Page 144 of Bleed

I drop my towel before following, the two of us leaving a trail of damp footprints from the en-suite into his bedroom. The lights are low, the bed perfectly made. Elliott goes straight to the dresser, tugging open the top drawer and retrieving a pair of those silk ties he’s so fond of. When he turns back to face me, his lips part, gaze immediately dropping to rake over my bare figure.

“I don’t want those tonight, either,” I say, nodding to the ties dangling from his hand.

He frowns. “Beatrix, if you’re upset about earlier, then we really should talk–”

I close the distance between us and press a finger to his lips, shutting him up. “I’m not,” I insist. “Actually, the fact that you killed for me is, like, disturbingly hot. I’m not sure what that says about me, but I’m not mad. And I like when you tie me up, too, but…” My gaze flicks down to the ties, then back up to his face. “You use those to stay in control, right?”

He jerks a nod.

“Well, I wanna see who you are when you lose control.”

Elliott’s whole body locks up, his lips pressing into a thin line. “You already have,” he growls. “And I’ve hurt you.”

The pain and regret in his voice scrape at something raw inside me; a wound that hasn’t quite scarred over yet.

“Without these…” He lifts the ties, his grip around them tightening. “If you touch me freely, I’m not certain I can control my impulses. I could get carried away, and I could hurt you again.”

I trail my hands down his strong chest, across his defined abs, then lower, finding the hard ridge of his cock already rising beneath the towel. I grin to myself as I slip a hand under the edge to wrap around his girth. As far around as I can get it, at least– the guy’s so fucking huge my fingers don’t touch.

It’s a damn miracle that thing fits inside me.

“You could,” I agree, giving him a slow stroke. “But you won’t.”

He hesitates, which is fair. His whole life is data and control and keeping his inner monster leashed, and now I’m asking him to cut it loose and trust that I’ll be fine.

He shudders, a ragged exhale escaping him. “What makes you so sure?”

“Because I’m your bond,” I say, bringing my other hand down to join the first. The towel falls away as I use both to pump his length, his velvety tip brushing against my belly.

He groans low in his throat, hips jerking as precum smears across my skin.

“And I’m ready to make that official,” I add with a wink.

His eyes widen, then his brows slam down, the clinical mask slamming back into place. He drops the ties and reaches down to catch my wrists, stilling my movements.

“You said you wanted time,” he intones, his expression deadly serious. “It’s not a decision to be made impulsively.”

“I mean…” I shrug a shoulder. “Impulsive is kinda my brand. And you killed a man for me, Eli. If that’s not proof you’re in this for real, then I don’t know what is.”

His jaw clenches as I start stroking him again. “But we haven’t taken more blood samples yet for the research,” he grits out.

“Oh, fuck off.” I let him go, stepping back and planting my hands on my hips. “What matters more, Eli? The research, or me?”

“You,” he answers instantly.

I release a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. I’m not sure I knew how much I needed to hear that until right now. Nobody’s ever chosen me– not the foster families that took me in, not the world while I was scraping my way through it, fighting tooth and nail to make ends meet. Nobody but Taylor, but now she’s chosen James, and how the hell am I supposed to compete with vampire-induced orgasms and the promise of immortality?

She’s the most careful person I know, and she took the leap. Now, the bitch is thriving. I’m not sure I believe in happily-ever-afters, but I know I feel safe with Eli. Every day, he makes me feel special, adored, cherished. Like I actually matter. He’s annoyingly attentive, he takes better care of me than I’ll ever deserve… why the hell should I overthink something that I know feels right?

“Let’s do it, then,” I say, lifting my chin in challenge. “Bond with me, big man. If you want it, now’s your chance.”

“I want it,” he murmurs, stepping in close and catching my chin in a hand. “I want nothing more, Beatrix. But forever is a long time, and the gift of immortality can often feel like a curse.”

“Why does it feel like you’re trying to talk me out of this?” I huff. “If I walk out that door right now, will you let me?”

He stiffens, his expression twisting into something tortured. “I’d like to believe I could,” he says quietly, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “But even before the blood, our bond… from the moment I first saw you, some part of me claimed you as mine. I watched, I waited, but none of that changed what I already knew.” He exhales through his nose, glancing toward the door. “You can try to walk out, but you won’t get far. The man in me may let you go, but the monster never will.”

I stare up at him, my lips parting on a stilted exhale.