Page 125 of The Firebrand
“Vampire Bureau of Investigation.”
“There’s no… I get it. It’s not that.” He brushed a hand across his head. “Since my Awakening, I’ve struggled with bludfrenzy. It kicks into high gear when I’m around you. That’s bad enough, but if you are my female … I’m not saying you are … and I take your blood, I’ll be summoned.”
“For what?”
“For the most savage of our rituals. The Bludhunt. The vampire mating ceremony. Because you couldn’t survive it, I would refuse the summons. Let’s just say doing that would be worse than burning at the stake. So, two strikes against us. Both of them deadly for you.”
“Since we’re airing dirty laundry, let me share my fears. I’m going to die long before you.” When Rein flinched, she waved him off. “If I am lucky enough to beat the cancer thing, in time I’ll grow old and wrinkled. See the point? Young stud. Old lady. I don’t think so. We only have a few years together.”
His eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t stop desiring you just because you age, Brae.”
“You have no idea what it means to age. So, I have rules, too. Your rule—no tasting my yummy blood. My rule—I fly away from our love shack before I get sick or turn gray.”
Rein nodded.
“Oh, I have one more rule. Only the packaged stuff for you.”
“I have one more, too,” said Rein. “If I fall to the bludfrenzy, you run. Two feet sprinting, arms pumping. Promise me.”
“Right. Okay, we have four rules. We both agree to them. Now, get on with fucking me?”
“How’s your pain?”
“Nonexistent.”
When Rein slid down the bed, both hands cupping under her breasts, Braelyn said, “Still … it’d be nice if you wanted me no matter what.”
He paused, his lips nearly to her nipple, anger—could be frustration—shooting from stormy blue eyes. “Did you listen to anything? Do you have a death wish?”
“No, I don’t. And I don’t want to mate either, but you could at least want to bond with me.”
Rein swiped the palm of his hand down his forehead, over his nose, across his chin. “I don’t understand you, but the result is the same. I won’t take your blood. I won’t bond. I won’t put you through the Bludhunt. End of discussion.”
Braelyn ground her teeth. “End of discussion? Really? You arrogant, stubborn, self-righteous … ooh … vampire.” She scooted to the top of the bed, yanked a pillow onto her lap, and clenched it tight in her hands.
In silence, they both leaned against the headboard. Braelyn lifted her defiant chin. Rein rubbed his fist along his chest. They sat that way for some time.
Finally, she loosened the grip on the pillow, whispering, “I still want you to want me.” She walked her fingers up his thigh, watching his cock pulse.
“Fuck, Brae. I do. Too fucking much for your own good. Don’t you see that?”
“You love me.” Her digits stopped mid-prance.
“I didn’t say…”
She pressed fingers to his lips. “Hush. I love you, too. Even if you are an insufferable vampire. Four rules it is. Should I put them on a piece of paper and tack them over the bed?”
“I can remember them.” Rein hissed as she continued the journey toward his groin.
“Back to what we were doing. I was feeling no pain thanks to Dr. Feelgood. I was nibbling on your ear, talking about rule number one and…”
“Shut the fuck up.” Rein grabbed her hand, wrapping it around him, a moan escaping his lips.
She scooted down Rein’s body. “We don’t have a rule against this, do we?” Holding his throbbing shaft, she bent and licked a bead of liquid off the tip of his arousal. “Hmm.” She closed her lips around him, sucking.
Rein shuddered, crossing his arms behind his neck, leaning back. He exhaled, his abs clenched tight. “We’ll never have a rule against your mouth working my dick.”
Braelyn rolled her tongue on the tip in circles, flicking across the slit, making pleasured sounds as she took him deeper. He pulsed, thick and hot, when she licked the underside of his length. With the saliva from her mouth coating him, her fist glided up and down his shaft, finding a rhythm.
