Thalia slid the arm cuff off, then took off her earrings. She grabbed the comb from her hair and hissed when the sharp prongs pricked her finger.
A droplet of blood welled brighter than a diamond.
Cassius took her hand in his gently, and she didn’t protest as her finger slipped into his mouth.
Thalia shivered as his tongue swept over her finger, sucking lightly. But he didn’t bite her, just let her blood fill his mouth.
She swallowed as he finished, his eyes glowing, face slightly rippling. “Let me see you,” she got out.
Cassius paused, eyes scanning hers, searching for any ounce of fear. Then he changed. His skin sank into his skull, black veins slithering beneath his flesh, eyes burning brighter than the moon.
She cupped his face, feeling the hollowed cheekbones. “You do not scare me,” she whispered, pressing her lips to his. Cassius shuddered against her mouth as she pulled away, his skin slowly returning to normal.
“I want to know what it tastes like,” she said quietly.
Cassius froze, his pupils nearly devouring the ring of his irises. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, sitting up. Cassius sat back as she grabbed her discarded hairpiece. She took his hand in hers, twisting it so his palm faced up. He didn’t react as she pricked his thumb with the prong.
A droplet welled, then she slowly brought his hand to her mouth.
Cassius made a low noise in the back of his throat as her lips closed around his thumb. His blood hit her tongue, a mixture of copper and salt and something else. Something sweetened like a tart berry, and she sucked him deeper into her mouth.
“Fuck, Thalia,” he whispered as she fell back against the bed, her tongue running all over the rough pad of his thumb. Thalia’s hands wrapped around his arm, holding him to her.
“Thalia?” Her name was a question, one she knew the answer to. She nodded, and he seemed to shudder.
A sharp sting sliced along her fingertip.
Her eyes closed as he took her finger once more in his mouth, moaning as he gently sucked at her skin.
Thalia sucked on his thumb harder, and his own answering groan accompanied hers. The little bit of his blood was overwhelming her senses, making her light and dizzy.
He pulled his hand away from her mouth, and she made a noise of protest—until he took the hand he’d been sucking on and wound their fingers together, letting them rest by her head.
“I would gladly die a thousand deaths …” he whispered, his lips bright with her blood. Thalia groaned when he nudged her entrance. “… if it meant that I got to do this. If it meant I could be with you. You make all of this worth it.”
Thalia’s eyes rolled back as he pushed inside her, her fingers tightening around his. “And I’ll never get sick of this. The feeling of you. The taste of your blood.”
Thalia’s hips lifted as an invitation, and he plunged deep inside her.
“The way you’re so fucking wet for me, I can hardly think.”
Thalia’s core tightened as he withdrew, plunging deep inside her once more. She could hardly stand it—the feel of him inside her. Howhe filled and stretched her as if she had no ending or beginning. It was simply them. Their bodies entwined, fitting into places they’d both thought were forgotten.
Cassius’s hips rolled, his strokes coming harder, faster.
Thalia let go of his hand so she could haul his mouth to hers. Her blood on his mouth had her moaning, her tongue stroking with as much fervor as his cock.
“Cassius,” she groaned.
His fingers tightened around her waist and he pulled back, sitting on his heels, bringing her with him. She cried out as he reached a deeper angle, pleasure spearing straight to her core.
“Say it again.” His rough voice scraped up her neck. He thrust upward just as she sank down and nearly wept at the building pressure, at the bliss that hummed just along the edges of her mind.
“Cassius.”
He grunted, his hands tightening on her thighs, his chest brushing against her aching nipples.
