A deep rumbling growl filled his chest, vibrating against me. “Again, say it again.”
“Sebastian,” I breathed, barely getting the name out before his mouth took mine once more.
Where before his touch and kiss had been gentle almost revenant, now he devoured me, swallowing me down as if he couldn’t get enough. Fingers gripped my thighs, rubbing meagainst the front of him until I cried out, my hips bucking for more.
Blackthorn’s fingers slipped between us, finding me wet and aching for him. “So hot,” he groaned. “I fear the sun would not destroy me as quickly as you will tonight.”
My mouth fell open in a surprised gasp. Then my eyes caught on the portrait over his shoulder and that ugly feeling roared to life. “No,” I panted, smacking at his hand. “Stop.”
His hand stilled, his body stiffening. “Do you want to stop?”
My face heated, unable to keep my eyes from falling back on the piercing gaze of the woman in the painting. “I... just I can’t... not here.”
His eyes followed the path of mine. When his gaze returned to mine, he lowered me to the ground and stalked away toward the painting. Without warning, he grasped the frame and ripped it from the wall. His fist went through the painting, destroying the image inside until it was irreparable.
Blackthorn tossed the ruined painting away before turning back to me. Within a few strides, he was back by my side. He lifted me into his arms, cradling me to him.
“Nothing and no one will ever stand between us again.”
I clung to him as he walked us through the castle, hoping with all my heart that his words would come true.
Chapter 25
Blackthorn kicked the bedroom door open, and the wood smacked against the wall, making me jump in his arms. He grinned wolfishly down at me, his fangs flashing in the dim light of the room.
My heart raced, a nervous smile on my lips.
The door clicked shut behind us. I clung to him, each step rocking me against his chest. Then we were by the bed, and he was lowering me. My back pressed into the softness of the mattress. I held fast, not allowing Blackthorn to separate from me just yet.
“My love,” Blackthorn chuckled, brushing his lips against my forehead, “I’m not going anywhere. However, I want to see you.”
I frowned. “You can see me now.”
His large hand came up and cupped my breast through my dress, making me gasp and arch my back. “I want to see all of you.”
Slowly, I uncurled my fingers from around his neck, letting my arms fall to my sides. My eyes tracked his every movement, my chest rising and falling rapidly.
Fear wasn’t what I felt. Instead, it was excitement. Eagerness. A quiet, simmering desperation to have his hands on me.
His thumb brushed over where my nipple pressed against the fabric, teasing the tip until I panted and squirmed. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to the swell of my breast before moving away.
“Sebastian!” I cried out, a hand reaching out for him.
Blackthorn knelt at the end of the bed, his hands grasping my foot in his hand, slipping my shoe off and dropping it over the side of the bed before pressing his mouth to the arch of my foot. My toes wiggled as a strange electricity zipped through me from where his mouth touched my foot.
He lowered my leg to the mattress before giving the same reverence to my other foot. He didn’t release this leg, his long fingers moving up my calf, stroking and caressing as my skirt moved up my thighs. My legs parted, making room for him, his mouth making a wet tingling path up my inner calf and thigh until my skirts were at my waist.
“Sebastian,” I breathed, his face hovering where I ached for him most. “Please. I need...”
He groaned, looping his fingers at the sides of my undergarments, drawing them down my legs. His breath was cool against my flesh.
I shuddered. He hadn’t fed. Maybe not since I fed him last.
“Wha... what are you doing?” I stuttered, leaning up on my elbows.
Blackthorn’s gaze lifted to mine, his fingers tracing the inside of my thighs. “I wish to taste you. I’ve dreamed of tasting you.”
“But...” I swallowed. “You’ve already—”
