Captured (The Captive #1)(46)
His hand caressed her cheek; he pulled her forward, kissing her forehead gently as he held her lightly against him. “You’re beautiful Arianna.”
She blinked in surprise, her mouth dropping. No one had ever said that to her, and though she knew it wasn’t true, she couldn’t stop the thrill of pleasure that raced through her at his words. It seemed as if he had even meant it. “No Braith, but thank…”
“Yes Arianna, to me, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Tears burned in her eyes, she searched his gaze, but all she saw was honesty and need radiating back at her. Her fingers curled against his skin, love bloomed rapidly through her chest. She couldn’t fight the tidal wave of emotion that was taking her over. The need in his eyes, she realized, was more than sexual though, there was a burning hunger in his gaze that puzzled her. Then, she knew what it was, what he so desperately needed and wanted from her.
What she could give to him in order to help ease that hunger.
“Did you feed tonight Braith?” His eyes flickered slightly, his hand convulsed slightly on her cheek. She seized hold of his hand, pressing it tighter to her cheek. “Why not?” she inquired softly.
He shook his head, his eyes closing for a brief moment. “I cannot feed as often as I once did,” he replied.
She frowned at him, confused by his words, than a dawning realization swamped her. “Because if you did, they would wonder what you were doing with me,” she said softly. “What use I was if you were feeding off of everyone else.”
He didn’t say anything, just looked beyond her at the back wall. His jaw clenched tighter, his hand trembled upon her cheek before he wound it slowly into her hair. “It’s more than that Arianna,” he said softly.
She tilted her chin back, drinking in the sight of him. He was magnificent, perfect, and for now, in this moment, it was just the two of them. There was no blood slave and master, there was no Jack and Max, even her forest and family did not exist. It was just them, and they didn’t have to worry or fear anything else, not here.
“What is it then?”
He bent closer to her, his mouth just inches from hers, his eyes intent upon hers. His hand entangled lightly in her hair, pulling her head slightly to the side. His other hand lightly traced her pounding pulse, and jumping vein. His finger lingered upon her, his eyes dilated to near pin points as hunger oozed from him. “Your blood is the only blood I’ve wanted since I set eyes on you. Nothing else could completely satisfy me.”
A sob caught in her throat. She could only stare at him in wide eyed wonder as he bent to place a kiss against her throat. His lips were soft, gentle, loving, but beneath them she could feel the hard press of his fangs. He tried to keep them from her, tried not to let her know that they were there, but she did know, and even more than that, everything in her thrilled at the thought of them. Her blood pumped harder, goose bumps broke out across her skin. Her hands curled against his hard muscles as he dropped soft kisses along her neck, her cheek, before brushing softly against her lips.
Aria’s knees trembled, she was shaking against him, barely able to stand as his tongue lightly touched upon her lips. She gasped, her mouth parted eagerly to the invasion of his tongue. His arm locked around her waist as he lifted her off her feet, keeping her pressed tight against him. Aria wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him as he laid her upon the bed, leveling himself slowly over top of her.
The weight of him was wonderful, everything about him was wonderful. She never wanted this moment to end, never wanted any of this to stop. She wished that she could freeze time, that she could simply lay here, with him, and enjoy the wonder of this moment. She wished that they would never have to face the world, or any of the horrible things in it, ever again. Though thoughts of the real world tried to intrude, she pushed them aside. No matter what happened, she was going to enjoy this night. They were going to have one moment of pure happiness and peace.
His kiss became more urgent, desperate. She could feel the hunger that he radiated, the need. Her head was spinning; her body was completely out of control as she clung to him, using him as an anchor to a world that was as crazed as a tornado. His hands stroked her gently, moving over her in a whisper of a caress that caused her to tremble everywhere. His lips were upon her neck, his teeth skinning over her throat, but he did not bite.
And he would not, she realized, unless she gave him permission too.
She was shaking, close to tears as she turned her head, burying her face in his strong neck. She kissed him softly, clinging to his arms as she tried to stabilize herself, tried to keep herself grounded though she knew it was impossible. “It’s ok,” she whispered. “It’s ok.”
He didn’t seem to hear her at first, as he didn’t stop kissing her ear. Then his arms locked tight, the corded muscles stood out in them as he froze. He didn’t move for a long moment, and then he drew slightly back from her. She caressed his face, pushing his dark locks aside as she traced the scars circling his eyes. “Arianna?”
Her fingers moved over his cheekbones, then down to the hard curve of his full mouth. She trailed over his lips, but he recoiled slightly when she touched upon the long teeth beneath them. “Don’t,” she said softly, refusing to let him pull away from her. His forehead furrowed in confusion, but he didn’t try and pull any further away from her. She was stunned to realize that the sensation of running her fingers over his pointed teeth was tantalizing and wonderful. She was not at all frightened by it, as she thought she would be. Instead, she wanted more of him. So much more. “It’s ok,” she said again, her fingers stilling on his teeth. “You’re hungry, and I can ease that. I want this Braith.”