He stared at her for a long moment before he nodded. Taking her hand, he led her to the chaise lounge set near the undraped, night-dark windows. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap, the soft lights reflecting their images on thewindowpane.
He smoothed her hair away from her neck. When she realized this was it, her lungs nearly shutdown.
“Ready?”
“Jeez, don’t warn me, just doit.”
“And you sliced your wrist?” he drawled, amusement brightening hiseyes.
She grimaced. “Yes, well, escaping from evil demons and such, the adrenaline rush can make you dothings…”
Smiling, he lowered his mouth to her throat. At the sensation of his warm tongue circling her pulse in a predatory way, her heart rate escalated. His fangs lightly grazed her skin, the erotic teasing making her shiver. His mouth fastened over it and he sucked as if drawing her vein closer to thesurface.
His fangs sank into her neck, and a delicious warmth spread through her, she barely felt the sting. Shae wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers tangled in his long hair, holding him close. He drank deeply. With every pull, it felt as if he were thrusting inside her. She rubbed herself against his rock-hard groin, a low moan escapingher.
Her fingers tugged on his hair, the edges of her consciousness clouding, and she sagged againsthim…
* * *
Shae’smotionless body cut through Dagan’s blood high. He tore his mouth away from her throat and licked the puncture woundsclosed.
“Shae?” He grasped her face, her normally fair skin gone chalk-white.
Her eyelids fluttered open. “I’m okay… Just a littlelightheaded.”
“Fuck! I took toomuch.”
“Yes, there was that risk, but you stopped, didn’t you?” She patted his chest. “Now I know you’ll besafe.”
“At your expense?” he snapped, furious at himself then he narrowed his eyes. “Did youeat?”
Her eyelids drifted closed. “I will…in amoment.”
“Godsdammit, Shae!” Choking back a violent volley of curses, he rose from the chaise lounge and carried her across to the massive bed. He set her on the cover and stacked the pillows behind her. “Don’tmove.”
Pulling open the bedside drawer, he found her stash of candies, retrieved two, and gave them to her. “I’ll be rightback.”
He flashed to the kitchen and grabbed atray.
Hedori appeared from his quarters. “Sire, may I be ofhelp?
“Yes. I need food for Shae. Her sugar level’s low,” he explained, his frustration at himself still riding high. Heavens, he was so damn grateful to be able to control his bloodlust and feed from his mate. But dammit, he had to be more careful with her and not aggravate herhypoglycemia.
Dagan stared through the window, rubbing the ache in his chest. She cared enough about him to put her life on the line—no one had ever done that forhim.
The job didn’t count, they were all brothers in their fight against evil, and their fealty belonged to Gaia. Hell, he’d survived Tartarus, and he’d thought he could survive this too, living an almost mortal life. Truth was, he would have died far sooner. And Shae knew it,too.
“Dagan?”
He turned. Hedori nodded to the tray. “Thanks. How’s Jenna?” heasked.
“She sleeps…but in fitful snatches.” An undercurrent of anger scored the male’s stoictone.
After being trapped in the Dark Realm, Dagan couldn’t blame her. The emotional and mental trauma she’d gone through—would continue to go through—hell, it was going to be a long haul. But knowing Shae was with her, he hoped it gave her some peace, atleast.
Dagan headed upstairs to his quarters and found the bed empty. Dammit! He dropped the tray on the coffee table in the turret living room and headed for the dressing room. There she was, looking into thecloset.
When she saw him, her lips curved in asmile.
