Page 204 of Bitten & Burned

“Nothing to forgive,” he countered, leaning in to kiss me. “Are you feeling better?”

I nodded. “Yeah… Not sure if I want to go back to sleep, though.”

“That’s fair, it’s basically evening…. The moon’s risen. I’ll go out later and hunt for some food. C’mon. Let’s go back inside.”

I let him lead me into the cave and back onto the furs.

As I sat, there was a sharp pang in my leg. I turned it to look at the sigil, dripping blood more slowly now. I shifted and winced slightly.

“Are you alright?” he asked, suddenly alert and holding me. “I didn’t hurt you earlier, did I?”

“No,” I rasped. “Silas did.”

He was silent for a long moment before kissing me again. “Is it your leg? It’s still bleeding. Is it hurting more?”

I nodded, grimacing when another twinge shook me. “Quil, please… I need you to bite me. Take some of this away. Please…”

He froze.

“Rowena…” he whispered. “Ican’t.”

“Please,” I begged. “Please… I trust you.”

“Idon’t trust me,” he replied. “Last time, I took too much. The only thing that saved you was that the others were nearby. What if I go too far again?”

“Are you starved right now?” I asked.

“No, but?—”

I pressed on. “Are you…aroused right now?”

Quil closed his eyes and sighed. “Always a little, but not like I was in the library.”

“Alright, then it should be fine. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t becoming unbearable… Please don’t let me suffer, Quil…”

He paused like he was mulling it over, trying to talk himself into or out of it. Or both, for all I knew. Then, he let his hand trail down to my thigh, where I was burning. He shifted over, on his hands and knees.

I moved too, wincing as I slid my leg out so I could spread them more easily.

“You’re sure?” he murmured, eyes entirely on me.

I nodded. “Please… I need you to bite me…”

He locked eyes with me once before he crawled slowly towards me. He reached forward and ran his fingers over my skin until he found what he needed: my artery, jumping under my skin. He looked up at me again, making doubly sure.

I whimpered. “Please, Quil…”

He bent down and, when he bit, it hurt. Like jagged razors shoved into me. I cried out, and he groaned as he began to drink.

The pain lasted only a moment because, once he’d drawn from me, the relief flooded me.

My cries turned softer; less of pain, more of pleasure.Quil must have noticed, because he made a quiet sound against my skin, his hands holding my thighs apart, fingers soft on my flesh.

Soon, he was licking the wound closed and crawling back up to face me. He gazed into my eyes, licking his lips. “You taste… gods… so good, Rowena. It was hard to stop. I almost—fuck…” His eyes squeezed shut, and he winced. “Gods…”

I was alarmed at first, but then I remembered. Of course. He felt it now.

“Sorry about that,” I murmured, feeling guilty, even though I’d begged for it a second ago.