“I don’t care about the size of your… your… you know.”
His brows knit together, and he glanced down at the prominent bulge in his pants.
Was he honestly upset that she didn’t care about his size? Freaking fragile male egos. Vampire or human really made no difference.
“I only care about the fact that it’s awake and was clearly trying to get to know me!” Cora finished, her voice reaching a level of screechy that hurt even her own ears.
Saiden threw up his hands in protest and leaned back against the desk. “I wasn’t attempting to take advantage while you were sleeping, Cora. I would never do that. I’m guessing you haven’t woken up next to very many guys, though, because this is just biology. It always rises before I do.”
She didn’t know if she should be more upset that he basically called her inexperienced at sex—which was somewhat true but completely irrelevant—or the fact that he was so cavalier about what happened.
“And why did it wake up next to me? And by it, I mean you. Why weren’t you on your side of the bed?”
He gave her a wolfish grin. “I don’t recall that being part of the negotiations.”
She racked her brain for memories of the night before. Okay, technically he only promised that he would leave her alone if she was still awake, and technically she had fallen asleep, but still…
“You said no seduction, so I figured no touching was implied.”
His grin widened. “Then it’s probably a good thing that you’re a director and not a lawyer.”
That did it. All the embarrassment, frustration, and indignation coalesced into a ball of pure rage that exploded inside her.
Stalking over to him, she hauled back her arm and punched himright in his devilishly handsome face.
“Fucking hell, that hurt!”
Wait, that should have been his line. So why was she the one rubbing her aching fist while he stood there clearly fighting the urge to laugh.
“Vampire,” he remarked plainly, pointing at his chest. “Do I get props for letting you hit me though? I debated whether I should catch your fist, but it seemed like you needed to vent some of that pent up aggression.”
Do not punch him again, she commanded herself while trying to ignore the throbbing in her hand.It will only make things worse.
Since any kind of physical retribution was out of the question, she resorted to what was basically her only option—shouting. “You freaking asshat! You are an ass with another ass as a hat. That is what you are.”
Wow, that was embarrassing. Her brain really needed to return from the tropics because she couldn’t even insult him properly.
Since she was still filled with righteous indignation, she got up in his face and continued her litany of grade school put-downs.
“You are the rudest, most arrogant, most disgusting, pig-headed—”
And before she could finish her insult that was undoubtedly headed nowhere eloquent, he grabbed her by the arms, hauled her tight against his chest, and kissed her.
Chapter nineteen
Saiden
Well this is a better use of that sassy mouth,was the first thought that hit Saiden’s mind as he pressed his lips firmly against Cora’s. The second thought was less of a thought and more of a feeling as her taste swept through his brain and short-circuited anything resembling civilized cognition. He gripped her tighter, savoring the feel of her soft breasts against his chest, and his tongue darted out to beg entrance to her mouth. He was pretty much reduced to caveman level thinking.
Want... Need... Mine!
He couldn’t even remember the last time he lost control like that and succumbed so completely to his arousal. Maybe it was spending the night breathing in the essence that was Cora. Or maybe it was some part of the mating bond screaming that she belonged with him. Either way, he needed her desperately, so he sent out a plea to Lilith that Cora wouldn’t push him away. He would never force himself on anyone, let alone his mate, but he would need a six-hour cold shower if she rejected him right then.
Cora went stiff in his arms, and he waited to see if pleasure or pain would be the theme for his day.
She melted into the kiss, a tiny gasp slipping out of her, and right then he could have died a second time as a very happy vampire.
He seized the opportunity to seek out her tongue with his own, testing her interest in where things were headed. She tasted like berry-flavored sunshine, and he knew then that nothing else would ever be as delicious as her. He couldn’t stop his fangs from lengthening inside his mouth or his cock from lengthening inside his suddenly too-tight jeans.
