Only Vampires Cry Blood (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #3)(46)

“Kale,” I murmured. “This isn't right.” Despite what I'd said, I made no attempt to pull away. His power reached to touch me on every level, and mine was quick to respond.

“It feels right.”

I swallowed hard, trying not to notice how our power mingled and grew hot. “Which is exactly why it's so wrong. It shouldn't feel like this. If you give in to this temptation, you'll regret it. We both will.”

A wave of heat swept through me, and I trembled. My power wanted him so bad. I could have him, in every way, take all he was giving and use it as my own. Kale slid a hand up my arm to my neck, playing in the loose tendrils of my hair. This wasn't the best day to have worn it up.

When I didn't shove away from him, he grew bold. His lips brushed against my ear as he deeply inhaled my scent. I felt him shift into predator mode, matching the bestial pull within my core. He was feeling it, too. Of the two of us, I was willing to bet his control would slip first. Of course, that was assuming I had any left after the emotional turmoil of the evening.

Kale's warm lips brushed the sensitive skin beneath my ear. A soft gasp came from me as a tingle shot straight to my groin. No, no, no. I could not react to him like this. The desire that filled me was accompanied by guilt.

Push him away! Now, before it's too late. The voice inside my head screamed with a panicked edge. When had I become so weak willed? If I was as strong as Harley insisted, this kind of thing should not be able to overwhelm me.

I was in serious denial. Harley had imparted much wisdom to me, though whether that had been purposeful or not, I wasn't sure. Through Arys' incubus blood, I was a succubus. My power preyed on people like Kale and even Harley. The promise of blood and power through sex was the driving force. Fighting it was only hurting me, denying the true nature of my power. I didn't want it to be true. It was so shameful.

The moist touch of his tongue on my skin made my knees weak. Kissing and licking my neck, Kale made an animal-like sound low in his throat. Would it be so wrong to take what he was giving? He seemed to need it as badly as I did.

Only when his hands found their way beneath the hem of my corset did I forced my brain to work and my lips to move. With Kale's hands on my bare stomach and his lips on my throat, I was beyond blown away. Why did the things that were so wrong always feel so damn good? Fuck!

“Kale,” I squeaked. “Please.”

His chuckle was unexpected and downright sexy. I quivered in his embrace.

“Please, what? Anything you want, name it. Let me give you what Arys never could.”

“And what's that?” I feared his response, but I wanted to hear it anyway.

“Solace.”

I had nothing to say to that. In many ways, he was right. I wanted solace. I found it in Shaz for my human and wolf sides, but the blood hungry side of me had no peace, no quiet moments of serenity. Yet, who was I to feel entitled to solace when I had willingly brought all of this chaos upon myself?

Kale was moving awfully fast, giving in to whatever he'd been holding back over the past few months. That could be potentially dangerous. I didn't trust him to leash his savage side and keep from killing me. Yet, his touch was soft and sensual, loving almost.

On some level, that was more frightening than if it had lacked emotion.

He sucked at the throbbing vein in my neck, plumping it nicely. Oh, I knew what he wanted, and I wanted him to take it. The protesting voice in my head grew quieter, ceasing to hold much sway over me. I could see that image of Arys with his fangs deep in the pale flesh of the victim he shared with Harley, and I let go.

“If you really want me to stop, Alexa, I will. It will be hard, but I'll walk away.” He delicately stroked me as he spoke, daring to caress lower until the top of my skirt stopped him. He paused, waiting for my command. “Tell me to stop.”

It was a clear order; he was waiting for me to say it. I shook my head, the words caught. I didn't want to.

“I can't,” I admitted. My words carried the tone of defeat, but I felt empowered.

It wasn't what Kale had expected to hear. He bit lightly at my neck, causing me to suck in my breath. His hold on me tightened, and I leaned back into him, angling my head to better bare my neck.

“Alexa? Tell me to stop.”

Ever so gently, his fangs grazed the surface of my skin. The promise in that action spoke volumes. I was struck with eager anticipation, wanting him to cross the line and set us both free.

I reached up to wrap an arm around his neck, holding him close. My fingers sank into his silken hair, and I whispered the word, “No.”

If anything, Kale wanted me to stop him because he knew he could never do it on his own. He hungered for my blood and judging by the way he touched me, he wanted more than that. Once that last word was uttered, he quit holding back; the power rushed forth to capture us in its inescapable thrall.

Kale slid his hands over the smooth velvet of my corset and around to the back. With deft fingers, he pulled at the strings that held me tightly bound. The corset loosened just enough to allow him to work it down, beneath my br**sts.

It happened so fast. The next thing I knew, Kale's hands were on me, squeezing my br**sts with wanton need. He rubbed my ni**les into firm points, evoking a moan from me. I wasn't sure I'd be able to hold myself up much longer.

The unmistakable feeling of his erection pressed against my behind had me grinding my ass into him. Kale's energy felt hungry, needful in so many ways. I couldn't help but respond. The high-strung energy practically oozed from him, and I drew it into me hungrily. It filled me somewhere deeper than the physical, stirring my power to life like gasoline on flames.