I started to come down when he released my neck, but his mouth came back to mine, and I tasted the metallic tang of my blood on his lips.
I should have been freaked out, but I wasn’t. His tongue thrust into my mouth, and I sucked it deeper.
Daniel moaned against my lips and his thrusts began to lose their steady rhythm. He pounded into me before he finally thrust deep and stayed there, shuddering over me.
We were both breathing hard when he lifted his lips from mine. His tongue came out and I saw that it was bleeding.
“Did I bite you?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No. I pierced it on my fang. Now that we’ve exchanged blood, anyone, whether vampire, shifter, or witch, will know that you’re mine. You’ve been marked.”
“I thought you would bite me to mark me. Physically.”
He shook his head. “Supernatural mates mark each other with a blood exchange. It’s not visible to the naked eye but it can be felt. Vampires and shifters can smell it because you’ll smell more like me. Witches can sense a blood mark because of its magic.”
“So, it’s like the paranormal equivalent of a wedding ring?” I asked.
“No, because wedding rings can be removed. This mark will stay with you until the day you die. And I’m marked by your blood until death as well.”
“I don’t feel married,” I said.
He nuzzled my neck again. “We can do that, too, if you’d like. I want you to be happy with me.”
I thought about it for a moment. “I don’t want a huge thing. But I would love to have a ceremony. How do you feel about getting married in Fiji or something? Just you and me on the beach with witnesses and an officiant? And then, we could stay and have a honeymoon?”
He smiled down at me. “That would make you happy?”
I nodded.
“Then, that’s what we’ll do,” he agreed. “As long as I have you, I don’t care either way.” He paused. “Though I am a little relieved you don’t want a huge wedding.”
I kissed him.
“We’ll schedule it for next month,” he said.
“Next month? So soon?”
He ground his body against mine. “I like the idea of having you completely to myself for a couple of weeks. No interruptions by the police chief, scheming lionesses, or any other of the townspeople. We can eat, make love, sleep, and just be with each other.”
When he put it like that, next month sounded too far away. I had more questions about the scheming lioness he mentioned, but it just didn’t seem important in this moment. But I would ask. Later.
“It sounds perfect,” I answered when he finally stopped kissing me.
“I promise you won’t regret staying with me, Carina,” he said. “I only want your happiness and your love.”
I cupped his face in my hands. “That’s all I want from you,” I answered.
He kissed me again and emotions swelled within me. Happiness, love, and euphoria filled my heart.
The luckiest day of my life was the night I was kidnapped by a vampire.
EPILOGUE
Sela
My tires squealed as I pulled off the road and braked hard.
I barely took the time to kill the ignition and lock the car before I bolted to the trees nearby, unbuttoning my jeans as I moved.
