I do it again, this time letting my nails scrape gently against her scalp. “In the forest, I couldn’t surrender fully because it was just about the feeding. About you taking my life force. You were still clothed, and…I need more than that.”
Her chest rises and falls more rapidly as I stand over her, combing my fingers through her hair. One more step and I’d be right in her lap.
She searches my face. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips, and I suppress the desire to lean in.
“I can’t surrender to a sanguine witch,” I say, “but I can surrender to you.”
She scowls at the fire, a muscle in her jaw jumping. “You’re a fool if you think there’s a difference.”
I reach out and trace along her jawline, angling her face back toward me. She doesn’t pull away. “Tell me you don’t want me, Julia. Tell me that when you touched me in the forest, it was only about feeding.”
Her pupils dilate. “Very well. But I—I don’t know what you would have me do if I’m not to feed.”
My pulse quickens until I feel it in my throat. Has Julia never had sex except to feed?
All this life experience, and she’s never had an intimate encounter that wasn’t about her magic. She’s never seduced for pure passion or touched someone just to feel them. She’s never had someone pleasure her because they wantherinstead of her magic. She’s never just been a woman wanting another woman.
The realization puts a surprising ache in my chest. I’m not just asking her to surrender—I’m asking her to be vulnerable in a way she’s never been before. To let me see her as something other than a sanguine witch.
I thought I was the inexperienced one, but in this, she’s more innocent than I am.
No wonder she looks afraid.
“Let me show you.” My voice comes out breathy, betraying how much I want her.
Before I lose my nerve, I straddle her lap—one knee on either side of her thighs, my arms caging her head as I grip the back of the chair.
Her breath hitches as she looks up at me. I swear I can feel her heartbeat from here, racing as fast as mine.
Seeing the hungry look on her face and knowing I can affect her like this makes me dizzy with want.
Her eyes drop to my mouth, and her lips part.
I bend down and bring my lips to hers, savoring her sweet taste.
Her mouth opens for me, and her hands glide up my waist to hold me.
She leans forward as if to get up, but I press into her harder, pinning her with my body. I trace her lower lip with my tongue, and she lets out a soft sound that sends heat straight to my core.
I break the kiss and pull back enough to look at her. “Tell me you want this,” I whisper.
Her chest heaves against mine. Her eyes are wide, her lips full with that freshly kissed look.
She dips her chin in the smallest of nods.
I might be imagining it, but I swear she’s already starting to surrender.
And once she does—once she comes apart for me—we’ll both be free.
Or so I hope.
27
Julia
Hannah’sweightonmylap is driving me to madness. It’s hard to believe this woman who once looked at me with fear is now writhing on top of me, claiming my mouth like she’s trying to devour me. Her tongue flicks over mine, and when she rocks her hips against me, it’s everything not to throw aside my promise and begin the feeding incantation.
My magic stirs restlessly beneath my skin, confused by the pleasure without purpose, the touch without taking.
