Once Bitten, Twice Burned

His fingers slid over her throat. Her pulse raced beneath his touch. Throbbed. The blood so close.

“Go ahead,” she whispered.

But he was caught by her eyes. She’d stared at him with fear the first time they’d met. He’d hurt her then. He never wanted to hurt her again. So as much as he wanted to bury his fangs into her and drink and drink . . . he wanted her pleasure more.

His fingers slowly slid down her body. Sabine stiffened. “Ryder?”

“Shh . . . I missed you.” A confession from deep within. When was the last time that he’d missed anything or anyone?

He couldn’t remember. Only her. She made him feel, yearn, as no one else did. As no one else could. Taking her blood that first time—it had been as if he’d awakened with those precious drops. Life wasn’t cold and dark any longer.

The world was on fire around him, and she made him long for those flames.

He bent his head. His fingers trailed over her breast, teasing the nipple. Take, take.

But he kept his touch light. His fingers stroked her. He licked her flesh. Loved the way her nipple tightened as she arched beneath him. He sucked her breast, her f**king perfect br**sts. Small but round, with delicious pink ni**les.

His hand eased over the curve of her stomach. Down between her legs. She was so soft and warm and wet.

He licked his way to her other breast. She was shaking beneath him now, little trembles of arousal, and her nails were digging into his back. He liked her claws.

Her legs parted more, giving him better access to the flesh he craved.

He pushed his index finger inside her. Sabine’s delicate inner muscles clenched down on him. Holding on so tight.

His muscles were locked. Every instinct he had was screaming for him to bite, to thrust, to claim her.

He fought those instincts. She needed pleasure. Not pain. Only pleasure.

His finger slid out of her. Pressed back inside. His thumb pushed against her clit. Ryder found a rhythm that he knew she’d like, one not too fast, one sure-as-hell not too slow. Again and again, his hand caressed her warm sex.

Her h*ps moved against him. “More, Ryder, more!”

If she wanted more . . .

He lifted his head. Stared down at her.

“Ryder?”

He realized he was probably looking at her like he wanted to devour her.

I do.

He pulled his hand from her sex. She shook her head. “I wasn’t—”

His hands curved around her thighs. He spread her legs, holding her so that he could have the total access that he wanted.

Then he put his mouth on her. Her blood was sweet. But this, hell, nothing was this good.

He heard her choked scream. Felt the ripple of her release as he tasted her. He didn’t stop. He licked. Kissed. Stroked with his mouth and tongue. And he could taste her pleasure.

Only pleasure.

Her breath was panting when he rose. Her eyes blind with pleasure. He positioned his c**k at the entrance of her body. Slid deep into her with one powerful surge. Her sex still rippled with aftershocks of pleasure, and those little shivers of her inner muscles worked up and down the length of his cock.

Her arms wrapped around him. Sabine pulled him close. Held him tight.

Her head turned to the left, baring her neck. “Bite me,” she whispered.

He wasn’t strong enough to resist that invitation.

His fangs pierced her throat. Blood—her blood!—trickled onto his tongue.

Ryder’s control shattered. His thrusts weren’t easy. Not gentle. His h*ps pistoned against her as he thrust harder, deeper. Her hands wrapped around his shoulders even as her legs rose to lock around his hips.

She whispered, “Harder.”

And he didn’t know if she meant the bite or—

Ryder drove into her. Faster. Deeper. Her blood filled him, sending a surge of power through every cell of his body. Drinking her blood was like getting plugged into a power outlet. Straight energy.

Straight f**king magic.

She stiffened beneath him, and her sex clenched around his cock. Yes. He pulled back, wanting to see the pleasure on her face once more.

And when his head lifted, he saw that her lips were parted, her eyes squeezed shut, and—and small fangs were peeking out from behind her lips.

His c**k swelled even more. “Bite me,” he ordered. He wanted her to have his blood. Wanted anything that would strengthen the ties between them.

Was it fair to her? Hell, no. But he wasn’t interested in fair. He was taking the one thing in this world that mattered to him.

“Bite me, Sabine,” he snarled.

But she was lost to the pleasure. He could see it. And his own cl**ax was so close. He caught the back of her head. Tilted her so that her mouth was right over his throat. She just needed to feel the pulse of his blood. Her vampire instincts would do the rest.