Page 86 of John’s Yearning

He sucked in a much-needed breath of air, and with it, some of his rage dissipated. “I didn’t either. But, you, Savannah, you made me feel again. And I can’t throw that away. I can’t let this bastard steal that from me. From us.”

She took a step toward him and put her hand on his chest. When she lifted her gaze to look at him, there was calm determination shining from her eyes. “If you truly love me, then you have to let me go. Buffy is part of me. If I don’t do this for her, I’ll never be able to forgive myself. And I’ll never be happy again. It would kill the love I have for you. Because I do love you. I don’t know how it happened or why.”

John put his hand over hers. Knowing that she loved him, that she felt for him what he felt for her, would have been the most joyous revelation he could have ever imagined, had it not been for her request to let her go.

“But what if he takes you both?”

“You’ll make sure that he won’t. I trust you. I trust you to save Buffy. And once she’s safe, then you’ll come for me too. I’ll trust in that too. And then we’ll be together. All three of us.”

He knew her mind was made up. No matter how long he argued with her, Savannah wouldn’t change her decision. Resigned, he said, “We’ll do as you say. Under one condition.”

“What condition?”

“You let me drink your blood now.”

35

John’s request stunned her into silence. Ever since he’d told her about the effect a vampire’s bite had on a human, Savannah hadn’t been able to get the thought out of her head.

“I’m not asking because I crave your blood, though I do, but because it will help me track you if anything goes wrong during the exchange.”

She tilted her head to the side, looking at him quizzically. “Track me? How?”

“If I have your blood in me, I’ll be able to follow your trail in case he takes you away. Vampires have a strong sense of smell, like bloodhounds. With your blood in me I’ll be able to track you over long distances. It’ll ensure that I won’t lose you.”

“But why not use an electronic tracker?”

“We have to assume that he’ll take every precaution and search you. If he suspects you’re wearing a tracker, he might have you strip.”

At that thought, Savannah felt a shudder of disgust run down her spine. “You’re right. It’s best.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “This is not how I imagined it. I hadn’t planned on forcing this on you. I wanted you to choose freely. To decide for yourself if, and when, I would bite you.” He dropped his lids and looked away. “I know you’re not ready for this. It’s not the right place, or the right time. I’ll make it quick.”

Savannah put her hand under his chin and lifted it, so he had to meet her gaze. “And shortchange me?” She shook her head, smiling. “Oh, John. Please don’t make it quick. Do it the way you wanted our first time to be. I want to experience what it’s like to feel your fangs piercing my skin. You told me it was a pleasurable act. Let me feel that pleasure.” Because if something went wrong, then this would be their first and last time. If Viktorov managed to snatch her away, or if he killed her when he realized that he’d lost, this would be their only time. But she couldn’t say that. She couldn’t give those thoughts voice.

“Are you sure, darlin’?”

“I’ve never been so sure of anything. Show me what it’s like to love a vampire and to be loved by him. Show me what my future will be like.” If she indeed had a future. If she was so lucky.

John pulled her to him, sliding one arm around her waist. His chocolate-colored eyes turned molten, a golden shimmer framing his irises. “I will always cherish this moment, though if I had a choice I would do this differently. But I can promise you that what you feel will be my true self.”

He slanted his lips over her mouth and kissed her gently, nibbling softly on her lips, his tongue sliding over the seam of it to ask for entry. On a breath, she parted her lips and received him. Her tongue met his for a dance as old as time. Immediately arousal swept through her cells. He could do that to her in an instant, fill her body with the kind of need only he could satisfy.

Already, she felt his hands on her clothes, felt him undressing her, shoving her top over her head to lay her torso bare. She felt his hands on her breasts then, kneading them, teasing her nipples. But they didn’t stay there. Instead they got to work on her pants.

“John, I thought you wanted to drink my blood,” she said, panting.

“I do,” he said, his voice thick with lust, “but I have to be inside you. For our first time, I need to make love to you when I bite you.”

“Oh God!” She glanced around the room. A kitchenette in one corner, a row of lockers along another wall, a small table and several chairs. “How? Where?”

“Don’t worry about that, darlin’,” he assured her and stripped her of her pants. Then he opened his cargo pants and shoved them and his boxer briefs down to mid-thigh.

His cock sprang free, hard and heavy, ready to impale her. She reached for his erection, wrapped her hand around it, and felt it twitch in her palm.

But then he lifted her up and moved them both a few steps, until her back connected with the wall. He held her there, suspended, as if she were as light as a feather. He pressed his body to hers, spreading her legs, and she wrapped them around him.

His hard-on nudged at her center.