“And I’ll let the candle burn,” she says with sudden certainty.
I focus on her with an intensity that makes her squirm in her seat. “What are you saying?”
She swallows. “After we save my house, I’ll free you. It’s time. I’m not sure how I’ll explain it to Maeve, but I’m certain I won’t be able to forgive myself if I don’t break your curse.” She holds out her hand. “Do we have a deal?”
Time and time again, I promise myself I’ll stop indulging in Eloise. Every time I touch her or taste her blood, I fall for her just a little bit more. She may be human, but she’s enchanted me. Already I find it impossible to accept I’ll have to leave her when my work here is done. But tonight, here in her parlor, this isn’t about the candle at all.
How can I resist her now that she’s proven to be an angel in human skin? Eloise has no idea that the Gowdie candle willneverburn down. It’s taken me a century to learn that truth for myself. The wax is enchanted with my blood, immortal blood, mixed with that of a powerful witch. It will last as long as I do. The only way the curse can be broken is by more powerful magic. Curse-breaking magic.
Eloise doesn’t know that, however, and her promise to free me is genuine. She truly intends to try.
And that means everything to me.
Damn, magnificent woman.
Isn’t it torture enough to be tempted by her delectable blood, the pleasure of her warm skin, the scent of her that lingers in my dreams long after I’ve left her? Now I’m drawn to her vulnerability, to her selflessness, to her bravery. Maybe it’s too late. Maybe I’m hers already. I was so worried she was a witch trying to bind me that I never considered I might love her, and what is love but the wickedest web.
I stare at her offered palm, overwhelmed by the sincerity in her offer. “Oh no, little bird. We cannot make a deal with a simple handshake.”
Her lashes flutter. “What do you have in mind?”
I remove the wineglass from her hand and set it gently on the end table. Fisting the pillow in her lap, I toss it across the room. Then, I lean over her, bracing myself on the back of the sofa.
“Spread your legs for me, little bird.”
Her answering gasp feeds my fire. Her eyes lock onto mine for three long breaths. Slowly, with a hard swallow, she parts her thighs. I drop to my knees.
“This dress has been taunting me all night.” I nudge the hem of the purple sequined number higher on her hips and toy with the strappy black thong underneath.
She clears her throat. “Damien, I wasn’t making a bargain. I’ll let the candle burn because it’s the right thing to do. You don’t have to… do anything. I don’t want you to think...” She can’t even finish the sentence. Gods, does she believe she’s coercing me? Even the thought ispreposterous. I skim a palm under her dress, up her lower belly. Her breath falters.
“If you think for a second that you’re forcing me to doanythingright now, you’ve been willfully ignoring your effect on me tonight.” My voice is thick with need for her. “I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you in this dress. Unless you intend to command me to stop?”
“No,” she says quickly, breathlessly. “I don’t want you to stop.”
I slant her a wicked grin, wide enough, I’m sure my fangs are showing. Hooking my fingers into the sides of her thong, I slide it down her legs and over her feet, tossing it aside. Her pulse ratchets faster, its soft drumbeat and her breath the only sounds aside from the ticking of the grandfather clock. Spreading her knees wider, I lower my gaze to her most intimate area and lick my lips. As if she could be any more of a temptation, her pretty sex glistens, ready for me, and the scent of her desire makes my blood heat.
“You’re perfect.” My voice is wrecked, low, and gritty. Tugging her hips forward, I drag a knuckle over her drenched slit, and she rewards me with a moan.
I love her this way, totally exposed to me. At my mercy. Her eyes grow hooded. A light blush stains her cheeks.
Gods, I want to taste her, and I will not deny myself. Not this time.
“Little bird, look at me,” I whisper, an unexpected note of reverence in my voice. When her green eyes meet mine, I lower my mouth to her center and lick. The noise she makes is all the encouragement I need. With no place else to be until dawn, I settle in, lapping her folds in long, teasing strokes. When she writhes against my mouth, I flick the tip of my tongue across her clit, then suck on that tender nubas she arches and moans. Quicker now, I flick, suck, circle, watching her chase her pleasure until I fall into a rhythm.
She squirms, digging her fingers into my hair. Gods, she tastes like a fine, dark wine. I reach down to one of her feet, massaging the arch before lifting her leg to set it on my shoulder. The position opens her wider, and I thrust a finger into her, stroking inside while I relish her. Her thighs begin to shake. I want to feel her come, want my face slick from her wet heat.
She digs her nails into my scalp. “Oh God, Damien!”
23
First Time for Everything
ELOISE
This is a first for me. Sure, I’ve been married. I’m not a virgin. But Tony was my only sexual partner and my experience with him was limited. He never performed oral sex on me. He said he didn’t like it, although he was happy to be on the receiving end.
Damien’s mouth is heaven.
