“What day is it?” I ask, cautiously opening them.
Mathias is sitting on the bed, looking down at me with concern. “July 23rd. What’s going on? Bad dream?”
“Did you know the gods often used dreams to visit their subjects?” I ask him, telling him what happened without saying the words.
He tenses. “Did they? That’s smart. Was that because they liked the secrecy of it?”
They said come alone, but they didn’t say I couldn’t leave clues. “Mm, that’s my guess.” I sit up and lean against the headboard. “Where did Hawthorne go?”
“He’s downstairs in the kitchen. I heard your heart racing and came in to see if you were okay,” he informs me, sweeping my hair behind my ear. “Do you need me to get him?”
“No, I was just making sure he was safe,” I reply, trying to think through this. Glancing down at my left palm, I realize the brand is glowing.
Mathias’ eyes widen when he sees it.
“Is it time? You don’t have the last piece,” he says, quickly standing.
I reach over and grab his hand, pulling him back down to the bed. “If we exchange blood, will that turn me into a vampire?”
He blinks. “You would only turn into a vampire if I bled you dry, then gave you my blood. Why? Do you want me turn you?” A troubled expression settles on his face. “It isn’t something I would recommend. Given your unique status, I’m not sure what would happen.”
“No,” I answer, and he blows out a relieved breath. “You said that bonded mates can sometimes hear each other’s thoughts or feel their emotions? Can you feel mine?”
He smiles wryly. “Only when we kiss. I’m not sure if it will be the same for you when you take my blood, but I wouldn’t mind if that’s the case.”
“Kiss me,” I demand, rising up on my knees. The covers slip, revealing my silky camisole and shorts. I grasp his shirt and pull him to me.
His brow lowers as if he’s not sure what’s going on, but he dips his head and claims my lips in a kiss. The minute they touch mine, I melt into him. Hands at my side, his thumbs rub the underside of my breasts, and I deepen the kiss.
Mm, I could kiss him until the end of time.
His kiss deepens, becoming more passionate and erotic, his tongue dancing against mine. He slides one hand up, covering my breast, and my body floods with need.
“I want to bond with you,” I gasp, knowing he knows but wanting to give him the words.
His eyes turn dark red. “Now?”
I nod. The clock is ticking, but I don’t want to leave here with any regrets. “But I want to do it right. Even though you’ve already taken my blood, I want you to do it again. A proper exchange.”
He takes a deep breath. “I want to be inside you then.” His gaze searches mine as if he’s not certain how I’ll feel.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I tell him, reaching for his shirt and stripping it off. My mouth finds his again, and I push him down onto the bed and straddle his lap as the thought of bonding with him fires my blood.
Mathias’ hand slips into my hair as he holds my mouth to his. Wicked tongue dancing with mine, he takes over the kiss, delving deep as if he can’t get enough of me.
I reach down and unbuckle his pants, pulling them off until the only thing between him and me is the silk shorts I’m wearing. I slide up and down, loving the feeling of my body molding to his hardness.
He grabs hold of my camisole and rips it open, and my need becomes an inferno. Hands grasp my breasts, pushing them together, and his mouth moves from one side to the other, stroking them with his tongue. I moan and place my hands on his chest so I can steady myself as my hips move, needing to assuage the ache between my thighs.
“You’re so fucking wet. I want to be inside you,” he growls, shredding my shorts. His hands grip my hips as I move on top of him with nothing between us.
Slick with need, I slide down on him and stop. My gaze flicks to his, waiting.
His eyes are the deepest, darkest red. “Phaedra, my mate, my love, will you give me your blood and bond with me for the rest of our days?”
“Yes,” I answer breathlessly. With our gazes locked on each other, I move, pushing us ever so closer to the edge.
He elongates his fangs, and I stare at them. The first time, I didn’t see his fangs and barely felt them. I sweep my hair behind my back, and without stopping, I lean over and bare my neck to him.
