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Chapter Twenty-Three

VICTOR

“I don’t want to stop. I want all of you, just this once,” the enchantress beneath me admitted. While I hadn’t figured out what finding my fated mate meant to me, I didn’t see any harm in exploring our mutual attraction.

The vision of Runa with her nipples pearled, arms over her head, eyes glistening with need, stirred something primal.

My head swam, my brain floating in a red haze. I’d never felt this befuddled. Was it her or the copious amount of blood I’d consumed?

No, something deep inside of me urged. It wasn’t the blood.

It was something better.

Darker.

Stronger.

It was the sorceress who was intoxicating.

Energy ignited in my veins, energizing my tired body. At my center, a primal instinct prowled beneath my skin. It pushed at the barrier of my psyche, trying to break free. Anticipation pounded .

I drew a deep breath. Runa’s scent filled my senses, the rich flavor of her desire caressing my tongue. My captive peered back at me, her lavender eyes sparking with need and a touch of apprehension.

Good, she should be wary. For some reason, centuries of self-control had flown out the window tonight.

I squeezed my eyes closed and shook my head. Clarity escaped me.

There was a reason I should put distance between us.

What it was, I couldn’t recall.

Nor did I care.

From the moment I’d laid eyes on the daring female, I’d found her fascinating. Sparring with her, matching wits, fighting at her side, I realized I’d not enjoyed the company of another this much in decades. Though half the time, I considered her infuriating.

Tonight, I’d noted the interest on Idris’s face. Worried he’d take advantage, I’d come here, driven by an urge to protect her from any who dared to knock on her door. With her beneath me, that urge had become a hunger. A hunger that drove me to consume.

“One night,” I answered. Yes, I was a noble leader on a quest of immense importance. But I was still a man. Surely, I could allow myself this singular indulgence.

“Just one.” She held up a finger. “Then after, we pretend this never happened.”

I smirked. “If you think you can give me up after one night.”

“Silly vampire,” she scoffed. “I’ll have forgotten your name by morning.”

“Perhaps, but the whole castle will remember the way you screamed it,” I countered, my blood-drunk brain clearing by the minute, my focus turning to something I desired more.

“Show me,” she said, dragging her slim hands over her tempting breasts before her lusty expression turned serious. “Tonight, I don’t want to think. Just feel.”

“Arms above your head,” I commanded.

She narrowed her eyes at me, a flash of defiance in her lusty gaze.

“Now,” I growled, and slowly, she complied.

“Good, now don’t move them.”

“Or what?” She nibbled her plump lip.

“I’ll punish you.”

Her indrawn breath indicated she didn’t hate the idea.

The women I’d laid with in the past were elegant, simpering creatures. Quite often, they wanted something from me, and I from them. Their every gesture was controlled, contrived.

My little thief was none of these things. She was like a wildling I’d captured and now attempted to tame. Which of us would be the first to submit was yet to be seen.

I claimed her mouth, kissing her until we were both breathless, then trailed a path to her jaw. Tasting, teasing, I followed the graceful column of her neck and down once more to her exposed breast. There, I tormented the stiffened peak until she writhed in my grasp.

I glided my hand down her arm, taking the strap of her gown with me, and raking the material down to her waist.

“Lift,” I ordered, dragging her garment down her hips. I tossed the fabric onto the floor, withdrawing so I could admire my handiwork.

The sorceress was a sensual goddess. Full breasts with dusky nipples, a narrow waist, and rounded hips.

Her legs were toned from days spent riding.

Thin scars marked parts of her body. Injuries, no doubt she’d received while pursuing a life of crime.

Again, I was reminded this wasn’t a polished socialite who lay before me.

“Custodis.” She squirmed beneath my predatory gaze, reaching for me .

“Arms,” I snapped, and she uttered a groan of frustration. Cock straining the front of my thin pants, I lay beside her. Starting at her shoulder, I painted her flesh with my fingertips, stopping when I grazed a scar in her ribs.

“Where did you get this?”

“Broken window.”

One she’d likely smashed and used for her escape. “And this?” I grazed another.

She frowned, growling, “When you claimed I’d scream your name, I didn’t think you meant in frustration.”

I fought a grin. “You cannot blame a connoisseur for pausing to admire a masterpiece.”

At my honeyed words, she rolled her eyes. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a sure thing. No need for wooing.”

“Very well.” It’s all the warning I gave before grabbing her and rolling her on top of me.

She straddled my hips, disheveled hair tumbling over her full breasts, a bemused expression on her face.

“Think you can do better?” I challenged.

“Most certainly.” She bit her lip, her eyes darkening with a determination that had my manhood twitching.

She ran her scorching palms down my chest, and I held back a groan.

I’d not allowed anyone to touch me in such a way in eons, refusing to give up control.

With Runa, though, I couldn’t resist giving her free rein of my body, curious to see what she would do.

Since we’d become allies, there had been an unspoken tension between us, both of us battling to determine who would lead our ragtag team.

At my restrained response, an evil light glimmered in her violet eyes, and she tried again.

Only this time, it was her nails that raked my flesh, the burn a perfect mix of pain and pleasure.

My pectorals jumped beneath her ministrations.

She smirked, hooking her fingers into the waist of my thin pants.

There, she stilled, canting her head at me in question, and I nodded. At my agreement, she dragged the pants down my hips and tossed them away. Biting her plump lip again, she stared at my eager cock.

“Why, Lord Custodis, I believe you’ve been holding out on me.”

“I have been told that I’m a spectacular specimen of the vampire race.”

“And humble to boot,” she scoffed.

I snagged her wrist and placed her heated palm over my aching shaft. “You disagree?” I asked on an exhale.

When I released her hand, Runa stroked my length from base to tip.

“It will do.”

I couldn’t keep the groan from escaping my throat. The sorceress had magical hands.

She angled her body over me, her full breasts grazing my chest while her talented palm continued to stroke, and I was nearly undone.

Exhaling a growl, I cupped her head and smashed my mouth into her lips.

My little thief opened, allowing me entrance, and our tongues battled, fighting for dominance.

Pain pierced my bottom lip. The metallic flavor of my own blood danced along my palate, igniting a fire in my veins. The little minx had bitten me.

Despite the tangled locks I clenched in my fingers, Runa shoved free, breaking the kiss. “Now, now, vampire. You said it was my turn.”

Before I could growl an objection, she slid down my torso, tasting, licking, nipping. When she gripped my hips, peering up, my breath lodged beneath my ribs.

“Eyes on me,” she commanded before her pink tongue darted out, laving my manhood like a carnival treat.

My lids grew heavy, and I struggled to keep my eyes from rolling back in my head. “You fight dirty, pet,” I groaned as her mouth closed around me. I didn’t dare to look away for fear she’d stop.

Gods, but the sight of her plump lips sliding on my cock threatened to drive me mad. “Runa,” I grated.

“Hmm?” she hummed, and the vibration combined with her talented mouth nearly caused me to lose control.

“Runa,” I tried again. Damn her, but she added a twist of her tongue that had me seeing stars.

“Runa!” I fisted her hair, and she finally released me, gliding up my body to straddle my hips.

She ground her slick folds against my throbbing shaft in retaliation and leaned in close, saying against my lips, “That’s right, vampire. Scream my name.”

“Little vixen.”

She uttered a yelp as I rolled her beneath me.

“You’ll pay for that.”

She grinned. “I regret nothing.”

I’d soon have her singing a new tune. “Is that so?” I caressed her from breast to thigh, then tugged her leg over my hip. My fingers skated through her slick folds, and she exhaled a soft moan.

“Did you enjoy toying with me?”

I circled her clitoris, and she threw her head back. “Hated it,” she lied, causing me to thrust my fingers into her silken channel.

“Your body tells a different story.” Feeling how wet she’d become while pleasuring me sent a current of heat through my straining cock. As she started to thrust against my hand, I pulled away.

“Vampire,” she growled in annoyance.

“Victor,” I demanded. “Tonight, you will use my given name. Say it again.”

“Fine,” she snapped. “Victor!”

“That’s one.” I crawled down her body and placed my shoulders between her thighs .

Seeing my intent, she ran her fingers through my hair. “Oh, yes. Please.”

Rather than give her what she wanted, I nuzzled the inside of her leg, tonguing a pulsing vein I found there.

“Victor,” she groaned, twisting her hips.

“Two,” I muttered, then devoured her sweet sex like a blasphemous man with his salvation.

“Oh!” she cried out. “Flarking hell.” Her hands fisted the sheets beside her hips, her lithe body tensing in my hungry hold. “By the goddess, that’s brilliant,” she cried.

I growled low, keeping her prisoner and refusing to release her until she gave me what I was after.

“I’m close.” Her hips rock, her head thrashing on the pillow. Finally, she exploded against my tongue, her sex pulsing. “Victor!” she shouted, her back arching off the mattress.