Page 21 of Midnight & Memories

The words came as a shock, and she wasn’t sure why. They’d been seeing each other for several weeks, and she’d come to her own realization that she wanted Ridge. That she loved him and couldn’t see living her life without him in it. She stiffened a bit as words came from her lips that seemed just as rigid as her body was.

“And I, you.”

Why can’t I say it? Love… It’s just a word!

Chapter Twelve

RIDGE

He thrust inside her again, and she let out a moan while writhing beneath him. Her sex pulsated quicker around his cock this time and in almost a vice-grip mode. He knew she was about to come undone again, and nothing pleased him more. As he kissed her neck, a surge of his own need filled him.

Fuck! Not again! No!

He plunged his lips onto hers, hoping the need for her blood would diminish, but the closer he got to his own orgasm, the more his mind called for her blood. He let out a low growl in response to his flooded mind, hoping it would overpower the beast battling within him. Her hands cupped his backside, pushing him deeper within her until her folds quickened around his cock with greater intensity than before. It was enough to send him over the edge, and as he released within her, he pricked her neck.

Trickles of blood touched his tongue, releasing a soft moan in the exhilaration. Her essence was exquisite. Poppy tasted better than anything he’d ever had in his life.

I need a little more, and then I must stop.

Her body went limp at the sound of his second moan, and he became ridged in her body’s response to him.

Fuck! No!

He quickly circled the wound with his tongue to seal it and then lifted his head to look at her. Her face was glowing, something he never thought he’d ever see with a human. No human understood his kind.

What was strange to him was her lips did something he also never thought possible. They curved upward in an enormous smile.

“That was amazing, Ridge.” She said before letting out a long breath and snuggling her head onto his shoulder. Her legs wrapped around his, and then she pulled the covers over him. “I’d ask for a third round, but it’s already way past midnight, and we both have to be up in a few hours.”

Ridge smiled and kissed the top of her head. He waited until she fell asleep and then pulled on his shirt and pants.

Should I leave her a note?

Ridge shook his head in protest at the thought.

Who am I kidding? I could have killed her tonight and all because I am a monster. She’s better off without me.

He let out a long sigh as he finished putting on his shoes and looked over at her sleeping body. Standing there for a long moment, he memorized each curve and beauty mark, knowing full well that this would be the last time he would ever see her again. His mind was made up because he’d rather have never existed at all than to live an existence knowing full well he could have hurt her tonight or, worse, killed her.

Damned monster!

He gently placed his lips on her forehead and gave her one last kiss before he left her home and her life forever.

Chapter Thirteen

POPPY

It had been seven days since Ridge left her condo after they made love. And also seven days that she had heard nothing from him. Not one phone call or text came to her personal cell, and not one message passed by her desk or in her email from him.

The only messages she received from his company were from his assistant regarding the gala event scheduled for the following weekend. She did not know how she pulled it all off, but everything from the gifts to the venue fell right into place, and she couldn’t help but wonder if Ridge’s influence had something to do with all of it.

She tried to focus on all the positives, but it was hard for her to ignore the fact that he ditched her right after they had sex. The whole thing made no sense to her because one minute, he was professing how good they were together, and the next, he slid right out of her existence.

Since he obviously wants nothing more to do with me, he must’ve helped this event along so he wouldn’t have to be tied down to me for another week and a half.

Poppy let out a sigh.

What did I do to make him hate me so much? And why do I care about him so much? My chest literally feels like there’s a hole in it.

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