When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity #1)(62)

To be able to sense his every emotion, to know if he was lying, to be able to discover him even when he was at his most vulnerable…

Few vampires would ever offer such trust.

Not to anyone.

Seeming to at last sense the depth of his offer, Abby gave a small frown.

"Why? Why would you do this?"

"Because it is how a vampire chooses his mate," he said without hesitation. 'The woman he will love for all eternity."

Her blue eyes softened with a tenderness that shimmered through his entire body.

"Oh, Dante." Her hands moved to frame his face. "I would be honored to be your mate."

Holding her gaze, Dante lifted his hand to his neck. Before she could protest, he used his nail to make a small incision. Only after he felt the precious blood begin to trickle down his skin did he cup the back of Abby's head and press her mouth to the wound.

"Drink," he commanded softly.

There was a moment of hesitation before he felt her lips part and gently suck at his life force.

Dante nearly jolted off the bed as his body clenched in raw, primitive bliss. Holy hell.

He had known what Abby would experience. With his blood in her veins, her senses would be sharper, clearer, brighter. The world itself would seem to come into crisp focus. And, of course, she would become aware of him in a way that mortals could not imagine.

But he had not realized the sheer erotic nature of allowing her to feed from him.

Passion and hunger flooded through him. An overwhelming need to brand her as his own.

His ringers tangled in her hair as he pressed her even closer. He felt as if he was being consumed and nothing had ever been so glorious.

With every tug of her lips, his hips began to thrust forward, his need growing to an unbearable ache. She moaned. He growled. They clutched at each other. They surged together.

And then the powers of the Phoenix within Abby began to smolder and flare, engulfing them in a sizzling cloak of heat.

Dante choked out a groan of shocked pleasure as he thrust himself to the very heart of her. Mist-red desire clouded about them, driving them ever upward, until with an explosive climax they combusted in flames together.

Chapter 17

Still panting and drenched in sweat, Abby slowly floated back to earth.

"Yowza," she breathed.

Sex with Dante was like running a marathon. Only a lot more fun.

Rolling to his side, Dante gathered her in his arms. 'Yowza, indeed."

She pressed her lips to his chest, absently noting his skin was cool and dry. She was afraid to glance higher. No doubt his hair was perfect as well.

Damn vampires.

A smile abruptly curved her lips.

Her vampire.

She briefly closed her eyes, absorbing the unfamiliar sensations that had settled deep within her. Like a whisper in the back of her mind, she could feel Dante. His small glow of sated pleasure. The fierce love that flowed through every part of him. And, overall, his gnawing concern that he wouldn't be capable of protecting her.

She wrenched open her eyes to discover Dante regarding her with a searching gaze.

"I had no idea." She gave a faint shake of her head. "It's so intense."

"How do you feel?"

"Amazing." She watched Dante smile his sexy pirate smile. Made even more sexy by the fangs that were still fully extended. How weird was that? Suddenly her eyes widened in horror. "Oh."

His arms tightened about her. "What is it?"

"I'm not going to turn into a vampire, am I?"

"No." He dropped a kiss on the top of her curls, thankfully not insulted. "Turning someone is a bit more complicated. And it would not even be possible as long as you are the Chalice. The Phoenix would do whatever necessary to protect itself."

Reassured that she wasn't about to morph into anything else inhuman for the moment, she snuggled closer to his hard body.

"I wish we could just stay here."

"Hide from the world?"

"At least an extended vacation." She pulled back her head to meet his silver gaze. "I think we deserve a few days off, don't you?"

He regarded her with a hint of regret. "I can't think of anything that would please me more."

"But?"

He blinked. "How did you know there was a but?"

Abby heaved a sigh. "In my world, there's always abut."

"You're a very odd woman at times, lover."

"I thought I was beautiful and courageous and sexy as hell?"

"All of the above," he swiftly agreed, a faint smile playing about his lips, "and occasionally odd."

"Rather ironic coming from a vampire."

He bent down to press a swift kiss to her lips. Too brief.

"As much as I hate to admit it, we must not linger any longer."

That wasn't what she wanted to hear. Not when she felt warm and fuzzy and, best of all, safe.

"We have to leave now?"

"It's too risky to stay here for long. If the house is being watched, then we could find ourselves surrounded by the sort of nasties that no one wants to meet on a dark night."

"They couldn't get in here, could they?"

He gave a lift of his shoulder. "Probably not, but we'll eventually have to leave."