Page 122 of Dark Flame

I tilt my head to the side, offering my neck for him to drink. And he does, my body unfurling like the final wisp of smoke from an extinguished fire.

Is there really no greater pleasure than this?

He shakes his head without detaching, his hair brushing the side of my face. His gulping is more relaxed than in the past, as if savouring every drop. He lowers his body onto me, his cock hard against my stomach.

Proof. You have no idea how much I want to make you scream, Hellion.

So do it.

He pulls his fangs from my neck, tongue catching a spare drop of blood on the corner of his mouth. “Not here,” he murmurs, stroking his finger down the side of my face. “Not where people can hear you. I want you all to myself. Besides, your nap in the graveyard wasn’t long, and you need more rest.”

Even the mention of a nap makes me yawn, the sound tapering off into a small giggle. “Maybe you’re right.”

Alec flips us again until I’m back on his lap. Blood trails down my neck and into his shirt. He traces the path with his thumb before gathering a few drops and licking them from his finger, his eyes fluttering shut with a low moan.

“I never knew it could be like this. Your voice is like music in my head. I never want to go without it.”

I look up at him, meaning every syllable when I say, “You won’t.”

He smiles briefly before reclining against the floor and shifting me on top of him, my legs falling to the side, my arms tucking close to our bodies to retain the warmth and avoid the cool ground.

Sleep,he commands.I’ll wake you in a few hours.

He pets my hair and he begins humming a tune I don’t recognize. One filled with heartache and ecstasy, of pain and pleasure. Of enemies and lovers, of descent and growth.

It’s the story of him and me. Of us.

* * *

Alec is perfectly stillbeneath me, having held me in the same position all day, and I wake first with a sleepy stretch that bumps my head against his.

When he doesn’t move at first, I slowly readjust to look at him, catching his shut eyes and unmoving chest. His face is paler than usual, but there’s a contentment I don’t recognize either as he sleeps.

A sleeping vampire. Not a view I expected.

I reach to move a curl off his forehead and his eyes flash open, finding me instantly.

“You were sleeping,” I comment before he can speak.

“Told you I do.”

“You were tired too?”

“No.” But he offers no more as I shift off of him, coming up onto my knees and stretching. “Everyone left the house a few hours ago, so you can shower undisturbed if you’d like.”

“That’d be nice.” My body is a combination of blood and dirt, and I can’t even imagine what I look like to him. Hair unbrushed, mouth not having seen toothpaste in over a day.

You still look beautiful. Exactly how I plan on keeping you for eternity.His smirk reminds me of the ones he’d use as a part of his mask when he visited me in the cell, only this time there’s an underlining playfulness to it too.

He’s right about the house being empty, not that I doubted it. I head upstairs to use their shower and pilfer through Carina’s clothing for more, hoping she doesn’t mind. I should get Alec to retrieve what I wore yesterday from the woods.

Is there a limit of distance on this thing?I ask him, slipping on a pair of jeans.

Wouldn’t know. You’re my first Bride. Haven’t exactly had much experience.

Other vampires haven’t mentioned?

Having a mate, Bride or chosen, could be a weakness. No vampire would discuss the specifics of the bond in fear it’ll be used against them.