“That’s because you’re Fae.” Quinn smiled sidelong at her as he took another sip, grimacing. “Fae love the flavor of sweet. But drink blood for hundreds of years and your palate changes. The sweetness of Culling Cordial is far too much for me these days. Though dark chocolate I enjoy aplenty.”
“I wish I knew more about you.” Ariana spoke suddenly, though she didn’t know quite where it came from. “I didn’t know until this morning that fine wines, chocolates, coffees, and cordials are a major industry you’ve developed to support your Dark Haven. I didn’t know that about you, Quinn, but it fits so well and makes me want to know more about what you like and dislike, what you value and what gives you pleasure. I want to know who you are and who you’ve been over the centuries. Like Lucca knows you, and Arturos – even Devi and Curio.”
Heaving another sigh, Quinn’s lips quirked as he watched the fire. All around, his dark nimbus gave a slow roil, tired now as it moved through the living area. “You don’t want to know that much about my history, Ariana. Truly, you don’t. It is a sordid past that even I prefer to forget, prior to two hundred years ago.”
“But what if I do want to know?” Ariana challenged, knowing Quinn’s dark past with his old Sire Emiliana DiClario was part of why he was resisting being intimate now. “Arturos and the others have seen the parts of you that you hide, and so has Lady Eiseth, and they’re still your friends. They believe in you, and the powerful heart they see inside you.”
“Powerful heart.” Quinn sighed as his lips quirked, though it was gentle as he watched the fire. “They do not even know my heart beats. They have never felt it. Only you know that… and Lucca.”
“Are you sure?” Ariana asked, glancing at him.
“No.” He said softly then, a strange lilt to his voice. “I’m not really sure of anything anymore.”
As they watched the fire together, Quinn heaved a sigh – his dark nimbus flowing all around them both now. As they sat together, Ariana suddenly felt their wrists touch. She hadn’t known she and Quinn had been steadily drawing closer until his skin met hers and a current of energy passed between them. Ariana nearly jumped out of her seat as Quinn drew a swift breath upon the couch beside her. He didn’t look at her as their energies swirled, dark rainbows and fire flickering around them both now as the backs of their hands touched. Easing his fingers past hers, Quinn’s breath was hard as Ariana felt his heart pound inside his chest.
“Ariana…” He breathed with warning. “We cannot. Our magics—”
“I know. They’re too volatile right now.” Ariana breathed back, every part of her leaping to Quinn as he gently stroked his knuckles through hers. It was erotic even as he poured his immense control through them both now, trying to keep them restrained upon the couch like Victorian lovers. Only their hands touched, as Quinn continued sliding his fingers slowly through hers. But from a man who had been a Courtier for ages, the touch was so much more.
As Quinn finally looked over – his dark eyes burning in the night.
“I want you.” He breathed, touching her so deeply as they hardly touched at all. “But I’m afraid of what I might do if I give in.”
“Aren’t I the one who’s supposed to be afraid?” Ariana challenged, though it was gentle in their intimacy. “Aren’t I supposed to be afraid of a whole host of things, like biting you and tearing your throat out or something while we fuck?”
“Are you really thinking about that?” Quinn asked, something darkly erotic shining in his eyes.
“Read my mind and find out.” Ariana answered as her fingers slowly danced through his.
“I cannot. For some strange reason right now… I cannot read you.” He breathed back with an amazed look as he slowly turned, facing her upon the couch. Reaching up with his free hand, he brushed back one of Ariana’s red locks. Dark fire burned in his eyes, and Ariana felt her breath quicken. Different than Arturos, Quinn’s Vampiric energy still burned with life deep inside his darkness.
While Ariana knew Arturos was as cold and dead as his endless ocean grave.
“Why are you not dead, Quinn, even though you’re a Vampire?” Ariana breathed as she gazed up at him, amazed by this strange fire she felt burning deep inside him. Though she had seen his old Summer Fae magics flare occasionally, it only seemed to come out strongly around her; and Ariana wondered if it was her Dark Fae energy bringing out his old self via their resonance when they were close like this.
“I don’t know, Ariana.” He spoke back as he watched her, their powers still twining together in the ether. “I have asked myself this question for years, and come up with only more questions.”
“But those you’ve Sired are dead like other Vampires,” Ariana spoke now, thinking about it though what she was really doing was reveling in Quinn as he continued to stroke her with his fingertips.
“They are.” He answered as he gazed down at her. They were still drawing closer by their twined energies; as if pulled together, Quinn was very close now upon the couch as they breathed inches away from each other. His heartbeat was so strong, Ariana could practically feel it inside her own body; reaching up, she stroked his chest, feeling the silken texture of his shirt.
As Quinn’s dark eyes blazed, their other hands still dancing, he reached up, undoing his bowtie one-handed. His tux jacket had been cast away earlier and he undid the buttons of his shirt with fire in his eyes now. There was no seduction in his movement, only burning as he undid his shirt all the way, baring his firm, creamy chest and washboard abs. Pulling his shirt wide, Quinn’s gaze burned as he lifted their hands.
And placed Ariana’s palm on his chest.
Power exploded between them as Quinn pinned Ariana’s hand to his heart. A sensation like worlds on fire slammed through Ariana as she rocked, silver and gold rioting all around them now with fiery rainbows as darkly angelic music poured between them. Heat roared from Quinn as it rushed through Ariana, terrible and wild. She didn’t know how she had fallen against his chest with his arm around her, corralling her close. She only knew his chest was heaving and hers was too as their passions awoke and that amazingly intense universal music devoured them both. As red flooded her vision and ecstasy flooded her body from Quinn’s presence, he bent his head.
Running his lips decadently over the side of her neck.
Ariana shuddered as his lips eased over her, kissing seductively. She could feel Quinn’s heart beat harder as his grip tightened, pulling her close. She gasped as his fangs grazed her, as his luscious mouth locked onto her neck. Something inside her struggled, resisting it; but Quinn’s passion poured through her now, obliterating her resistance and replacing it with ecstasy as he bit down subtly, almost piercing her with the last points of his fangs.
A dark growl came from him; Ariana cried out as she fell into him, their hearts pounding as one. Their breaths were locked, their magics flowed together as Quinn held her. Ariana felt them both shudder as she knew what he wanted.
And knew what she wanted also – as she took up Quinn’s wrist, pressing it to her lips.
Something came crawling up out of Ariana as Quinn gasped, growling against her neck. Some animal side she’d never even known existed roared through her for the hunt and the strike as she moved her lips over Quinn’s wrist, biting and kissing but not breaking the skin just yet.
As his dark power poured into her, Quinn barely holding himself back now from striking hard into her neck as he ground against her, Ariana understood that a Vampire drinking from prey could be glorious – but that two Vampires drinking from each other could catch them in an endless loop of desire and frenzy, a sensation few things could match. She wanted it as she moaned against his wrist, needle-sharp fangs sliding down now from her upper teeth.
