Page 41 of Twilight Destiny

“What if I let you take a … a taste and you don’t stop?”

“I guess you’ll have to trust me.”

“Should I?”

“Do you trust me now? We’re here, alone. There’s nothing to stop me from doing whatever I want.”

“Are youtryingto scare me?”

“No. But I’ve been with you almost every day. Have I ever hurt you?”

She shook her head.

“Come on,” he said, reaching for her hand. “I’ll take you back.”

She tugged her hand from his. “Just one taste, okay? Promise?”

“I promise. Unless you ask me not to stop.”

“I don’t think there’s any chance of that,” she said, already regretting her decision.

Sensing her hesitation, he said, “We don’t have to do this.”

“I know.” But she was suddenly curious to know what it was like.

Moving closer to her, he brushed her hair away from her neck. “Relax, love. I’m not going to hurt you.”

She didn’t know how he could bite her without hurting her. She held her breath as his tongue laved her neck. Tensed when she felt the prick of his fangs against her skin, but there was no pain. Pleasure washed through her, warm and sweet and sensual as he drank from her. Kadie had been right. She did like it.

Rosa moaned a protest when Jake lifted his head. “Why doesn’t it hurt?”

“Because I didn’t want it to.” Leaning forward, he ran his tongue over her neck, licking a drop of blood from her skin, sealing the tiny punctures. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her lightly. “Thank you.”

“Thankyou,” she said, grinning.

Kincaid laughed softly. Damn, but she was sweet. Sweeter than anything he had ever tasted, and he had tasted hundreds, maybe thousands. The taste of her had eased his hunger, but did nothing to satisfy his yearning to make love to her. Quite the opposite, it only made him want her more.

Rosa snuggled against him, her whole body feeling alive yet strangely lethargic. She had willingly let a vampire drink from her. And what was more amazing, she had not only liked it, she wanted him to do it again.

She grinned inwardly, thinking she had an ‘I told you so’ coming from Kadie Saintcrow.

Kincaid took Rosa dancing later that night. Every time he took her in his arms, he remembered the warmth of her blood, the way it had lingered on his tongue, sweeter than summer wine as it slid down his throat, warming the cold places deep inside, filling the emptiness that had ever been a part of him. Until now.

He held her close, every breath carrying the scent of her hair, her skin, the crimson river that flowed just beneath her skin. One taste had been amazing. What would it be like to drink his fill?

He thrust the thought away as he gazed into her eyes—her expression warm and trusting.

She fit into his embrace as though she had been designed for him and him alone. Her cheeks flushed when she met his gaze, her eyelids fluttering down when he claimed her lips with his. Sweet and pliable, they yielded to him as she pressed against him, her breasts warm against his chest, her hair like silk in his hands.

He groaned low in his throat, not sure how much longer he could hold her without carrying her away to his lair and making her his.

Kincaid knew a moment of relief as the music ended and he led her back to their table, only to find Saintcrow sitting there. “What the hell are you doing here?”

The master vampire shrugged. “Just looking out for the young woman under my protection.”

Rosa stared at him. “What are you talking about? I’m not in any danger.”

“You think not?” Saintcrow looked at Kincaid. “What do you think?”