Until the Sun Falls from the Sky (The Three #1)(25)

Lucien went on, “If I’d have prepared you before we started, you wouldn’t have felt the tearing, just the feeding, which is highly pleasurable for mortals.”

Her face instantly assumed the look he enjoyed, the one filled with wonder.

Then she said, “You’re joking.”

He shook his head. “Your people find it a sensual experience.”

“No,” she shook her head, pushed up again, got nowhere and gave up, collapsing against him. “I was wrong about what you said before. That wasn’t nuts. This is nuts.”

“It isn’t.”

She ignored him and her eyes narrowed. “So why didn’t you… prepare me?”

His arm at her waist circled further. His other hand slid up her neck and into her hair, bringing her face closer.

Quietly, he explained, “You were excited, moving against me, agitated, aroused. You felt good. You smelled good,” his voice dipped lower at the memory, “so f**king good I lost control.”

Her head pressed against his hand and didn’t stop even if her effort was futile.

“Tomorrow night, when we do it again, I’ll prepare you,” he murmured, his eyes dropping to her throat.

She halted her struggles and he listened to her pulse as it raced.

“No,” she whispered.

He lifted his gaze to lock on hers. “You’ll like it.”

Her voice held a tremor when she said, “You said that last time.”

“Tomorrow, I won’t be so hungry. Tomorrow, I’ll take care of you.”

“I’m supposed to trust that?”

His voice was deadly serious when he replied, “Yes, Leah. With feeding and with everything, you’re supposed to trust me.”

Her head jerked against his hand and his fingers curled into her hair until it stilled.

“I don’t trust you,” she snapped.

“You will,” he returned.

“I won’t.”

“You will.”

“Never,” she hissed, losing her shock and getting angry.

Damn, she was stubborn.

“I’ll have to prove it to you,” he promised her.

“I’m never doing that again,” she announced and his fingers in her hair twisted slightly as his patience slipped.

“You will, tomorrow night.” His voice was implacable.

“Over my dead body,” she bit out, her eyes flashing, her insult crystal clear and he felt it slice agonizingly through his gut.

“Not a chance,” he clipped in return.

She glared at him. He scowled back.

She gave in first when she demanded to know, “Are we done with my lesson now?”

“Yes,” he growled.

“Good, then you’re going to go?”

“No.”

Her body jolted again and she asked, “What?”

“That’s answer to part two of your earlier question. I’m not going. I’m spending the night here.”

Her eyes widened again when she asked, “Why?”

“I like the smell of you when I sleep.”

“What?” she cried in horror.

“And the feel of you,” he continued.

She rolled her eyes toward her forehead and muttered, “Oh my God. It just gets worse and worse.”

He ignored her verbal non-prayer and called, “Leah.” Her eyes snapped back to his face and she was back to glaring. “I’ll be here every night.”

Her nose wrinkled before she mumbled, “Yep. Gets worse and worse.”

Lucien decided he was done and it was time to move on. Therefore he did so.

“Now, you have three choices,” he informed her.

Her head tilted and her jaw clenched before she gritted from between her teeth, “And those are?”

“You can share a drink with me while I have dinner, yours being non-alcoholic.”

“Next,” she snapped.

“You can get changed into your nightgown, get into bed and read.”

“That sounds doable.”

“I’ll be joining you.”

“Next,” she demanded immediately.

“Last, you can begin your next lesson.”

“And that would be?”

“I’ll be teaching you how I like to be kissed.”

Her face paled and her body froze.

After a long moment, she whispered, “I’ll pick door number two.”

He lost his annoyance and his impatience instantly for that was his choice. Although his choice was actually number three but he knew she wasn’t ready for that yet.

His fingers unclenched in her hair and his hand cupped the back of her head, bringing her face closer to his.

“I said I picked door number two, Lucien,” she breathed, pushing her head against his hand.

He pressed her ever forward until her mouth was a breath away from his.

“Get changed. I need food, a word with Edwina and I’ll meet you in bed.”

“Righty ho, oh Great Master.”

At her words, Lucien changed his mind and decided her next lesson would be right now. And that lesson would be that you always respect a vampire.

He brought her head forward a breath so her lips were light on his.