A Trail of Echoes (A Shade of Vampire #18)(22)

I was losing control of my emotions. I needed to calm down.

Regulating my breathing, I stilled my mind, forcing my thoughts away from the injustices and back to the present time.

“I see that I have upset you,” Nuriya said softly.

Loosening my clenched fists, I cleared my throat and shook my head. “No. I am quite all right.”

I looked again at the figures of River and Benjamin Novak—now swimming in the ocean near the boat.

“I just wonder,” I said after a pause, “why have you not reclaimed them already?”

Nuriya smiled, revealing a set of pearly white teeth that were far too thick and strong for a human’s.

“Sometimes loved ones need a little time before they realize what is good for them…” Her voice trailed off as she glanced at Benjamin and River once more before vanishing the swirling vision. “You know what I mean?”

I nodded.

“Jeramiah,” Nuriya continued. “Benjamin Novak and River Giovanni are two of our own now. Now that I have answered your question, you do not have permission to harm him. Do you understand?”

I smiled courteously.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. I do, however, have one other request…”

Chapter 16: Ben

Staying with River on the boat for so many days, I was relieved when we finally kissed. I’d felt the tension building up between us, and I’d wanted to kiss her much sooner. I suspected that she had too. We just hadn’t found the right moment.

With the guilt of claiming yet more human lives fresh in my heart and mind, River brought me the release of emotion I needed.

Closing my eyes as I continued to taste her lips, I pushed her up against the side of the boat. My hands roamed her body, exploring her curves through the thin sheet she wore in a way I hadn’t had the chance to do until now.

I kissed her harder. Too hard. She let out a soft moan as my fangs caught her lower lip. I should’ve raised my head to see if she was all right, but the fact that her lips continued to knead passionately against mine a moment later told me that she was. I was so consumed by the sweetness of her kisses, I barely noticed the bitterness of her blood.

The current parted her sheet-dress. I tensed as I felt the bare skin of her upper thigh brush against my right hip. Something about that touch intensified my desire for her and before I knew what I was doing, I’d gathered her in my arms and leapt back onto the boat with her.

I didn’t know what I was planning to do, or why I had just lifted her out of the water. My brain seemed to have shut down, my passions leading the way. All I knew was, the closer I felt to River, the more I touched and kissed her, the more the pain and darkness shrouding my mind diminished.

My feet carried us down into the depths of the boat, toward River’s bedroom. But just before I stepped inside, I stopped short.

What am I doing?

I detached my lips from hers and set her down on her feet.

My eyes traveled the length of her, the wet sheet clinging to her soft curves.

She didn’t know how alluring she was to me in that moment. How much I wanted her…

I swallowed hard.

It took all the willpower I had to step back.

She looked at me, wide-eyed and breathless. Her lips, flushed red, were slightly parted.

Although I wanted her, part of me was influenced by the need to forget that I’d just murdered again, and I knew that I would regret it if I took things any further with River tonight.

I cleared my throat, even as I continued to take in her beauty.

I found my voice again. “Good night, River.”

“Good night,” she replied, hoarsely.

I sensed hunger in her eyes, which made me believe that she felt the same heat.

But this wasn’t right. Not now. And not like this.

* * *

We were both awkward around each other when we crossed paths in the corridor beneath deck the next morning. She looked up at me through her dark lashes, her expression bashful.

“I…, uh, good morning,” she murmured.

Every moment of last night played in my mind. Our kiss. What might have happened if I’d let it…

“I don’t want things to feel awkward between us now,” I said quietly.

My glance moved to her lips and I felt the urge to taste them again. Breaking the ice, I took a step closer to her, slid a hand beneath her chin and tilted her head upward. I lowered my head and brushed my lips against her neck, her cheek, before kissing her full on the mouth.

Her breath hitched, but then a smile spread across her face.

“Neither do I,” she said, twining her fingers with mine and planting my hands on her waist. “But I’m glad we held back last night.”

“I am, too,” I said, relieved that she felt the same way.

It was clear that we both had too much on our minds, too many obstacles to overcome, to start a relationship in that way. But at least I’d feel more relaxed in her presence now that we were being honest about our attraction for one another.

“But,” she continued in a low voice, draping her arms around my neck and drawing me down closer to her again, “I’d like you to keep kissing me.”

I pulled her body flush against mine. The tips of our noses touching, I whispered:

“I’ll see what I can do about that…”

* * *