Page 66 of Desired for Her Blood

We all turn to see Ember walking toward us, dressed only in her t-shirt. She rubs her eyes as she wakes more fully and the hem of the shirt lifts to reveal her soft triangle of pubic hair.

Lust awakens my cock. Something else I didn’t expect to feel again in this lifetime, and certainly not so often. Seems I can’t even look at Ember without getting hard. When I think of how her soft mouth felt around me…

“Axe,” she says softly. “We’ve talked about this. I get your objections, but I haven’t changed my mind. I want to do this.”

I close my eyes. I would do anything for her, and I think that she knows that.

“It’s the only way for us all to get out of here,” she says quietly.

I reach for her hand. “I can’t lose you. I love you too much.”

“Axe,” she smiles softly. “I love you too, but I can’t live in this cave forever.”

Hearing her words, my heart thumps so hard I fear for my life.

“Youlovehim?” Ryker steps forward to stand next to us, his gaze intent.

She closes her eyes, and her heart rate increases as mine continues to soar. It’s the first time she’s uttered the words, but I already sensed that she loved me. I already knew it in my heart.

She opens her eyes, and looks between Ryker and me with concern. “Is it possible to love more than one person?”

Even though I was already certain she loved the pirate, my soaring heart returns to earth.

Ryker’s chest visibly swells and I hear his heart thump, the loud pounding invading the space between my love and me.

He takes her other hand. “Yes. Never experienced it myself, but it is possible to love more than one person.”

She draws a long breath. “You did tell me before that sometimes vampires take more than one mate but…” She closes her eyes again and draws a long breath.

“It’s perfectly normal, little dove.” Ryker strokes the side of her face and she opens her eyes again.

“More to the point…” He smiles. “Did you just say that you love me?”

“Yes.” She looks into Ryker’s eyes. “I love you.”

Ryker’s heart rate goes up even further, and he shifts his body. Frankly, he looks more uncomfortable than happy, and it’s hard to tell whether or not her revelation was welcome.

And here I thought they’d already exchanged their declarations of love.

Ryker brings her hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. Her eyes flutter shut, and I sense her body’s strong reaction even to this small act.

“Lots of vampires take more than one mate,” Ryker tells her, his lips still hovering over her hand as he looks up into her eyes. “Especially powerful ones.”

“Like Octavia?”

He straightens. “Octavia is a whole different deal, but yeah. I guess so.”

She blinks a few times and then frowns. “But I’m not even avampire, never mind a powerful one.”

“But you will be.” Zuben steps up to join us. “It is my belief that you will transition into a very powerful vampire indeed.”

She looks into Zuben’s eyes with wonder and admiration. I’m still not sure what she sees in the man—especially after what happened last night—but the atmosphere in the cave has improved a hundred percent since Ryker and Zuben had their chat, while Ember and I spent our private time behind the waterfall.

I look between the three others and, in spite of the tension and my fears, I have peace in my heart.

Not only the peace that she brings me, but another feeling that hints at how I felt protecting my clan.

Is it possible I’ve found a new family? A woman to love and men I can trust to have my back and stay by my side?