Page 78 of Auctioned for Her Blood
“But there is another way I can use you,” he says, “and I want everything out in the open before—” He looks down, draws a breath, and then looks back into my eyes. “If I am ever so lucky to… Before I even consider any kind of sexual activity, I want you to understand—”
From the hallway, comes a blood-curdling scream.
I shoot to my feet, heart racing. “What was that?”
Zuben shakes his head, stiffly.
The voice cries out again, clearly in pain, a scream followed by a loud curse, and this time I recognize its source.
I race toward the door, but Zuben gets there before me.
“You need to stay hidden,” he says.
I try to push past him. “No. We have to go. That scream, it was Ryker.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Zuben
Ember’s facereveals her terror, but also her bravery and determination, and her emotional pain smashes my heart into sharp shards.
But at least I am saved for the moment from the torture of resisting her infinite charms. My body is exhausted from the effort. My lips burn to kiss her, my hands itch to explore every inch of her lush body, and my stiff member is pounding, aching with need, especially as the wool of my trousers abrades its sensitive skin.
It has been more than a century since I have allowed such urges to intrude.
But until she knows the full truth—or at least everything I suspect—and until she is no longer under the lubricating effects of my blood, I will resist her, no matter how hard she tries to seduce me.
Ryker cries out in pain, and Ember throws herself against my body, trying to get past me to the door. In the attempt, she grazes my erection, and my breath expels raggedly.
“We need to help him!” she implores. “He’s in pain!” Her eyes are so full of anguish that I feel it too. It hurts that she feels so much for this pirate, but her feelings for him make me feel even more strongly that I was right to resist her.
“I will find him.” I hold her shoulders, keeping her firmly in place. “I will help him if I can, but it is not safe for you down here. No one else can—can know what you are.”
She frowns, beautiful no matter what her expression, her skin so radiant and…
I tip my head to the side.
“What?” she asks impatiently. “You just thought of something. What is it?”
”You look like,” I tell her, shaking my head, trying to talk myself out of telling her what I’m thinking. “I do not know how long it will last, but at this moment, you could be mistaken for a vampire.”
She takes a step back. “Did drinking your blood…did itchangeme?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes fill with fear. “Am I a vampire?”
“No.” I shake my head. “No. But at the moment, you might be able to fool others intothinkingthat you are.”
The horror fades from her expression.
“Holy fucking shitballs!” Ryker’s voice shatters the air. “Do that again, Ricky, and I’ll kill you!” He cries out in obvious pain, an agonizing wail too horrible to comprehend.
Ember winces. “We have to go find him,” she says. “Now.” The determination in her eyes is visceral, amplifying my admiration and desire for her, even though I would prefer if her concern was for me.
“Very well.” I take her hand. “But stay behind me. Follow my lead, and I will do all I can to assist your pirate. But my first priority remains keeping you safe.”
She nods, and we exit the room. Ryker cries out again, and her hand tenses inside mine.
