Page 76 of Her Vampire, His Ruin

“For the orgasms…” Her eyes soften, and beneath my hand, now resting at the centre of her chest, I can feel her heart pounding. I imagine her blood pumping around its chambers, only serving to remind me how fragile she is, how fragile this moment is. “And for giving me pleasure,” she continues.

“You deserve no less, Edie.”

“I think for a long time I didn’t feel I deserved anything at all,” she admits, then frowns.

I can sense her internal battle. She’s revealing more of herself than she wishes to, and if I let her sit with that, she might convince herself that we’re getting too close emotionally and leave. Reaching for her shirt, I undo the top button, keeping her focussed on my physical touch.

“How so?” I ask, undoing the next button. She doesn’t stop me, so I continue. She’s wearing a see through lace bra, her pink nipples tightening as I swirl my finger around them. She shudders beneath my touch, the promise of more pleasure pinning her to the bed.

“For a long time I blamed myself for Robert’s infidelities. I thought I was the problem. I tried so hard to be the perfect wife, all whilst making myself smaller.” I feel her body stiffen, her need to flee rising once more.

Leaning over, I gently draw her nipple into my mouth, sucking gently. She instantly relaxes, and soon more confessions slip from her parted lips.

“I twisted myself into this person I didn’t recognise, all to please him, because deep down I didn’t feel worthy enough to be loved for who I was, who I am.”

She lets out another stuttered moan as I lave her nipple with my tongue. “Keep talking,” I mutter against her skin.

“I became a shadow of who I once was, and I hate that I did that to myself, that I wasn’t strong enough to leave him before he left me. I wasted so many years on a man who didn’t deserve my loyalty, least of all my love.”

Her confession digs beneath my skin and buries itself into my fucking heart, a heart that hasn’t felt a shred of empathy or affection for a very, very long time. I feel those emotions stirring within me, and I have no fucking clue what to make of it all. Refusing to give them a second thought, I shove them aside and suck on her nipple.

“That feels so, so good,” she moans, her hands flying to my head as she tugs me closer. “Don’t stop.”

For the next few minutes, I pay attention to her breasts, giving her my undivided attention as I suck on her nipples through the lace. Her body turns liquid with every second that passes, and when I reach between her legs and slide my finger inside her, she shudders.

With obscene tenderness, and ball breaking restraint, I kiss her softly, tenderly. It’s a slow, languorous kiss. There’s no rush, no clashing of teeth, no desperation. This kiss is filled with peace, connection, contentment, and fuck, I could happily drown in this kiss and never come up for air.

Whimpers part her lips, every muscle tightening within her as she gives herself over to me. Before long, she’s coming again, this time softly, quietly, as though she’s trying to remain in control as much as I am.

Pulling back, I rest my hand over the centre of her chest once more, giving her a moment to decide what happens next. I’m treading a thin line here, trying to contain the monster within, as my gaze drifts to her pulse, to the vein throbbing at her neck. I want to bite her. I want to consume her. I want to hear her confessions, absorb them. I want… Fuck, I want too much.

“Dorian,” she whispers, her hand shaking as she strokes my cheek.

She’s fighting this connection, too. I recognise her need to run, to put space between us, but when she exhales a shaky breath, giving into the moment, trusting me with her vulnerability, I do something I’ve never done before. Replacing my hand with my head, I press my ear against her chest and shut my eyes, listening to her heart beat a soothing rhythm, allowing it to settle within me.

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

Her chest rises and falls, the seconds turning into minutes as the minutes slip by.

“Edie…” I eventually say, “I should take you home.”

She offers no reply, and when I lift my head, I see she has drifted into sleep, blissfully unaware of her vulnerability or the darkness I carry within me.

Chapter 17

Dorian

Edie sleeps for an hour.

I don’t leave her side, content to watch her sleep.

Her chest continues to rise and fall in an even rhythm, her lips slightly parted, and her body at peace. She is glorious in all her unguarded serenity, and I’m enthralled by her beauty, utterly addicted to her soft curves, obsessed with her sharp wit, floored by her trust in me. She’s the complete package, and I’ve no idea how the fuck I’m ever going to let her go.

Everything about this is unfamiliar. I’ve never lingered with a woman after sexual intimacy.

As a vampire, sex often goes hand in hand with feeding, and once I’ve had my fill of blood and orgasms, any physical closeness ends. Always.

As a human, intimacy ended the moment sex was over. I never sought out comfort. Never offered it either. I took what I wanted and walked away.