Page 43 of Pursued

I was still catching my breath when he thrust inside me, slow and firm. My sex contracted around him, drawing him deeper.

He gritted my name. “Mila.”

“Yes.” I twined my arms and legs around him, holding him close, as he stroked in and out of me. Long and hard and perfect.

A second shock of pleasure bore down on me.

He took my hands from his neck and, twining his fingers through them, pressed them above my head so I was stretched out beneath him.

His mouth moved against my ear, muttering wicked, erotic words. Telling me to take him, all of him. Saying that he’d never let me go now.

“Mine,” he growled. “My thrall. My woman.”

My breath sobbed in. “Oh my god, ohmygod, ohmygod.”

He nibbled his way down the side of my neck, sending heated sparks to my breasts, my clit. I angled my head for him, but he didn’t feed, just kept his teeth on the skin above my carotid.

I wasn’t sure if it was a promise…or a threat.

He swore on one of his dark gods and then with a final firm, perfect thrust, stilled deep inside me, filling me with hot spurts.

My body constricted around his, and I came yet again in an explosion of light and pleasure that went on and on until I cried out his name. Begging him to stop, and in the next breath pleading for more.

Gabriel hung over me, chest heaving, and then rolled onto his back, bringing me with him so I was nestled against his shoulder. I heaved a sigh, wrung out and satiated, my body warmed from the sex and the summer sun.

For a time, the only sounds were the slap of the waves and the sound of our breathing. I combed my fingers through the wiry dark hair on Gabriel’s chest.

Gradually, his last words penetrated my relaxed, happy haze.

Mine. My thrall. My woman.

Was that all I was to him?

I closed my eyes and rolled onto my back, facing the sky. On my wrist, the slim gold bracelet seemed to press into my flesh.

Stop it. You have no right to be hurt. You left him, remember? Not the other way around.

I’d told myself I’d done it for him. His parents had made it clear that I was a liability, that Karoly Kral had had a hard enough time just getting the Syndicate vampires to accept his three dhampir sons as his heirs. As the crown prince, Gabriel was expected to choose a vampire mate. If he blood-bonded with a human, or worse, mated one, he’d constantly be fighting off challenges.

But now I wondered if maybe I’d run away as much for me as for Gabriel? Because he was right; deep down, I’d been afraid. I’d loved him—so much it hurt—but the blood bond was a serious commitment, especially with the man who’d one day be the Kral Syndicate Primus.

Accept the bond, and my life would never be the same. Accept it, and I’d never be free.

Gabriel rolled on his side to face me. He traced my lower lip with his finger before continuing down the center of my throat. I turned my head and attempted a smile, but my expression felt as stiff and artificial as a china doll’s.

“It’s not money, is it? Not this time.” The finger moved down my breastbone. “They got to your family.”

My smile faded. I stilled, heart pounding in my ears. For a few minutes, I’d forgotten Andre or one of his people might be listening. Hopefully the pricks had gotten an earful.

Jesus, I was terrible at this. Gabriel was too smart to fool for long, which actually gave me hope. Still, I couldn’t admit it, not with them listening in.

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

“Shh,” he murmured. “You don’t have to say anything. But it’s the only thing that makes sense.”

I shook my head. “No. You’re wrong.”

He set a finger on my mouth. “No lies, Mila. Give me that much, at least.”