Page 25 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman (The Bewitching Hour #1)

“I’m not going to force you.” Rainier smirked. “And it won’t entirely be for pleasure. You are a seer, so perhaps I will find something through your memories of the dead.”

“Tell the bastard no.” Kit sounded as if his jaw was clenched.

“It’s fine, Kit. Just a nano bit of blood.” Or at least she hoped.

Kit cursed under his breath, not stepping from between them, even though it would do no good.

“Come closer then.” Rainier slowly drew her chair beside him, the scraping sound echoing through the room. “Where would you like me to taste you?” His purple irises fixed on her neck.

She wrinkled her nose. “Um, my arm. And nothing intimate.”

“Perfect,” Rainier purred. He took her wrist in his hands, his thumb caressing her vein, and her heart thudded nervously.

She should’ve had Lucia skip dinner with her parents and stay there.

“You forgot to ask one important question—if I’ve seen Levi over the years.

I may not know where the Horseman’s head is, but three decades ago, after a sensual evening of drinking the blood of special twin sirens, it did a number on my vampire sight, and I could see ghosts for seven days.

While driving to seek out the sirens to question them the following night, I briefly saw Levi carrying a large satchel into the woods where Kit was murdered.

There is a chance he could’ve passed on since then, but a powerful warlock like him?

No. He wouldn’t want to do that.” He seemed lost in thought for a few seconds before adding, “As for the sirens, I never saw them again.”

Stevie hadn’t known that it was possible for a vampire to be affected that way, or at least by sirens who generally veered away from anywhere that wasn’t the sea.

However, that meant Levi was for sure a ghost, and she knew without a doubt he hadn’t passed on and was remaining under the radar for nefarious reasons.

“And you didn’t find anything in the woods? ” she asked Kit.

“I’ve searched many times. It’s where the bonfire is held,” Kit said.

“Now we begin.” Rainier’s slitted eyes met hers, his sharp canines lowering. His fangs pierced her flesh and sharp pain shot through her as he buried them deeper into her wrist. Her chest heaved as she tried to block out the pain. Why would any woman in their right mind want this ?

“Garlic,” he ground out, then resumed drinking, the pain turning to something lighter, freer, a warmth spreading through Stevie, and her eyes fluttered at the sensation.

“I can’t see any images in your blood. Something isn’t right.

I need to dig deeper.” He continued to feast on her and the room spun, her head dizzy.

“Enough,” Kit seethed at the same time Roxy came into the kitchen barking, even though the vampire couldn’t hear either of them. “He has to stop, Pumpkin.”

Stevie didn’t want to at first, but as Kit begged her to take her arm from his grip, she finally ripped it away. “No more,” she moaned, the sound of her voice revealing the opposite of what she wanted.

“You should’ve warned me sooner, but the garlic would’ve only allowed me a little more.

” Rainier raked a hand through his silky hair, his face concerned.

“Let me get you to the couch.” He looped his arm around her waist and placed her on the cushions.

“Watch your back. I know the taste of Levi’s dark spells, and it’s inside of you.

He must’ve cast a spell to make certain no one could find answers in your blood. ”

Stevie shuddered, unable to clearly focus as Rainier left her side.

The lock of the door clicked, and Kit came toward her after telling Roxy to go into the bedroom for now.

Her gaze trained on the top button of his shirt, the one she’d been wanting desperately to unfasten.

Warmth spread through her, venturing deeper, lower, igniting crackling flames inside her entire being.

“Unbutton your shirt,” Stevie breathed. “Or maybe your pants first.”

“It’s best you stop talking, Pumpkin.” Kit sat across from her on the coffee table. “You’re not going to like what you’ve said when the vampire venom runs its course.”

“You’re no fun.” She giggled. Was she giggling? She never giggled .

“Close your eyes and sleep. That will be the best thing for us both.” Yet the way his voice came out didn’t sound like he was speaking the entire truth.

“But I don’t want to sleep,” she pouted. “Close your eyes and sit beside me so we can touch.” Her eyes became hooded as she bit her lip and studied the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt, exposing his muscular arms. “So we can fuck .”

Kit drew in a sharp breath of air. “ Sleep .”

Stevie roamed her gaze down his oh-so-manly form to between his legs where a very visible bulge pressed against his pants.

“I don’t think you really want me to sleep.

I think you want us to fuck like werewolves.

” She giggled again, covering her mouth.

“Make sure Roxy stays in the bedroom and come closer.”

“Insufferable woman.” Kit knelt beside her and placed a finger over her lips. Even though she couldn’t feel it, she ran her tongue through it. “I’m not going to pleasure you while vampire venom runs in your veins.”

“But you would otherwise?” She smiled seductively, arching into him.

“Lie down and sleep,” he instructed, his voice serious. “I’ll watch over you.” It wasn’t a no…

“Yes, Your Headlessness.” Stevie giggled louder and settled deeper into the cushions. But the flames inside her only blazed, and no matter how tight she squeezed her thighs together, she needed his touch, his tongue, his cock .

“I need you,” Stevie begged, her body humming with lust. “ Please .”

“Not now,” he said, his voice strained.

“Then I’ll take care of myself while you watch .”

A deep growl escaped Kit as Stevie slid her hand down the waistband of her skirt and slipped her fingertips inside her panties.

She gasped as she stroked her center, gentle at first, then circled harder, picking up the pace while she imagined Kit pressing his fingers against her, dipping them inside her.

Stevie’s eyes flicked open and she stretched, her temples throbbing.

What was it she needed to do today? She let out a yawn, then stilled—the night before coming back to her like a slap across the face.

No, no, no ! Just a dream—she was in her bed, not on the couch touching herself.

She hadn’t met with Rainier yet… But as she looked down at her wrist where two bite marks lingered, she wanted to bang her head against the wall until the memories disappeared forever.

Kit must’ve carried her to bed after she— “Please tell me I didn’t act like an idiot last night,” she whispered to herself.

“You didn’t act like an idiot last night,” Kit echoed from near the window where he sat on the floor beside Roxy. One leg outstretched, the other bent toward him with his arm propped on top of it.

Stevie palmed her forehead. “Cauldron’s teeth, pretend as if none of that happened.” She’d never acted like such a horny little minx in her life.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. A vampire’s venom would make even a nun beg for pleasure.”

His words relaxed her a fraction. “Thank you, Kit.” Her gaze drifted to his pants for a brief moment before she flicked her stare away.

She definitely hadn’t dreamed or imagined how he’d hardened against his pants.

And even though the venom had worn off, she couldn’t stop herself from wondering what his fingers would feel like trailing up her thighs.