said in a broken voice.

Despite the coolness of the cavern, sweat dampened his brow, trickling down his temple. Eager for a taste of him, I pressed my lips to his jaw, then drew my tongue along that single bead of moisture.

The vampire shuddered against me. “What are you doing?”

“Tasting you. Would you like to taste me?” I tilted my head to the side, baring my throat. I’d heard a vampire’s venom could be quite orgasmic, which was exactly what I needed right now.

“Damn you,” he panted, pupils dilated, eyes locked on the vein that fluttered in time with my racing pulse. “This is wrong. There’s something we must do. Something…”

He furrowed his brow, squeezing his eyes closed.

I breathed deeply and exhaled a heated sigh. In this moment, there was nothing more important than the two of us.

Thanks to his distraction, I managed to wiggle one of my arms free. I grasped his wrist and steered his hand to my chest,pushing it to my breast and enclosing his fingers around my flesh.

Transfixed, he gave me control, offering no objection when I drew his hand down my side, under my skirt. Drawing one leg over his hip, I steered his heated palm beneath my undergarment. With no further direction, he stroked my sex.

“Is this what you want, pet?” he purred in my ear.

“Yes,” I moaned. “I need you to ease me. Make me burn.”

He gripped my hair, snarling against my lips. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“You sure about that?” With my other wrist free, I caressed his inner thigh, cupping his impressive erection through his pants. I remembered the vision I’d had of him in the bathing chamber. It was one I’d called to mind many times. Oh, to have that thick length inside of me now.

His entire frame shuddered in my grip.

Still, he shook his head. “No. No. There’s an important task. Something urgent.”

I drew a deep breath of the tantalizing perfume that surrounded us, and my sex spasmed. He was wrong. The only thing that mattered was this feeling.

With little warning, he jerked free of my grasp, stumbling back. Fangs bared, he glared at me, his glowing eyes consuming me. Energy pulsed between us. The ground trembled, not that I cared. The walls could fall in, trapping us together forever.Yes.

The predatory gleam in his gaze prickled the hair along my nape. Something deep inside pushed to the surface. This creature. He was dangerous, not to be trusted.

No. I rejected the idea. This vampire was my salvation—the only one who could save me from the fire burning in my veins.