Page 39 of Blood Ties

I lifted my wrist back to his lips.

His eyes held mine as he bit into the same marks.

This time I knew what was coming. It didn’t help.

Pleasure rolled through me, slower and heavier. My fingers slid from his shoulder into his silver hair. The strands were soft, and gripping them gave me something real to hold while his mouth worked over my wrist.

His hand tightened at my nape.

I felt how badly he wanted to pull me across his lap. I felt the fight it took to keep me on his knee, where the chain couldn’t trap me between his body and the throne.

That control made the danger hotter.

He took one more deep pull. My hips moved against his thigh, and the answering growl vibrated against my skin.

I stopped caring whether the fucking court could hear me breathe.

Stellan lifted his head before I moved away.

Blood shone on his lower lip. His eyes were red, his fangs still down, and his free hand remained buried in my hair.

“Enough,” he said.

He sounded as if he were arguing with himself.

“Are you sure?”

“No.” His thumb moved once at my nape. “That’s why I’m stopping.”

He licked the bite closed with slow strokes. The wounds tingled, then tightened. By the time he lowered my arm, only two red marks remained.

My pulse kept racing under them.

Stellan watched it for a moment, then looked at my face. Some grey had returned to his eyes, although hunger still moved under the relief.

“How do you feel?”

“Like my wrist made one decision and the rest of me joined in. A little dizzy.”

“Stay where you are.”

I released the chain and settled fully onto the edge of the dais.

Stellan shifted his knee away, put both my hands against his chest and held me securely around the waist.

“Breathe slowly. The first feeding can leave a human light-headed. If your hearing dulls or the room moves, tell me. I’ll keep you upright until it passes, then you’ll drink water and eat something salty.”

“My body is having a very eventful day.”

“Mine has improved considerably.”

A tired laugh escaped me. I rested my forehead against his shoulder and listened to his stronger heartbeat.

His hunger no longer cramped my stomach. It sat at the edge of my awareness, present without hurting. Desire remained much closer.

Stellan’s hand spread over my lower back.

“Was the pleasure all you?”