But what if that wasn’t true…?
“Luka … I never thought of that. I’m…” I felt like crying for some stupid reason.
“You’re really naive,” he stated plainly.
“Hey.” I reached out and punched his arm, only to wince as it nearly broke my fingers. Dude was made of stone.
He grinned a little, and Lord help me he was so beautiful when he smiled.
“I’d rather you be naive than a heartless bitch,” he said bluntly.
“Too far!” This time I reached up my hand to really let him have it, but he caught it midair, yanking me forward as I stumbled toward him, slamming my body flush up against his.
“And a naive, devastatingly sexy woman with red hair is my kryptonite,” he huffed.
All rational thought left my brain then, my faith, my beliefs—they melted along with my resolve. Being this close, having whatever this bond was between us, I could feel him, likereallyfeel him. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. Luka was a kind man with a good heart. He was strong and hard around the edges, but with a soft center. He was … I shuddered, my breath feathering over his face as he inhaled.
He leaned forward and whispered in my ear, my wrist still gently clenched between his fingers. “I dream about tasting you.”
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest in that moment as my stomach dropped. “You taste me every night,” I offered, breathy, trying to regain my composure.
“I don’t mean your blood.” Luka’s lips trailed my earlobe and I pressed closer to him. Reaching up under his shirt with my free hand, I raked my nails down his back.
He moaned in my ear, and in that moment I wanted to strip off every single piece of clothing I had on and give him my virginity. I’d had many hot and heavy moments with Sterling, but I’d always been able to stop things before they got too heated. But with Luka, all of my moral lines stared to blur.
My phone buzzed between us and I jerked backward, ripping my hand from his shirt as he let go of my wrist. My cheeks flushed as I panted, and Luka watched me, unmoving from his place.
With shaking fingers, I pulled out my phone.
Liv: Raid party leaving soon. Where you at?
Me: Be there in ten.
I put my phone in the side pocket of my tiny running shorts. “I gotta get going,” I told Luka, trying to forget the fact that I’d almost just kissed him.
He nodded. Something had thawed between us, we were back to that dangerous place where I felt myself having thoughts I shouldn’t have about a vampire.
He extended his hand, asking for my wrist, and I shook my head. “It’s getting too obvious. We need to do it somewhere … more discreet.”
A sly grin pulled at the corners of Luka’s lips. “I love how much humans blush. It tells me a lot.”
Kill me now.
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up. Got any ideas?” I pulled up my shirt to expose my stomach. “Here maybe?”
Luka’s grin faded, eyes going half-lidded. “As much as I’d like to bite you there, I need a good vein.”
Right. Veins. Where did I have a good hidden…
My gaze flicked to his to find him looking at my crotch. Stepping forward, he reached out and brushed a light finger over my inner thigh. “The femoral artery is a good one if … you wouldn’t be too uncomfortable with that option.”
I swear the lightest pink tone colored his cheeks. “Nowyou’reblushing.” I couldn’t help but smile. I felt like I’d caught him.
Luka rolled his eyes. “Oh please. I can be completely professional about this.”
I crossed my arms. “Good. Me too. Clock’s ticking. I gotta go. So let’s do this.”
Even as I said it, nerves bunched in my stomach. Good thing I wore tiny shorts or I might have had to disrobe.
