Page 49 of Vampire's Breath

I couldn’t risk being this close to her any longer. I ran my tongue along my upper gumline. My hands curled into fists, the sensation of her warmth still clinging to me. When her sweet cunt had been grasping at my cock as I emptied inside her, I was the one who almost hurt her.

My fangs had been fully distended, ready to bite and pull her nectar into me. It was only a matter of time before I lost control and emptied her of her blood entirely. Thankfully, I stopped myself at the last moment, nibbling at her neck in the way that made her melt in my hands.

The hunger gnawed at my ribs, sharp and relentless. Cormac kept a flask in the drawing room. I’m sure it was only for me. Iprowled down the hall and over to the shelf of family heirlooms, but the flask wasn’t there. I gritted my teeth together.

Laughter came from the family library, and I followed the sound. Rory and Cormac reclined on the leather sofa. Rory lay with her back to his front, his hands resting on her abdomen, while she held a book.

Cormac looked at me and smiled. “Maybe you can help us out. What do you think of the name Winifred?”

I narrowed my eyes. “It might be good for some people, but it’s certainly a departure from our family.”

Rory glanced at the seat beside the sofa. “Lorcan, come join us.”

I shook my head.

Cormac must have seen the look in my eyes because he sat up, shifting his mate from leaning on him like she were made of glass. He pulled his leg around and put his feet on the floor. “Brother, something has happened. What’s wrong?”

I ran my hands through my hair. “I can’t do this, Cormac. She has what she needs.” The words scraped their way out of my throat, bitter and final.

Cormac tilted his head. “But you’ve been upstairs with her for hours. What have you been—”

I narrowed my eyes at him and glanced at Rory before he finished his question. “I cannot fall in love.”

Cormac chuckled. “You can’t fall in love, but you can make love?”

Rory slapped his arm as she giggled. “Cormac, stop. Lorcan, would you like me to get rid of him for you?”

I smiled, my eyes catching hers, noting their jovial look, but I couldn’t laugh with her. “Thank you, Rory. But no.” I took a deep breath, and their faces became serious again. “I just need to—I just need to leave.”

“But surely—”

“No. I almost bit her, Cormac. I almost bit her, and if I had, I doubt I would have been able to stop. Don’t you understand? The only thing I wanted was her blood.”

Ashdowne had said the same thing about Lady Isobel when he gloated about the desire to consume her, control her, and command her to be his. I couldn’t do that to Briar, and every moment I spent with her was a moment closer to enslaving her.

Cormac leaned forward, then stood and went to the small bar. He picked up a flask and handed it to me. “You need a drink.”

“I was coming to find that.” I twisted the cap and raised it to my lips. As the blood rolled across my tongue, my face scrunched in horror.

“This is bitter, Cormac. How long has it been in here?”

His eyes opened a little wider. “Less than a day. It should still be fine.” He took the flask from me and brought it to his lips. He looked at Rory. “Not nearly as sweet as yours.”

She smiled at him. “Don’t worry, I’m not getting jealous.” Their laughter was warm and easy, unlike the cold weight that pressed on me. I needed to get home.

He tilted his head and looked at me. “You were used to drinking from the vein in Australia, weren’t you?”

I nodded.

“All right, just a moment.”

Cormac went to the intercom and pressed the button. “Dani, can you please bring the acting executive trustee to the library?”

“Do you care which one?” The response crackled in the speaker.

“The female, please.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What’s an executive trustee?”

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