Page 105 of Taste of Death

Novak pressed me down into the sofa with another kiss, with his whole body fitting against mine like a long-lost puzzle piece. I tugged on his lower lip, sinking my teeth until I tasted blood. He shuddered, groaning into my mouth as I licked and soothed the cut.

“Trying to make me come in my pants again?” He smirked, lifting away to remove his shirt and undo his belt.

“If it gets you to use the shower head on me again.” I lifted my hips, allowing him to slide off my jeans and panties.

“Oh, we can absolutely repeat that adventure.” He let our discarded clothing fall to the floor.

The firelight was softer through the windows, but it made him no less beautiful. Lights and shadow played over tan skin, lean muscle, and his gorgeous hair.

Novak lowered himself to me, fitting his hips between my legs as he kissed me tenderly this time. I could feel how much he was holding back, the slight tremble of need not yet unleashed. I still had a T-shirt on, and he gripped the hem in a fist, his kisses long and languid.

“Will you let me take this off?” he whispered. “So I can see and love all of you?”

The fear that once ruled me was still there, just as a whisper when it used to be a roar. I had forgiven him, but my emotions were still raw. Everything that happened remained fresh, and that tiny jolt of panic at him seeing me was not yet snuffed out.

But I had chosen to trust him, to forgive him. And with time, maybe I could truly see myself as he saw me. With Novak, real confidence and self-love didn’t feel like a far-off fantasy anymore. It could be a reality, if I allowed it to be.

If I faced that fear and didn’t let it win.

“Yes,” I said.

I pressed up and let him peel the shirt over my head. But he didn’t lay me back down. Instead he grabbed me around the waist and hauled me into his lap until I straddled him while he sat in the center of the couch.

“Gorgeous.” His hands ran reverently all over me, ruby eyes dilated and taking me in everywhere. “So stunning and perfect.”

I found myself stretching, arching, loving the attention he paid me. At the same time, my fangs ached and I felt the dizzying buzz of going without his blood for so long.

“Novak,” I whined, leaning forward to nuzzle the side of his neck.

“Yes, akra. Take what you need from me.”

His head fell back, giving me access. While my lips skimmed over the strong pulse in his jugular, his fingers stroked between my legs. The moment my fangs sank into him, he sank into me.

Pleasure rushed through me so fast, I was drowning in it. His blood was hot and refreshing at the same time. More than refreshing; revitalizing. He was the smoothest, silkiest wine on my tongue. With each swallow, he drove his fingers into me, stretching and caressing me from the inside while his thumb pressed a matching rhythm on my clit.

I didn’t feel control over my body as my hips bucked and ground against his hand. My nipples dragged against his chest as I drank from him. I was pure sensation, chasing more pleasure, more friction, more contact with my blood mate.

“That’s it, ride my hand,” Novak whispered in my ear. “You’re going to ride my cock just like that.”

His filthy words tipped me over the edge, lightning zipping through me as my pleasure crested and crashed.

“Open your eyes, darling.”

I must have stopped drinking from him at some point, and found myself blinking and meeting his adoring gaze.

“I missed these galaxy eyes so much.” He palmed my nape, stroking my cheekbone with his thumb. “Can’t bear to not see them.”

My head turned to nibble the tip of his thumb. “You’re ridiculous.” The words came out lazily, everything soft and dreamy in the aftermath of my orgasm.

“About you? Yes.” Novak grinned. “I missed these kitten fangs gnawing on me too.”

I released his thumb and leaned forward to lick the bloody mess on his neck that I’d left. The skin looked torn, as if my teeth had ripped away from the force of my orgasm. “Sorry about this. Did I hurt you?”

“No, love,” he said on a soft groan, head falling back again. “Did you get enough?”

“Think so.” I lapped and kissed at the wound to speed up his healing.

“Good. My turn.”

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