A Blood Seduction (Vamp City #1)(34)

"No."

The soft, damp stroke of his tongue over her ear sent another tremor through her. "Why do you hide yourself, cara? I wish to see you."

Quinn grunted, letting him pull her arms away, dropping them to her sides. "There's not much to see." As an athlete, she'd always had far more of an appreciation for what her body could do than what it looked like. In sports, her lack of curves had been an asset. With guys, not so much.

Cool hands slid over her br**sts, covering them completely, which wasn't hard to do. But, oh, it felt good.

He flicked her ni**les with his thumbs, sending a rush of hot desire flowing through her veins. Over and over, he rubbed his thumbs back and forth over the tight buds. "You have beautiful br**sts." The huskiness of his tone almost made it sound like he meant it.

"If you're into fried eggs."

"They are not fried eggs. Size is not everything."

"Most men would disagree."

"Most men are fools." He turned her to face him, then gripped her waist as he studied one breast with the raptness of a connoisseur, tracing her areola with his thumb. The gentleness of his caress made her tremble. "Soft as silk," he murmured. "The skin flawless. Your ni**les are beautifully shaped, perfectly formed pink buds. Among the finest I've seen."

She watched him, torn between pleasure and wariness. "I can't decide if you're playing me."

His gaze flicked up to meet hers. "And what would I be playing you for?"

"Sex."

That ever-present amusement lifted his mouth. "Seduction takes many forms. But my words are true, cara. I've seen many a breast." His brow arched wickedly. "Many a breast."

She laughed. For the first time in forever, she didn't feel lacking with her shirt off. Thanks to a vampire.

Without warning, he knelt before her, gripping her waist with long, cool fingers as he pulled her close, and took one of her br**sts into his mouth. His tongue took over for his thumb, flicking her nipple. Surprise caught in her throat. Desire shot straight to her core.

"Vampire."

She didn't want this. And yet she did. He sucked at her, pulling her breast into his mouth. Without thinking, she gripped his head, sliding her fingers into the dark silk of his hair, breathing in the rich, intoxicating scent of him. Almonds. And night. And potent, virile male.

Oh, God, I want this. Her body melted beneath his touch, her legs turning to soft butter.

His mouth released her breast, his lips trailing kisses down one barely there slope and up the other to give equal attention to its twin. Flicking, sucking, his hands sliding up and down her sides, then down to her hips and behind, gripping her rear, sending heat leaping within her.

While she held him to her with one hand, with the other she slid her fingers to the back of his neck, feeling the tendons and rock-hard flesh. His skin wasn't cold to the touch, not at all. Just a little cooler than her own. Wonderfully so. She wanted to press her heated flesh against him and cool the raging fever he caused with his touch, with his mouth.

His hands slid to the front, and he reached for the waistband of her pants.

Instinctively, Quinn grabbed his shoulders. "No."

Arturo released her breast and looked up, meeting her gaze. His mouth was damp and swollen, his eyes hot and questioning. "You want this."

"No. It's too soon." He was a stranger. A vampire.

Slowly, he rose until he once more had the height advantage, crowding her. His mouth tightened with . . . displeasure? Frustration? He lifted a lock of her hair, twirling the blond strand around one long finger, studying it.

"What am I going to do with you?" The edge of frustration in his tone told her this was no rhetorical question.

"Let me go? Maybe even help me find my brother?"

His gaze snapped to hers, but he didn't laugh. He didn't scoff. He just watched her as if he were actually contemplating it.

Her pulse, already erratic from his touch, leaped into overdrive, and she held her breath, waiting . . . praying . . .

"And what will you give me in return?"

"Anything." The word shot from her mouth. "Anything." Please, please, please let him be considering and not just toying with me.

He grasped her head in both of his hands, staring at her intently. "You, I will not free, cara. But your brother, perhaps. If you promise to never escape me again."

She stared at him, her heart thudding, her stomach cramping from the blow. You, I will not free. Ever. She'd never go home if she didn't escape him.

But Zack might. If the vampire was telling the truth and not simply placating her. Nothing mattered but getting Zack out of this place. Nothing. She had to make this happen.

"I have to see him. And his friend Lily. I have to know they're safe."

Arturo snorted. "Two of them, now? You ask much."

"You ask for my life."

He lifted a dark brow. "I already own your life, piccola. I ask for your cooperation."

She was beginning to shake. Tears burned her eyes. After all that had happened, it was this . . . this chance of actually saving Zack . . . that threatened to shatter her control.

"Yes. You have it. But I want them out of V.C."

"That will be difficult until the magic is renewed."

"But not impossible?"