Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Was that what prison did? Messed with your head and turned everything you thought you knew about yourself upside down?
Before I’d even properly made up my mind, my fangs slid out, the sharp tips meeting my lower lip. A shiver passed through me as my eyes focused on Vasilios’ pulse pounding in his neck, his veins throbbing, just begging to be bitten.
His eyes were full of heat. He wanted it more than he let on, and I was too starved to question his motive fully. Without thinking, I pressed my palms to his chest and pushed him down onto the bed. He swore under his breath, and seconds later, I was on top of him, my mouth on his neck as I bit down hard. I wasn’t gentle, not like I was with Peter.
I was rough. Angry that I yearned for his blood as much as I did.
With Vasilios, I let far more of the beast free. I drank deeply, his taste sweeping into me, a silky, magical texture that suffused me with energy and strength. I was aware of his palm flat against the back of my neck before it moved slowly down my spine, leaving a pleasurable sensation in its wake.
“Keep going. Fuck,” he groaned, and I continued to drink, my hands clasping his shoulders, face buried in his neck. I was once again completely untethered from my usual self. None of my reservations about Vasilios existed at that moment as I fed and fed, my pores vibrating with need and satisfaction as I satiated my fierce, unquenchable hunger.
His hand moved back up my spine and sank into my hair. He gave a pull, and I growled in response. “Good little dhampir,” he whispered huskily, and my inner beast preened at his praise. His other hand travelled from my hip up along my ribs before resting just below my breast. There was a wildness to me now, a wildness I’d never experienced with Peter. I felt like I could eat Vasilios alive, tear him to shreds, and consume every part of him until he and I were one, bonded together.
Was that what insanity felt like?
All I knew was I had a hard time stopping. I wanted to stay in that moment, throw away all my self-control and let the beast take over. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when a soft hand met my jaw, gently extricating my mouth from his neck. I was still lost in blood madness, everything around me a haze of red. My heart was pounding in my chest.
“Darya, relax,” he said in a soothing voice, both hands cupping my cheeks as his eyes flickered back and forth between mine.
I focused on the bright blue of his eyes, trying to grab hold of myself as his blood filtered through my system, strengthening me in a new and wondrous way.
“Your blood,” I said with a gasp. “It’s … it’s like nothing I’ve tasted.”
“You don’t say,” he replied with a tender chuckle. “For a second there, I thought you were trying to murder me.”
“Oh,” I breathed, my eyes widening. “That’s not … I mean, I had no idea I was taking so much.”
“It’s fine. I’ll be ready for you next time.” He ran his thumb along the line of my jaw, and I startled at how good it felt, immediately moving away.
“There won’t be a next time. There can’t be. You could get addicted. Do you want to become like all the other blood donors in this prison? You’ll become a shell of your former self. And besides, this was only ever going to be a one-time thing.”
He let the smirk he was holding back earlier emerge fully. “If you say so. It might be a little hard for you to resist. I mean, you did suck the blood from my fingers. Not that I’m complaining or anything.”
I punched him in the shoulder. “I said we weren’t going to speak about that ever again.”
“You said it, but I never agreed.” He rubbed his shoulder, pretending like I’d hurt him. I rolled my eyes. “Besides, it’s going to be hard to get the image out of my mind.”
I made a fist, ready to punch him again, but he held his hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. The image is gone. I’ve mentally erased it.”
I unclenched my fist and dropped back onto the bed, my head still swirly from the blood haze. I wondered if Vasilios had enjoyed the high from my bite, but he didn’t show any visible signs that he was buzzed.
He shifted his body as his eyes traversed my features. “Take a nap if you need to. I’ll keep watch.”
His gaze caressed me, and I couldn’t tell if it was real or if the blood haze was making me imagine things, but I saw affection. It would’ve been jarring if I wasn’t so satiated and calm after feeding. “I don’t need a nap. Besides, it’s probably best if we both stay awake right now.”