12
Riley
When she opened her eyes,she was alone. She knew it even before she rolled over. All of her senses felt heightened, and she couldhearthe silence. Only the slight creaks and settling of the stone walls, the crackle of a fire in another room—he’d thought to keep her warm.
Getting up proved difficult, though. She sprang out of bed, and momentum had her almost pitching forward.What’s wrong with me now?A quick check of her nail beds shocked her. Still pink. Could Declan’s blood really cure her? If so…she needed to find a way to study vampire blood.
By the time she’d splashed some water on her face in the bathroom, she understood why she felt so off balance. The weakness she’d lived with for more than seven years was gone, and she was over-compensating.
“Declan?” The flat screen monitor on the wall revealed it was close to dusk again, and the tour van was parked on the expansive driveway. The view switched to the basement, and a small crowd gathered around a woman dressed in a navy blue uniform. “Oh God. He’s about to feed.”
A possessive wave of desire threatened to drown her, and she rushed to the door hiding his secret stairwell. A gust of cool air wafted down the passageway, bringing Declan’s scent with it, and it was like her entire body came alive. Barefoot, taking the steps two at a time, she burst into the darkened closet. Declan whirled, a young man in his twenties standing in the doorway to the basement, his eyes clouded over and his face slack.
As Riley’s gaze collided with Declan’s, she shook her head.Don’t do it. Don’t feed from him.She didn’t know where this urge was coming from, but the idea of her vampire with his fangs in…anyoneelse sent a ice sliding down her spine.
His movements purposeful and efficient, Declan returned his attention to the young man. His low voice was barely audible in the dark room. “You will go back to your tour group and remember nothing of me.”
The guy shuffled out into the basement, and Declan eased the door shut with an almost imperceptible click. “Riley? I hope you understand the consequences of what you just asked me to do.”
Two steps later, she was in his arms, and as she tipped her head back, his lips parted. “Don’t feed from anyone else. Not today. I need it to be me, Declan.”
He threaded his fingers through her hair, and when he kissed her, the barest hint of his fangs scraped over her tongue. Despite the coolness of his body, his mouth was all velvet heat, and desire flooded her panties. She’d dreamed of him. Of this. Of being…his. And now, she ached for him. She couldn’t stay. Couldn’t pass the rest of her days in this castle—whether they numbered five or five thousand. But she could have this night with him.
Against her hip, his hard length almost throbbed, and she slid her hand down his pecs, lower, over his defined abs, and to his belt.
“Not yet,” he managed as he swept her into his arms and raced to his bedroom. The dark stairwell was only a blur as he moved, and when he laid her down on the thick duvet, he got to his feet, his chest heaving, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “Are you certain,acushla?You wish to feed me?”
She held his gaze, his eyes a dark crimson, and his fangs resting on his lower lip. “Yes.”
“But that is not all you want.”
As Riley shifted back against the pillows, her sweatshirt rubbed across her nipples, sending little electric sparks racing all the way down to her core. She was so wet, she wasn’t sure she could hide it from him much longer—or that she wanted to. “No.” Stripping off her shirt, she let it fall to the floor, and a growl rumbled low in Declan’s throat.
“Riley.” The single word held so much emotion, and his eyes turned a deeper red as the front of his pants strained against his obvious arousal. “Sex…I could hurt you.”
“You won’t.” Sliding to the edge of the bed, she undid his belt, then the top button on his black slacks. With the lightest of touches, she skimmed her hand over the bulge through the expensive material and he shuddered. “I dreamed about you. About this. And every time I’m close to you…this is all I want.”
He started to undo the buttons on his dress shirt, each one exposing more of his sculpted chest, and Riley licked her lips.
“Are all…vampires this…built?” she asked.
“We keep the physique we have when we are turned.” Declan narrowed his eyes. “I hope that does not give you any ideas of…finding other vampires to ogle. I donotshare.”
With a little gasp, she shook her head. “No sharing. No ogling. Just…you. Please, Declan.” Running her palms over his pecs, then up to his shoulders, she eased the shirt down his arms. “I don’t do this.”
“What?” he whispered as he scraped his fangs gently over her neck. “Throw yourself at a vampire you’ve just met?”
“Throw myself atanyone.Wantanyone. It’s been…a long time.” Riley couldn’t stifle her whimper as he kissed the sensitive skin behind her ear. “Oh, God. I don’t understand why you’re so…why I want this…but I do.”
Declan stiffened and took her by the upper arms. “Look at me, Riley.”
She obeyed, because, damn…she couldn’t do anything else with that commanding tone in his voice.
“I swear, I am not glamouring you. Do you believe me? It is important.”
Streaks of blue flooded his red eyes, and she saw nothing but honesty—and concern—reflected back at her. “I believe you. I want this, Declan. I promise you. I want this more than anything.”
With a half-snarl, he yanked her yoga pants down her hips, and gooseflesh rose on her skin as she stood before him in nothing but the red lace bra and panties. “I can smell you,acushla.Your arousal. It is intoxicating. I wonder if you taste of the sun there as well.”
