Broken (The Captive #5.5)(54)

"No it won't." He nudged his horse forward and caught up to his cousin as they continued to the club. "Thank you for offering this."

"It's not a sacrifice on my part I assure you. Not with that woman. I've never been much for the intrigue of politics but we both know I've never turned down a pretty face."

"No you haven't," Atticus replied with a chuckle. "You have been keeping your distance from Camille though."

"Even I am not that much of a cad," Merle replied with a hearty laugh. "I see nothing good coming from me getting entangled with the sister of the girl you've become determined to marry."

"Neither do I," Atticus agreed.

"Plus she is too young for me. I'll stay away from her," Merle vowed.

"Thank you," Atticus said as they pulled up outside of the club. "I only plan to feed while we are here and then go back."

"I plan to be much longer than that." Merle smirked at him before leaping off his horse in a graceful bound. A young vampire boy dashed out to take the reins from the both of them as Atticus dismounted beside his cousin. He walked with Merle to the door of the club but he could already feel the enticing draw of Genny pulling him back to the house.

***

Atticus leaned in the doorway and stared admiringly at Genny sitting in the window seat. Her knees were pulled up and a tablet rested on them as she wrote something on a piece of parchment. She'd taken her braid out, her raven hair spilled over her shoulders and down her back in thick waves to her waist. Love swelled in his chest as he watched her, to him she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen and he couldn't get enough of simply looking at her.

Finally sensing his presence, she lifted her head and blinked at him through the candlelight. A smile spread across her mouth and lit her eyes. "You're back."

"I'm back," he said as he straightened away from the doorframe and entered the room. He closed the door before walking across the room to where she sat. "You were too busy to notice though."

She put aside the tablet and lay her quill down carefully. "Never."

"What were you writing?"

"About my day."

"Am I in there?"

She smiled mischievously up at him. "Maybe."

"Do I get to read what you've written?"

"Never," she said with a laugh and took hold of his hands when he held them out to her.

Her nose wrinkled as she caught his scent. It had been an involuntary reaction from her but it still caused a pang in his chest. "I only touched her in order to feed from her."

An alluring smile curled her mouth. She slid her arms around his neck and rose onto her toes. "I have no doubt," she murmured as her lips brushed against his.

Heat sizzled over him; he was instinctively drawn closer to her as his body sought out the connection with hers. His hands were in her hair before he even knew he was moving. The silken strands of it slid through his fingers and clung to his forearms. He pulled her closer as the clamoring need for her rose to epic levels.

"Genny," he breathed against her mouth.

Her hands clasped hold of his as she tilted her head back to meet his desperate kiss. Her taste was the balm he needed to rid his mouth of the blood he'd consumed tonight. He'd been relieved to discover blood once again had the pleasant, although coppery taste of wine and cinnamon. Though he'd enjoyed feeding again, it still wasn't the blood he craved most. That was inside of this woman, the only woman he'd ever loved and would ever love.

He gathered her within his arms, lifted her off the ground and held her against him. The feel of her body held snugly against his sent his passion spiraling toward levels he'd never experienced with another woman. He could barely think straight, he clung to her as if his life depended on it.

Gathering the last of his self-control, he forced himself to break off the kiss before he couldn't. "Atticus…"

"We have to stop before this goes too far," he whispered in a ragged voice and he placed her on the ground again.

Her lashes lifted, her black eyes gleamed as she looked up at him. "Don't stop."

Though his heart didn't beat it felt as if it were racing in his chest when he looked down at her. "Genny what I want…"

"I know what you want Atticus, I want it too." She pressed his hand against her chest. "You own my heart."

His free hand fisted in her chemise at her thighs, he stared at her as he waited for her to change her mind. Waited for her to see the ragged need in him and realize that there would be no turning back if this continued. With frustrating slowness, he began to slide the chemise up her body. Instead of telling him to stop, she raised her arms for him to pull the thin material over her head. The candle flames flickered over her alabaster skin, causing it to dance with reds and oranges as he stepped back to drink in the sight of her.

"Beautiful." It was the only coherent thought he could form right now.

He couldn't stand the suddenly abrasive feel of his clothes against his skin as he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. He had to feel her flesh against his; it was the only thing that would ease the pressure building within him. He placed her tenderly on the bed. Stepping back, he hastily shed his own clothes before climbing onto the bed with her. The smile on her face would have tempted the angels from heaven, he thought as she opened her arms to him.