I had no idea how long it took, but eventually my breathing evened out. Exhausted, I released my death grip on the sheets and sank into my pillows before turning my head to take a closer look at my surroundings.
Sunlight filtered through the open floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains and bathed the foot of the bed. My breath hitched as I contemplated that beautiful sight. I had no idea if that simple, everyday occurrence could hurt me now. I knew some information about Original Vampires, and regardless of all the ridiculous human legends that surrounded them, they didn’tcombust in sunlight. However, it could give terrible burns to young vampires like me. The only truth in legends like garlic, holy water, and stakes was that a stake through the heart could end a vamp. But, then again, it would end most supernaturals. Even for those who were immortal like vampires and fae, being immortal did not mean invincible. We could all bleed out. The only vampire in legend to be immune to a stake through his heart was King Korlov, an ancient king who’d died after saving his grandson from an assassination that took the life of his children and almost everyone in his household. Legend had it that the assassins had staked him, but that he was one of the first Originals, demons from Hell who had spawned the vampire nation. And that he had healed, hiding in the shadows and biding his time before he struck, raining destruction down on his enemies. I’d never cared enough about vampire legends to find out if there was any truth to them. Nor did I know if the Mades who’d kidnapped me and sent me down this path had the weaknesses of legend that Originals didn’t. Though legends were often based on fact, it would probably serve me well to find out.
I snarled and peered out of the window at the sky. Familiar towers greeted me, but they were in the wrong position from my usual view. A quick perusal of the room showed there was no clutter. The surfaces were neat and devoid of personal items. Even the dressing table was empty. It looked cold and impersonal, like a guest room. The only items out of place were my bag, which looked like it had been flung in the corner of the room, and the clothes lying neatly over the high-backed armchair in the corner. The decor and bedding were coordinated and modern, giving a minimalist, very masculine look. The only thing that alerted me to this not being a guest room was the scent playing havoc with my mind and body. I ran a hand over my face, my heart racing. This was the Count’s room. His deep musky scent was everywhere, surrounding me. I closed my eyesand inhaled deeply, hunger gnawing at my insides. But it wasn’t hunger for food; it was a yearning for his taste, his blood rolling across my tongue and down my throat, his hands touching every part of me.
“Motherfucking wolf, what the hell am I doing?” I muttered as my body sprang to life. I had no idea if it was normal for a vampire to lust after the nearest blood source, not just as a food supply, but as a way to deal with the other sensations that came with it. I wasn’t completely ignorant of what was happening to me. I’d done some of my own research, but I hadn't realised the devastating need for sex would drive me mad. Was I craving him, a male, because of a lack of options? I almost laughed. I’d made that excuse in prison when I’d been attracted to a male. I’d never acted on my attractions; instead, I’d always sought out a willing pack female for sex.
I groaned as my erection only grew harder, and my thirst increased. Shit, what should I do? I was so fucking hungry. I needed blood. I looked around. There was none here.
The covers whispered as I kicked them off my too-hot body and swung my legs to the floor. Cursing at my trembling, weak limbs, I staggered to the door, utterly unconcerned about my nakedness. The room spun, but I managed to grab the brass door handle and yank it open. The sweet scent of blood hit me. I snarled, and before I could stop myself, I was onto the owner of that pulsing, glorious life elixir. It was mine to take. A warm body that could give me sustenance and pleasure
6
Balthazar
The trayI’d been carrying, with tea and six of the pastries that I knew Shane liked, crashed to the floor as a hard and powerful body hit mine. Not for the first time, this wolf shifter, vampire hybrid had taken me by surprise. I’d expected that after five days of feeding and orgasms, his body would need longer to recover. I’d gone on my past experience, which was extensive considering how old I was, and thought he’d still be asleep. My plan had been to wake him and see if he wanted some of the unhealthy shit he usually consumed for breakfast.
I almost growled in irritation as the clumsy fucker stepped all over my gift of his favourite food. So much for trying to make him feel better about all the intimate touches he’d demanded and I’d given in the last few days.
Even though I was weaker from blood loss than I’d been in hundreds of years, I was still far stronger than Shane. It was hard not to let anxiety consume me as I felt the wasted musclesof his biceps and shoulders under my fingers. His body was consuming every drop of sustenance I gave him, and he still needed more. His desperation for blood far exceeded anything I’d seen before. Shane had not recovered his bulk, even weeks after I’d rescued him, but all the weight he’d managed to put back on before his bloodlust was now gone and then some.
A nose raked up my throat, and I let him hold me in place as a low, hungry growl escaped his chest. My whole body tensed, but not because I was worried. I wanted this male like I hadn’t wanted anyone in hundreds of years, possibly ever. The only other person to confuse the shit out of me as much as him was currently downstairs in the living space she often used with Shane.
“You smell so damned good.”
Those lust-filled, gravelly words had my cock jumping fully to attention. Even my sweats couldn’t stop the bolt of pleasure that rammed through me as he unashamedly ground his hard length against mine. Gods, he had no idea how fucking sexy he was like this, totally lost to his baser needs. The ones that told the truth, not what he thought society would accept. I didn’t even believe he wanted me just because of the bloodlust anymore. His reactions were too far off the charts, too raw and desperate. He wanted me as much as I wanted him, but he still wasn’t thinking altogether straight. And for some reason, I didn’t want to manipulate him into letting me fuck him without him being fully aware and able to make that choice. I just hoped that once this was over, he wouldn’t go back to locking down his real needs. Either way, for reasons that I didn’t want to look at too closely, I didn’t want him to think I’d taken all his choices away.
Before he could strike at my neck with canines that had sharpened exponentially, I spun him against the wall, grabbing him around the throat under his chin. With little effort, I forcedhis head back. Even his painful grip on my waist and arm couldn’t push me off. Mirroring his move, I slowly dragged my own nose from his collar bone, up the column of his neck and along the side of his nose before sliding the tip down to touch his, making our mouths align.
“So do you, Shane.”
And he so fucking did. Gods, I’d not smelt anything as delicious as him in lust. His need drove me mad, and I was barely hanging onto my self-control, which was saying something for a vampire as old and dead inside as I was. Shane had hit me like a freight train, and I was totally unprepared for how he made me feel. The storm of emotions he’d awakened was spiralling out of control. I shook myself. This wasn’t about feelings. It couldn’t be. I needed to get a handle on that. It was about getting this fledgling, who now belonged to me and my household, through bloodlust and making sure he lived. If we both got off in the process, then that was a bonus.
He fought against my firm hold, and that sign of defiance only heightened my desire. I didn’t care that, at this moment, pressed up against this male, I was almost out of control. I needed to feel him beneath me, to watch him come apart, see pleasure flood his face, and hear his noises of bliss as I wrung every last orgasm I could from his body before he was once again exhausted.
My body trembled with the kind of weakness I rarely suffered, hunger, but I doubted Shane would notice. I’d feed again after this next bout of bloodlust was done. It was clear that Shane needed far more blood than I could provide, but the thought of letting any other person near him filled me with a possessive rage that stole my breath.
I slammed my hips against his and held his writhing body against the wall, not allowing him to move, no matter how hard he tried.
“Shane, still yourself.” I swallowed hard as he fought my compulsion. Shit. No vampire had ever managed to defy me. His power had to be off the charts. Whether that was the alpha wolf he housed, or some new variant of the virus that he’d been infected with, I had no idea. Right then, it didn’t matter.
I swiped my tongue across his lips. His eyes widened, and, for a moment, the redness of bloodlust receded. It left him looking as surprised as I felt. I hadn’t kissed him before, and I wouldn’t, but that taste of his lips was enough to test my miniscule honour code. Fuck, I didn’t know why I was bothered about his opinion of me. If it were anyone else, I’d just take what I wanted and not give a shit.
“Balthazar?” he whispered.
I wasn’t stupid enough to let him go, but my heart slammed against my ribs, my guts turning somersaults. The sound of my name on his lips did something to me. It awakened feelings that had been long buried. They needed to stay that way, but gods, it had sounded good.
“That’s right.” I lifted my spare hand, and his brow furrowed as I cupped his face. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you...”
His throat bobbed, and he nodded before blood swamped the intense blue of his irises again. A snarl curled his top lip. “Good. Now feed me and then fuck me.”
My whole body tensed, my own heart racing. “You don’t mean that.”
His smile was predatory and confident. “Yes, Count, I do.”
I held his gaze as I rubbed my body against his, trying not to let the pleasure that was stealing my thoughts show on my face. “Good. Ask me again when this is over, and I know you are in full control.” Then, just to see the defiance that I found so exciting, I pushed a little more. “I may or may not grant your request.”
I smiled at the fury in his eyes right as another luscious scent hit my nostrils. Shit! Sorcha was as stubborn as a damned mule!I’d warned her to stay away from Shane until this was over. The woman was infuriating, in more ways than one. She’d burrowed under my skin just like Shane, and there was no way I'd let him hurt her.
