Caressed by Night (23 page)

Keep going, Kerstyn,
he urged with his mind
. Don’t stop. I
want you to come again.

Gasping for air, she forced herself to keep moving.

Dimitri needed her to keep going, he needed her to keep him focused on her body rather than her blood. He knew that if he gave himself over completely to the merciless hunger that roared within him, he would be unable to stop.

Closing his eyes, he savored the feel of her velvet, searing hot, sheath and the full, satisfying taste of her blood. She was even more delectable than he had imagined. He began to draw harder against her pulse, wanting more, needing more of the ambrosia that was her blood.

Kerstyn’s gasps of pure pleasure rang in his ears. He bucked against her, driving himself deeper as the vampire within him growled.

Biting into her wrist even harder, his hands moved to her hips and Kerstyn fell forward, their eyes locked as his mouth greedily fed at her.

He felt her pulse slow, her breathing grow shallow. He was taking too much. He did not want to stop. He did not want to pull away.

From the moment they met, he wanted her blood, though he had gone thousands of years without taking a mortal’s vein. She was his mate.

She belonged to him, with him. Her blood sang to him. For the past weeks he fiercely fought his demon and his unrelenting hunger and need to claim her the way a vampire claimed his mate. Tonight was the end of his struggle.

She was unbelievably delicious. Her blood was pure decadence, never again would be able to hold back his thirst, his hunger. Never would he be able to deny his need for her.

“Dimitri,” she whispered, her voice shaking.

The vampire within him roared in protest as he wrenched his mouth away. He drew his tongue over her wound. It quickly healed, then vanished. The beast within him was rising; its need was
155

consuming and Dimitri fought to remain in control. Blood had not crossed his lips in centuries and the demon wanted more, he wanted Kerstyn. He wanted her mind, body, and soul, to possess her completely.

Taking in deep breaths, his lungs filling with the spicy scent of their lovemaking, he brought his hand to his throat. She watched as he drew his thumb over his pulse. A thin line of crimson welled.

Dimitri caught the nape of her neck, pulling her down to his throat.

Kerstyn paused, nervous hesitation stilling her hips and pleasure.

With a growl, Dimitri placed his feet flat on the bed and thrust his hips up, impaling her hard and deep.

“Suck,” he hissed.

His command was a plea and Kerstyn leaned forward, her hips rocking against him, meeting his quickening thrusts. Her tongue slowly lapped at him before she latched onto his throat. Her mouth burned his flesh as she slowly pulled at him.

Kerstyn groaned as she swallowed. He tasted just how she imagined, hot, dark, rich spice with a hint of sweetness and oh-so-wild.

As she suckled on him, taking more of his blood, she felt him grow even harder and longer within her. Her body tightened as he pushed her closer and closer to her climax. Her mind was a haze of pure, dizzying lust. His blood was like a drug, heightening her senses, making her body more sensitive to his every touch. God, she wanted more. Her draws became demanding. Dimitri tossed his head back, allowing her better access.

His fingers dug into her hips as he held her still for his pounding thrusts. His body was demanding, unrelenting, and the demon reveled within the feel of her muscles clenching him and her mouth feeding from him.

Kerstyn’s head snapped back as her pleasure claimed her. The world seemed to fragment into a million pieces as stars danced before her eyes. Unable to hold back, she screamed her release, her nails scoring his chest.

Unbearable heat coiled around him as her body shuddered and gripped his length. The tiny burst of pain from her impassioned scratches hurtled him into oblivion. Time seemed to stop as she cried
156

out his name in pure, overwhelming ecstasy. A deep roar shook the very earth as his muscles seized and white-hot flames washed over him.

His orgasm seemed to go on forever as he filled her with his seed, pumping load after load deep within her depths.

Now was the time. Drawing her down for a kiss, a sharp fang cut her lip allowing their blood to mix within her mouth. All he had to do was kiss her, to take the combination of their blood into his body and the bonding ritual would be complete. Kerstyn, his mate, would be bound to him. She would live forever. Never age, never again would she fall ill. She would be by his side throughout eternity.

He raised his head, his lips a breath from hers. The beast within him roared encouragement. A simple, quick kiss would bring an end to his worries, his doubts. She would never be able to escape him once the bonding was complete.

Escape. The word echoed in the darkness of his mind.

His head dropped back on the pillows as a frustrated growl rose from his chest. He could not do it. He could not trick her. It was not right or honorable. It was not fair to her. Binding her to him without her permission or her knowledge of the act was cowardly. He was not a thief. He would not steal her mortal life from her as it had been stolen from him.

“Am I missing something?” she asked. “I thought that was absolutely amazing sex and you look a little disappointed.”

“No,” he said, circling his arms about her waist. He pulled her down so that she lay against him, her breasts flattening over his chest, her head resting on his shoulder. “I’ve never experienced such magnificent lovemaking.”

Kerstyn shifted and moved to the side, her head still on his shoulder.

“Good,” she sighed.

Dimitri smoothed her wet hair back and kissed her brow. He loved her. He treasured her. Kerstyn was the light that led him from the darkness of night and sin. He could not possibly betray her by completing the bonding ritual without her knowing. He was not a thief or a scoundrel. Dimitri said a silent prayer asking for guidance. He would have to come up with another way of saving his mate from death’s icy grip.

157

Kerstyn lightly ran her fingers down Dimitri’s side before tracing the lines of his abs. She had never felt so relaxed, so sated, so sublimely happy. She snuggled closer, draping her leg over his hips.

Dimitri stroked her hair.

“You should sleep, my angel.” His rough voice slid over her skin like silk

“I’m afraid to go to sleep. What if I wake up and all of this is a dream?”

He kissed her brow, then laced his fingers with hers, stilling her play. “This is no dream.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it was,” she sighed, “I feel so euphoric.”

“It is my blood.”

“I feel like I’m drunk.”

“More like high.”

“God, that was sexy. I never though that having my blood taken would feel so incredibly wonderful.” She laughed, “Hell, I never thought drinking blood could be so arousing. I feel like I’m floating. Is it always like this?”

Dimitri shook his head. “No, humans normally take very poorly to vampire blood when they are not given enough to spark the change. It has been known to make a mortal sick or, in some cases, result in death.”

“Isn’t that how you make more vampires? By sharing blood?”

“Yes, but you were not at risk. I did not take enough of your blood, nor did I give you enough of mine to trigger the change.”

“Did you like it?” Her blush burned her cheeks.

“More than I believe I should,” he said, his voice a whisper.

“Have you ever shared your blood with anyone?”

“No,” he said, his voice cold and hard.

She could feel the shift in him. His body went completely still, his muscles tensed.

“I have never changed anyone and I never will.” Kerstyn was unsure why those words hurt. She should be glad he was not considering changing her into a vampire. Living off
158

another’s blood was not appealing, but the thought of spending eternity with this mysterious man was. She rolled her eyes at her absurd thoughts.

Dimitri wrapped an arm about her shoulders and closed his eyes. He had never once considered changing a human and never once had he been tempted, until now, but he could not condemn anyone to a life of death.

“You have never come across someone that you wanted to change?” she asked, shattering the heavy silence.

“Not until you.”

Dimitri was shocked by his confession and he felt the surprise sprint down Kerstyn’s spine.

Her mouth grew dry as the meaning of his words settled over her. He had thought about changing her. A flame of excitement ignited in her chest and spread throughout her body. Her eyes moved to the strong pulse that lay beneath the flesh of his neck. Her tongue wet her lips.

“Why have you never thought about it before?”

“You are special, Kerstyn.” He kissed the top of her strawberry blonde head, inhaling the delicate fragrance of her hair.

“There is nothing special about me. I'm just an ordinary human, normal,” she said.

He tilted her chin up with his thumb and captured her gaze.

“You are special to me. You have brought me back to life when I have been cold and dead for so long.”

She placed her hand over his heart and closed her eyes focusing on the sound of his breathing and she allowed his words to settle in her soul. Warmth flooded her and tears gathered in her eyes. He pressed her more tightly against him and she felt cherished.

“You are anything but dead.” She moved her head over his chest, her ear resting above his heart. “I can feel your breath and hear your heart beat.”

“Death settled in my veins long ago. I no longer require oxygen, food, water, or the intake of blood. My body has been nothing but a hollow shell for centuries, needing nothing, wanting nothing.” Kerstyn felt his breathing slow as he spoke and the sound of his beating heart began to fade.

159

“Vampires must appear human to attract their prey; the heart will beat and oxygen will fill the lungs. Though none of this is necessary for our existence. As we age, our need for blood dwindles, our hearts and breathing begin to slow until they…stop.” She pressed her ear hard against his chest and held her breath as she strained to hear his heartbeat. For long, agonizing moments, nothing came. Kerstyn lifted her head. Her eyes quizzically fixed on his chest.

“Mine stopped countless centuries ago.” He took her hand and placed it over his stilled heart. “But after meeting you, it beats with newfound life.” She gasped as his heart slammed against her palm before taking up a healthy rhythm. “I have wandered through this world with loneliness as my closest companion, hoping one day I would find someone who would chase the darkness away. My mate.” She swallowed hard as she wished she were the one. His mate.

He traced her jaw with his index finger before sliding his hand around the back of her neck. His eyes were diamond pools of longing, need, and desire.

“I am the oldest of my kind, Kerstyn. There is no one like me, no one who has lived with secrets and death for as long as I.” She blinked back tears of sorrow. Loneliness, she could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch and hear it in his words. But there was something else lurking in his voice. Self-loathing. She could sense that darkness consumed his past and evil secrets tortured his soul. She gazed deeply into his eyes and found the pain he tried to hide. She wanted to take it all away. She needed to ease his suffering. If she could, she would erase his thoughts, she would rip away the secrets that tore at his soul.

“What about your people?”

Dimitri’s chest rose with a deep, heavy sigh. His people did not understand him. Everyone feared him. Even his friends were cautious in his presence. He was the great unknown, the mystery of their race.

He was the last remaining pure vampire, outliving the others by thousands of years.

His death had shocked and shattered vampire society, driving it into chaos. Vampires rebelled against the laws he had enforced; slavery of all kinds came back into practice and revolts broke out everywhere. The traitorous vampire who had arranged his murder took power. Hadrian, the king of the Validus Clan, slipped into madness
160

while civil war broke out within his territory. Dorian Vlakhos struggled to save his people from the bloodthirsty Red Order. Now, his resurrection would drive terror deep into the hearts of every otherworldly creature who inhabited the earth. Those who had taken advantage of his death would flee for their miserable lives, hoping to escape his wrath while he restored order.

“I can be surrounded by my clansmen and still feel alone.”

“You’re different,” she stated.

Silvie had warned her that he was not like other vampires. He was stronger, faster. He possessed strength, power, and abilities that others would envy. Dimitri had told her he was different. So different in fact that he felt like an outsider amongst his own kind.

There is no one like him…
He is nothing like other vampires.

Silvie’s words played over and over in her head as their meaning slowly began to sink in. Her stomach knotted. He was
different
. That seemingly plain, ordinary word took on a new meaning.

“They fear you.” Her voice shook.

“I am not like them and they know it,” Dimitri sighed. He ran his hand through her hair, allowing the damp, silken strands to tickle the sensitive flesh between his fingers. “It’s natural to fear something you don’t know.”