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He dragged a hand across my shoulder, sliding down the strap of my gown, baring me to his hungry gaze.

“Where shall I touch you?” he asked, blowing a hot breath over my eager nipple.

“My breast,” I groaned, squirming in his grip.

His glowing eyes darkened with something undefinable. “Beg me,” he demanded with a flash of fangs.

Anticipation scratched beneath my heated skin. Irritating bastard. I should have known he’d be commanding in bed.

“Please, Victor. Please touch my breasts.” My plea emerged on a rasping exhale.

As if he couldn’t wait, he didn’t waste time with a reply. Instead, he plumped my flesh, his mouth descending to my stiffened peak.

“Yes,” I purred as the heat of his tongue laved my aching nipple—swirled, stroked, leaving me panting.

Warmth flooded my core, and I rocked my hips, delighted by the hardened shaft that pressed between my thighs.

He groaned, grabbing my hip. “Be still, pet. Or you may incite more than you bargained for.”

The vampire’s command had the opposite effect. An image of our naked, writhing bodies flooded me with heat.

Tonight, something had come over me. Perhaps it was the pull of Carcerem’s twin moons drawing together. Sane Runa should have punched him the second he kissed me and thrown him out of my room. Crazy Runa was throwing caution to the wind, as well as her common sense. Why not? Tomorrow, we’d face impossible odds against a ruthless opponent. Tomorrow could very well be our last. But tonight…

Tonight, we’d live.

Chapter Twenty-Three

VICTOR

“I don’t wantto stop. I want all of you, just this once,” the enchantress beneath me admitted. While I hadn’t figured out what finding my fated mate meant to me, I didn’t see any harm in exploring our mutual attraction.

The vision of Runa with her nipples pearled, arms over her head, eyes glistening with need, stirred something primal.

My head swam, my brain floating in a red haze. I’d never felt this befuddled. Was it her or the copious amount of blood I’d consumed?

No, something deep inside of me urged. It wasn’t the blood.

It was something better.

Darker.

Stronger.

It was the sorceress who was intoxicating.

Energy ignited in my veins, energizing my tired body. At my center, a primal instinct prowled beneath my skin. It pushed at the barrier of my psyche, trying to break free. Anticipation pounded.

I drew a deep breath. Runa’s scent filled my senses, the rich flavor of her desire caressing my tongue. My captive peered back at me, her lavender eyes sparking with need and a touch of apprehension.

Good, she should be wary. For some reason, centuries of self-control had flown out the window tonight.

I squeezed my eyes closed and shook my head. Clarity escaped me.

There was a reason I should put distance between us.

What it was, I couldn’t recall.

Nor did I care.