Page 145 of Immortal Bastard (The Order of Vampires)

“You must understand something about our bishop. He was a friend to my mother and like a father to me in many ways. As the only male of the Schrock line, a large responsibility rested on my shoulders from a young age. Eleazar taught me how to manage such encumbering duties. He demanded I get the same respect as every other elder on the bench, despite my young age and misbegotten start. He punished anyone who dared to call me a bastard.”

She nuzzled closer. “That doesn’t give him the right to force you into this.”

“There is no force, my love. I surrender willingly so that we may stay here and live a long life under the protection of The Order.”

“Protected maybe, but not free.”

“Every society must have rules.” He pressed a kiss to her nose and then another to her lips. “Come now, no more sadness today.”

She leaned forward, pressing her face to his. “I’ll never be able to sleep.”

“Let me help you relax.” He lowered her back to the bed, stripping away her shift and spreading a trail of kisses to her breasts. She stretched her body out beneath him in beautiful surrender as he dragged his lips lower.

When she willingly opened her legs, his tongue teased the small piercing at her apex, and she moaned, her sensual cries music to his ears. Tasting her there was akin to sipping from the fountain of youth. He could drink her sweet honey forever and never have his fill. He licked and teased, bringing her slowly to climax as her pleasure rolled into his. He savored her sweet release down to the last drop.

When he was ready for her, she accepted him into her body. He pressed deep until their pelvises kissed.

“Taste yourself on my lips,” he whispered, kissing her slowly.

Her tongue stole into his mouth, and he moaned as her fingers raked deliciously through his hair. He thrust into her, driving his cock deeper with every stroke and claiming her body.

Pressing her arms into the bedding over her head, he looked into her eyes, sensing how the day’s events had strengthened their bond.

It was his belief that God strengthened them with challenges so that they had a better chance of survival. Just as a chrysalis must struggle to break free of the cocoon, the effort was necessary. His mate was going through a beautiful transformation, a chrysalis on her way to becoming a radiant butterfly.

“Tell me who you belong to, pintura.”

“I’m yours,” she rasped, gasping and arching as he rocked into her.

“That’s right, my love. You’re mine. All mine. Forever.”

She cried out as another wave of pleasure crossed that euphoric precipice. Her sex fluttered, gripping his cock as it stroked into her. Deeper. Faster. He couldn’t get enough of her.

“Christian, let me touch you.”

He released her arms and her fingers forked through his hair, pulling his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss. His hips snapped forward as his body throbbed. His scent seeped from his pores, marking her. Tomorrow, there would be no mistaking who she belonged to.

The bed rocked as he possessively drilled into her. Soft cries punctuated every forward motion as his mind repeated his relentless claim. Mine. All mine.

“I’ll never let you go, pintura. I want to spend all of eternity just—like—this.” Throwing his head back he growled, spilling his seed deep in her body where it belonged.

Her tight sex clamped his throbbing cock, milking every last drop. Her cries turned frantic as his release spiraled into hers,

“Yes, yes! Ah, Christian, don’t stop.” Her voice broke on a moan of ecstasy. “I love when you touch me like this.”

“I love you.”

She sighed in soft contentment, her brow pinching as she studied him for a curious moment. “I love you too.”

Her words shot through him. His intellect battled with his carnal nature to process what she’d just said. He cupped her face and looked into her eyes. “You love me?”

A tear rolled from her lashes and she nodded. “Please just…”

“What?” He’d give her anything she wanted. “Tell me.”

“Just…promise you won’t give up on me.”

Stunned she could even think that a possibility, he hugged her to him. “I could never. You’re my Delilah. My beautiful pintura. My soul.” He kissed her softly. “Do you remember what I told you about the soul?”

She nodded and pressed her hand to his heart. “It’s right here.”

“That’s right. You’re my heart and my soul, Delilah.” He closed his hand over hers, pressing it into his chest. “An immortal’s lost without a soul. I would die if I ever lost you.”

CHAPTER 25

“Sister Delilah, they’re ready for you.”

She stiffened at the strange title then stood. Christian had kissed her goodbye nearly an hour ago and left her in the bishop’s office to wait. She looked at the man with his sleeve pinned to the shoulder and wondered what happened to his arm.