Page 68 of Night of the Vampire
She startled, inhaling sharply when I suddenly appeared in front of her, but didn't try to move away. Her hair was loose, falling over her shoulders to tease her breasts. I took a few of the soft strands between my fingers, brushing the backs of my knuckles across the curve of her breast, enjoying the contrast of texture between her hair and her blue cotton shirt. Lifting the strands to my nose, I inhaled the scent of coconuts and flowers. She smelled like the sea, her skin warmed from the sun. Something I'd almost forgotten in all my years of darkness.
Blood lust roared through me and I reeled where I stood for a second, then touched my tongue to the tips of my fangs, trying to relieve the sudden ache there. But it only made the thirst worse.
Lizzy's eyes traveled over me, taking in the changes in my appearance and mood, but there was no fear within her and for that I was grateful. If she'd run from me then it would've broken me. She raised her hand to my face, her expression curious, and I felt her fingers trace the lines around my eyes and mouth.
Capturing her hand in mine, I turned my head and pressed a soft kiss to the center of her palm. "I've missed you so much, Acushla."
Chapter 23
Lizzy
My pulse picked up as Killian ran the tip of his nose over the heel of my hand. There, at my pulse point, he inhaled deeply, taking in my scent before pressing his lips against the inside of my wrist. I felt that kiss all the way to the ache between my legs.
I hadn't realized how much I'd missed him until he appeared at my door. For most of the past week, after the night at The Purple Fang, I'd hidden away in this hotel room, only leaving it to work at the shop, take Wiggles for his walks, or to pick up food as I tried to sort out my feelings about everything. Mike had taken over closing the store for me, working extra hours so I could be back here by dark.
I really owed him a raise.
As I'd chowed down on takeout and binge watched whatever I could find on the television, I'd tried to come to some type of acceptance about everything that had happened and how I felt about it. But by the end of the week, I was as confused as ever. However, the entire time, I'd felt like I was waiting for...something.
Or, someone.
But now Killian was here. I didn't know how he found out where I was—if Jamal had finally told him or if he'd hunted me down on his own—and I didn't care. I was just glad he did. Because I realized now what it was I'd been waiting for.
I'd been waiting for him.
"I've missed you, too," I admitted.
He placed our joined hands over his heart, unfolding my fingers until my palm was flat on his hard chest. His heart was racing, the beats strong. "Do you feel what you do to me?"
I could only nod.
His eyes traveled over my face like he was trying to memorize my features. "Don't run from me anymore, Acushla."
"I can't promise you that," I told him honestly. "My life is so up in the air right now, and I honestly don't know where it's going to end up. This," I paused, searching for the words that would make him understand. "My coming back to this city, I'd always planned for it to be a temporary thing until I decided what I wanted to do next. Where I wanted to go. I never really meant to stay here, Killian."
"This is where you belong, Lizzy. With me."
I wish things were as clear to me as they were to him. I'd come back to my home hoping I could reconnect with my family, but running a voodoo store in the middle of the French Quarter wasn't my idea of a life. Finding out the only living relative I remembered was in charge of some kind of a witch coven was just another thing I wasn't willing or ready to accept.
And this...thing with Killian. My feelings for him were strong. Much too strong for the length of time I'd known him for. It was strange. And overwhelming. And too much.
Killian stared at me like he could see straight through to my soul. "I'm your family now, Lizzy."
"You’re a vampire, Killian." I couldn't believe I was even saying that word out loud. "You’re something I read about in horror novels or watched in movies. Something that shouldn't even exist."
"But I do exist, Acushla. And I have for a long time. Waiting for you."
Before I could say anymore, he dipped his head and took my lips with his, pulling me into his body with only our trapped hands providing any kind of barrier between us. His kiss wasn't timid. No. He claimed my mouth just like he claimed my body and possibly my heart. Because he was right.
I knew practically nothing about him, and yet, at the same time, I'd felt like I'd known him forever. Like we'd lived many other lives together and had only just now found each other again. It was exciting. And frightening.
He cupped my face for a moment as his other hand slid up my back before they both slid into my hair, holding me still while he ravished my mouth with his lips and tongue and teeth. I tasted blood as one fang cut into my bottom lip and Killian moaned deep in his throat, sucking my lip into his mouth and running his tongue along the wound. The stinging stopped, and then he was kissing me again until I was gasping for air and my breasts felt full and heavy. Until the ache to have him between my legs was almost painful. A sound escaped me, something between a whimper and a moan, begging him to ease that ache.
Breaking off the kiss, he tipped my head back, running his tongue along the artery in my throat before whispering in my ear. "Are you wet for me, Acushla?"
God, yes.
He smiled a self-satisfied smile. Had I said that out loud? I didn't know and I didn't care. My hands gripped his lean waist as my entire body strained toward him, trying to get closer.
