Without a backward glance at Zamush, Jelena walked away, her lizard firmly perched on her shoulder.
Keeping his face stoic, he followed. Damn, he never had the chance to take her blood on the ship. If he had, he might know what was going on with her. One minute she melted in his arms, and the next she pretended he didn’t exist.
She refused to look at him after she squirmed out of his hold.
Maybe there was another reason she wanted to stay away. The stiff way she held herself with clenched fists to her stomach might be a clue. Could her bloodlust be rearing its ugly head? With silent footsteps, he followed close behind her.
When the door to galley whooshed shut, Jelena spun around with wide eyes. “What do you think…?”
Without a word, he offered her his wrist.
She looked at it, then at him, with her mouth pursed. With a look of longing, she reached for him, but pulled her hand back. With a clenched jaw, she sent him a thoughtful look before heading for the closed door.
Damn, that formfitting red Catwoman suit made all his brain cells head south. It mesmerized him how lovingly it showcased her firm, rounded ass. The crossbow’s brown-leather harness across her shoulders emphasized her firm back. That pet lizard of hers stared at him from his perch.
His four pink eyes independently blinked as his body turned the same shade of red as Jelena’s clothes.
Oh, hell no. She wasn’t going anywhere. They’d formed a connection in that Dreamwalk, and he’d be damned if he let her get away with ignoring him. “Jelena, wait. Now isn’t the time to let bloodlust catch you by surprise.” He growled and stepped in front of her, blocking her.
She cocked her head bit her bottom lip. “I’m good, thanks.”
Stubborn, maddening woman. He leaned over and inhaled her spicy fresh fragrance. “Jelena,” he crooned. “Why take the chance of losing control when you need it the most?” He lessened the distance between them and whispered. “I’m here to provide you with everything you’d ever need… or want.” Taking a short step back, he brought his wrist up to his mouth. “Here, take what I offer.”
His eyesight changed and narrowed on her. His eyes must’ve turned into a vertical red slit in a sea of white. That only happened when he became immersed in bloodlust. Strange how this situation was different with him on the giving end. But the experience didn’t diminish the pleasure of the anticipation of her succulent mouth touching him.
His smile widened as his fangs extended. His eyes bore into hers as he licked his inner wrist before striking. The metallic perfume of his blood floated between them.
Between one blink and the next, her dual brown-orange irises changed to mirror his.
Ah, he must’ve struck a nerve. “Here.” His voice came out ragged and hoarse. Zamush never imagined he’d make himself vulnerable to another person like this. His red blood bubbled from the puncture wound he’d inflicted. He placed his wrist under her nose. “Take it before the wound closes.”
Her nostrils flared as her eyelids went half-mast. She didn’t move.
Okay, time to make this more personal. Keeping his wrist under her nose, he moved around to her back and wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her flush against his chest.
Her pet lizard jumped off her shoulder and scurried away.
“Indulge. Just a little.” His mouth feathered over her ear with a purr. “No one needs to know.”
She groaned and grabbed his wrist.
Red, bloody ribbons spread from the open wounds and threatened to drip on the floor.
She lapped it clean before latching on. Her own fangs slid into the open holes and suckled.
Zamush threw his head back and growled in ecstasy. His balls drew tight as his dick hardened. Good thing she had the crossbow harnessed on her back. It stopped him from rubbing his aching groin against her alluring backside.
In the limited time they had, overt sexual moves would only frustrate them both. The last thing he wanted was to divert her from what they had to do. Each draw sizzled through him as if she were sucking his cock. “Mmm, so good,” he whispered against her ear. “Yes, take what you need.”
Zamush’s body tightened, every bone and muscle aching as the pleasure built. His heart beat hard and fast, rushing through his veins, creating its own pleasure. He fought for breath, for control.
All too soon, Jelena pulled her mouth away.
He moaned as she licked over the wound to seal it. Holyfuckingshit! What a rush! Damn, if a simple one-sided blood exchange affected him like that, he might not survive something deeper.
“Let me go.” Her demand was thick and slurred. She dropped his wrist and grasped his arm around her waist and pushed. “Please.”
He tightened his hold and nuzzled the soft, fragrant skin behind her ear. “There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”