Page 114 of Her Vampire, His Ruin

“This will be pleasurable. Submit to me.”

“What will?” I whisper as he ties the belt around my wrists, securing my hands to the headboard, my body following his command even though part of me is enraged at his dominance. This is the first time I’ve truly felt the power of it, and I’m struggling with my desire to submit to him. The truth is, I’m caught between unbelievable lust, lingering dread, and intense anger.

Dorian reaches into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out a delicate silver chain, two silver loops attached to each end. “This is my gift to you, Edie. What I’m about to do isn’t just a piercing, it is a declaration to all of my clan that you are mine. Humans slip on rings, we choose intimate piercings. ”

“Wait, are you going to⁠—”

My question is cut off when he shoves up my top, revealing my breasts. I regret not putting on a bra, but in my haste to leave my home with Henrietta earlier, I didn’t bother. Dorian opens his mouth, his fangs dropping, and goosebumps scatter over my skin as I realise what he’s about to do.

“This will sting at first,” he says, and before I can even protest, he grasps my breast in his hand, curls over me, and pierces my nipple with his fang.

A cry releases from my lips, my back arching from the sharp sting that soon makes way for pleasure as he pulls his fang from my flesh and twirls his tongue around my nipple. I press my eyes shut, holding in a moan as his saliva enters my bloodstream, a soothing warmth flooding through me.

“Shh,” he whispers, pressing gentle kisses against my chest. “I’ve got you.”

With trembling hands, he unlatches the silver ring, threading it through the hole he made. “Are you okay?” he asks, his fingers trailing between my breasts.

“I’m… I don’t know,” I whisper, all the fight within me evaporating beneath the pleasure humming through my body. Dorian lifts his finger to his mouth, piercing the pad of his thumb. A spot of blood wells on the tip, and he spreads it over my nipple. The pain disappears instantly.

“Your blood can heal?” I ask.

He nods. “It has the power to bring someone back to life, Edie. Of course it can heal.”

His fingers drift across my chest, then he gently cups my other breast. Our eyes lock, and in that charged silence, I surrender, not out of fear or submission, but because I sense a chance to touch the part of him, that is still human. He told me this act is a claim for his kind, a promise as binding as a wedding band. That has to mean something.

“Do it,” I whisper.

Some of the tension seems to release from his shoulders as he leans over, piercing that nipple too. This time, when his fangs retract, he sucks my nipple into his mouth, laving his tongue over my flesh for a lot longer, and I know he’s allowing himself more than a taste of my blood.

“Dorian,” I moan, all my fear and hatred falling away momentarily as my body gives itself over to him. I’m under his spell, and if he doesn’t find it within himself to stop, we’re both doomed.

“You taste like fucking starlight,” he murmurs against my skin, releasing me.

“Starlight?”

“Yes. Your blood is the purest I’ve tasted. It’s fucking delicious. But I’ll only allow myself a taste. Nothing more. I refuse to hurt you again.”

His whole body is trembling now as he slides the other ring in place. Then, piercing his finger once again, he heals the wound. Gently, he fingers the chain, tugging on it. The sensation of it pulling on my nipples sends a rush of pleasure straight to my clit. My eyelids flutter shut, heat spreading across my chest and neck.

“Beautiful,” he whispers. “Mine.” Before I’ve even had the chance to respond, he unties my hands and climbs off the bed. “I have brought you some clothes. There is a shower through there,” he says, pointing to a door on the far side of the room. “Eat. I will return when dawn rises.”

With that, he leaves, and I’m left bereft, turned on, and utterly confused.

Chapter 26

Dorian

Four days slip by, and each morning I find myself drawn to my bedroom, compelled to watch Edie sleep. The first morning, she fought valiantly to stay awake, but in the end, exhaustion claimed her, leaving her defenceless and vulnerable.

Since then, I’ve fought my urge to drink her blood. Instead, like now, I lie beside her wondering how the fuck I’ll survive the indecision.

I could give in and turn her.

I could end her life permanently.

But I don’t.

Instead, I exist in a perpetual state of torture, fighting my vampirism, fighting my human emotions, struggling to make sense of what’s happening to me. The second any feelings for Edie surface, intense pain overwhelms me, and the only thing that stops it is if I allow my monster to rise to the surface. When that happens, all I can do is drink another human’s blood to protect Edie from harm.