Page 74 of Blood Submission

Her simple words struck him harder than any elaborate speech would have, all of the raging thoughts and emotions screaming inside of him settling into a low hum. He ran his free hand over his shaved head. He wanted to believe that she meant what she said, but perhaps she just didn’t want to be alone. The other witches lived with their mates. “I can’t live upstairs, little mouse. It’s—”

“Not safe,” she finished for him. “Iknow.”

“I’mnot—”

“A good person…or vampire…or whatever. Iknow.”

Pulling his hand from hers, he paced away. He didn’t understand. He hadn’t been kind to her. As a matter of fact, he’d treated her little better than any other human he’d run across. “Laney, I’m no good foryou.”

“I know. It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t change the way Ifeel.”

In the face of her unwavering perseverance, Dante began to do something that he hadn’t done in a long, long time. He let that tiny thread of hope spin into a rope. Tentatively, he reached out and touched her thoughts with his, but immediately pulled back again, still frightened that he’d find out it was all alie.

Her features softened, a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “Go ahead,” she toldhim.

He stared at that mouth, transfixed by the curve of her lips. This tiny female that was more threatening to him than a group of hell’s demons. Swallowing hard, Dante reached out again. What he discovered made his heart stall out in his chest, then begin to pound sporadically. There was a touch of fear, yes, but there was also hope, longing, passion, and the beginnings of an honest love. He didn’t know if that love was a natural occurrence or brought on by the blood bond, and honestly, he didn’t fucking care. “Little mouse…Laney.” Unable to stop himself, he hauled her up into his arms and took her mouth with his. It wasn’t a tender kiss. It was a kiss of hunger, of disbelief, of euphoria and possession. Her soft body molded perfectly to the hard planes of his chest.

He broke it off, working his way along her cheekbone to her ear. “Don’t be frightened of me. I would never hurtyou.”

“I’m only frightened of what I feel for you,” she whispered.

His hand tightened in her hair. “You are MINE, little mouse.” With a hiss of longing, he flashed his fangs and kissed her again.

Her arms wrapped tight around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist, her moans of surrender blending with his. He kissed her until their hearts beat in rapid unison and their every breath depended on each other. He kissed her until his body trembled with wanting her. With a low growl, he made his way over her jaw and down to her throat, barely stopping himself before he plunged his fangs through her tenderskin.

She tilted her head away, exposing her throat to him. Dante groaned with the need to consume her in every possible way, but somehow he refrained. She was too pale. He had taken too much blood earlier in order to heal. However, he couldn’t resist running one fang along her pulsing artery before dropping a kiss there.

“Dante, please,” she begged.

“No, Laney.” Kissing his way back up to her mouth, he pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. “You’re too pale.” Glancing around, he scowled.

“What’s wrong?”

“You don’t belong in here. In this room.” Still holding her, he strode over to the tunnel and set her down to go first. “Go. I’m right behind you.” He nearly regretted his decision as the sight of her deliciously plump ass in front of him nearly drove him to take her there in the dark, and he couldn’t resist touching her as they made their way into the otherroom.

When they arrived moments later, he was surprised to see the candles had all been lit. Her backpack was there, along with her book. She had laid it on top of his, the green and red cover a bright contrast against the black. A few bottles of water and some juice were lined up along the wall, and there was a paper bag. He could smell the food inside. On the bed was the thick comforter from upstairs. And pillows.

“Do you think you can figure out a way to keep rodents away? I swear I’ve heard them on occasion. And some hot running water would be nice, too. To bathe? But I guess that can be done upstairs.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “I hope it’s okay that I brought a few things downhere.”

Dante had no words. The fact that she was willing to stay down here with him at all was hard for him to believe. He stood there like a fucking idiot, at a complete loss, his body raging with desire.

“I can take everything back upstairs,” she said when the silence stretchedon.

He finally found his voice. “No!” he told her. “No. This isfine.”

She watched him carefully. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? If you don’t want mehere—”

That was as far as she got. “Take off your clothes, little mouse.”

Laney blinked, and her mouth snapped shut with an audible click.

“Take them off now,” he growled. So many thoughts clamored for dominance in his head, so many emotions, but there was one that overruled themall.

He needed to possess her. He needed her submission.

The air between them was simultaneously too heavy and too thin. Dante’s blood raced, his muscles tensed, his sex throbbing within the confines of his pants. Inhaling deeply, the scent of her desire filled his nose. His mouth watered. She was already wet for him, her breasts rising and falling with her quickened breaths. He waited.

She glanced around, then back at him. Backing up a few paces, she braced one hand on the brick wall as she kicked off her sneakers. After a slight pause, she undid her jeans and pulled them off, taking her socks with them. Straightening up, she stood before him in nothing but his oversized T-shirt.

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