Page 66 of Blood Bought

He started washing me with a smile, one where I could tell some of the weight on his chest has finally lifted, and once we were both cleaned and making our way back to the bed, I felt like I had Alaris back.MyAlaris, not the one I saw behind those bars.

He seemed to hear my thoughts as he rushed away to get me some water, then watched me as I drank it down and cupped my face for another kiss, but this one was just a peck. “I believe it now, Sweets. There’s no more doubts.”

“Why, because I’dhaveto be your mate in order to put up with you?” I teased, still somehow breathless. “I know. I agree.”

Alaris chuckled, lifting me up and carrying me to the bed. “Exactly that, yes. You’d hate me if I wasn’t.”

“Who said I don’t?” I flipped us the moment he laid me down, bracing my hands on his chest. “Love and hate aren’t mutually exclusive.”

“You’re not wrong, but you definitely don’t hate me. Or at the very least, you don’t hate my cock.”

The raspiness in my voice as I laughed said otherwise — my throat was still on fire from the abuse it had taken, but looking down at him all playful and teasing had me not caring how much it hurt sometimes. “So we’re mates, then. Fated mates. Azel told me about them... about bonding.”

He licked his lips and nodded, seemingly choosing his words before responding. “What else did she tell you? Did she tell you what even brought her to us?”

“Yes,” I admitted, knowing he’d see it either way. “I like my world right-side up, though. I won’t be upending anything.”

He smirked and moved some of my hair behind my ear. “I don’t think that’s your path anymore, baby. But even if it was, we’d figure it out.”

“I believe you on both counts. Thanks for not... y’know. Letting me die.”

“I couldn’t, but you’re welcome. Thanks for coming here after I almost made that for nothing.”

I stared down at him and shook my head slightly, hardly believing how differently I felt toward him now. “At least I know why I can’t stay away from you.”

“Yeah, my charms. I could have told you that. I’m very welcoming.”

The snort I let out had me covering my mouth. “Yes, it was clearly the warm welcome and your undeniable charisma. Wait, can vampires sense lies?”

He flipped me so suddenly I made a noise far too close to being a squeak as he slotted between my legs. “Yes. Thanks to your heartbeat, we have built in lie detectors. Lie some more.”

“You’re not at all scary and really not even that cute,” I rushed out, gasping as he leaned into my neck and started sucking on the skin.

“Keep going.”

I could feel my heart hammering. “I’m not jealous of Azel.”

I felt his laugh on my skin, then the tips of his sharp fangs sliding down the vein. “Is that all?”

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.“I-I could keep going. I... hate it when you get all possessive and growly.”

“Good.” Alaris’ cock slid inside of me, his teeth sinking into my neck as he sank into me, and then he moved both of my hands above my head to pin me there.

My eyes rolled as he started moving slowly, stretching me open until I could take all of him. It felt as insane as the first couple of times, just as impossible, just as amazing. “So much better than Ciro,” I whispered, not thinking about it at all until it was already out.

Suddenly, Alaris was stilling as a deep, low growl vibrated from his chest, and then he retracted his fangs and started fucking me hard. It felt as if he thought he could fuck every memory of Ciro out of me if he could just snap his hips hard enough.

The bed groaned below us, echoing my own pained whimpers as I adjusted to those brutal thrusts. He was too big, it was too much, and I never wanted him to stop.

Turns out Heaven and Hell aren’t mutually exclusive, either.

“Still yours, Alaris. I’m right - right here,” I whispered, clenching around him and squeezing his ass with my legs in a futile attempt to slow him down. “Yours.”

“Mine!” He bit again, feverishly chasing his release like he would die without it. He slammed in so hard when he came, his growl was muted by the sounds of the bed collapsing around us and the headboard slamming down onto the hardwood floor.

I stayed frozen under him, careful not to move at all as I waited for him to assess the damage. “Can I move without getting stabbed?” I asked, wondering how much harder my heart could beat before it exploded.

“No promises,” he whispered, sitting up with blood still on his lips and then he looked around. “Human beds suck. Why are they weaker?”

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