The Vampire’s Kiss(21)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Impossibly, she felt her body struggling for another release. The tension within her wound tighter. Tighter.

His teeth plunged into her neck. Burning pleasure ripped through her. He thrust into her one more time and spilled himself into her, his body shuddering.

The cord of tension snapped. Her body convulsed in a climax so intense she sobbed. Lights flashed before her eyes and then faded to darkness.

Complete darkness.

* * * *

Her neck felt sore.

Savannah frowned, feeling the pain dimly. Why was her neck sore? What had—

Her eyelids snapped open.

William was frowning down at her. His hair had come free of its tie, and the dark mass hung loosely around his bare shoulders. He looked fierce. Dangerous. But then again, he always looked dangerous. There was no hiding the true nature of the beast.

She tried to sit up, but he put his hands on her shoulders, holding her easily in place. “Don’t move.” There was a trace of gruffness in his tone. “Your body’s weak.»

She nodded. Her limbs felt heavy and a deep lethargy filled her.

«It’s from the blood loss.” His assessing gaze traveled over her. “I took too much from you. I should have used more care—” His jaw clenched, and the scar on his cheek seemed to whiten even more. He looked up, gazing into the flames. “There’s no excuse. I’m sorry, Savannah.»

There was such sadness in his words. She didn’t want William to be sad. He’d had enough pain in his life. “I wanted you to do it. You know that.” She’d wanted him to do everything. Wanted him to claim her body. To take her blood.

«I should have had more control.” His hands clenched around her shoulders. She flinched at the painful grip, and his hold immediately eased.

«I didn’t have much control, either.” Her lips curved in a wan smile.

He searched her face. “Why didn’t you tell me?»

«Tell you?” She swallowed, trying to ease the dryness in her throat. “Tell you what?»

«That you’d never been with a man. That it was your first time.” The words fell heavily into the quiet room.

She took a deep breath and pushed herself into a sitting position. His hands fell away from her shoulders. “You didn’t ask,” she muttered, feeling a flush stain her cheeks. So she’d never had sex before. Big deal. Why was he making such an issue over it?

«You should have told me,” he murmured, his gaze falling to rest on the gentle rise of her br**sts. “Things would have been different. I could have made it better for you—»

It got better? Savannah didn’t know if she could survive a “better.»

«William, I didn’t want anything different. I just wanted you.” And that was the truth. She hadn’t cared about their bargain. She’d only thought of him. And of the need that he stirred within her.

His hand reached out and he began to caress her breast. “Why did you wait? Why didn’t you find some nice human and have sex long ago?»

Her nipple tightened. Just a touch and already her body was burning again. She took a deep breath, trying to focus on his words. “Why did I wait?” She laughed softly, a light, bitter laugh. “At first, I was too sick to care. After all, when you’re dying, making love is very low on your list of priorities. I was in and out of the hospitals. Sick from the therapy, the surgery, the medicine. I didn’t have the energy to waste on a relationship.»

She thought about the way it felt when William claimed her. Thought about the pleasure. The need. Yes, it was true that she hadn’t cared enough about making love to experiment. But if she’d known what she was missing…

His hand cupped her breast and Savannah bit back a sharp moan.

Oh, if she’d known…

But then again, making love with someone else wouldn’t have been the same. There was no one else like William. No one.

Already, her body was heating, her muscles clenching, as a new hunger swept over her.

«You’re so responsive.” His eyes began to smolder. He stared down at her, his features tense. His hand slid down her stomach, to the cradle of her thighs. “I want you again,” he said, his voice guttural. “I need to feel you, wrapped around me, squeezing me—” His fingers slipped inside her.

Savannah gasped at the mix of pleasure and pain that ripped through her.

William froze. “Savannah?»

She licked her lips. “I-I’m a little sore.” But she had a feeling that he could make her forget all about the pain.

He swore, the words eloquent and harsh. His fingers slowly withdrew from her, easing out of her passageway. “Of course, you are. I’m sorry. I—” His jaw clenched. “I don’t seem to have control around you.»

Her heart pounded at his heated expression. She realized she didn’t want him to have control. She wanted him to need her, to want her, desperately. No one had ever wanted her like that before. No one.

He locked one of his arms around her shoulders and slid his other arm under the curve of her knees. He lifted her easily, cradling her against his chest. He stared down at her, his gaze intent. “I’ll take care of you, Savannah.»

She gently traced the line of his scar. A scar his brother had given him on a bloody battlefield. “And I’ll take care of you.»

He blinked, as if startled.

Savannah smiled and rested her head against his broad shoulder. William didn’t realize it, but she knew that he needed her. Just as much as she needed him.

He walked through the house, carrying her easily. His arms were tight around her, secure. And she felt so safe in his arms. Being there, being with him, felt right.

In moments, he was standing on the back deck. Savannah glanced around curiously. A huge wooden deck extended along the entire length of the house. A large hot tub sat in the middle of the deck. The night sky shone down on them, the glitter of a thousand stars lighting the area. Savannah shivered, feeling the cool touch of the air upon her skin.

William eased Savannah to her feet, and his arm braced her against him. He bent down, quickly turning on the tub. A stream of bubbles erupted.

«This will help you. It’ll ease the soreness.»

The steam from the water began to rise, drifting like a ghost in the night. The soft sound of the bubbling water relaxed her. William helped her into the tub, and she sighed at the feel of the water. She sat down slowly, letting the warmth of the water envelope her.

William moved in beside her, his gaze watchful.

She leaned back, resting her head against the edge of the tub. The water felt good against her skin. But not as good as William.

«Better?” His hand rested on her thigh.