Page 82 of Blood Match
“Holy hex!” the creature exclaims. “Is that a vampire in our living room? Ro, have you lost your mind?”
Rowan pinches the bridge of her nose. “Poppy, I’ll explain later. Can you please give us some privacy?”
The squirrel – Poppy, apparently – snorts. “Sure, I’ll just pretend I didn’t see you invite Dracula’s hipster cousin into our home. No big deal.”
As Poppy scampers away, still muttering, Rowan rounds on me. Her eyes flash with irritation. “Alright, you’re in. Now, what do you want?”
I want her…in every way possible. On her back, on her knees, riding me with wild abandon. But, of course, I don’t say any of that.
“Who was the fucker in the car?”
Why the hell do I sound like a jealous boyfriend?
“You’re not letting up on that?” She scowls.
I shake my head.
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. If it means you’ll leave it alone, that was Heath. He’s a…good friend.”
“A good friend?” Fuck. He’d be a dead friend if I had my way. I shove aside an irrational wave of fury and fix my eyes on her.
“Yes. So if that’s all…?” she says.
“No, it’s not all.”
“Then what the hell do you want, for God’s sake?” She throws her hands in the air.
“I came to check on you,” I improvise. “Feeding can be taxing. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Fuck. Where are you getting this shit?
“Check on me?” She doesn’t believe it either. Why would she? It’s bullshit. I have no reason for being here aside from the fact that I…wanted to see her. “Darick, I’m not in the mood for games. I’ve had a long day. I was hoping that…” She stops. “I’m just tired. So if you’re done, could you leave?”
“No.” I reach for her wrist. Her eyebrows pull together as my fingers close around it.
“You need more blood? How does this thing work? Do you have to drink every day? Because I don’t think I could…um…I…” She gnaws on her lip, and I know she’s remembering what happens when I feed.
I raise her hand, bringing her wrist to my face and inhaling deeply. I can smell the scent of the blood rushing there. Hear her pulse quicken.
“Maybe I’m not here to check on you,” I admit. “Maybe I’m here because I can’t get the taste of you out of my mind. Your blood, your skin…” I brush my lips against her wrist before meeting her eyes again. She sucks in a sharp breath. “It’s driving me mad, Rowan. I thought I could stay away, but I can’t.”
Slowly, I pull her closer, feeling the heat of her body against mine. At first, she resists but then lets me; I can sense the conflict within her – desire warring with reason. The scent of her arousal is intoxicating, clouding my own judgment.
Without thinking, I tug her against me and capture her lips with mine. For a moment, she stiffens in surprise. Then, to my amazement, she melts into the kiss with unexpected enthusiasm.
Her lips are soft and warm against my cool skin. She tastes sweet, like sunlight and magic. I deepen the kiss, one hand sliding into her hair while the other presses to the small of her back.
Rowan responds with equal passion, her fingers gripping my shoulders as if she’s afraid I’ll disappear. A small moan escapes her, and the sound ignites something raw within me. I back her against the wall, pressing my body flush against hers.
Her heart races; the sound of her blood rushing through her veins is irresistible. I trail kisses along her jaw, down to the pulse point at her neck. Rowan tilts her head, offering better access, and I have to fight the urge to sink my fangs into her delicate skin.
“Darick,” she breathes, her voice husky with desire. The way she says my name makes me shudder as need surges.
I pull back slightly, meeting her gaze. Her eyes are dark with passion, her cheeks flushed.
“We shouldn’t,” she whispers, but her body betrays her words as she leans into me.
“Yes,” I reply, moving in for another kiss, “we definitely should.”