Page 119 of Vampire so Virtuous

“Not a big fan of loud, smelly nightclubs?”

He grimaced, shaking his head.

“You ever Jedi mind tricked me?”

He held her gaze as he deliberately shook his head.

“Okay. Where do you want to start?”

He took her hand in his and led her through the throng of people, onto the dance floor. It wasn’t quite like following Mike—he didn’t shove his way through—yet people in his path moved just enough to make room, as if they naturally chose to sway to the side. Antoine led her through at nearly a normal walking pace. No one brushed against her, even as the gap was filled in their wake.

Antoine stopped in the middle of the floor, turning to face her. He slipped his hands onto her waist once more, and leaned in until his lips were by her ear. “I need a moment to attune my senses. Care to dance?”

In answer, she raised her hands above her head, closing her eyes as she melded with the music and began to move her hips. This was completely different to when she’d been here with Priya and Eve. She didn’t have to worry about looking out for anyone—Antoine was the most dangerous person here, and he was on her side.

At first, his hands rested lightly on her waist, and she could feel his movements through the touch as he swayed with the rhythm. Then he stepped closer, his hold gentle, until their bodies aligned—hip to hip, chest brushing chest. They moved as one, his vampiric speed and grace anticipating her flow and tempo. She opened her eyes to find him watching her with that intense, hungry expression he did so well.

Cally spun against him, pressing her back to his chest as she danced on,reaching up to slide one hand around the side of his neck and arching to rub against his body. He gripped her waist, holding her close as his hips stayed perfectly in sync with hers. She could feel his arousal pressing against her, and she didn’t care; she liked it. She pushed her hips back into him, grinding against him in the way that the music called for, and closed her eyes to better feel him.

He lowered his head until his lips were against her neck, and she thought he might feed, even though he’d said he wouldn’t. She should have cared about that too—but she didn’t. Instead, she let her head loll back against his shoulder, offering herself. With him so close, she caught the groan he let slip, even over the pounding music. His lips brushed against her skin and his fingers dug into her hips as they moved to their rhythm, and all the while, she pressed back into him, the motion purposeful and sensuous.

“You are teasing me,ma chérie,”he said into her ear, his words almost lost amid the thumping bass.

“Levelling the score.” She wondered if his vampiric hearing would catch it, but then he chuckled.

He spun her around to face him, so fast it made her breath catch. This time, his hands weren’t on her waist. One lay flat against her naked back, pinning her to him, while the other slid to the top of her ass, his fingers splayed out across her curves. She looked up to find that dark intensity in his eyes, his face a breath away from hers.

Two fingers cupped her cheek, his thumb beneath her chin, still holding her with the hand on her lower back. Then he tilted her face upward and lowered his lips to hers.

He held her as he wanted her, yet the pressure was light, as though she could pull away if she wished. She was tempted to test the boundaries—but only for a moment. His lips brushed against hers, soft and gentle, the most tentative of kisses. Then the tip of his tongue teased her lower lip, a delicate request.

It wasn’t how she’d expected him to kiss.

She opened to him, sliding her hands around his neck. His kiss deepened with a gentleness that surprised her, his tongue seeking hers and fluttering lightly. His stubble grazed her chin, a rough contrast to the softness of his lips. For all his strength, he treated her like she was fragile—and perhaps, in comparison, she was. But she didn’t want to be.

It wasn’t enough. She wanted more.

She pushed her fingers into his thick hair, pulling him to her as if she could possibly control him, yet he responded to her insistence. His otherhand came up to join the first in cupping her face, his fingers around the side of her neck. Two fingertips pressed exactly where he would sink his fangs, and the thought sent a shiver through her.

His kiss deepened, his tongue probing more assertively, and though his hands were gentle, his strength told her she was held.

This was how she’d expected him to kiss.

She moaned into his mouth, pressing against him, fingers tangled in his hair. His tongue, his touch, the warmth of him—she lost herself in it. Even the dominating beat of the music seemed to dull, the pulse of her own heart clamoring in her ears.

Until, at last, he drew back, and she gasped a ragged breath.

He ran his tongue over one fang even as they retracted, his eyes dancing playfully. Her lip was cut, the smallest nick, a subtle sting as she licked at it.

“I enjoy you more with every taste,ma chérie. But alas, our dance must be cut short. We are about to be interrupted.”

Twenty-nine – Cally

At first, she was so lost in the kiss that his words didn’t register, and then they did and her pulse spiked again.

What had he said he needed to do?

“You’ve attuned your senses?”