Page 28 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
His face remained impassive as he said, “Occupational hazard of being in charge.”
No, that wasn’t it. He wasn’t overworked. He was hungry. Starving. A memory materialized. Last night, I’d asked him to eat, but he hadn’t. Instead, I’d fallen asleep. “Last night,” I said, slowly, as if trying to recall a dream. “You were supposed to feed from me.”
His look somehow darkened, smoldering hotter than the fire. “You’re tired. It’s the middle of the night.” His attention dropped to my neck. “I am capable of waiting.”
Even now, when he was nearly ill with hunger, he offered me a way out. It was thoughtful for a bloodthirsty vampire. I wanted to help him if only to lull him into a false sense of security around me. “I can handle it,” I said stubbornly.
“As the lady wishes,” he replied cooly. I watched his Adam’s apple bob in his throat as he swallowed. “Lay back,” he instructed. “I have an idea.”
“What kind of idea?”
“One that might make feedings easier on you. I don’t want you to swoon again.”
Slowly, I reclined back against my pillow with my brows pushed together, wondering what he had planned. As soon as I was comfortable, he positioned himself at the foot of the bed,sitting on his knees, staring at me with longing in his eyes. The force of his attention was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Except in my dream, when he’d devoured my mouth. It was such a real feeling that I could almost taste him. I shook my head to clear the thought.
“Do you trust me?” Bastien asked, shifting forward.
That was a complicated question. But the answer that rose to my lips felt simple. “Yes.”
“Then I’ll feed from your femoral artery this time. It should be easier on you.”
For a second, I blinked at him. My femoral artery? “You’re going to bite me…there?” My eyes shifted to my thigh as I said it. His gaze followed.
“Yes.”
His hands slid under my knees and dragged me closer. I yelped, startled. “Wh-what are you doing?”
“Elevating your legs so you don’t pass out.” His voice was so calm, so matter-of-fact, as if this was the most ordinary thing in the world.
“Oh.” My heart thudded so hard I was sure he could feel it. The position was terribly intimate, leaving me open to him in a way that made heat flood my cheeks.
He leaned in, close enough that I felt the brush of his breath on my inner thigh, and I swallowed hard. “Is this alright?” he asked, his pale eyes flicking up to mine, waiting.
A thrill of excitement tore through my body, but I told myself this was just business. He was hungry, and it was like deciding whether to use a spoon or a fork. It made no difference to him, neck or thigh, so why should it matter to me? I nodded, understanding his plan, and Bastien eased both my legs over his shoulders.
As he did, the icy blue color of his eyes disintegrated into blackness, and razor-sharp fangs peeked from between hislips, the monster inside him awakening. A part of me was terrified of his transformation. The part that hated him for who he was and what he was about to do to me. But another part of mewas not.
Bastien’s lips moved to my thigh, dragging across my skin in a way that sent me reeling. My back arching. Fingers twisting into the sheets. His tongue followed, wetting my skin with one long stroke. I squirmed, and my thighs clamped around his neck before I could stop myself. He gave me a wicked grin, showing off his sharp teeth, and then twined his fingers with mine as he gripped the bedsheets.
“Breathe, Miss Donadieu,” Bastien said in a silky voice. “I haven’t even done anything yet.”
Lies. He knew exactly what he was doing to me.
“Spread your legs a little wider for me,chérie. I promise I’ll be gentle.”
The command went through me like lightning, and my body obeyed before my brain could catch up. My knees parted another few inches, baring more of me to him, and heat flooded my face. I tipped my head back against the pillow, dragging in a deep breath, then slowly exhaling—anything to keep my head clear while he was this close.
“Good. Very good. You’re doing so well,” he whispered. “Seeing you like this makes me so hungry.”
There was some monstrous part of me that wanted this.It chased away the part of me that was afraid, until I was hungry too. Hungry for him. I hated myself for even thinking such a disgusting thing. Hated my body for reacting this way.
“You don’t have to watch. In fact, it might be better if you closed your eyes.”
Maybe. But I found I couldn’t look away. Seeing his face between my legs like this only intensified my need for him. For him to touch me, to kiss me. All he’d needto do was turn his head a few inches and…My breath was short and tight, my chest rising and falling as I imagined just that.
“Tell me you want this,” Bastien murmured, his breath teasing my inner thigh, each word a stroke of temptation. “Tell me you need to give yourself to me as badly as I need you.”
“I thought you didn’t need me, Your Grace.”
