Page 86 of Venice Vampyr: The Beginning

“I’ve realized something tonight.” Lorenzo’s hand stroked over her hair, then he planted a soft kiss on top of her head.

“Yes?” With bated breath, Bianca waited for his response. Had he decided that it was time for him to bite her, that he couldn’t deny his nature any longer and needed to drain her of her blood? Would she have the strength to pull free from him and run? More importantly: would she want to?

“I realized tonight that I need you.”

“Need me?”

“Yes. When I have you in my arms, it feels good.”

“You mean when we have ... relations,” she corrected him. What man didn’t like to fuck? Surely, a vampire wasn’t any different in that way.

His hand nudged under her chin, tipping her face up to look at him. Bianca couldn’t avoid his penetrating gaze.

“It’s not about that.” Then he grinned. “Even though, I’ve never felt a more intense pleasure than when I’m inside you.” As if his body wanted to make a point, Lorenzo shifted her so she suddenly felt the hard outline of his erection against her hip.

“Oh.”

His hand dropped to her bodice, where he tugged at the laces. “It’s been too long ...” He expertly freed her breasts from their confines, pushing her bodice below them.

“But we only ... it was only a few hours ago.” How could he want her again so soon? And why was her own body responding to him, her nipples pebbling under his touch, when she knew what kind of monster he was? Out of nowhere, the words Lorenzo had hurled at his friend echoed in her head: She lets you drink her blood, and don’t tell me it doesn’t drive you both to ecstasy every time you do it. Did this mean that his bite wasn’t fatal, that it was in fact pleasurable?

“A few hours is too long,” he whispered against her skin before he sucked one taut nipple into his mouth. His teeth grazed her sensitive skin, causing alarm bells to ring in her head. She shivered, and a moment later he let her nipple pop from his mouth.

“Take me out of my breeches,” he ordered, his voice husky, his eyes dark with passion.

Without thinking, she obeyed. The moment she held his erect shaft in her hand, he groaned. The sound mesmerized her. “Now, lift your skirts.”

Releasing his cock, Bianca reached for the seams of her skirts and pulled them up at the same time as Lorenzo lifted her up and settled her over him so she straddled him.

“Tell me you’re wet.”

When she answered him, it wasn’t a lie. Because she was wet, her cunny readying itself for his invasion. Then she felt him, the thick head of his cock nudging at her entrance. She lowered herself and took him inside in one smooth glide. Before she could move any further, Lorenzo locked his arms around her and stopped her, breathing hard.

“See, now I feel better again.”

Seeing a chance for a question, Bianca asked, “Were you not feeling well earlier?”

He shook his head. “I quarreled with a dear friend.”

“What about?”

He stared past her into the distance. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that he was wrong.”

“And you were right?” she challenged.

Lorenzo met her eyes. Long seconds passed before he spoke again. “Would you ever hurt me?”

Her heartbeat rose at his question. Would she? Trying to buy herself time, she stalled. “I don’t understand.”

“Would you have the heart to hurt me?” His gaze was intense, penetrating now.

“Only if you hurt me,” she hedged, easing off him slightly, prepared to flee if she had to.

His arms pulled her back, his cock driving deeper into her. “I’ll never hurt you, I swear by everything that’s dear to me.”

Was he trying to tell her that he wouldn’t bite her, that she wouldn’t have to fear him? Had he heard her sneak around upstairs, eavesdropping on him and his friend?

“Your heart is beating faster.” Lorenzo’s hand stroked over her breast.