Page 113 of To Crave Deeply
“You’re coming with me, whether you like it or not. Do you hear?” Jasper’s words were more like a growl, deep and guttural as he flung them in my face.
He’d lost it. His eyes were manic, and his smirk was wild. For the first time, I had the thought that perhaps Jasper really had gone, and my heart clenched. But I wasn’t about to believe that. Not when the True Vampire bond mark was still emblazoned on his chest. There must still be a part of him there for that mark to stay on his skin.
“No, this isn’t you, Jasper.”
I felt the team move closer, clearly preparing for a fight.
The laugh that sprang from Jasper’s lips was insane. He leant closer, his breath caressing my cheek, and his voice dropped to a low whisper. “Say goodbye to your team, Lori.”
Jasper attacked with a snarl, but it wasn’t me he was aiming for. He moved at vampire speed and my eyes struggled to keep up with him. He moved with grace as he attacked the team. Moving from one to the next with ease. They didn’t stand a chance.
“Torsten! Get Lucifer out of here!” I yelled, but he just stood there, stubbornly trying to catch the vampire for a fight. “Please. Just fucking go!”
His mismatched eyes met mine and he growled, clearly pissed that I was sending him away, but Lucifer was unconscious. He needed to be protected. Torsten grabbed Lucifer and disappeared into the shadows.
Screams and grunts filled the air. Flashes of white and blue flung around me as Violette and Rae battled with Selene. I couldn’t see Iveri. Where did she fit in in all this?
A snarl had my head whipping around and I found Jasper standing right behind me. Blood splattered his face, and his eyes were wild with the adrenaline of battle. The rest of the team were trying to regroup, but judging by the groans that filled the air, Jasper had incapacitated them for long enough to steal me away.
But he hadn’t killed them. Just another sign that my Jasper was still buried in there somewhere.
Right now, my focus was entirely on the man in front of me. Or, more specifically, the blood that covered him. I could smell it. All those different aromas colliding and enticing me. I wanted to lick them from his face. I yearned for a taste.
Just. One. Little. Taste.
There was a deep rumble in his chest and his nostrils flared. He raised his thumb and placed it against my bottom lip.
“No,” I yelled and pulled away, but he grabbed the back of my neck and forced his thumb past the seam of my lips. I tried to break free of his grip, but I was no match for his vampire strength. He pushed his thumb against my tongue, and I couldn’t avoid it. The flavour of the blood exploded in my mouth like the sweetest thing I’d ever tasted. It was spicy and rich, a cacophony of flavours that swirled along my tongue. I moaned and so did Jasper. I could feel his desire press against my stomach as he forced me to lick his thumb clean. I didn’t care. It was heady and mesmerising. Blissful and exhilarating.
Jasper pulled his hand away and I snarled, snapping my teeth with a demand he give me more.
He chuckled and brushed my hair back from my face. “There she is. My little monster,” he whispered affectionately. His fangs extended and he bit the inside of his wrist. Blood instantly pooled on his skin and my mouth watered. I should be horrified, should be running away screaming, but all I could think about was the blood pulsing out the puncture wounds he made. I wrapped my hands around his wrist and pulled it towards my mouth.
“Yes, Lori. Feast. It will help with the transition.”
“No!” I heard Alec cry from somewhere behind me, but I was too entranced with Jasper’s blood to take any notice. I swiped my tongue against his wrist with one long stroke.
Holy fuck.
Nothing compared to him. Nothing. I savoured the delectable liquid as it ran down my throat. As sweet as chocolate and as rich and intense as the man himself.
Fuck. I needed more.
I latched my mouth onto his wrist and heard him gasp. My teeth sunk into his flesh hard enough that blood gushed down my throat. His delicious taste cascaded down my throat and I groaned, sucking harder and harder, trying to get as much as I could. Jasper released a purr from his throat and my hunger morphed into pure lust. I tore my mouth away from his wrist, feeling more alive than I ever had before. Even my demon was curled up in satisfaction. My chest heaved with every breath I took, and I stared at Jasper for one moment before I snapped.
I leapt into his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist. We kissed and it was all teeth and tongue, and I could taste fresh blood in my mouth as I bit his lip.
Then suddenly, I was ripped away from him and flung across the room. A snarl clawed out my throat and I saw Torsten squaring off with Jasper, eagerly waiting to attack.
No. I wasn’t going to let that happen.
But I wasn’t thinking clearly. I was crazed with bloodlust. Manic with the taste of Jasper and I did the one thing I said I wouldn’t.
“Mordecai. I need you.”
I didn’t even regret the words.
***
