Page 70 of Nearly Dead

“You’re lucky you’re cute, Costin.Otherwise I wouldn’t bother.”I don’t pull away.I can’t.My heart is pumping too fast, and he feels too good.His cock rises in an invitation I won’t refuse.

“You should stop looking at me like that,” he says, glancing down to my lips.

“You should do that speedy thing where you zoom me through the estate to your lair,” I say.Then pushing back to look at him.“Can I do that speedy travel thing?It never occurred to me I can do cool vampire tricks.What else can I do?Turn into a bat?To be honest, I’ve been so focused on maintaining control and trying to come to terms with my new liquid diet, it never occurred to me that I’m super badass.”

I close my eyes and focus on being a bat.It doesn’t work.I stay human.

“Tamara Devine!”Astrid scolds.“What on Earth are you doing?”

I stiffen and lean to look down the hallway toward her.I give a weak smile.

“Go put some clothes on,” Astrid orders.“Now!”

“Allow me,” Costin says.He puts his arms around me and the hallway blurs sideways as he carries me with him.I’m just along for the ride, held to him tighter than gravity.Unlike the time I traveled this way as a human, the motion doesn’t make me sick to my stomach.Suddenly, the inertia stops and I’m standing in my room in the protected wing.The sound of my door shutting punctuates my regained vision.

Costin smiles.

I gasp in desperation, reaching between us for his waistband.I don’t wait for permission as I yank open his pants and push them down his hips to free the length of his arousal.Turning so that my back is against the door, I lift my leg in offering.

He doesn’t disappoint.His body slides into mine and it feels like home.This is where I belong.With him.How could I ever doubt that?

He loves me.I feel it more deeply than I feel my own emotions.Sure, it’s dark and a little twisted, and more than a bit domineering at times, but then again he’s a master vampire.To love him is to love all of him.

Our hearts beat in time with each other.His eyes swirl with red as he stares into me.Climax comes too fast, but I can’t stop it.I cling to him, not wanting to let go.

Costin is the first to release me and step back.My leg drops to the floor.There is light trickling into the room from the edge of the curtain.His skin is looking paler than normal.The light might affect me, but the allergy is worse for him.

“I need to go,” he says.

“Will I see you tonight?”The question comes out more vulnerable than I intended.

His expression warms.“If you wish it.”

“I do.”

His hand rises to my face, hovering just shy of touching my cheek.I lean into his palm, accepting the connection.He steps back, pulling me away from the door.

“Be careful today,” he murmurs.“Mortimer is desperate.”

“I can handle Mortimer.”

“I know you can.”His thumb traces the curve of my cheekbone, and he turns me slowly as if in our own private dance.“But even cornered rats can be dangerous.Don’t underestimate him.”

“I’m more worried about the necromancer.”

“One problem at a time.Don’t forget to drink the blood.”With that, he fades into the shadows next to the door.The room feels colder without him, emptier.I instantly want him back.

I open the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of him speeding away, but he’s already gone.My heightened senses immediately pick up movement somewhere downstairs.I close my eyes and listen to the multiple heartbeats and the low murmur of faraway voices.There’s a faint scent of burnt magic and something else… Fear?Anger?I’m having a hard time deciphering the smell of different emotions, but I’m beginning to see patterns.It’s not like being human.

“Tamara…”I hear Conrad’s voice whisper from the direction of his old bedroom.

I shut the door, refusing to engage with my dead brother.

I smell blood and find a large goblet full on my nightstand next to a decanter.It’s tepid but I don’t care as I gulp it down.It coats my mouth like a fine wine and instantly makes me feel more focused.

I catch myself drinking in the mirror and lower the goblet.A trail of blood runs down my chin before dripping onto the floor.I swipe it with the back of my hand.I’m dirty with patches of dirt and dried blood from the night’s activities.My hair is a wild tangle around my face.I’m in no state to face anyone, least of all whatever gathering Mortimer has assembled.

I give a soft laugh.My questionable state didn’t seem to bother Costin.

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