Page 17 of Fighting for Her Heart

Ryker and Axe both shift their bodies closer toward me, inhaling deeply. Desire stirs inside me as the two look up at each other.

“What happens if allthreeof us feed?” Ryker asks. “’Cause that’s got me thinking of a few fun ideas…” He licks my throat.

Zuben shakes his head. “If we are to discover anything conclusive, we must be methodical and control as many variables as possible. To that end, we must feed one at a time, at least until we better understand how her powers work.”

“Is that your way of sayingyouwant to feed?” Ryker leans back, looking at Zuben.

Zuben shakes his head quickly. “No. No. Not me. That is not a good idea.”

“Why not? You still haven’t really fed from me.” Leaning toward Zuben, I touch his arm and watch as his eyes flutter shut in reaction. Zuben can pretend all he likes, but I know he cares about me and hedefinitelywants me.

“Because…” He looks away, pain invading his face.

“Because what?” I shift onto my knees and stroke his cheek. “Zuben, what’s going on in that overactive mind of yours? Tell me, please.”

Shaking his head, he keeps his eyes cast down. “If I feed from you…”

Ryker stands. “Since he hasn’t done it yet, Zuben should be the one to feed today. It’s only fair.”

Zuben keeps shaking his head. “No. I…”

Ryker bends to pat Zuben’s back and whispers, “Listen, buddy. You’ve got to get over your sex hang-ups at some point. I say you rip off the old bandage.”

Zuben leaps up, landing by the door and flattening himself against it. “No. I cannot.”

I rush over to join him, pressing my head against his warm chest. Zuben’s heart is pounding so rapidly I’m scared for him. “It’s okay.” I rub his arm. “One of the others can feed today. There’s no rush.”

The tall Egyptian wraps his arms around me, draws a few long breaths and his heart rate begins to slow. Then taking my shoulders in his hands, he pushes me back from him slightly.

His expression is all business again. “It is not just my very valid fear of hurting Ember during the sex that could ensue if I took her vein, logic dictates it should be Ryker who feeds this morning.”

Axe growls deep in his chest and the sound turns me on more than I can believe, like his voice is vibrating inside me, but I keep my attention on Zuben.

His eyebrows draw together. “Ryker has had the most controlled exposure to sunlight. Therefore, he is best to judge whether or not there is a change with multiple feedings, or any change now that you are a vampire.” Zuben’s brows slide even closer together. “But I have just realized there is one variable we cannot test.”

“What’s that?” I ask looking up into his eyes.

“If Ryker detects a change, we will not be able to determine which variable is the cause—multiple feedings or your transition.” Zuben frowns and I can see the wheels spinning in his mind. He’s all matter of fact again, as if we didn’t just see him fall apart.

His hands drop away from me, so I step back from him nodding, then turn toward my pirate. “Okay then. Ryker it is.”

Ryker reaches out for my hand, pulls me forcefully against him, and I gasp as desire ripples through me. Grabbing my butt, he grinds me against his hardness.

“So,afterI feed, are we…” Ryker looks past me to the other guys.

“The sun’s not up yet,” Axe says, looking away from us. “We’ve got to stay in the room.”

“Ryker and I don’t need privacy.” I smile at Axe and then look up into Ryker’s eyes. “Do we? I mean…If it’s okay with Ryker, I’d be okay ifallof us—”

“I will only observe,” Zuben cuts in.

“Pervert,” Ryker says with a joke in his voice.

Zuben frowns. “If we are to learn anything from this experiment, it is imperative thatsomeoneremains objective.”

“Of course,” I say, smiling softly at him. “And thank you for taking that role.” I do hope that some day Zuben and I can have sex again—maybe even today if he changes his mind once the action gets started. I long to have sex with Zuben that doesn’t involve pain—for either of us—and I don’t just mean physical pain.

It hurts my heart to see how even the idea of sex raises painful emotions for Zuben. His mind dreading it as much as his body craves it, and I want more than anything to help him get past whatever is causing that pain.