“You have no idea what kind of a man I am, or was. No idea what goes through my mind when it comes to you.”
Though she knew he was trying to push her away, she did not back down. “I know you Devon. I may not know everything about your past, but I don’t need to know it all. There are things I may never know about you, and I accept that because I love you! I know who you are. I know what you want and need from me far more than you think I do, because I want the same things from you.”
He stared at her for a long moment, his eyes hooded like a snakes. Beneath his lowered lids they shone as bright as rubies in the dim light of the room. And then he was on top of her, moving so fast that she only caught a whisper of movement before he seized her. His hand wrapped around her neck as he pulled her head to the side. Cassie gasped in surprise, her heart leapt wildly as his finger trailed lightly over her frantic pulse.
She could sense the wildness in him, the instability, but she didn’t move. She knew if she did that he would withdraw from her. He would leave her within this room, alone and lost if she reacted in any way. She didn’t care what he did to her, or what he needed from her now, because she would give him anything he wanted. No matter what it was. She had wanted to wait to make the change, knew that to do so would be for the best, but if he lost control and it happened now then she would not regret it, and she would not fight it.
“Right here,” his voice was soft, hoarse and grating as his finger stilled upon her vein. She could feel his struggle for restraint battling against his ever present, driving hunger. She remained frozen, her eyes half closed as she fought against the fear and excitement tearing through her. She knew that he was unstable right now, but she also knew that he would not hurt her, no matter what he feared. His touch was thrilling, enchanting. Her heart danced, her body quaked with the urge to touch him, but if she moved now he would withdraw from her. “Right here is the pulse of your life, and I want it.”
Cassie’s eyes closed, she had to fight back the tremble that worked its way through her. It was not a tremble of fear, not anymore. Her heart did not leap in terror, but in anticipation of what was to come. His hand wrapped around the back of her neck, brushing her hair aside as he pulled her closer. He bent over her, his lips pressed to her throat, his fangs skimmed over her neck, pressing briefly against her throbbing artery. She couldn’t stop the soft gasp of pleasure that escaped her. She waited breathlessly for him to bite down, for him to take what he needed from her.
And then, to her surprise, he kissed her softly. His lips pressed gently against her vein, his fangs receded as he touched lightly upon her. Cassie’s head spun, her legs quivered as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight against him. “You foolish foolish girl,” he breathed in her ear.
Her trembling increased, tears burned her eyes as she melted against him, her arms wrapping around his waist. Maybe she was foolish, but she didn’t believe so. No matter what he thought she had absolute faith in him, absolute belief that he would never hurt her. That the man in him would always win out over the demon when it came to her.
His mouth moved slowly over her neck, placing gentle kisses along her skin that left her completely weak. Her legs gave out when his tongue swirled over her ear. He held her up as her heart leapt as wildly as a bird trapped in a cage. “Cassandra,” he whispered. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life,” she managed to get out through the constriction in her throat and chest.
He lifted her effortlessly, his hands skimming under the baggy flannel she wore. His touch upon her bare flesh was almost her undoing. She clung to him, shaking, unable to move as he carried her to the makeshift bed he had created. Laying her gently down, he followed her, his mouth seizing upon hers. Though Cassie had expected his kiss to be desperate, frantic, it was surprisingly gentle and achingly loving.
Her whole body reacted to it. Her fingers entwined in his hair, holding him close as he slowly pulled her shirt from her. Cassie’s mind swam with pleasure; she forgot everything and everyone else as her entire world became focused upon him, and the joy that he brought to her. The beautiful new sensations he arose in her, sensations that might have been frightening if they had been with anyone other than him. However, with him, there was no fear. There was only joy and a sense of wonder that she had never thought to experience.
All of her fears and doubts from the past, all of the things that had held her back from this moment completely faded away. She never thought of the women of his past, never wondered if he would compare her to them and find her lacking in the end. For she knew now, that he would never find her lacking, never want or desire anything more than her.
When they finally joined together, she knew true bliss. She knew what it was to belong and fit. She knew nothing of pain and misery and fear as she clung to him, riding out the storm of their love. She didn’t know she was crying from the complete bliss that he brought her until he kissed away her tears, whispering words of love as he touched her reverently over and over again.
And later, when she offered him her vein, and he fed from her, she knew that she had been right. He never thought about other women with her, and he could never find her lacking. For him, when he had met her, it was as if every other woman had ceased to exist. It was not that he did not think about them, it was that they had simply faded from his mind. They were a part of his past that he didn’t think about, and didn’t want to. He didn’t compare her to them because he could not recall them. For though she had lacked experience she had brought him more joy and pleasure than he had ever known, or ever thought to experience in his very long life.
Cassie drifted asleep, blissfully content within the strong embrace of his arms.
***
Devon padded silently down the stairs, trying to be as silent as possible so as not to waken anyone, especially not Cassie. After what they had just exchanged, he didn’t want her to awaken alone. Though he knew that she no longer felt vulnerable, he didn’t want her to wake up and find him gone, but there was something that he needed to take care of right now.
He moved swiftly through the empty front of the store. Everyone had retired to the back for what little remained of the night. Joey and Patrick had been placed in the back room, untied from their chairs, but retied to some of the wooden beams. The store was silent as the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon.
He reached the open cellar door and moved swiftly down the stairs. Julian was standing by one of the windows. The sun was not bright enough for him to move away from the glass yet, but it would be soon. Devon knew that he had retreated here hours ago; before Cassie had offered Devon the greatest gift he had ever received. He was still thrilled and awed by the gift she had given him, by her openness and willingness to trust him, especially when he didn’t even trust himself. She had far more faith in him then he deserved, far more love and understanding than he had ever thought to receive, and he was humbled by it. There was nothing he would not do for her; there was nothing that he would not give her.