Page 64

Seb opened the door, its hinges whining.

A blast of cold fresh air hit my face as a small flat section of roof opened up.

Two heat lamps glowed amber against the night, illuminating…

a bed? A double mattress dragged up god knows how many stairs, complete with duvet and pillows probably pilfered from one of the rooms. The warm light caught on the forest of sooty chimney stacks that surrounded us, clay pots silhouetted against the star-scattered sky .

“You’ve got to be joking,” I muttered, even as something fluttered in my chest.

The dormers jutted out from the steep slate roof, creating a bizarre little alcove that blocked the worst of the wind.

A small rack of herbs and flowers was wedged against the ancient brickwork, each pot meticulously labelled in Priya’s precise handwriting.

London sprawled below us, a glittering tapestry of lights and shadows, while above, the night sky felt close enough to touch.

As Sebastián took my hand and tugged me toward our ridiculous rooftop haven, I couldn’t stop the smile creeping across my face.

“This is either the most romantic or most idiotic thing anyone’s ever done for me. Possibly both.”

“It wasn’t any effort.”

I stared at him until his lips quirked.

“Alright, the mattress was an absolute pain in the ass. And it took me thirty minutes to find an extension cable long enough. Felix almost had a panic attack when I tried to unplug one of his.” He grinned, then asked, “Are you hungry?” His eyes hopeful as he gestured towards the mattress.

Perched near the edge was a domed silver tray, likely borrowed from the kitchen. I was speechless. If I did die tomorrow, at least I could add, “dined under the stars at London’s most exclusive rooftop restaurant” to my achievements.

“I must admit, I haven’t cooked in many years,” Seb confessed as he settled onto the mattress. “So I kept it simple…”

With a flourish of his hand, he lifted the lid, revealing a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches.

But this was no ordinary fare—the bread was artisanal sourdough, worthy of being sold at Rising Dough.

It was perfectly grilled to a golden brown, with melted cheese oozing temptingly from the sides.

Sprigs of fresh herbs even garnished the dish.

A soft laugh escaped my lips as I reached for one. “And here I thought vampires only knew how to heat up blood in the microwave. ”

As I took a massive bite, Seb caught my injured hand, examining the healing skin. With an eye roll, I tugged it away. “It looks very similar to yesterday.”

He turned away for a moment, then two wine glasses materialised, with a bottle of red wine. I threw him a glance—I’d never seen Seb partake in alcohol, even when Priya and Rory split a pack of beers.

“I can drink it. I might even get a slight buzz if I’m lucky.” A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “My kind often mix it with blood.”

A lovely shiver shot straight down my spine.

“Will you be doing that tonight?”

Seb’s gaze met mine, steady and intense. “I fed earlier.”

Those exact words were now very familiar—he said that phrase every time I offered to feed him.

I hid my disappointment by offering him a small smile as I took another bite. “These are delicious.”

He inclined his head, pouring the wine into the two glasses before passing me one. “I’m glad you approve.”

A small silence, where we both sipped our wine. Then my next words tumbled out. “Why won’t you feed from me?”

Oh god. Why? Why did I have to ask that?

Seb’s hand froze mid-sip, wine splashing against the rim of the glass. His eyes snapped to mine, startled.

“I just… I’d like to help. You’re always so worried about the blood from Undertone, not knowing where it comes from.” My eyes became glued to my crust.

A deep sigh. “I suppose I’m denying myself that privilege.”

“What? Why?”

“I promised to save you. And until I’ve fulfilled that promise, I don’t deserve—” He cut himself off.

I set my sandwich down on the silver dome, pushing it aside.

With gentle fingers, I pried Seb’s glass from his hand, and placed it on the brickwork.

I shifted closer to Seb, swinging one leg over his thighs until I straddled his lap.

The heat lamps cast a warm glow across his features, softening the sharp angles of his face.

His hands settled tentatively on my hips, steadying me. The touch sent electricity dancing across my skin, even through the fabric of my jumper.

I reached up, brushing those wild curls back from his forehead. They were beautifully soft, like plush velvet between my fingers. In the warm amber light, his eyes met mine—burnt caramel, so ancient and so human all at once.

“It isn’t something that you need to earn,” I whispered, trailing my fingers down to cup his jaw. “It’s about trust. Connection.” My thumb traced his lower lip. “It’s about me wanting to share something with you. Something that matters.”

“Flynn—”

“Let me finish.” I pressed my forehead against his. “It’s about letting me in on every part of you. Letting me help you.”

“You make everything sound so simple,” he murmured.

“Maybe because it is.”

His hands tightened on my hips, drawing me closer.

I studied his face—watching the flicker of surrender, his ironclad wall beginning to crumble. The warm light caught on his features like the last rays of dusk dancing over water, transforming everything to molten gold.

“You know, I used to think the ocean at sunset was the most beautiful sight in the world.” My thumb traced his jawline. “Turns out I just hadn’t met you yet.”

His eyes burned into mine with an intensity that stole my breath.

Between one heartbeat and the next, he moved—vampire-fast—sweeping me up like I weighed nothing at all. The world blurred as he drove me across the rooftop.

My back struck the rough brickwork of a chimney stack, and I arched into the delicious friction of Seb pinning me there, his hips cradled between my thighs. A low growl rumbled in his chest as I nipped at his lower lip, tasting the faintest hint of wine .

Then his mouth crashed against mine, hungry and demanding. My fingers tangled in those thick curls, tugging him closer as heat bloomed between us. My cock thickened, pushing insistently against my jeans, his own bulge pressing into mine, and anticipation unfurled in my blood like wildfire.

He drove me even harder against the wall, the rough brick catching at my jumper. That sharp sensation brought me back to myself, even as his tongue swept against mine with maddening tenderness.

“This is so fucking hot,” I gasped between kisses. “But it would be a shame to waste that mattress you hauled all the way up here, right?”

The world blurred again—that dizzying speed—and then I was flying, then falling, then sprawled across the mattress, the London sky spinning above me.

The delicious weight of Seb pressed me down, down, down into the duvet, heavy enough to steal my breath in the best possible way.

Almost too heavy, but god, I never wanted him to move, because trapped between him and the bed, I felt so wonderfully, perfectly caught. Held. Safe. Cherished.

Our bodies shifted and melted together as his tongue sought mine, and I answered with frantic hunger.

Hands everywhere. Desperate. Claiming. His mouth cool against mine. Nothing gentle now. Just touch. Raw need. Fingers digging into flesh. Bodies pressed flush. His grip fierce on my jaw. On my hip. Drawing me closer. Closer. Until there was nothing left between us but want.

“I want to take you,” he murmured, dark and honeyed, the words ghosting against my skin. “May I have you?”

“Yes,” I rasped out, swallowing down my please, please, please.

I found the hem of my jumper, and his fingers caught my hand, tugging the garment back down.

“Off,” I insisted. “I want to feel you.” He hesitated only a moment before helping me pull it, and my shirt, over my head.

I should have been cold, but between the heat lamps above and the inferno his touch sparked beneath my skin, warmth blazed through me, keeping the demon ice at bay .

I tilted my head, baring my throat. “Bite me,” I breathed, beyond caring how desperate I sounded. “I want you to, Seb. So, so much.”

“No.” The word rumbled from his chest—dark, commanding. “First, I want to show you how good I can make you feel. You’ll come from my cock, not my bite.”

I tried not to die. Okay then.

He stripped off his own clothes, ridiculously fast, each perfect inch of skin revealed, making my mouth go dry. He made quick work of my jeans, kissing the bulge of my dick through my briefs. Catching the material in his teeth, he pulled it down, nose gliding down my thigh.

My dick sprang free, achingly hard and already dripping.

Seb’s lips traced feather-light paths along my inner thigh, working their way higher until his tongue found my head.

When it brushed against the very tip, licking up what it found there with a soft sound, I forgot how to breathe, every muscle in my body tensing with pleasure.

Soon, the careful attention he lavished upon me had me writhing, my fingers twisting in the sheets.

His mouth enveloped me with wet sucks, drawing a broken moan from my throat.

The vibration of his answering, pleased hum sent sparks of bliss shooting through me.

“Seb, fuck!” The warning was clear in my voice—I was so close already.

He pulled away with an obscene pop, and I whimpered at the loss. His cool fingers wrapped around my cock, giving just a few teasing strokes, and my hips jerked up desperately.

“ Please! ”

He immediately stopped, squeezing the base of my cock hard enough to make me gasp. “Not until I’m inside you.”

A groan spilled out of me. “Quickly then!” A sudden thought pierced through my lust-addled brain. “Please tell me you brought the lube up here?”