“I thought they were stupid,” Brigette said, her blush deepening. “But I didn’t have anything else, so I wore them. Then…I decided that I like the feel of lace and satin.”
“Me too,” Xi whispered. “But I prefer the satin of your skin.”
Grasping her hips, Xi held her steady as he nuzzled a path of kisses over her lower stomach. Pleasure poured through her, air squeezing from her lungs as he used the tip of his fang to slice through the side bow of her panties.
The bit of lace floated to the worn carpet like a broken butterfly. Or a flag of surrender, she wryly acknowledged. She’d known this moment was inevitable, even when she was battling against her fate.
The scent of cedarwood drenched the air, along with her musky passion. It was enticingly erotic.
Xi obviously agreed as he tightened his grip on her hips and skimmed his lips down her inner thigh. Brigette hissed as her fingers gripped his hair. His lips were cool, contrasting with the heat of her skin. And the sharp points of his fangs sent jolts of bliss zapping through her like tingles of electricity.
Instinctively, she tipped back her head as he tugged her legs wider. She’d been hoping for a little stress relief. And this was a legendary stress reliever.
Legendary.
She swallowed a scream as his tongue found the tender skin of her cleft. The cool strokes sent flames of need surging through her body. Vampires weren’t supposed to have any magic, but his tongue was bewitching her in a spell of pure bliss.
The world melted away until there was nothing but the torturous pleasure of his tongue and her soft pants that filled the cramped room. At last, Brigette’s toes curled, and her back arched as an explosive orgasm threatened to rip her apart.
No. Not like this.
“Xi…” Her voice was harsh with the effort of leashing her hunger.
He tilted back his head as her words faltered. “Yes?”
Brigette became lost in the dark temptation of his eyes. “I can’t remember,” she breathed.
A wicked smile curved his lips. “Good.”
With an effort, Brigette gathered her shattered thoughts. She might not deserve happiness, but she was going to do what Xi had suggested. Grab it. With both hands.
“I want to see you naked.” She spoke her fantasy out loud.
Slowly, Xi straightened, the air sizzling as his frosty power slammed against her molten heat.
Ice and fire.
An explosive combination.
“You’re getting better at this,” he assured her, toeing off his boots.
“Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks,” she teased, relishing the sight of the vampire strip show.
First, the thin sweater was pulled over his head and tossed aside. Next, the black jeans were yanked down so Xi could step out of them, leaving him gloriously naked.
Silence filled the room as Brigette slid a slow, appreciate gaze from head to toe and all the delicious places in between. The broad width of his chest, the slender waist, and the impressive thrust of his erection.
She reached out to touch the thick arousal, but Xi was already stepping forward to pull off her sweater, along with the bra that matched her panties.
“We’ll learn together,” he growled, his fingers trailing over her shoulders and down to cup her breasts in his palms.
Brigette shivered. Partially in pleasure and partially in unease. She was a lone wolf, right? But his words were conjuring the image of being something beyond alone.
“Together,” she whispered.
He studied her with a searching gaze. “Does that scare you?”
“It terrifies me,” she admitted with a stark honesty.
A vast emotion stirred in the depths of his eyes. “Me too.”
They stared at one another, an emotion she wasn’t ready to name swelling between them. Then, as if realizing Brigette was on the verge of panic, Xi used his thumbs to tease the tips of her nipples.
“How much do you want me?” he asked in a low voice.
Brigette growled, relieved to focus on the hunger gnawing inside her. Passion was uncomplicated. Exactly what she needed in this moment.
Pressing her hands against his bare chest, she shoved him backward. Xi made a sound of surprise as he was knocked off balance. Brigette shoved again, and he ended up sprawled across the bed.
“I’m not very good with words,” she told him with a smug smile. She liked having him spread-eagled beneath her.
He flashed his snow-white fangs as an invitation. “Then show me.”
* * * *
Xi watched Brigette with a painful tension. He didn’t doubt that she wanted him. Her hunger sizzled in the air. And the musky scent of her arousal teased at his nose like the sweetest aphrodisiac.
But she was terrified of allowing herself to be vulnerable. Her past had taught her that intimacy meant pain. And, worse, she was convinced she deserved to be hurt. He sensed she was caught between fear and the passion that smoldered in her eyes.
Xi held himself still, even as he smiled in challenge. He wasn’t going to press her into anything that she might regret. They both had had enough of that in their lives. But he wasn’t going to let her use the mistakes she’d made in her life to destroy her future.
Braced for rejection, Xi’s dead heart clenched as she released a soft sigh and moved to crawl onto the mattress.
“I can show you,” she murmured.
She crouched between his legs, like a wolf about to pounce. Xi shivered. It was sexy as hell. Then, lowering her head, she took his straining erection between her lips.
Xi cursed, his back bowing off the bed. He’d known making love with this female would be different from any of his previous lovers. There was an intensity to their attraction that threatened to consume both of them. But the ecstasy that crashed through him as her mouth slid up and down his cock made his body tremble and his fangs throb.
He reached to grab her arms, pulling her up his body so he could claim her lips in a kiss of stark need. She parted her lips, returning his kiss with a fierce urgency that made him shiver.
Wrapping his arms around her, Xi rolled until she was pinned beneath him. Were females were notoriously violent lovers. A thought that would normally intensify his anticipation. What was more erotic than a female who demanded satisfaction?
But they couldn’t risk alerting Maryam or Roban that there was someone else staying at the haven. They might come looking to see who was there.
Gently tugging her arms over her head, Xi urged her to grasp the slates of the headboard. Her lips curved with a slow smile of anticipation.
If Xi had had a beating heart, it would have halted at the sight of her spread beneath him.