Seduce the Darkness (Alien Huntress #4)(74)
Author: Gena Showalter

"Drink a little. Just a little …" Temptation, so hard to resist.

Her head turned, gaze latching onto his pulse. She licked her lips. "Well… maybe.”

“Do it. I need it. I need your teeth in me. Shall I beg? I will. I’ll beg and plead and—"

With a hoarse moan, she bit him, those fangs sinking deep, that hot tongue caressing his vein and drawing the blood into her mouth. Oh, the pleasure. He rolled her clitoris between his fingers, increased the pace of his thrusts, sweating, hungry for climax, on fire at every point of contact, euphoric, on edge, desperate.

She released him as she came, fangs emerging, fingers curling around the closet frame in front of her, nails scraping stone. Every muscle in her body tensed as her inner walls began milking him, squeezing tight. He roared, not even trying to be quiet, his hot seed jetting into her.

They stood there panting for several minutes, sated, floating on a tide of bliss. Finally reason returned, and he forced himself to pull out of her. He used one of the robes to clean them both and tossed the material to the floor.

Bride pivoted and faced him, though not really looking at him. Like butterfly kisses, she ghosted her fingertips over the puncture wounds in his neck. "Shall I try and heal them with my blood?"

she’d never offered before, and he realized it was because she’d still, on some level, feared turning him into a vampire. "No, leave them." He wanted the king to see. To know. "I’ll wear them with pride, for they prove I fed my woman."

Her expression, already glazed with residual passion, softened. "Devyn, I—"

"No, don’t say it." Now wasn’t the time, whether she meant to discuss her feelings or ask him to slow things down. He kissed her hard and long, enjoying her sweet flavor. "Dress. I’m sure McKell is angry with us."

Her head tilted to the side, ears twitching. "He’s pacing."

"And you’re right. I’m angry," the warrior snarled. He and Bride shared a smile. "Dress," Devyn told her.

Once more she spun toward the closet. She didn’t bother flipping through the colors again, but snatched up the green. "Your favorite, yes?"

Knew his preferences already, did she? Adorable female.

She dressed slowly, her movements exaggerated for his benefit. When she finished, the silky material floated over her curves, leaving one delectable shoulder bare. "How do I look?"

"Breathtaking, as always," he said, surprised by the way his voice broke. "Here. Let me." He picked a gold belt from the array hanging on the wall and wrapped it around her waist, cinching the material. There was a brush on the desk, and he grabbed it. The next five minutes he dedicated to smoothing out the tangles he had caused in her hair.

She let him. He knew she needed time to mentally prepare herself for the tour they were about to take. A tour she’d waited her entire life for, but one that would not be with her family. He simply enjoyed the moment, savoring the way the dark waterfall glimmered in the light. He could have done this for hours. Days.

Finally he forced himself to set the brush aside. McKell’s footfalls had grown thunderous. "Ready?" Reluctantly she nodded.

"Don’t forget, love. I’ll be with you every step of the way. Hand in hand, they rejoined McKell.

The warrior stood at the entryway, arms crossed over his middle. "I could destroy you without you ever realizing what happened."

"Hey, now," Bride said. "None of that, remember?"

McKell spun on his heel and stomped from the cave. "Come. Before I forget myself."

Just as before, he and Bride followed. Guards were still posted at the gate, and when they passed, the men fell into step behind them. Though only a few hours had ticked by, the city they next entered was nothing like the city they’d first encountered. This one pulsed with life.

Vampires meandered in the streets, their robes dancing almost magically at their ankles. Some were alone, some were paired, while others strode in groups. It was like any other city on any other planet. No one wore those glamoured masks, so all that beauty was nearly blinding.

Shops were filled with clothing, food for vampires to buy for their human slaves, a bar that served the thirsty. Bride wasn’t looked at twice. Devyn was regarded with hostile curiosity by the males and eye-fucked with naked desire by the females. Nothing had changed, he mused.

One woman stopped directly in front of him and invited him to her home for breakfast. He, of course, was to be the meal. She was pretty, with Bride’s pale skin and bright, vivid eyes. But her lips were not as lush, her hair not as dark.

"Sorry, darling," he said, not slowing but continually stepping around her. "While I’m sure you are indeed a delicious little treat, I’m taken."

After trying a bit longer, and still meeting with rejection, the female flounced away in a huff. Devyn glanced over at Bride, unsure of what he’d find. She was shaking her head. "Sorry, love," he told her. "But what can I say? I’m irresistible.”

“No, you’re a ho. But the good news is, I’m okay with that."

And he’d once wanted jealousy from her, he thought. This was so much better. Acceptance for who and what he was. Because she knew he would always return to her?

"You would never have to wonder about my affections," McKell said, keeping pace at Bride’s other side. "Since I began my search for you, I have given myself to no one." His voice had lowered, less substantial than even a whisper, so that only the three of them could hear.

Sneaky bastard. Devyn glared at him. I’m going to cut out your tongue and give it to my maids to clean my toilets with.

"Stay with me, and this could all be yours." The warrior spread his arms to encompass the city. "You would never have to hide who and what you ate again."

"Wouldn’t I?" she asked meaningfully. She was nefreti, hunted for her abilities. Deemed too dangerous to live.

That’s my girl.

"You would be safe," the warrior said, "safer here than you could ever be up there. I would make sure of it. Besides, what makes you think the king would allow you to leave, placing our secrets in the hands of war-hungry humans?"

"She has lived on the surface for a long time and never revealed herself to the humans," Devyn replied. "She would not do so now."

McKell snapped his too-sharp teeth at Devyn, eyes glowing bright red. Devyn gave him a pinkie wave and a smile.

"Not another pissing contest," Bride said on a moan. "Come on, be a good boy, McKell, and take me to my mother’s home."

McKell frowned at her. "I told you. It was destroyed.”