Page 60 of The Curse of Eternity
His arm had wound around my back when I’d arched, and his hand at my shoulder blade tightened. My chest rose and fell in succession while his forehead pressed against the crook of my neck.
I swallowed, and it took an extra second to find my voice. “Y-You okay?”
He inhaled a breath to answer, and another shiver shook my spine as his head rose.
“You smell divine,” he confessed, and his throat bobbed on a swallow as his attention drifted to my neck. “And unfortunately, I cannot stop thinking about how you taste.” Lust for my blood shone heavily behind his unwavering gaze, and my heart hammered in spite of the self-deprecating smile that hid the extent of his desire.
Except I couldfeelit, in every uncontrollable chill that racked my spine. Suddenly, the intoxication of his bite was allIcould think about.
“Bite me,” I blurted, my voice clear.
“Maria—” Hesitation smothered his tone, but beneath his concern for me, there washunger. Need threaded the cadence of his unnecessary inhale, the act of breathing me in clearly tempting him further. “I should not weaken you.”
His lack of conviction made me smirk.
“I’ll be fine, as long as you don’t take as much this time.” I fidgeted beneath him, and pride prickled inside my heart when his eyes briefly fluttered closed. “Besides, it’ll get your strength up, and—”It improved our chance of surviving what came next.That truth hung in the infinitesimal space between us, but neither of us acknowledged it.
“You are sure?” His gaze held mine, and I nodded once.
I wouldn’t waste a moment of our limited time on regretting what could’ve been. “Yes.”
Warmed fingertips threaded through my hair, his trim nails scraping my scalp as he tugged my head aside. A delectable chill climbed my spine as his canines grazed my throat. Adrenaline pulsed through my bloodstream when his lips touched my skin, bestowing one more kiss before his sharp canines pierced my flesh.
My whole body jolted as the puncture deepened, but the effects of his venom soon soothed the sting, saturating my bloodstream even as he sucked. Airy elation suffused my mind, and I rasped a moan as his pace resumed. His answering groan vibrated along my throat, and his fingers tightened around my loose curls.
Ecstasy spasmed through my middle, and my head kicked back as I bucked into his following thrusts. A tremor of satisfied bloodlust shivered up my spine, echoing the sensation of my release, and I whimpered on a moan. I cried out when his canines slipped free from my torn flesh, but my shriek was hushed by his mouth covering mine.
Iron laced the sweet taste of his venom, coating my tongue with a single stroke of his as rivulets of blood trickled from my neck. Drake’s palm flattened over the mark he’d made, his thumb pressing into the base of my throat. Our mouths moved in sync while his rigid chest and stomach pressed into my softer counterparts.
Maybe it was the venom’s effects, clouding my thoughts with a surge of dizzying confidence, but I managed to get one foot under me, using the leverage to roll us over. Faster than anticipated, Drake grasped my hips, hard enough to bruise as he secured me on top of him. Our kiss broke as I rose, biting my lip when the shift in our position deepened his next thrust. Blood dripped from the quickly healing puncture wound at my throat, and Drake sat up beneath me in a blur.
The tip of his tongue caught the drop at my collarbone, and my head tipped back as his strong fingers massaged up my aching spine. Then his mouth closed over my nipple, rolling the sensitive flesh between his teeth. I steadied myself against his shoulders while I rode him, and his low moan tickled the swell of my breast.
My breath caught as his thumb slid up my inner thigh, quickly finding my center. Heat swelled beneath the gentle swirl of his insistent touch, and exquisite satisfaction unspooled. My legs shook while I clung to him for support, barely able to keep myself upright. The bridge of his nose brushed my jaw, and then his mouth was close to my ear.
“Maria—” He exhaled a groan as my hips rocked, chasing another kind of delirium as the analgesic effects of his venom wore off. “If you do not slow down—”
“Don’t stop,” I begged, falling into him as he reclined until his back hit the floor. The low tenor of his accented voice warmed my ears, and my eyes slammed shut. Gratification coursed through me with every powerful jolt of his cock driving into me from beneath. Then his hands seized my hips, and swiftly lifted me off of him.
I yelped at the sudden withdrawal, nearly toppling off his lap, but Drake caught me. A wince of pleasure flashed across his features as he sat up, and I reached down on instinct tograsp him. His low moan ached with relief while I stroked him, catching every jerk that pulsed hot and wet between my hands.
Blissful fulfillment stole over his expression for several long, captivating moments before his posture relaxed, and my hand stilled. The fast breath I inhaled stuck in my lungs when his raven-dark eyes opened, and immediately locked onto mine. Silence surrounded us for one long moment, broken only by the crackling of flames, while we stared at each other in the aftermath of surrendering to our desperate desires.
Then his hand rose, his fingers damp from my sweat as he brushed a stray curl from my face. I leaned my cheek into his touch, my eyes closing as his thumb swept over my jaw only to catch my lower lip. Mirth tugged up the corners of my mouth, and I gave into the grin as a chuckle rumbled from Drake’s chest. Vibrant emotion warmed my insides as I cradled my hands in my lap, and then frowned. How the hell was I going to clean up?
“Ah, my apologies,” he said, releasing me from his touch only to tear another sheaf from the fabric beneath us. My lips pressed together, trying and failing to hide my smile while he wiped my hands.
“Don’t be sorry.” I shrugged. “You more than made up for it.” My smirk strengthened when Drake closed his eyes, like he was trying to keep from rolling them.
“While I appreciate the reassurance, I was referring to my lack of preparation for any form of contraception.” Amusement quirked up the corner of his lips as he tossed the rag into the fire beside us, and then pulled me closer. His firm hold reignited a quiver in my stomach as his arm wound around my back, and I closed my eyes.
The backs of my knees rested over his thighs as my torso pressed against his, warm where our bodies touched. I reached across my stomach to take his hand in mine, entwining our fingers until they fit perfectly.
“Maybe next time,” I whispered. Hope for our future battled the uncertainty stabbing into my heart, throbbing like the ache settling between my sore legs. Drake was silent while his fingertips tenderly caressed up and down my thigh. Melancholy hung over us like a cloud, and I huffed to clear the intrusive thoughts.
“Honestly, I can‘t go a day with you without getting my hands dirty.”
My attempt at lightening the mood succeeded because Drake laughed, the easy sound brightening the fragile emotions swelling in my heart. Peace settled behind his dark eyes, gazing into mine.
