She scoffed. “You don’t need blood to survive.”
“No, I don’t. But you bloody well do. And instead of asking me, you go hunting elsewhere,” he hissed angrily. “Do you think I didn’t notice your prey looked like the poor man’s version of me?”
“You’re an arrogant asshole, you know that?”
“For once, just let that bloody guard down,” he growled against her lips. “Ask me for what you need.”
“No.”
“Why?” Elijah pressed his body to hers, letting her feel how hard she made him. “I know you want me just as much as I want you. I can sense it. I can damn well smell it.”
Her breath stuttered, puffing against his mouth. “Elijah …”
At the uncharacteristic, pleading tone, he softened his hold on her. “Let me in. You can trust me.”
“If … I’m afraid if I drink from you … I won’t stop.”
“Why?” he pushed.
“Because I want you so badly!” She shoved at him. “Get off!”
Triumph flooded Elijah’s blood and he crushed his mouth over hers. God, how he’d longed to taste her again. His kiss wasn’t sweet or tender. It was hungry and claiming. Elijah kissed her like he wanted to fuck her. What felt like years of pent-up longing poured itself into his kiss. Echo moaned into his mouth, her hips undulating against his as her vanilla and spice scentturned fragrant with sex. He could smell how much she wanted him, and it drove him mad.
Then a sting on his lips had him groaning as Echo bit him and sucked.
Remembering her other needs, he reluctantly yanked his head back. “Bite me. Take what you need.”
Her incisors sprang down at his words, her eyes silvering completely. She panted with want, her body throbbing with two different desires.
“Echo. I want you to.” He did. Elijah didn’t even care if her bite hurt. He wanted to give this femaleeverythingshe needed. He didn’t entirely understand the depth of his feelings for her, but Elijah wasn’t going to hide from them anymore.
“What if I can’t stop?”
“Has that ever been a problem?”
“No. But …” She tipped her chin defiantly, as if daring him to reject her. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I don’t know how it’ll affect my hunger.”
Euphoria buzzed through him, his erection becoming painful with want at her declaration. “Trust me,” he said, his words husky with lust. “I’m strong enough to stop you if you lose control.”
That’s when he saw the last of her defenses crumble. She bit her lip and her fangs hung over the lush bottom one in a strangely adorable fashion. Finally, she whispered, “Not here. It reeks in this alley. I’m not doing that here with you.”
Because it was different with him.
She wasn’t just slaking her hunger on an unwitting stranger. A practical transaction.
This was more than that.
Before she could say another word, Elijah took her hand and fae-sped them from the back of the alley all the way to the hotel room.
Echo gasped as they blasted into the room, and she stumbled from his hold. “Whoa. The room is spinning.”
Elijah steadied her. “Sorry about that. I’m a little impatient to have you.”
As the room filled with the mingled scent of their arousal,Elijahwas the one to lose control. As he kissed her, stroking his tongue along hers, wanting to taste every inch of her, he yanked at her leather jacket, then broke the kiss to whip off her T-shirt.
Her incisors sliced down again as he tore off his own shirt.
“Christ, you’re stunning,” he whispered hoarsely, his eyes dragging over her pale but taut skin. She wore a sheer red bra that revealed her nipples. Nipples he couldn’t wait to suck and lick while she rode him. “Echo …” He’d never wanted anyone this much. Echo was the one afraid of losing control, but Elijah felt like a starving man in a restaurant, desperate to try every part of her all at once.
