“The inner me is not so different from my outward appearance, Luna.The thing that infects me lurks inside, hidden from themyops.It can only be seen briefly during those transitions between light and dark—and if I am not paying close attention.”
“Let’s not pretend I know what amyopsis, Shadow.”
“That is the word we use to describe warmbloods, Luna.It means ‘those who walkaround with closed eyes.’”
Luna steps closer.Her thighs brush against my knee under the denim.
“What is it about your infection that likes to stay a secret, Shadow?”
ChapterSeventeen
Luna
Iam amazed when Shadow pats his lap.Does he want to comfort me or seduce me?
Still, I sit willingly on his lap, because he is right.I find him enticingly attractive, and I think I am halfway to falling under his spell.
“Let me tell the story in my own way and in my own time, Luna.”
Trying not to relish it when his large hand strokes the back of my hair, sliding down to the base of my spine in one long swipe, I wait for him to tell me the truth.
“Don’t be harsh on your aunt.She was isolated and innocent.Those are bad things to have in combination on Landslide.”
Taking a heavy sighing breath, Shadow explains.“I can’t blame Ifan, either, for succumbing to Tempest’s invitation into her bed.The Midnight Riders live for blood.But it can’t come from a bag or a syringe or a cut.Nor can it come from a man.Animals can be fed on if there is no other option.That is because we fed on animals when we were men.Do you understand what I am saying?”
It feels as though someone has just upended a bucket of cold water over my head.
“You feed on female blood.”Why do I sound so normal when I say it?This is crazy!
“Yes.Thick dark chocolate, rare-seared steak, or a delightful spun sugar caramel dessert—none of that could ever come close to describing how good a woman tastes.”
As he speaks, Shadow lifts my limp wrist up to his face and breathes in sharply.I can feel him getting hard as he closes his eyes and relives those tasty moments in his mind.
“Feeding on a woman’s blood is indescribably good.But it’s good for her as well.That’s why it is best for the Riders if we don’t get too hungry.Then we have enough control for a slow seduction.”
His voice gets gruff with the throaty rasp of lust as his mouth moves along my arm.I shiver when I feel the edge of his teeth brush against me.
“The orgasmic rush as the blood squirts into my mouth at the same time as my cumshot shoots into her tight pussy.Her screams as her climax melds with the pain, the endorphins sending pleasure to every part of her body.It is better than anything you can think of.”
I admit to myself that it would be kind of addictive if that happened in the way he describes it.My clitoris twinges with excitement as I dwell on the image of Shadow fucking me hard as he nibbles on my neck.
“Imagine what it must have felt like for Tempest that first night she invited Ifan into her bedroom.The hobby workroom was Sam’s bedroom, so they had to choose a night when he was sleeping on the boat.How excited Tempest must have been to look up in the moonlight to see Ifan standing in the shadows.”
Yes, I can imagine it.The expectation must have been overwhelming…
“He would not have laid down on her clean cotton sheets without removing his gear first.Tempest would have watched her lover strip off his layer of clothing one piece at a time until he stood in front of her as naked as a statue.That would have given her the chance to see his rampant excitement in all its glory before deciding to pull back her sheets and pat the space next to her for him to lie down.”
“Brave young woman.”I am there in that special moment with them.My eyes are closed as I think about how breathless with excitement Tempest must have been.
“You’re damn right, darlin’.”Giving my hair a small tug, Shadow lifts a lock of my hair up to his face like a silk tassel.“Ifan was a big guy, and his body was in proportion, if you know what I mean.He must have had to get her wetter than an Olympic swimming pool to be able to thrust himself all the way inside her.”
I wriggle with discomfort as I hear the details about my relative’s intimate moment.Chuckling, Shadow hides my eyes for me by placing the lock of hair over my face.But then he lets it drop and carries on.
“He licked her virgin blood, and it bonded them together.I think she must have allowed him to feast from the blood of her neck, too, when they orgasmed.”
“How did she not die?”I’m flabbergasted at how calm I am.I mean, he’s telling me about some insane cannibalistic ritual.“And wouldn’t the blood from her virginity have been stuck on that big penis of his?”
I’m kind of jealous hearing about Tempest’s awesome first sexual encounter and try hard not to compare it to my own disastrous event.
