It’s not what I need, but it’s what she needs, and I’ll happily sacrifice whatever I can to ensure that she thrives.
If only death would loosen its grip on my throat.
I hear him before I see him. The bathwater splashes as he approaches, the reds of his irises darkening to black and the undead pallor of his skin turning translucent. His veins have turned to pitch, running beneath his skin like roots into the earth.
From whence he came, to where he shall return.
Sienna’s gorgeous, love-drunk smile slips. “Callum?”
He grabs her by the hair andyanks, hissing like a serpent as he tears her body from mine. She shouts in surprise and stumbles to her feet, but he’s on her within a single heartbeat. Forcing her into a deep backbend, he covers her body and sinks his fangs into the curve of her neck, a sickening wet squelch accompanying the river of blood pouring from the open wound.
Our eyes meet for the briefest moment before Sienna’s flutter closed, her breaths shallow as she winds her hands in Callum’s thick locks. Thensheyanks, tearing his mouth from her bleeding neck and sealing their lips together.
The vampire wastes no time cupping her ass and lifting her, easily slotting his raging erection against her center and thrusting hard, ramming into her with such speed that I only witness the aftershock. Sienna cries out, their mouths misaligning as he pounds into her. Bathwater sloshes over the edge of the tub, but the lapping waves are nothing compared to the sound of Sienna’s gushing wet pussy. Callum’s cock glistens every time he pulls back, my cum and Sienna’s making for a smooth glide.
Goddamn, is it a beautiful sight.
But, if he’s not careful, he’ll break her.
I rise from the ledge to intervene, but Sienna shakes her head, panting over Callum’s shoulder as he ruts her like a beast. The dark veins trailing down his shoulders and back pulse with life, or magic, or whatever the fuck it is that keeps a vampire running. He sinks his fangs into the other side of her neck and groans deep in his chest, his body shuddering as he drinks from my mate.
As hot as this is, it’s also fucking bullshit.
I close the distance between us in two strides, but by then, Sienna has pulled him off her neck a second time and locked his face in her hands. “Callum,” she calls out, the power of her voice commanding his attention, “be gentle.” Caressing his cheek, shelicks into his mouth with such tenderness that he freezes in place, as stunned by her quiet power as I am.
The woman I know and love dominates with a fierceness that ignites passion. She burns as hot as the sun and takes as much pleasure as she receives, easily overpowering me when her desire demands it.
At first, I don’t understand what passes between them. Sienna coaxes Callum into submission with soft kisses and gentle touches, easing him out of a frenzy by tugging the threads loose one strand at a time. Only once his alabaster skin has returned to normal—beyond normal, even, its tones warming to a smooth cream that makes him appearliving—and his blackened veins disappear beneath the surface does she weave her fingers through his hair and mimic his attentions, kissing the curve of his neck and rolling her hips in tandem, taking him the wayshewants rather than allow him to conquer.
Sweat gathers on Sienna’s brow and drips down the side of her face, a similar bead trailing down Callum’s back as he supports her weight. “There we go,” she breathes, pressing their foreheads together. Crimson beads cling to her skin and steadily gather like rainwater, forming rivulets that drip into the bath. She draws out their pleasure with slow, delicate thrusts, panting into his mouth and sliding her tongue across his fangs.
I’ve never seen any so sharp.
Murmuring sweet encouragement, she brings him to completion in a way that I’ve never experienced, gently holding on as he spills deep inside her channel, his body convulsing with the force of his release.
Cautiously, I slip behind Sienna and wrap my arms around her waist, carefully dislodging the pair. They both gasp as his cock slips free, the shaft glistening as his cum and her cream gather along the thick veins and at the base.
Fucking hells.
He catches her legs before they fall into the bath. Sienna moans as he spreads her thighs, his glittering ruby eyes locking onto her leaking center. “Beautiful,” he murmurs, caressing her skin. “Are you sore?”
She shakes her head. “You didn’t hurt me.”
A warning growl rumbles inside my chest. “Don’t lie, Si.”
“I’m not lying.” She rolls her neck as though testing that her head is still attached. “I’m a little tired, but physically, I feel fine.”
I brush my fingers across the side of her neck and marvel at the lack of puncture wounds. Even her burn has healed, taking on a smooth pinkish hue rather than mottled with color.
An ache settles inside my chest, and I grind my jaw. Am I the only one who can’t heal her? Why not? I’ve known her the longest—loved her the longest—and yet I’m...
Not enough.
Goose bumps trail down my arms, and I hold Sienna tight. Am I being selfish by keeping her?
Yes.
I’ve known that since the moment we met. A better man would have left her alone—walked the other way and willfully forgotten about her existence. But she was so alone, sopainfullyalone, that leaving her would have been cruel. Ihadto save her.
