Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
I pull back to catch my breath. “You’ll get in trouble—” but the words are torn from my mouth when he grabs the back of my neck and kisses me again, harder this time. My head spins from the kiss, from the raze of his teeth, from the way he licks my bottom lip. I can’t help but think about his fangs, how it takes nothing for his canines to transform, that I am making out with a creature that could murder me on the spot. Then again, that’s not a new fear for most women.
And I don’t feel afraid of Valtu, my professor. I’m only afraid that there might be consequences for this. From the faculty if we’re caught, and also from myself. Because while seducing Dracula was always part of the plan, I was never supposed to enjoy it. I was never supposed to want this.
But I do.
And that scares the life out of me.
Enough that I pull back, and already the smallest bit of distance feels like I’m leaving part of me behind.
“Aren’t you worried someone will see?” I whisper, trying to breathe as he presses his lips against my forehead.
“They won’t.”
He has his ways. No doubt every person who has passed us on this bridge hasn’t really seen us at all. We’re hiding in plain sight.
My body wants to bring him to my apartment. I’m craving his touch like nothing else. But I can’t. Not in the state I left it and not with a possible demon still inside. I can only hope it left through the open window; I assume that’s how it got in. But my knowledge of demons doesn’t go very far. I never thought I would have to deal with any of this.
“I have an exam tomorrow,” I suddenly blurt out.
He widens his eyes and nods, taking a step back, though his hand is still firmly holding onto mine. “So you do.” He clears his throat loudly. “I’m guessing you need to study.”
I’d rather study you, I think, but I nod. “Yeah. Thank god I didn’t leave it all to the last minute like I usually do.”
He sucks on his lower lip for a moment and I want nothing more than to kiss him again. “I’m sure you’ll pass,” he says.
“It’s not enough to pass,” I tell him. “I want to get a good grade.”
“I’m sure you’ll get a good grade,” he says in a knowing tone.
“Don’t you dare try to do me any favors,” I warn. “I need to get good grades on my own accord.”
“Help you? Wouldn’t dream of it.” He gives me a convincing smile. “Still, let me finish walking you home. I promise I’ll be out of your hair.”
So we walk hand-in-hand the rest of the way, until we’re standing outside my building.
“I’m going to go upstairs now,” I tell him.
He slides his hand around my lower back, holding me in place, while his other hand cups my jaw. “And I’m going to kiss you again.”
This time the press of his lips is so faint, so light, and yet it makes my knees tremble, my stomach to do summersaults. “Dahlia,” he says, murmuring against my mouth. “I don’t want you to be ashamed of your darkness. I don’t want you to be afraid of it. I am not a delicate man. I am brash, volatile, controlling and demanding and I always, always get what I want. What I want is your darkness to play with mine. I want to make it come so beautifully alive, so that we can revel in it together.”
He presses his lips to mine firmly then pulls away and I feel like I can’t breathe at all as he stares inches from my eyes. “I am choosing you. And if you accept me, there is no turning back.”
I try to swallow. “And what do I get out of it?” I whisper, my voice shaking slightly.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a smirk while his eyes narrow. “You get to feel things you’d only dreamed of feeling. You get to do things you were too afraid of doing. To live in the very darkness you run from. Isn’t that you want most of all? To be so pushed past the point of terror that you no longer fear anything at all?”
Holy shit.
“As I said,” he says gruffly, running his thumb over my lips, “I am not a delicate man. I can be rough. I can cause pain. I may make you hate me sometimes. But I will always be on your side. I will always make you feel chosen.”
I don’t know what the hell I’m agreeing to here but I’m nodding.
Because I have to.
Because I want you.
“Then choose me,” I say softly.
He leans in and kisses me on the cheek. “I already did. First day I laid eyes on you.” He pulls back and then gestures to the building. “Speaking of, we better part ways before I end up interfering in that studying of yours, though I know you’ll pass with flying colors.”