Page 10 of Make Me Bleed (Sanctuary #2)

CHAPTER 9

MATE DUTIES

L ater that night, I have to admit that my thirst has finally returned.

Hank’s blood lasted so much longer than anyone else’s I’ve ever drank. That’s why the renewed ache in my fangs, the pinch in the back of my throat, the twist of my empty stomach and veins… it hits so much worse because this is my doing.

If I’d just found a way to get past my fear, past my pride, I could be snuggling up to the big bear right now, nipping him, taking sips, sating my thirst and my need for my mate at the same time. Instead, I’m sitting on my back porch, staring in the woods. I haven’t changed yet. Still wearing my house and slacks, the points of my heels are stuck in the dirt, legs clamped together, arms wrapped around my knees and I rest my chin on the tops of my thighs.

I’m thirsty. I’m lonely. I was snippy this evening when Bridge invited me to have dinner with her and Conall. I apologized, of course, and I regretted being short with her, but the reminder that I sent my mate away and I’m hungry has put me in a foul mood that isn’t so usual for Elise van Duren.

Bridget understood. Conall’s fur got a little ruffled when I snapped at his mate, but she soothed her male, then promised we’d talk later.

Is that why I’m hiding out here now? To avoid her?

Or am I hoping that, by the force of my longing and my stare alone, I can develop witch-like powers and summon the big grizzly to me?

And then, to my surprise, I do .

Oh, I know it wasn’t magic. My senses have been going haywire lately, constantly telling me that someone is watching me even when I can’t see them myself, so I’ve started to disregard the nagging suspicion that I’m being stalked again. Usually, I see a flash of dark brown pelt, content in knowing that it’s Hank. If not, the vampires are eyeing me from a distance. I can’t even tell anymore, but when Hank… in his skin, not his fur… comes striding out of the woods, heading right for me… it doesn’t matter who is watching me.

I only ever want those pretty honey-colored eyes on me.

As gracefully as possible, I get to my feet. His strides are big, but I no longer want to resist the pull tugging me toward him. With my speed, I meet him near the rock in the backyard in seconds.

“Hank,” I murmur, my voice breathless. Not from fear, though. From anticipation . “You’re here.”

You’re back .

Like the last time I saw him in his skin, he’s bare foot. He’s wearing jeans, too, and to my disappointment, he’s covered his chest with a tight black t-shirt that at least shows off all of his delicious muscles.

Beneath the sliver of moonlight up above, I search his neck, swallowing my sigh of relief when the silver-ish bite marks stand out against his tanned skin.

They’re still there. He’s still proudly wearing my bite mark on the side of his throat.

His expression softens when he sees what I’m looking at. So does his deep voice. “I had to. I know I ain’t supposed to come in here. That I’m intrudin’ on ya… that I vowed to wait until you were ready to accept this ol’ bear as your mate… but you need me.”

I do.

He looks down at me carefully, as though expecting me to deny it. To deny him. And then he adds, “You’re hungry. Thirsty. You know what I mean.”

“How… how do you know that?”

He rubs the heel of his hand against his chest. “I can feel it. In here. My mate needs me. And when you need me, Lise, I want you to know… I’ll always be there.”

My breath catches in my throat the same time as my fangs slide out all the way, growing until they’re digging into my upper chin. “Hank, I?—”

He shushes me. He’s not being rude about it, just soothing. Reaching out, touching me for the first time, he tucks a strand of my loose hair behind my ear. I jolt at the electric spark that passes between us as his heated skin brushes against mine, but if he notices how much cooler my body temp is to him, he doesn’t remark on it as he pulls back again.

Instead, he rumbles, “Didja like my gift?”

I think of the bear figuring tucked securely in my pants pocket. Can he see the slight bulge it forms against the material?

I nod slowly. “Yes,” I whisper.

His lips curve, a lazy, satisfied grin. “I’m glad,” he murmurs before he does the last thing I ever expected.

Hank grabs me by the waist. His heat sears me to my bones as he lifts me up easily. Next thing I know, he’s plopped his big bulk down on the rock, facing the woods. He handles me without any trouble, maneuvering me until I’m sitting on his lip.

His erection nestles against the cleft of my ass. It’s hard and thick and hot , and all I can think now is how wonderful it would be to be a shifter who can change shapes, explode off their clothes with the force of the shift, then come back as a naked human to sink down on top of his cock.

I’m a vampire. With my speed, I can undress nearly as quickly, and my body begs me, too—but that’s not all it wants.

And pleasure’s not all my mate will provide me, either.

In this position, held securely on Hank’s lap, my mouth is right next to his throat. I notice that at the same time he picks up on my obvious arousal. The big bear groans, nostrils flaring as he catches the scent of my wet pussy wafting toward him. Me? I’m inches away from the throbbing vein pulsing in his neck and, suddenly, I’m starving.

“Do it,” he rasps. “Before my bear rages at me again to make you mine before you’re ready… do it.”

Do it…

“You mean, bite you?”

Closing his eyes, he jerks his head. “You need blood. Take it from me.”

He’s the only one I can take it from. The moment I tasted his blood, anyone else’s was ruined for me.

But I can’t tolerate a one-sided mating. With Hank providing everything, and me taking and taking and taking…

I don’t want to reject him. It’s not his fault I’m screwed-up. But to drink him, then see him walk away again… maybe it’ll be better to just enjoy this moment where he’s holding me?—

He shudders out a breath, eyes opening again. “Is it me, Lise? You don’t want to drink from me?”

“What?” I lift my hand, cupping the edge of his jaw. “No, Hank. No . I just… I don’t want you to think that’s all I want from you.”

“Does it matter if it is? You’re my mate. However I can provide for you, I will. You just have to let me.”

I don’t know how to respond to that, or to the way he’s leaning his stubbled cheek against the palm of my hand as if seeking my touch.

“‘Cause you are my mate, ain’t ya? If you’re not, tell me now, ‘cause I don’t know how much longer I can hold on to the hope that you’ll accept me. But if I am… a shifter gives his mate everything she needs. You need blood. I need to be the one you take it from.”

Oh, Hank. All along, I’ve struggled to believe that this could be happening. That he could really be my mate. I knew it had to hard on a male shifter existing with an unfulfilled bond, but the pain in his voice… it’s not because of the bond.

It’s because he doesn’t believe that I could ever want him as my mate.

To accept him… all I have to do is let him feed me, and he’ll know I consider him mine. It woun’t be a true claiming until he bites me and we fuck, but at least this way… I’ve given him hope, and bought myself some time to get my head on straight.

He wants me to bite him?

I stroke his cheek, trailing my fingers down his throat, smile as he groans beneath my touch—and then I sink my fangs into his neck.

For a moment, he goes still. Then, as his delectable blood fills my mouth and I swallow it in greedy gulps, a low, satisfied growl builds in his chest.

I drink deeply, enjoying the way the warmth spreads throughout my body. It’s not just because of his blood, either. It’s this renewed connection between us, and the undeniable sense that this… us … was meant to be.

His scent grounds me. At the same time, I ground my ass against him, grinding against his erection through his jeans. Blood and sex have always gone hand and hand for me, and only knowing that I could finalize our bond tonight has me grateful that we’re both fully dressed.

He’s my mate. I know it. So does he. But until we can discuss what it means for both of us… this is as far as we can go, and I think we both know it.

When I finally withdraw my fangs from his neck, I dab the points of them with my tongue, savoring every last taste of him.

His eyes are heavy-lidded, a sure sign he got as much pleasure from the act of my drinking—and, well, me riding him like I did—as I did. Then, proving a big male can move quickly, too, he drops his head, pressing his warm lips to my throat.

It’s just a kiss. A simple kiss.

But if he’d bitten me? I would’ve let him.

Once he’s done, Hank takes me by my waist again, even more gingerly than before. He eases me off his lap, setting me on my heels again. As he rises, his big hand drops to his crotch as if that will keep me from noticing the massive bulge pushing against his jeans.

“Thank you, Lise.”

I swallow roughly. “I should be thanking you?—”

He shakes his head. “I’m your male. That’s what I was made to do. To feed you and to…” Hank chuffs. “Anyway… you know where to find me when you need more. Or just call for me. I’ll come a-runnin’.”

With a dip of his head, a silent goodbye, he starts to turn from me.

I take a few steps after him. “Hank, wait?—”

He laughs, and I’m not so sure there’s any humor in the sound. “I’d love to, but if you’ll pardon me, there’s something I have to go take care of. Evenin’, Lise.”

Oh.

Oh .

The way he’s still gripping himself, tugging at his hard cock through his jeans… I think I know exactly what he’s going to go take care of. He’s going to jerk himself off to the thoughts of me on his lap, drinking from him.

A slow roll of heat washes over me; instead of blood, it’s desire.

And by the time I find the nerve to offer to take care of his little problem for him, he’s already disappeared into the trees… and the dark keeps me from following after him.