Page 43 of Taste of Death

“Amy… ” Her name left my mouth as a reverent moan, the type of thing I would say at the height of pleasure.

But saying her name seemed to break a spell.

Amy removed her fangs from my wrist and turned her head to face me. I had leaned in so close that her forehead and nose pressed to mine.

“Novak?”

The question in her voice was what sobered me and prompted me to pull back. Sexual need still coursed through me, and her bloodstained teeth and lips did nothing to dissuade it. Those bright, questioning eyes with her bloodthirsty mouth took my breath away and would fuel my fantasies for ages to come.

But she had stopped feeding and my mind cleared of the overpowering lust. I realized what I was about to do—bite her in return, and touch her in ways that were anything but platonic.

Two things she had definitely not asked for, and would certainly erase all trust if I carried out those desires. She felt safe with me and that was not something I intended on changing.

“Have you had enough?” I asked, my voice like gravel.

Amy licked her lips then ran her tongue over her teeth, and it was all I could do to stifle the groan in my throat.

“I think so. Thank you, Nov?—”

“Good. Let’s get you back.” I stood from the guardrail, stepped over it, and hurried back to the bike before I could do anything I regretted.

Chapter 13

Amy

Novak dropped me off back in town, just outside of the guarded perimeter of the blood mate ceremony. He barely said, “See you later,” before taking off in the direction of his house.

I could only stare at his shrinking red taillight as he drove away, wondering what the abrupt change in demeanor was all about. One minute, I had his incredible blood in my mouth, my body filled with sensations as we drew closer together. He was leaning in, almost like he was going to kiss me. Or even bite me in return.

And then he pulled away, like getting any closer to me would have been a huge mistake.

Did I want him to bite me? I wasn’t entirely sure. The idea didn’t completely turn me off, especially if receiving a bite felt anywhere near as good as taking one. It was almost embarrassing how close I’d been to coming. Did he freak out because of that? Could he even tell?

I wandered past the perimeter into the square, where people continued to celebrate Tavia and Cyan’s mating. A barrel of wine had been tapped in one area, and people were gathering as if to toast the couple. Tavia and Cyan stood nearby, attached at the hip with beaming smiles and cups filled with wine.

“Go for a little joyride, did you?”

I turned in the direction of the voice and saw a cloud of red smoke before the speaker. Thorne pushed off from the brick wall he’d been leaning on, tossed the remains of his cigarette, and lit up another.

His slow approach made me bristle. “Were you waiting for me to come back?”

“I wasn’t sureifyou’d come back, to be honest.” Darakt smoke billowed from his nostrils as he flicked ash away. “Thought I might have to cut the party short to investigate a kidnapping.”

Thorne’s tone was always dry. I could never tell if he was being sincere or sarcastic.

“And now that I’m here?” I asked. “Are you going to punish either of us for disobeying your order?”

“Did you want to go for a joyride with him?”

“Yes.”

“Did he harm you in any way?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then I have much better things to do, believe it or not. It’s a shame you didn’t listen, though. You’ll just have to find out the hard way.”

“Find out what?” I said, exasperated. “What horrible things his ancestors did to yours, so therefore he must be just as bad? Even though he’s his own person and has only ever been kind to me?”

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