Page 132 of The Darkest Chase

I raise both brows. “You saved me in your phone as Vampire Man?”

“Um.” Talia freezes, looking at me sheepishly with her phone clutched in both hands. “…guilty,” she whispers with an embarrassed smile. “Sorry?”

“Uh-huh.” I lean back on my hands, just watching her. “Why did you do that?”

“I just… you know, the first time we met—”

“You mean when I gave you mouth-to-mouth in the middle of town,” I growl.

Her face flashes pink.

She swallows loudly, nodding.

“Yeah. That time. It sorta felt like waking up from a dream. This beautiful man with sharp teeth and a red mouth hovering over me… I used to be a huge Anne Rice nerd. And Grandpa had me watching old Dark Shadows reruns from the time I was five.”

“Uh-huh.” I never take my eyes off her. She’s squirming now, and there’s a predatory pulse in my cock that loves every bit of it. “Have you thought about me biting you, Talia? Harder than last time? Do you want to be marked?”

“Marked? O-oh.” Breathy, soft, and she’s already saying yes without really saying a single word. She can’t look away as her lips gleam and her little tongue slips over them. “Maybe. I mean, you bit me before, but you were being gentle.”

“That’s not a yes or a no,” I tease.

Leaning forward, I prowl toward her.

Every last little vulnerable thing about her jumps out at me in the fire’s glow.

One minute, she’s this innocent angel who warms me with a light I can’t describe, who makes me feel like if I wanted, I might learn how to have a life again.

The next minute, she’s prey, plain and simple.

Her nostrils flare.

Her breathing quickens.

It’s like I can see her pulse thudding against the fragile skin of her throat as her eyes dilate, locking on me with wonder.

When she trembles again, I’m fucking gone.

Forever drunk on this woman.

My inner beast inhales deeply, intoxicated by her scent.

Fuck, her scent.

Vanilla heaven, mine for the taking.

My lips burn, aching to show her what being marked truly feels like.

Closer. Closer, every slow movement makes her tremble more until I’m right on top of her.

She whimpers as I stop, almost nose to nose with her, our eyes locked.

There’s more than rich vanilla rising off her now. This aromatic sweetness like pheromones, heady and stinging sharp.

“Yes or no, Talia,” I breathe. “Do you want me to fucking mark you?”

“Ohgod.”

One word. It comes out in this small, shaky rush.

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