Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
There was that spicy, faintly coppery taste again and this time Paul realized it was blood— his blood. And his mouth probably tasted of Laurent’s blood. For some reason the thought sent another surge of lust through him and he buried one hand in the vampire’s short black hair and tangled the other in the expensive shirt Laurent was wearing, drawing him closer. Desire turned to an almost frantic need as he pressed himself hard against the other man, trading rough, luscious kisses, not stopping this time even when one of the vampire’s fangs grazed his lip.
God, so good. So fucking good… He didn’t stop—couldn’t stop—until he found himself falling and suddenly landed on the bed on top of Laurent in a tangle of arms and legs. The jolt seemed to knock some sense into him and he sat up, trying to untangle himself, but Laurent held him firmly.
“Stay.” The vampire’s voice was low and seductive but there was a vulnerability in his eyes that twisted Paul’s heart. “Stay and make love with me. I’ve been waiting for you for so long. Let me touch you. Let me love you, Paul.”
“I-I can’t.” The words tasted like dust in his mouth but he made himself say them anyway. “I can’t do…that. Not with you.”
“Because I am born to the Blood? Because I am a vampire?”
“That and…because you’re a guy.” Paul shook his head. “Look, I just can’t. It’s not…it’s not right.”
“What isn’t right? What could be wrong about love?”
Paul ran a hand through his hair. “In this case? Everything. Look, Laurent, I have to go. My mom is really worried about me. She’ll think I’m dead or something.”
At last the vampire released him. “I understand. But when will I see you again?”
Paul made himself get off the bed even though he didn’t want to. He was hard again, his cock tenting the baggy jeans he wore and the idea of ripping them down and thrusting deep into the other man’s body while Laurent moaned and writhed beneath him wouldn’t leave his head.
“When will I see you?” Laurent asked again.
“Never.” Paul shook his head. “I can’t…can’t fucking do this.” He turned away quickly, but Laurent was supernaturally fast too. He was already at the bedroom doorway when Paul went to push his way out.
“Paul…” There were tears in his eyes—actual tears. Any wolf in the pack who showed such weakness would have been mocked and called queer or a mariposa. But Paul felt no such impulse now. He just wanted to pull the other man close and hold him. But if I hold him, I won’t let him go this time. I’ll stay, like he wanted me to. And we’ll…
He couldn’t let himself think about what they would do if he stayed and gave in to his impulses. The urge to comfort and touch, to hold and be held was so strong he didn’t dare stop, didn’t dare to even say a word. Instead he pushed past the vampire and walked to the outside door as fast as he could.
“Please,” Laurent whispered behind him. “Please don’t go.”
Paul leaned his head against the doorframe. The wood felt cool and solid against his hot skin. It took everything he had not to turn around. I can’t. Can’t fucking do this.
Have to get out now while I still can. He wanted to see Laurent, wanted to look into those beautiful pale green eyes one more time. But he couldn’t even trust himself to do that much. If he looked at Laurent and saw the need he felt himself mirrored in the other man’s gaze he would be lost. Lost forever.
“Paul…” Laurent’s voice was dangerously close.
“I can’t.” The words ripped from Paul’s throat, leaving him raw inside. Blindly he put his hand to the carved wooden door and pushed out into the steamy Miami night, leaving Laurent behind inside.
The world seemed blurry and out of focus as he fumbled in the bushes for his bike.
Was it some kind of aftereffect of ingesting vampire blood or maybe some lingering Wolf’s Bane still in his system? But when Paul raised a hand to rub his eyes, his fingers came away wet.
Laurent wasn’t the only one who was crying.
*
Laurent sank despondently onto the couch as the sound of Paul’s motorcycle faded into the distance. To be so close, to actually hold his Coeur de Sang in his arms and then to lose him for such a foolish reason was unbearable. He dashed the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. Father would not consider it foolish. The weres have been our enemies from time immemorial.
It was true. Despite the uneasy truce that existed between weres and his kind in the old world, the distrust between their peoples ran deep and was rooted in a violent, blood-drenched past. But Laurent was certain that wasn’t the only reason Paul had left in such a hurry. It is because we are both men. He thinks it wrong to love one of his own sex.