Liam let me go, his dark, enigmatic gaze on me as I started slowly up the steps toward his bedroom.
Expectant silence filled the house as I pulled my top over my head and dropped it on the steps. I shot a teasing look over my shoulder. "Are you coming?"
Liam sucked in a deep breath.
I took off running, not even making it two steps before he swept me into his arms and sped through the house. I shrieked with laughter at the intense look on his face, as if he was preparing for battle.
The bedroom door opened and slammed behind us. Seconds later, I felt his bed under me as he came down on top of me.
"Impatient, are we?" I asked, trying to stuff down my laughter.
His scowl faded as a teasing smile came out. I had a moment of trepidation.
"Shall we play a game?" he asked.
I shook my head frantically. No, no. I always lost his games.
"I think we should," he cooed.
I bared my fangs at him as he reached up, dragging one sharp nail along his neck to open the thinnest of lines. A bead of blood welled. I licked my lips, my eyes locked on that delicious drop of awesome.
It would taste so good.
I inhaled sharply, catching the slightest tang of chocolate and wine, of a decadence so consuming it must be a sin.
A hunger of a different sort moved through me.
I struggled to think past the haze. "Stakes?"
His lips curved in a dark smile. "Resist and I'll let you lead for the night."
I hissed at him. "Bastard."
I was going to lose and we both knew it. We'd played this game many times before. His blood was a siren song, one that would need a will power far stronger than mine to resist. When it came to him, I was weak. Some could even say my willpower was nonexistent.
"I've never pretended to be anything else," he said. "When you play the game, you have to play to win, otherwise it isn't much fun."
He leaned forward, ensuring I got another whiff of that addicting blood. I stopped breathing through my nose, sucking air in through my mouth. Mistake.
My hands opened and closed as I fought the urge to yank him against me.
His head dipped as he set the hard length of his fangs against my throat, careful not to pierce the skin. My legs moved restlessly against his as I tilted my pelvis, an unspoken invitation.
"You are more than I ever dreamed." His breath stirred against my skin. "My punishment and reward."
I whined, my fangs denting my lower lip.
"Not fair," I panted, still resisting.
"I'm a vampire. We're not known for playing fair,a chuisle mo chroí," he whispered.
I moved against him again, arousal and hunger twining together, making it difficult to think beyond my needs.
I wanted him. His blood. His body. That unspoken quality that made Liam, Liam. I wanted all of it.
I could feel myself leaning toward him like a flower toward the sun. Like he had a gravitational pull and I was the object caught in his orbit.
My lips brushed his throat, my tongue darting out to capture that tiny bead. Pure need consumed me. My resistance snapped.
