Rising to your knees, you put your elbows on the tub.
“You would do that for me?”
“Yes,” he leaned against the marble counter.
“But…” your brow furrowed. “This is what you wanted. This is what you took me for. You’d give it up?” You’d never seen him hesitate, showing human weaknesses like uncertainty. Or sorrow. Because when he finally met your gaze, you were sure that’s what you saw.
“This entity is mine as well, Little Bird. Part of me. But I will not let you die.”
Then you did another thing you could have never imagined before. Climbing out of the tub, dripping wet, crossing the room, and wrapping your arms around his waist, your cheek against his chest. His body stiffened, like granite for a moment before his long arms wrapped around you, too.
Chapter 7: In the Family Way
In which Little Bird finds family, and revenge.
Never in the last ten years of your existence could you ever have believed you would put your hands on the stubbled cheeks of John and press your mouth to his. You were awkward, clumsily slipping against his full mouth, slightly parted (surprise? Could a vampire be surprised?) and you cautiously angled your tongue inside, lightly stroking against his and then, delicately, carefully, you ran it across his fangs. Looking up, you knew his eyes were already bled gold, a shimmering metallic glow that made you remember it was a monster you were kissing.
But now, you were a monster, too. And carrying one in your womb.
Could you come to an accord with John?
His hands were resting on the desk where he’d been leaning, his tall body bent slightly to allow you to reach his face to kiss him, to slide your hands under his dark shirt and run your sensitive palms along his shoulders. He was utterly still, allowing you to touch him as you liked.
“Can we do this? I’m so afraid the Brethren will take our baby. Can we protect them?” Your mouth was moving along his neck, speaking the words against his cool skin, feeling his throat heat up in their wake.
“Your lips, so hot…” John growled, “like the sun. They will never find our child. If you choose this, I can keep you both safe.” His hands finally moved to your waist, lifting you to straddle him on the desk. The tip of your tongue traced the vein under his jawline, filled with blood but immobile without the beat of a heart to drive it.
Leaning back, your head tilts, watching him taking deep, unnecessary breaths to control himself. You couldn’t recall a time you’d seen him other than contained, in command of every moment - even when he was inside you. Until that savage beating he’d given the spoilt prince to take you from the Court of the Night Brethren. Since, he was … more. More kind. He listened more. Your clumsy kisses aroused him. And now he had offered something you never imagined.
A choice.
Pulling the straps of your chemise down, you let the undergarment drop to your waist. His golden gaze followed the material down. You flushed, face hot, but you smiled.
“If you can be brave enough to offer me a choice, one that would cause you pain, I….” Lacing your fingers together, you tried to find graceful words. “I choose you. And our child.” You somehow expected him to throw you on to the bed, pounce on you with the blurred speed of a panther, like he had many times before. John simply sat where he was, watching you settle on his thighs, though you could see the tips of his fangs in the slightest smile. Until you opened your arms.
For the first time, when your back bounced against the mattress you let out a yelp and then a giggle. Sitting up, you pulled him closer, reaching up to unbutton his shirt. He quickly pulled it over his head and bent to kiss you again.
“Even though your body is cool,” you asked, “your mouth is always warm. Why?”
There was silence for the longest, most luxurious moment as he suckled your lower lip between his, then traced the line of your jaw, and bit lightly on your earlobe, making you jump a little. “Because, Little Bird, the briefest touch from you sets me ablaze. When I’m inside you, you burn me from the inside out.”
“Then I’ll heat every inch of you.” Such a brazen promise! You were still trying to figure out who this bold creature was, wearing your face and using your hand as you wrapped your fingers around his cock, the tips not quite meeting.
“Harder, Little Bird.” His head was thrown back, neck bared and defenseless which seemed so shocking for one of the Night Brethren. John’s eyes were closed but his rough, big hands ran up and down the skin of your back, making you feel uncomfortably heated as well.
As he’d taught, you squeezed his shaft tightly, twisting your wrist as your hand slid up and down, and for the first time, you felt the dew of your nethers flow, without any of his clever manipulations of your body. Just from the pleasure of toying with that part of him that gave you so much bliss.
“Enough,” he groaned, sitting up and crossing his legs. Arranging your thighs over his, John put his mouth over yours, slowly nibbling your upper lip and then the lower. Bending you back over his forearms, he softly kissed one breast and his stubbled cheek rubbed over the flesh of the other.
“Oh … this is…” You didn’t have a word for it. John was not soft in bed. He was measured, controlled as he took you. But this leisurely series of touches and kisses were confusing. His thumb slid down your abdomen to circle around the most sensitive bit of you and you sighed against his mouth.
“You’re already wet for me, Little Bird,” he said approvingly, drawing back slightly and his golden eyes flaring. “This sweet place is ready to receive my cock, isn’t it?”
Your fingers slipped into his hair, amazed that it was silky to the touch. His hair was always severely smoothed back, with no fuss and not like the elaborate styles you’d seen at the Night Court.
His finger pressed a bit harder and you stifled a gasp. “Are you ready, precious one?”
You nodded vigorously, “Yes.” You lifted up a bit as his hands slid under your bottom, hoisting you over his cock.
