Keystone (Crossbreed #1)(76)
I drew in a breath and disappeared into his obsidian eyes, so bottomless that I could have fallen into their depths. I focused, trying to feel a connection forming. He didn’t blink, and it made me wonder if maybe eye color had nothing to do with it. “Kiss me,” I whispered.
“Are you sure about that?”
I turned away, embarrassed I’d fallen for his joke.
Christian laughed, following behind me. “You could have asked me any question in the world. I was halfway expecting you’d order me to fall on a stake, or embrace a life of celibacy. I have to admit I’m intrigued.”
With lightning speed, I spun around and kissed him hard. Our lips clumsily bumped together, and he didn’t initially react, keeping his emotions leashed as I cupped my hands around his neck. His lips were pliant, and he tasted of something dark and decadent. My fangs involuntarily pushed out, and he suddenly embraced me in a crushing hold, kissing me back.
I craved more. I needed more.
When his tongue grazed the pointy tip of my fang, I realized he was right. My Vampire instincts were primal, and suddenly I wanted to feel his tongue across my artery.
With the grace of a panther, he broke the kiss and took a step back, eyes locked on mine like a predator. “Why did you do that?” he asked on a breath.
I touched my bottom lip, my voice unsteady. “Since we’re not going to be partners anymore, I wanted to know.”
“Know what?”
I retracted my fangs. “I think our session’s done. Niko can give me what I need from here on out.”
As I strode past him, my chin high, he reached out and ensnared my arm, turning me around and pinning me against the wall.
His mouth was on mine—his moves so raw that it startled me. I’d never felt this kind of unbridled desire, each kiss he delivered making all others pale in comparison. When his thumbs hooked over the waistband of my leggings, I thought he was going to slide them down.
I wanted him to.
“Are you sure Niko can give you everything you need?” he growled against my lips.
The open collar of his shirt exposed his chest and neck, and the compulsion to taste his skin overpowered all sense of reason. My heart skipped like a stone as he dragged his mouth away, his soft whiskers scratching along my jaw.
When the tip of his fangs grazed across the sensitive skin above my artery, every muscle in my body locked. Dark hunger flooded my veins as if my blood were alive and whispering secrets with every beat of my heart. The sharp points of his teeth pressed at my tender flesh—beckoning to go deeper. Christian Poe reduced me to a pile of ash within his molten touch.
What am I doing? Is this really happening?
Energy poured through my body, turning my hands into weapons. Vampires were unlike other Breeds in that Mage energy had no effect on them, and we could touch them without inflicting pain. Their body was able to absorb it without the destructive power.
As ignorant as I was about some of my abilities, I knew this energy was sexual. It was the kind of energy that could only be exchanged with another Mage—something I’d heard about but never done.
Christian’s mouth latched onto my neck, and he thrust his hips forward. There was no concealing his arousal as it pressed against me like granite, awakening my desire to be touched by a man.
“Your skin tastes like the Dead Sea,” he whispered against my neck.
I tried not to think about Christian’s words of seduction, but they kept repeating in my head until I erupted with laughter.
“Are you touched?” He backed up a step, wiping his mouth.
I waved my hand, regaining my composure as tears rolled down my cheeks. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve never had a man say that to me before.” A loud snort at the end of my laugh embarrassed me enough to settle down.
“We’ll resume our lesson tomorrow,” he said.
I lifted my shoes with two fingers and strode toward him. “Is that what you’re calling it these days?”
All that passion from moments earlier dissipated from his expression. “I think I’ve figured out your problem. You just need a good shag. Perhaps that’s something you should remedy.”
“I thought that’s what I was trying to do last night at the bar until someone interrupted. Jealous?”
His eyes narrowed. “Jealousy isn’t in my vocabulary.”
“Nor is a razor. If you weren’t such a petulant Vampire, you might have a chance at pairing up with a decent woman. Maybe you should think about brushing up on your sweet talk.”
“You’re covered in sweat,” he protested. “It was like licking a pillar of salt.”
“At least I don’t have to charm someone to sleep with me.”
That silenced him, and I gathered my things and climbed the stairs.
“I don’t charm anyone,” he barked at me from behind. “Do you really think I have to do that?”
I pushed open the door and strode down the hall. “After what I saw down there, it wouldn’t surprise me.”
Christian gripped my arm and stopped me in my tracks. “Deny your attraction to me. Tell me you didn’t want that to happen back there.”
I averted my eyes.
“That’s right,” he said in a quiet voice. “You lust for a Vampire, and that scares the feck out of you. Imagine the holy mortifying shame of it.”