A Kiss of Blood (Vamp City #2)(93)

Quinn squeezed her eyes closed, trying to deny his words and failing. From the day Owen shunned her, after being best friends for most of their lives, she’d ceased to allow anyone to get close. Her subsequent friendships, even her relationships, had remained casual and superficial. The only one who’d truly gotten past her shields was the vampire at her back right now. A mistake.

“You are not alone anymore, Quinn. Within this safe house are many who have not shunned you despite your power. Who, in fact, care about you very much. Micah, Kassius, and Neo are all taken with you, much to my frustration. Mukdalla and Amanda both like you. They offer friendship, but you must open yourself to accept it.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

He stroked her hair. “It is. Wish for them to be your friends, and let them see the wish, and it will be so.”

She pushed away from the wall and dried her cheeks, then forced herself to turn around and face him. He watched her with eyes soft as mink.

“You should have told me everything, Vampire. How can you ever expect me to trust you?”

“I am sorry, bella, but I had no choice. If you had been able to renew the magic, Zack would have lived. My friends would have lived. You would remain safe.” His mouth tightened. “If you had chosen to hie off to steal Escalla instead . . .”

“You really think I’d have done that?”

“If you had decided it was the better course—that Zack’s chance of survival was better that way, or that letting Vamp City die was the right thing to do—yes. I think you’d have done it. You proved that you have the heart and the stubbornness to do whatever you think must be done, no matter the risk to yourself, when you returned to Vamp City for your brother after making a clean escape.”

With his thumb, he wiped a tear that still clung to her bottom lashes, his eyes sad, and soft as a summer breeze. “You are my weakness, amore mio. You may not put your own safety first, but I must. I cannot help my need to protect you any more than you can help your own to protect your brother.”

Quinn met his eyes, the ache in her chest easing beneath his tender gaze. As angry as he made her sometimes, he’d shown her more affection than anyone in her life except, perhaps, the mother who’d given birth to her—a woman she had no memories of.

“Do you think Cristoff might destroy Escalla voluntarily if it’s the only way to save Vamp City?”

“Possibly, though that sword is his prized possession.” He played with another lock of her hair. “The only way he will ever destroy it is if he is utterly convinced doing so is the only way.”

“Which means he’d first have to have possession of me.” He’d force her to succeed in every way he could think of, and she had no doubt that sadistic monster would use pain, torture, and God only knew what else. Only once he was utterly unable to compel her might he consider destroying his precious sword.

Arturo’s eyes darkened, his mouth hardening, his grip gentle yet firm when he grasped her jaw. “Promise me you will not even think about giving yourself up to him like that, Quinn. It would kill your brother to know what you suffered to save him. It would kill me.”

“We’ll find another way.”

“Yes.” The tension appeared to flow out of him, and he tipped his forehead to hers. “Yes, we will find another way.”

His hand slid to the back of her neck, and he exerted just enough pressure to have her closing those last few inches between them, bringing their mouths together in a sweet, drugging kiss. The future loomed, dark and ominous, and time was undoubtedly short. But she needed his touch, she needed the soul-deep intimacy she’d only ever found in his arms.

Her fingers went to the buttons of his shirt, and he made a sound in his throat of agreement, of need. They undressed one another with unhurried movements, the passion that was always present between them simmering at a low burn as he laid her down, half-beneath him, and caressed her body with long, tender strokes.

She slid her hands over his strong shoulders, kissing his jaw, his chin, pressing her lips against the strong cords of his neck. For long, long minutes, they touched one another, kissed one another, reveling in the feel of flesh on flesh. His hand slid between her legs, making her gasp with pleasure and open to him. As she spread her thighs, welcoming him, he rolled onto her fully. Catching her gaze, he entered her slowly, lovingly, completely.

Being with him was right as being with a man had never been right before. Yet there was still so much between them.

When their passion was spent, Arturo rolled to his side and tucked her against him, holding her close. Exhaustion pulled at her. She’d slept so little since returning to Vamp City. That and the Focus had worn her out.

Arturo’s hand, warm as the summer sun, stroked her arm, her hip, as gentle as a whisper. His lips pressed against her hair.

“Sleep, cara.”

“We have to find Escalla.”

“First you must sleep.”

And held in the gentle warmth of his arms, she did.

Quinn awakened in the bed alone, feeling almost rested as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up. The room was dark but for the dim light from the oil lamps that lined the hallway and filtered beneath her door.

Rolling her shoulders, she glanced at the place where the lamp sat on the bedside table, imagined it igniting, and whispered, “Light.” Nothing happened. Maybe calling fire would never be her thing, or maybe fire was just one of the many aspects of her gift she needed to learn how to control. The thought of the possibilities sent excitement winging through her blood.