Jesus. He knew exactly how she felt.
He struggled to remember all the reasons to refuse her. He knew the right reasons were there, he just couldn’t find his rational thoughts, not one of them. Besides, he wanted to do this for her. He wanted her to know that although many things had been impossible for her here on Mortal Earth, it was only because she needed to ascend, to be with a man on Second Earth, someone like him, a powerful vampire who could take all she had to give.
The thought of all her power did him in, what it would be like to have her under him, to be connected to her, his c**k buried deep, his fangs in her neck, his mind drifting through hers. He wanted it all.
He sent the question softly into her mind, You sure about this?
Uh-huh, she responded, her telepathic abilities just about perfect. “We could start with one kiss,” she suggested, “and if it doesn’t work out…”
Like hell it won’t work out.
She sighed. That’s what I’m hoping.
He turned toward her. His rib cage hit the steering wheel. He could hardly move his knees, the car was so damn small.
He tried to relax but his body was a cauldron. He gripped her arms and hauled her against his chest. He kissed her fiercely, claiming at least her lips, imprinting that much of his body onto her memory.
Oh, God, she parted her lips.
He drove his tongue hard, taking possession of her mouth, maybe too hard because she pulled back then twisted sideways out of his arms. He was about ready to apologize, but she shifted a little then tucked herself against him so that her head now rested in the well of his shoulder. Oh, she was just getting more comfortable. She even slung an arm around his neck. Yeah, the car was small and they both had to adjust.
He slid his palm over the back of her head, caressing. The silky strands drifted over his fingers.
“Kiss me again,” she murmured.
He bent over her and kissed her as though he’d never had his tongue in a woman’s mouth before. He searched every crevice, rimmed her teeth, her lips, and battled her tongue. He couldn’t get enough.
Desire roared through him.
God help him.
Little moans escaped her as she trembled in his arms.
Was he hurting her? “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice trimmed with rough bark.
She moaned softly. “Yes, yes. God, yes. I’m not hurting you, am I?”
“Not even a little. I promise you, I can take whatever you’ve got.”
She whimpered then lowered her head back to his shoulder and once more he took her mouth. Her hand slid over his shoulder and down his arm, squeezing, gripping, savoring his muscles. He loved it but man …
He pulled back in utter agony.
“Do more of that,” she whispered. She slid her fingers lightly over the back of his hand. Damn, he was pawing her breast through the soft cotton T-shirt. He glanced around at the neighborhood. The hour was late, the night dark, but just in case, he created a complex mist around the car. Any mortal looking in their direction would experience confusion and it would be as though the car didn’t even exist.
Was he really going to do this? He should stop now, so help him. However, his willpower had vanished. It had been too long. Too f**king long.
He pushed her sweater aside, pulled her top up then her bra down. Her soft warm flesh felt like heaven against his hand. She had an idea of her own as she rose up then arched over him, her breast pressed to his cheek.
Oh, yeah.
He turned, settled his mouth on her lavender-drenched breast, and suckled until her body undulated against his. He wanted to use his fangs. Oh, God, how he wanted to use his fangs. He wanted to sink them deep and make her come. He growled heavily, which caused her to throw a leg in his direction. Unfortunately, she hit her knee on the dashboard and cried out.
He drew back and looked at her. “This car is too damn small,” he said. “Are you okay?”
She nodded until her gaze fell to his lips. She gasped. His fangs had emerged. Dammit.
She drew back. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” she whispered, leaning back into her seat, her gaze fixed to his mouth. The waves of lavender receded.
He winced and closed his eyes. He had no choice. Had to rein himself in but the dam had broken. He ached in his groin like he’d just gotten kicked.
He took deep breaths, a lot of them, until his fangs retreated. “You’re right. This wasn’t such a good idea. Let’s get you home. Where to?”
“I live in Carefree.”
He nodded several more times. “On the way you can ask me more questions.” He met her gaze.
She finally looked into his eyes. “This is real, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Vampire.”
“Yes.”
She shifted her gaze to the windshield. “Oh. What am I looking at? I saw it earlier at the club.”
He touched the ignition and started the engine. He growled his frustration. He was a starving vampire sitting next to a nine-course meal and forbidden to eat. He waved a hand and dispelled his creation. “We call it mist.”
“How does it work?”
He glanced at her. “Well, for ordinary mortals and most Second ascenders, mist is designed to confuse the mind. For instance, if a mortal walked by right now, his mind would simply glance past the car as though the vehicle wasn’t even there. But I take it you can see it.”
She nodded.
“What do you see?”
“Like cobwebs sort of, but more like a really beautiful intricate yet loose mesh. And white. It’s white.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “That’s amazing. That’s what I see as well, and my warrior brothers see the same. But up until this moment, I’ve never had an ascendiate capable of detecting the physical composition of mist.”
She put her seat belt back on. She fell silent. No doubt she was feeling overwhelmed—and why wouldn’t she? This was a lot of information to take in.
He turned the car around and headed in the direction of I-10.
Silence reigned for a good long while. He gave her time. Finally, she asked, “So what prompted you to leave the little black-and-red invitation at my feet?”
He shook his head. “I hated leaving you in such despair. I thought, maybe, if you were in the middle of your call, it would help.”
“I guess it did because here I am.”
“Here you are.”
“So why the Blood and Bite? Couldn’t you have just invited me to a Starbucks or something?”
He chuckled. Oh, God help him if she made him laugh. He tended to fall hard for a woman who had a sense of humor.