Page 22 of Love Bites (Timber Creek #2)
CHAPTER 22
SUMMER
“Goddess, why is Paris so hot?” I wiped the back of my hand over my forehead and tugged off my linen shirt, wrapping it around my waist. Since we’d come to Paris with quite literally the clothes on our backs, shopping trips had been intermixed with each of our tourist stops, and I now had a small stash of mix-and-match pieces I could layer with ease. Today’s outfit was a black form-fitting dress that flared around my legs. I’d paired it with the button-down, white sneakers with red laces, and matching red sunglasses.
Max, on the other hand, wore black. All black. Every day. It shouldn’t have been so attractive, and yet the dark fabric clinging to his lean muscles and olive skin had me biting my lip every time I glanced his way.
We’d been wandering the city all morning, my list of top destinations almost complete, and were idling away the afternoon until it was late enough for more vampire hunting.
Max’s gaze snapped up, and, to my satisfaction, settled on my now quite exposed cleavage before finally reaching my face. Taunting Max in public places had become one of my cherished Parisian memories. Something about making a badass vampire secret agent blush really warmed my heart.
He cleared his throat. “Heat island effect.”
Of course, he knew. I’d come to realize the male was as close as you could get to a walking, talking encyclopedia if you asked the right questions.
Was I a little disappointed Max had brought us to Paris not only to be sweet and romantic, but also for our task? Maybe. But after almost a week here with him, I couldn’t find it in me to be mad. It was practical. Logical, even. We’d done far more sightseeing than vampire hunting, and the sex… Goddess, the sex.
I rubbed my legs together at the thought of the orgasms he’d pulled from my body with every tool in his arsenal, leaving me more sated than I’d ever been in my life.
Before Max, I hadn’t known sex could be like this, so all consuming. We moved together like we’d been doing this for years, not days, the intensity of every single touch almost alarming. I wasn’t sure how I’d ever give this up.
His fingers trailed over my shoulder, the inky mark his magic had left on me expanding to cover more of my back. A shiver ran down my spine, that same need kicking in again, but today I was on a mission.
We rounded a corner, and there it was. The Eiffel Tower, the object of countless paintings and photographs and poems, and below it, the equally iconic Champ-de-Mars park.
Subconsciously, I’d been saving this one, this picture-perfect spot.
I took a breath, allowing myself to momentarily forget my job here with Max and appreciate this moment for me . I had wanted to see this in person for as long as I could remember, since I needed a stepstool to help my mom in the kitchen. She’d worked in a bakery in Paris for a year before marrying my dad, and she’d always said she wanted to take me one day, that we could visit together. Now, I was finally here, fulfilling at least part of that dream, whatever circumstances had made it happen.
I made it, Mom. And I’m going to do all the other things we planned, too. One by one, I’ll do them for us.
Tears gathered in my eyes, a mixture of happy and sad, and I blinked them away.
I scrunched my nose, pushing my sunglasses up on my head as I looked up. The tower rose above me high into the sky, surrounded by the picturesque buildings, ancient trees and colorful awnings over shop stores making everything seem more. I could picture my mom here, could feel her arms around me as she hugged me tight for the last time.
Wrapping my own arms around my waist, I breathed in the slightly smoggy air, savoring this moment.
It was everything I’d thought it would be, and so much more. So much grander. I could practically feel the history in the air, in the soils beneath my feet, and I couldn’t hold back the awestruck incroyable that slipped from my lips.
Max stood just to my right, hands in his pockets, but I could feel his eyes on me, not the magnificent Parisian scene around us. I cleared my throat and dabbed discreetly at my eyes.
“C’mon, I want to sit and wait for sunset.” I nodded towards the park.
A red-striped awning caught my attention as I walked towards the park, and I grinned. “ Je voudrais une glace, s’il vous pla?t,” I said in my best French accent, pointing at the ice cream shop. “I can’t be in France and not have ice cream.”
“Once again, Italy wins.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t remember asking for your opinion. I think I’ll test that theory on my own. Let’s get some and watch the lights come on.”
Knowing he’d follow, I took off, walking through the open double doors into a quaint parlor, the glass cases calling my name. A whole rainbow of colors drew my eyes as I scanned my options. Some of the words I recognized from when I’d studied French, so I ordered a scoop of pistachio for myself and blood orange for Max, for obvious reasons. He shot me a flat stare, but accepted the bright red cone nonetheless and paid for us, since he was the only one with Euros.
Cones in hand, I led the way to a spot towards the back of the park where we’d have a good view of the tower, unfolded my shirt as a blanket, and plopped down.
“Hold this?” I asked Max as I handed him my ice cream, then pulled a red scrunchie out of my bag and drew my hair back into a high ponytail. “There, that’s better.”
I smiled at him as I took my cone back, hearing the slight uptick in his heart rate as his eyes bounced between my face, my ponytail, and my cleavage, then back again.
How far could I push him? And what was with the no kissing thing? We’d both had our mouths all over each other, everywhere except on our lips since our wedding ceremony.
Did I hate it? No. Far from it.
But I also hadn’t been this worked up over a man ever, really. I wanted him to kiss me, or at least feel as out of control as I did.
Leaning back on one hand, I slightly arched my back as I licked my sorbet in slow motion, swirling my tongue around for good measure, and let out a low moan.
“ Mon dieu, I’m not sure Italy can live up to this. I just love the taste of nuts and cream.”
Max coughed, turning his head to the side and I smirked, taking another slow lick when he recovered.
“How’s yours?”
Max said nothing, so I turned to look at him while I licked my cone again. His dark eyes were glued to my mouth, hardly blinking, as his blood red sorbet began to drip down his hand.
Perfect.
I couldn’t hold back my grin as I nodded towards his cone. “Careful there, you’re making a mess.”
He cleared his throat and took a bite of his sorbet, the barest hint of his fangs protruding before sinking into the side of the cone. I scrunched my nose in horror.
“Have you never had ice cream before, you barbarian? You lick it, like this.” I dragged my tongue across the cold cream, circling it as I got to the top, sucking just the tip.
The look he gave me could only be described as hungry, and I. Was. Elated. Pushing his buttons had quickly become my favorite past time.
Despite the cool sorbet, his voice was gravel when he spoke. “Efficiency. This is way too sweet. The only way I’m getting this sugar down is if I swallow it whole.”
“How interesting, I also have no gag reflex.”
Max missed his next bite, the red scoop dropping off his cone and landing with a plop between his legs. He looked down at the mess he’d made, then back at me.
“Shame. You could use a little sweetness.” I shot him a sugary smile, then went back to people watching. Couples strolled through the park as streetlights came on, pausing to take selfies, everyone seeming so happy and in love it was almost as sweet as the ice cream in my hand.
I pointed out cute puppies and adorable toddlers, but Max didn’t look around much. He was watching me , the dark look in his eyes gaining intensity with every swipe of my tongue over my cone, just like I wanted.
Finally, the sun sank below the horizon, and the tower lit up. Twinkling lights shimmered against the dark sky, and I gasped in delight.
“It’s so magical!” I breathed, just as the last drop of ice cream landed on my chest. I couldn’t have timed it better if I’d tried. The lights sparkled beautifully, casting my boobs with the perfect shadows. I chuckled and swiped my finger through the drop. “Oops,” I said, smiling at Max as I put my finger in my mouth and sucked.
His jaw flexed, and in a blink, his fingers gripped my ponytail as he tossed the rest of our cones away.
Eyes flashing with the inky shadows of his magic, his lips grazed my ear as he purred, “You want to play, little wolf?”
Before I could respond, shadows consumed us and he pinned me to the ground.
My back arched off the cold grass from his hold on my hair, my mouth falling open as his lips trailed down my neck and to my chest.
“Is this what you wanted?” Max asked, the low rumble of his voice sending a wash of heat to my low belly.
I opened my mouth to answer, but the sound that left me was more of a moan than a word. His teeth grazed over my nipple through my dress as a warm palm slid up the inside of my thigh. The light touch was enough to have my body shaking, need consuming me just like it had so many times the last few days.
My hips shifted, making his hand slide further up my thigh until his fingertips grazed across the thin fabric of my thong. Maybe I should have been embarrassed by how wet I already was, but Max’s smirk only made me squirm more. “Should I fuck you right here out in the open? Hidden only by the shadows around us? Is that what you want, sunshine?”
That was way hotter than it had any business being, the idea of being so exposed. I tried to nod, but his grip on my ponytail made it impossible. The smallest bite of pain was enough to have my fingers grappling in the fabric of his shirt, desperate to feel his skin.
“Use your words, wife .” The shadows around us darkened until I couldn’t see the Eiffel Tower in front of me, nor the people around us. His fingers trailed across my shadowmark on my neck, and my mouth tipped open, desperation setting in.
My nails dug into his skin, wanting him to feel that same bite of pain I did. To know how bad I needed this. He hissed, his teeth grazing the side of my neck, teasing a bite in my imminent future.
Heat washed across my back, magic humming in my veins as it rippled through my blood, my heart racing at the tiny touch. “I want you so fucking bad.”
That deep chuckle made me squirm that much more, his hands drifting down my side and lifting the hem of my skirt. “What should I do about that, then?”
His fingers dipped beneath the elastic of my thong, lifting it to let a cool breeze dance across my skin that had me gasping. I arched, preparing for the feel of him on me when he snapped the fabric back in place. The small sting made me gasp again, my eyes flying open.
My wolf was riding me hard, the desperation for him primal in a way I could hardly explain. I didn’t just want Max. I needed him. “Kiss me, husband .”
His head snapped up, eyes rimmed in red as his fangs descended, glistening in the low light. I squeezed his sides, nails digging into his skin as he lowered his face towards mine. My heart could win a freaking marathon with how fast it raced, wanting this more than I’d ever wanted anything.
“Is that what you want?” His eyes focused on my mouth, his tongue licking over his bottom lip as he closed the gap between us. “What made you so wet?”
My breath sawed in and out of me as I gave him the smallest nod. “Yes.”
His eyes met mine once more as a slow smile spread over his face, as dangerous a look as any I’d ever seen him wear. He leaned down, his body pinning mine to the grass as I closed my eyes, holding him tight enough to keep him here.
With the barest touch of his lips on mine, he whispered, “I warned you I love to tease.”
My eyes snapped open as cold licked across my skin. He vanished us from the city and back to the apartment, landing us in the middle of his bed.
Backing away, Max stood to his full height as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, smirking at the way he’d left me flushed and panting. I pushed to my elbows to watch him, not bothering to hide the way my eyes trailed every movement of his hands, every inch of skin he exposed.
“Lie back, wife,” he commanded, dropping his shirt completely. “And if you can stay very still, I’ll let you come.”
I laughed, but lay back as requested. “ Let me, is it?”
One knee on the bed, Max shifted the skirt of my dress up again, so slowly I wanted to rip it off myself. But we’d been together enough times for me to know that he meant what he said, so I kept still. I sat up when he went to pull it off, and he dropped it beside the bed. His dark eyes roamed me hungrily, then lowered to the space between my legs.
His finger trailed the delicate fabric of the thong, peeling it down my legs.
“So fucking wet for me,” he murmured, more to himself than to me. “So fucking perfect.”
My core had a pulse of its own, and my hips moved before I could stop myself, pushing up towards him.
He clicked his tongue, shooting me an admonishing look, then his arm dropped over my hips, pinning me down. Lips grazed my inner thigh, then my hip, my stomach. I caught a glint of fang, then my bra ripped and fell away, but his mouth closed over my nipple before I could complain. My nerves lit up as he nipped, sucked, and kissed every sensitive spot on my body. But he still gave me no attention where I wanted it, no friction where I was desperate for it.
“Max —” I panted, and he chuckled, licking over the wound.
“Yes, dear?”
I glared at him, and he licked a drop of blood from his lips.
“You’re so gorgeous like this, wife. All spread out and wanton for me.”
Finally, finally, his thumb grazed my clit, and I gasped at the contact. He circled it lightly, and I whimpered in relief, trying to push up against his arm for more but his grip held me firm.
My eyes squeezed shut as my peak approached. Right before I went over the edge, he pulled back, chuckling at my whimper.
“I thought you wanted me to kiss you. Well, I am.” He pressed another soft kiss at the seam of my hips, and I hissed out a breath.
I could have taken matters into my own hands, but Goddess, he was sexy like this. A little dark and sinister and commanding. I loved every second of it, every moment wondering what he would do next.
In my blissed-out state, I must have missed when he stripped off the rest of his clothes. The next moment, he was on top of me again, gloriously naked, wings spread wide.
He lined himself up with me and sank inside in one stroke, both of us groaning at the contact. I was so close already, I was vibrating before he even started to thrust.
“You’re doing beautifully, sunshine,” he breathed in my ear, and that was enough. The next thrust, I shattered just as his fangs sank into my neck, ratcheting my pleasure even higher. His hips lost their smooth rhythm, moving faster as his breath sawed in and out. Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, Max pulled out, his head tilted back as my blood dripped off his fangs. I couldn’t decide whether to focus on his face or the hand moving over his cock as he finished on my stomach, and I swear I could have come again just from the sight of it.
What the hell was happening to me?