Page 22 of Crave Me

His lips returned to my neck to seal the wound with his venom, his essence making me tremble with intrigue and need.

I wanted to bite him.

Kiss him.

Mount him.

What is this insanity?

He pulled away to look at me again, his mutual interest a hot promise that had me nearly stripping out of my dress with the demand totake me.

I’d experienced attraction before. But nothing on this level.

Is it the magic of this plane? The rules of this world? Something he’s doing? Should I—

“My liege,” a deep voice interrupted. I recognized it as belonging to the vampire who had tried to throw a knife at my head. “Kieran has arrived, and he’s brought a few phantoms with him who are interested in Gold and Garnet.”

Vesperus said nothing for a moment, his gaze still holding mine. Then he finally glanced at the male beside us. “Is it something you can handle? Or would it be prudent of me to attend the meeting?”

I followed his stare to study the dark-haired male with the penchant for throwing daggers first and asking questions later.

Dark, soulful eyes.

Athletic form.

Deadly.

The latter I assessed as a result of his powerful aura, the energy around him almost as intense as the one holding me.

Yet I didn’t feel any sort of pull toward him. No squeezing of my chest or invisible strands of alluring magic. Nothing.

Just a frank assessment of power.

What makes this one different?I wondered, my gaze returning to Vesperus as he and the deadly vampire spoke aboutKieranand hisphantoms.

I ignored their idle chitchat, instead choosing to focus on the pulsing energy encircling Vesperus’s spirit. It was so warm and intoxicating, making me want to lick him all over again.

Bite. Suck. Taste.

This attraction was borderline toxic, like an enchanting spell that had woven our souls together in an unbreakable embrace.

What is this magic?I marveled, my gaze on his neck.

More words thudded in my chest, a chant demanding that Itake, take, take.

But when I leaned forward to kiss his throat, his hand on my nape pulled me back. “Not yet,” he said, his tone a command I longed to disobey.

I’d never been one for orders.

Obedience had to be earned. And in my very long existence, there were few who had ever come close to making me want to submit.

You bit me. I’m going to bite you.

I used my shadowing ability to break free from his hold and appeared behind him, my mouth a scant inch from his neck.

Only to find my back slammed against a nearby brick wall with a heated Vesperus pressed up against me. “Patience,” he said quietly. “Or has no one taught you that virtue?”

My lips curled. “I live by a very different set ofvirtues, King.”