Page 193 of Plug and Drain

She stole his breath with a kiss, and then she worked her way down. He closed his eyes as she trailed damp, open mouthed kisses along his chest.

He shuddered when she kissed the scars and bruises left by the witches.

Her hands glided across his midriff, touching him where no one had ever touched him before.

Not like this.

The brief affairs he’d had in taverns and bars over the years had been quick and meaningless, and he’d always kept his clothes on. Sex was a natural progression from feeding, but he’d avoided it except for the times when he’d felt exceptionally lonely. The empty couplings had always left him feeling hollow afterwards.

Being with Susie felt completely different. She made him feel good about himself.

She was pressing warm kisses on his throat as her hands slid across his abs. They were not as defined as they had been in his twenties, but he was broader and stronger than ever before—apart from his present weakness caused by the witches’ feeding.

Her hands drifted to his belt.

“Susie,” he warned, snapping out of his reverie. “Don’t.”

“Please? I want to.” Her eyes were glazed with desire.

“You need to rest.”

Susie’s priorities lay elsewhere, and she made a throaty sound that hardened his cock as she kissed the angle of his jaw. “Please…?” Her hand stroked him through his trousers, and he groaned.

It felt incredible to be touched, to be wanted.

“Arken, please, touch m—”

He caught her wrist and fixed her with a stern look. “Stop. Do not command that of me. I will not be able to stop.”

Susie blinked and nodded, some of the focus returning to her eyes. “Sorry. I just…”

He sighed. “No. I’m sorry. I don't want to be responsible for hurting you.”

“You won’t. You’ve never once hurt me.”.

“Haven’t I?” he asked sceptically. “I sincerely doubt that.”

She hesitated before settling down beside him, her straying hands moving back to rest on safer territory on his chest.

After a moment, she whispered, “You’re better than the others.”

“High praise,” he muttered.

“You’re starting to sound like Nathaniel.”

His lips quirked. “I’m almost certain that was not a compliment.”

No, she was right. He could definitely hear it.

They both sighed at the same time, although Susie’s was soft and melodic, a sound that began innocently and ended with her nibbling his shoulder through his shirt. “You never meant to hurt me.”

“I’m not sure that’s good enough. You deserve to be with someone who can keep you safe. Someone who treats you well…” He trailed off. How was it that they were back to square one again? Questioning if this could work, with doubts intruding on…

On…

He lost his train of thought as a pleasant shiver rippled through him. Susie had pulled his open shirt back, and her hot wet tongue was licking his shoulder.

She squirmed closer, her slow, suggestive licks raising him to full mast.