The Wicked Kiss (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #2)(85)

Arys was at my side in an instant, offering his wrist to me. “Take my blood, Alexa.

You must.” When I simply stared transfixed at the smooth alabaster skin, he grew panicked. “If you come any closer to death, you will rise as a vampire a lot sooner than intended. Or just be another victim.” His voice broke on the last word, and his unusual display of emotion was enough to break through the fog that clouded my brain.

When the bloodlust hit me, it was with full force. I had no physical strength to resist.

I didn't want his wrist though. The stark contrast between Arys' ebony hair and the pale skin of his neck drew my eye. All it took was a look, and he knew. Bending to bare his throat to me, I peeled back my lips to expose my ferocious fangs.

They were made for tearing and shredding, not piercing pretty little punctures like Arys'. I bit him quickly in an attempt to avoid doing serious damage. His blood hit my tongue, and it was like a rebirth. The power soared through me in a rush of electricity and fire.

It was so much more than a taste. His jugular slowly but steadily pumped the hot crimson fluid into my mouth as I licked and sucked at the gash. The return of my strength was immediate. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him as close as physically possible. Shaz now stood by the bed watching us. As I fed from Arys, my power reached for my wolf.

His energy was alive and taunting; I itched to taste it again. With a finger, I beckoned him closer, something driving me that I wasn't controlling. Shaz eyed me warily, but he responded by kneeling on the bed near Arys and me.

Arys grunted and attempted to disengage himself from my grasp. It encouraged my hunger, and I resisted, clinging to him when he sat up. The strength with which I held him was unnatural, even for me, but he was still stronger. Gripping each of my wrists, he forced me back against the bed.

I felt the vicious grin that stole over my features, felt its evil to the root of my being.

I loved it. Arys' blood on my lips was warm and delicious as I ran my tongue over it.

Despite being pinned down by him, I had the sneaking suspicion that I could escape him if I really wanted to.

“Alexa?” Arys stared into my eyes, searching for a sign of sanity. He turned my head to examine the bite on my neck.

Shaz swore softly and gravitated closer to me on the bed. “It's already healing.”

“Yes. Thank God. I thought I'd gone too far.” Arys' voice held a tremor.

I rolled my head so that I could look at each of them in turn. Their expressions couldn't have been more different. Arys was hard to read, his careful mask back in place.

He stank of guilt though, and it turned my stomach. A glance at Shaz revealed curiosity and concern. He reached for me, and Arys released one of my arms.

“Shaz?” My voice came out hoarse and scratchy. “I can't…” I longed to warn him, to tell him what I was feeling, but all I saw and felt was the hunger.

When I lunged at him, Arys was ready for it. He jerked me away from Shaz hard enough to make me cry out. My shoulder burned, and I turned on him, snarling and snapping. Like the first time I'd experienced Arys' bloodlust, I saw through a red haze.

Blood and death. It was all I cared about in that moment.

It took both men to wrestle me down, and I didn't make it easy for them. The need to feel something die as I bathed in the heady glow of blood and power consumed me until I was lost inside it. I fought them until I was exhausted.

“I'm sorry,” I whispered, unable to take my eyes off my beautiful white wolf. I knew by the look on his face that my eyes were Arys' sensational blue. “It just aches so bad inside.”

“What the hell is happening to her?” Shaz directed his words at Arys, but he had eyes only for me.

Arys sounded defeated when he replied. He held my arms at an incredibly painful angle but it was helping me see through the blood hunger. “It's the bloodlust driving her.

The bond has been formed, and she's experiencing her own hunger, not just remnants of mine. The worst of it will pass … eventually.”

“I'm ok. Don't talk about me like I'm not right here.” That had been snappier than I'd meant for it to be. “Please let me go. I feel like a prisoner.”

Instead of doing as I asked, they looked at one another to decide. That infuriated me, stirring the power inside me in a negative way. Arys studied me with a look heavy with contemplation. Shaz just appeared confused.

Nodding to Shaz, Arys slowly began to release his hold on me. “Get into bed with her, but keep your guard up. She may not even know what she's saying.”

Like hell I didn't. I knew what I said. And, I knew what I wanted, needed. I eyed Shaz hungrily as he slipped back into the bed next to me.

Shaz drew me back against his chest so that he spooned me. Arys wasted no time pressing his nakedness against me, eliminating any possibility of space between us. He was careful not to reach into Shaz’ personal space when he laid a hand on my hip.

“Alexa,” his velvety smooth voice was barely a whisper. “The hunger can be fed by more than blood.”

All it took was the touch of my two lovers to stir the hot embers of the fire simmering in my core. The hunger refused to fade, but it wasn't averse to taking a new direction.

Arys’ eyes were heavy upon me. My breath caught, and I waited in eager anticipation as he slowly brought his face towards mine. My eyes closed and vision ceased to be my main sense. Scent and touch took over as he explored the inside of my mouth with his tongue. He tasted slightly like blood and spice, which triggering a yearning in me for more. I instinctually reached to bury my fingers in his thick, glossy hair.