Page 48 of The Vampire’s Prey

"The point of the ginger was to make a point.” Adrian chuckles as he taps my nose with his fingertip. "And I do believe the point was well made. Unless you need another treatment?" Adrian laughs again as I shake my head rapidly back and forth. "Oh, I don’t know about that.”

His smirk spears me with another shaft of heat. Dear gods, but at least I picked a hot vampire. Again, he pulls me out of my thoughts with his skillful fingers skimming over my thighs and drifting higher.

"You got even wetter with me just mentioning teaching you that lesson again.”

I suck in a breath as he skims my lips, dancing along my skin, but not nearly deep enough or hard enough for my liking. A whine keens from the back of my throat, but I'm beyond caring at this point. All I can think about is how his touch inflames me.

"Are you sure you do not need another lesson?" He whispers as his fingers slide across me and back even further.

Adrian's touch against my back entrance causes me to spring up and away from him, only to have him hold me back down into tatehiza.

"Tisk, tisk. I do believe I told you not to move. I guess a correction is in order."

His words sound harsh in my ears, but his smile puts me at ease. All I have to do is breathe and trust him. Interestingly enough, it's becoming easier to do with every passing hour I'm in his presence.

"Stay right there. I have sonic hearing, so I will know if you move."

"Ahhh. Got it. Hearing aids. I knew there had to be something wrong with you, old man."

His eyebrow raise is the only response I get as I watch him stand up in one fluid motion. Say what you will about vampires, their movement is just pure poetry.

"Oh, I think you are going to regret that one little girl," he smirks darkly.

Goosebumps race along my skin. I certainly hope I will.

As he leaves the living room, I take a deep breath and settle deeper into the position I'm placed. Peace drifts in and out, at war with my training. Every ounce of me wants to confess and have him take me as his own. But I don't think I can. There's no guarantee that he'll even have me once he knows the truth.

Until I met him, I never knew I could be happy. Sure, there were moments back home, but nothing like this. I feel like I'm floating on a cloud. If I believed the propaganda, it's like dreams actually can come true. But where there is a silver lining, there is also the storm cloud it's hidden in.

I can't tell him. All of this will come crashing down if I do. But there's also no way I can kill him or anyone else. Not now. Not after everything he's shown me. But then what do I do about The Family? I don't think I can go home now. I have nowhere to go, nowhere to run. They will find me and force me back into the fold. Shivering, I try not to think about the last child that wandered. The rehabilitation was agonizing to watch. There's no way I can survive something like that.

"Okay. Out with it!"

Startled, I look up to see Adrian looming over me. When did he get back here?

"What are you talking about?"

Frowning, he kneels back down in front of me. Adrian reaches forward and cups my cheek. Without even thinking, I nuzzle into him, clinging to his strength. God knows I have none of my own right now.

"Every time I turn around, you are deep in thought. And from what I am feeling off of you, they are not good thoughts. Please," His voice gentles as he sweeps his thumb across my lips. "Let me help with this burden. It pains me to see you carry it alone."

Closing my eyes, I search myself. Can I trust him? Can I truly believe in the fairy tale he's weaving around me? Monsters will lie and deceive to get what they want. Do not trust them, or your soul will pay the price. I stiffen against him, and I know he feels the shift.

"Why am I here?" I can hear the ache and pain in my voice, but I can't help that now. I am too confused, too torn to fight that as well.

"Where else would you be?" He frowns and pushes away from me. I miss his touch the moment it's gone.

"In my apartment? At my job?"

Growling, Adrian stands and paces in front of me. "Dead?"

"What are you talking about? I know my body and my limits. Stop being so dramatic."

He whirls around and stares me down, his body eerily still. "Dramatic? All right missy. Let’s talk dramatic. I know you and your desires. I can feel you become pliable in my hands at the very thought of me committing any act of depravity upon your person, and yet you fight me at every turn. Like a spoiled child.” He raises his hand to cut off my defense. "No, you will not interrupt me.” His fingers pinch the bridge of his nose as he stops and takes in several deep breaths. "When you agreed to be my submissive that night, you brought such joy and wonder into my life. You awaken things inside of me that I thought no longer existed. And when I showed up at your apartment and saw you, by the gods, I felt a terror I have never before felt in my life. I can have anything my heart desires. Nothing is denied to me. But none of that matters. You are what I want most of all. Your body, your soul, your submission. I want you."

My heart thunders in my ears. What does all this mean? I try to slow down my breathing, but tinges of panic creep over me, cutting off my valuable air supply. He couldn't possibly want me. I'm food to him. Nothing more. Right?

Before I can open my mouth, his lips descend upon mine. There is no gentle coaxing, only brutal demanding. I moan as his lips dance across mine. If only it were so easy. If only our lives weren't so different. If we met in another lifetime, we would be the stuff of legends. As it stands, he's a monster, and I'm his executioner.