The Vampire's Bride (Atlantis #4)(62)

She considered herself different? Why? "Have they never taken vampire slaves? For that matter, which race was your father?"

She glanced away from him, looking anywhere but in the vicinity of his body. "No, we've never taken vampire slaves. And as for the other question, I'm not telling."

"Please."

She blinked in surprise. "I think that's the first time you've ever asked nicely for something."

"Please," he repeated. "Whichever race he is, he's the reason for your blue hair, yes?"

"No. Several Amazons have been born with unusually colored hair."

He was left clueless, then. "Delilah...tell me."

"You'll laugh."

"I won't. I swear it."

"Centaur," she said, cheeks as red as twin rubies. "And if you dare call me Horse Girl, I will slay you."

Others had called her such a name? He yearned to punish them. "You are too pretty to be called a horse girl."

The color in her cheeks deepened. "I - Thank you. He was not their king, nor was he a warrior. Just a commoner with an irresistible smile. That's all I know about him."

From her tone, he could guess that she did not like those facts. Had probably been forced to prove her strength time and time again because of her father's lack. The need to punish her sisters grew stronger. Which was silly. Time to change the subject. "Why did you do it?" He dripped water onto the injury, trying to clean it without actually touching it and hurting her further.

She didn't have to ask his meaning. "Doesn't matter." She looked away.

"It does."

"Why?"

"You saved him."

Her brow puckered. "I saved you."

"No." What did she mean by that? "You saved Tagart."

She waved a hand through the air. "What if I did? He is on my team."

"And that makes him worth more than your own life?" Layel snapped.

"A team must - "

"Work with him to destroy me if you must, but tell me this. Is he your lover?"

She studied Layel, considering, a bit hesitant. "Would that matter to you?"

Yes. "No."

"Then you wouldn't care if I allowed him to touch my breasts and lick my nipples? You wouldn't care if I guided his fingers inside me and - "

"No! Now, not another word from you." He fisted the material, wringing out the last of the moisture. Clear droplets blended with red, creating a pink river as it slid along the slope of her neck and onto the emerald moss. "If you take him to your bed," he found himself adding, unable to stop the words, "I will eat his heart in front of you."

He could have been mistaken, but he thought he saw a flash of delight in her violet eyes. "There's only one man I crave in that way," she admitted softly.

Thank the gods. You grow more dishonorable by the second.

She tried to sit up, but he gripped her shoulders and pinned her down.

"Not yet. Rest."

"Don't order me around."

"I'll order you if I please. I'm stronger than you are."

"Only when I allow you to be."

He crouched beside her and rested his hand on her stomach, needing to feel her heat, her life. Her belly quivered. "You truly think yourself stronger than me?"

"Think?" she snorted. "Your ass has seen more dirt than mine these past few days."

That wrung a surprised laugh out of him. He blinked. Laughter? Now? That hadn't been part of his life in so long he'd forgotten such a thing was possible.

Delilah was staring at him as if mesmerized. "I thought your smile lovely, but...you should laugh more often. You're breathtaking."

He looked away, proving that she was indeed the stronger of the two. "This madness will have to end soon," he said on a sigh. "We will find a way to end it."

"If we don't kill each other first," she muttered.

How close had she come to death this day? Sadly, he couldn't even blame the gods. "I am...sorry."

"For what?" she asked, sounding genuinely confused.

"Is your mind addled now? Why do you think?"

"For biting me, yes, I know. But explain yourself, explain why you're sorry."

"You were hurt, Delilah."

"By my own actions, Layel, so there is no need to apologize for the bite. I deserve an apology for the other thing, however."

His name on her lips was paradise. "What other thing?"

"You stopped kissing me. You left me...needy."

Heat, so much heat. His muscles twitched in response, his cock hardening. Again. "I will not apologize for that."

She lifted a hand to her neck and traced the wound there. "I would have liked to finish," she said with a pout.

He allowed his fingers to dabble at her navel - pretty, smooth skin, lovely tattoo - his blood flowing faster and faster in his veins. Stop. Can't. He moved his fingers to her neck and flattened his palm to the back of her hand. "Your willingness to absolve me is surprising."

"Back to the bite?"

"Of course."

She sighed, loud and long. "Why surprising?"