Page 25 of Kentucky Nights (Dead Man’s Ranch #1)

I snag her wrist before she can get too far away from me, tugging her back into my lap where she belongs. I only needed a moment to wrap my head around what she said.

She wants me to kiss her, and what kind of man would I be if I didn’t deliver?

Dru inhales a sharp breath; those hazel eyes I seem to get lost in are locked on me, giving me her complete attention.

I’m becoming a greedy man.

I don’t only want her attention.

I want her devotion just as I am devoted to her.

“We shouldn’t.” I ghost my lips across her jaw, tempting myself with her scent.

I grip her hips, fighting for my life to regain an ounce of control. She’s too tempting, too beautiful, too out-of-my-league, and yet somehow Fate thought I deserved her.

“Why not?” The question is a breathless whisper as she tilts her head back, giving me access to the silk canvas of her throat.

I love the depth of her skin and the glow it naturally has against my pale, leather-like flesh that’s ruined from the sun. Even with my healing abilities, some wrinkles and calluses will never fade.

She makes me look a whole lot prettier than I really am just by being next to me.

I’m enamored by her perfection, and my fangs ache to have a small taste. I bet her blood would be the sweetest nectar. I’m ready to be drunk on my fated mate, and what leaves me stunned is, she might be experiencing the same.

“Because there’s still so much more you don’t know.” I slip a finger under the collar of her shirt, exposing her collarbone. “You’re so soft.” It’s impossible to hide my awe, how I’m inevitably enamored by her.

While she is inevitably doomed by me.

I glide my finger across the ridge, my mouth dying for a taste of her skin, her sweat, her blood, the fatigued perfume lingering on her—I want it all.

“As much as I love to see you in my clothes, Ms. Whitley, I do believe it is time for us to get you some proper amenities,” I drawl, slipping her shirt up to expose her taut stomach.

She inhales a sharp breath, her muscles trembling under my touch. “That—that would be nice, Mr. Jones.”

My hands glide up her back, my fingertips caressing the divot of her spine. “I should take better care of you. I’ve been selfish by keeping you at arm’s length, but I promise, I was doing it for your own good.”

“Don’t then.” She lifts her arms, signaling me to take her shirt off.

I’ve never moved so fast. I tug my shirt free from her, exposing her body at last.

It’s my turn to stop breathing. It’s my turn to devour and appreciate. Every time I exhale, a growl speaks for me. I’m unable to stop. I have no control over what she creates inside me.

“Kentucky?”

There’s a tremble of uncertainty in her voice. I realize I’ve been staring for far too long, creating—what was a heated moment—into one where she second-guesses herself. She lifts her arms to cover her breasts, and I snag her wrists, pinning them to her sides.

“Darlin’, don’t you dare cover yourself. You don’t ever have to do that with me.”

“You weren’t saying anything and I?—”

“Because I’m stunned. Because I’m speechless. Because I finally see what I’ve been dreaming about since I laid eyes on you. You’re prettier than any sky, any sunset, any star, I have ever fucking seen,” I marvel, drifting my hands up her sides. “You make me want to get carried away.”

Dru leans forward, grinning from ear to ear, and wraps her arms around my shoulders. “Maybe that’s exactly what we need to do, then.”

I can’t hide what she does to me. She has me losing control of how well I’m able to will myself to be good, to not give in to the violent nature. If I wanted, I could take her now, bite and claim her, seal the fated mate bond, and force her to be with me forever.

That’s what I want. More than fucking anything, that’s what I need.

But—and there always is a but—that would take away her choice. Her will. Her decision.

I couldn’t bear the regret of her hating me for that. She might not understand it now, but she will. Just a few more days of us getting to know one another, and we can give in—if she chooses to stay.

Not wanting to overthink for another minute when I have a beautiful woman half-naked on my lap, I allow my hands to wander. The simple touch has her nervous exhales ghosting over my lips, tempting me to take a kiss.

I’ve never wanted to take my time like this before. I want to educate myself on every curve, every inch, every mark, and freckle she has on her body. I need to know which part she loves touched. The one that will force her to arch her back and moan my name.

There’s so much I need to know, and while I have plenty of time, Dru doesn’t. I don’t want us to worry about the clock ticking, her aging, or seconds being missed while I ravage her in a very vampiric, animalistic way. A side of myself I have never given in to.

I cup her breasts, the softness of them gives under my ministrations as I knead, my thumb brushing over her nipple. Her fingernails dig into my shoulder, and I cut my eyes away from her body to her face.

She’s watching my hands, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, and I can smell how much she wants this.

Wants me.

“Kiss me,” she pleads, inches away from my mouth. “I need you to kiss me.” Her touch becomes needier, one palm against my cheek while her other palms the back of my head.

And. I. Break.

I love being touched like that.

Using my speed, I press my lips against hers just when she is about to beg me to kiss her again. I’ve already waited too long. Enough is enough.

My arms wrap around her, bringing her in closer, needing her skin against mine. When she gives in, she tightens her hold around me, sinking into the embrace.

The warmth between us builds into a blaze, not just physically, but internally. The mating heat that Lorcan warned me about is burning in my blood, my nature urging me to claim what is mine.

I growl down her throat, reeling in that desperation of binding her to me. Our tongues twist together, deepening the kiss. Her fingers slip through my hair, gripping my scalp as the passion becomes too much to fight.

Her moan slips down my throat like warm whiskey, no burn—just heat.

Those lips of hers fill me with power, invigorating me with life I forgot I had inside me.

Our kiss turns into something more, needy and desperate. She begins to rock against my hard cock, seeking friction.

“Kentucky, I need you.” She continues to kiss me in between words. “I can’t do this. I can’t burn like this. You’re all over me, surrounding me, it’s as if you’re eating me from the inside out. Please, I can’t take this. I don’t understand why this is happening.”

And that’s exactly why I can’t go further, not like this. Not without her knowing everything. Just a few more days.

“Please,” she continues to rock, bringing me closer to orgasm with every fucking move she makes against me.

I can feel how warm and wet she is for me through our clothes. I can smell it. Ripping my mouth away from hers, my fangs lengthen on their own accord. My nails turn to long black claws, my vision fading from an array of colors to a strict, unforgiving red.

I’m a second away from doing something both of us will regret for the rest of our lives. She feels so fucking good.

I can’t. I can’t.

Speeding away before she can fight me on it, I leave her on the couch, gripping the mantle so hard, it breaks in half.

“Kentucky?”

The way she asks for me almost sends me to my knees.

“Kentucky? What’s wrong? Did I do something?”

Her breathlessness is adding fuel to the fire.

“I need…” I gasp, grinding my nails in the wooden mantle I carved. “I need a moment. You’re making me lose control.”

“That’s good, right? You’re making me completely lose myself. Come here. Come back.”

“I can’t.” I shake my head, saliva pooling in my mouth at the thought of her blood swarming my tongue.

“Let me see you.” Her hand touches my back, and the simple knowledge of having her hands on me has me spin around, grab her shoulders, and speed us to the nearest wall.

“Do you see me?” I roar, lifting her leg over my hip to keep her close. “I’m losing my mind,” I basically whimper. I look away, ashamed, because she deserves better. I close my eyes, wishing I couldn’t be a danger to her.

“Don’t hide from me.” She lifts my chin with her finger. “Let me see you. All of you.”

I snap my eyes open, allowing her to see me in full vampire form. She traces my jaw, my lips, lifting them up to see my fangs. She strokes the left cuspid, and my knees turn weak as I groan out loud.

She grins. “You like that, don’t you?”

I nod. “I’ve never had anyone touch them before.”

“Ever?”

“I couldn’t risk it.” I watch as she brings each claw of mine to her lips, kissing each one separately.

That’s when I realize there is no fear in the air. She’s not afraid of me.

“You’re beautiful, Kentucky. I know you won’t hurt me. Kiss me just like this. Kiss me as yourself. There’s no other I want like I want you.” She uses her touch again, caressing my face as if I’m a rare object she adores.

I melt.

Every muscle in my body, besides one, relaxes, and completely gives into her musings when it comes to me.

“I will not bite you, not yet, not until you understand everything. Not even if you beg for it.”

She yanks my head back by my hair. “Now, kiss me again before I go mad.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I purr, slamming my mouth onto hers.

It’s rude to keep a lady waiting.

Our teeth clank together, the kiss turning into an uncontrollable frenzy. My fingers dig into the voluptuous thickness of her ass, using her body to rock against my hard, leaking cock.

“Fuck,” I growl, ripping my mouth away from hers. I knee her thighs apart, gently wrapping a hand around the side of her neck while my thumb presses against her lips.

Kissing my way down her chest, I deviate, sucking a pebbled nipple into my mouth. I flick it with my tongue, toying with the sensitive bead with my teeth.