Page 59 of House of Crimson Hearts
I’m struck silent. To have someone really truly look at me, to see me how no other has ever seen me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry, bite her or wrap her in my arms and never let go. I think maybe a little of all three.
She reaches up for me, stretching on tiptoes, she’s at least half a head shorter than me, and she pulls me down to kiss her. Our lips caress, warmth pooling between the gentle brushes. I lose myself in her touch. The way her mouth moves over mine, claiming me. I slide my tongue against hers and she moans.
It makes me instantly wet and crazed with need. I reach my arms around her back, hook my fingers under her sports bra and yank, splitting it in two.
She gasps against me, and then laughs as she pulls away and lets it drop to the floor. She swings me around until my back hits the shower wall. I hiss against the cool press of the tiles.
“Do that again,”—she grins, pointing to my lace knickers—“only to them…”
I grin in response. I can’t hold myself back anymore, my fangs drop. I expect her to shrink away or slide into a fighting stance. But she doesn’t.
Who are you, little hunter?
There’s a part of my mind screaming at me to be realistic, to recognise that all this will go away when my blood’s thrall fades. But she has me mesmerised, I cannot walk away. I will not.
Not until she realises she’s mine.
I slide my fingers into my knickers and rip. They fall away.
Her expression darkens with desire. Her tongue slides over her lips. “I’m going to fuck you now,” she says.
And all I can do is nod because fucking me is exactly what I want her to do. I crave the feel of her inside me, the way my blood is in her.
“Spread your legs, Princess,” she says, so demanding.
I don’t.
Just to see what she’ll do.
Just to play the game.
She steps into me, “I said…”— she shoves one of my feet apart with hers— “Spread. Your. Legs.” She nudges the other apart until I’m bared wide.
No one else would dare speak to me like this.
But the way she barks the order, it makes me wet.
She lowers her mouth to my skin. Caressing my neck, licking and nipping as though she were the vampire and not me. Her lips run over my collarbone sending waves and sparks of pleasure over my skin. She bites my neck, not hard, but hard enough to make me moan and wish she were sinking her teeth in.
She kisses every inch of my body, taking her sweet time, her hand roaming over my waist, skimming over the dip and up to my breasts. Her thumb brushes my nipples until they harden into nubs. Her fingertips glide down my curves and rounded tummy until she finds my centre.
“You’re already wet for me,” she says.
“It’s the blood,” I pant as her fingers draw between my folds and glide up and over my clit. Over and over until I’m a panting mess.
“Liar.” She smiles into my chest and then her tongue swirls over my nipples, and I know I’m losing myself in this moment. Losing myself to her.
As she tips me over into bliss, the only shadow marking the night is the fear of what happens after…
Chapter17
OCTAVIA
When I wake the following afternoon, Red has long since gone. I considered compelling her. It took every ounce of control I had not to do it. I didn’t because something shifted between us. She wasn’t as hateful or regretful. I wonder if it’s the quantity of blood she had or something else. She felt… different.
But I can hardly explain that to her, can I? Not without a series of confessions I am far from ready to give.
In fact, it was a mistake to call her by her real name. But I couldn’t help it. The pull of my blood coursing through her system fucked with the clarity of my mind. Normally, she’s in the hunter territory when she takes it, and I am far enough away I can’t sense her. But last night. I was consumed, irrational, possessive.
