He drove his fingers deeper into me until he had three fingers inside of my pussy. Keaton stroked my clit with fierceness as he redoubled his efforts. I tried to focus on my breathing to slow down the rising tide that would sweep me away, but it was nearly impossible not to give in.
“P-please,” I pleaded.
He didn’t relent, and he didn’t materialize. Everything in me ached from holding on so much. No man had ever driven me crazy the way that he was. I writhed on the bed. Sweat had broken out on my skin. So close to ecstasy all that was needed to send me over the edge was a small push. And Keaton gave me that little thrust when he nibbled on my clit once more and then trailed his tongue along my moist slit replacing his fingers with his tongue. Once he did, I came.
Keaton didn’t stop delving into my pussy. Instead, he kept on torturing me until only strangled gasps left my throat. It wasn’t until a second wave of bliss picked me up and carried me away that he relented.
I collapsed back into the pillows and tried to catch my breath. My heart jackhammered into my ribcage. I wondered why it wasn’t protruding through my chest. Keaton’s cool presence glided over me and felt good against my flushed skin. He freed my wrists and rubbed them where the belt had been tied. He settled next to me and fanned his fingers across my chest. He was solid, flesh and bone with an evil grin on his lips.
“Did you enjoy that?” he asked.
I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. He kissed my cheek and snuggled next to me. His fingers snaked lower, but I grabbed his hand before he could start manipulating me again.
“I can’t.”
“But I want to pleasure you.”
“I know, but you have to give me a little while to recuperate, get some water, and I wanted to talk to you.”
He sighed but claimed my lips in a kiss. “Okay.” I heard the exacerbation in his tone.
I grasped the bedpost to help me stand and then made my way back into the bathroom. After cleaning myself and drinking a few mouthfuls of water, I told myself I had the courage to do this.
The images of Mark’s death stole my breath and pulled the happiness from my heart the way it had done in the past. I sank to my knees. The encompassing loss drove a forlorn wail from my throat. The world felt as if it was pressing around me, and the walls I’d built were starting to crumble. I gripped the sink. Keaton rushed in.
“What is it?”
Concern filled his gaze and pinched his forehead. There was no way to face him. I launched myself in his arms and buried my head against his shoulder. He pulled me close and rubbed my back.
“Was it something I did? What just happened?”
“No. That was wonderful.” I hugged him tighter. He picked me up and carried me back into the bedroom. Keaton laid me down gently on the covers.
“I’ll be right back.”
When he left the room, emptiness swallowed my soul again. I drew my knees up to my chest and began to shiver. Keaton returned with a box of tissues and glass of water, which he set on the nightstand. He dabbed at my cheeks with the tissue. His soft touch helped to keep me anchored in the present.
“Tell me what haunts you. If I could read it in your mind, it would make it easier for me to understand.”
Sniffling, I chuckled and hiccupped. “You wouldn’t want to see what’s in my mind. It’s a poisonous place where everything that lives there is toxic.”
He brushed the hair from my face. “I don’t believe that. If it were so, then it would’ve manifested in you. You are perfect.”
A small laugh tumbled over my lips. “I’m not perfect. Far from it. See.” I let the robe drop from my shoulders. There was a large scar there that marred my back. A reminder of what had transpired. His fingers traced the jagged skin that slashed across my spine and came to rest on my left buttock. It was sheer luck not to have been permanently damaged from it.
“How did you get this?”
“Five years ago, I dated a man named Mark Cooper. We went out for two years. We were happy. Then things went to shit. I started working late. I thought things were good, but he accused me of having an affair with my boss. He was jealous of other guys, but he wasn’t controlling or abusive or anything. My boss was going through a lot of personal problems, and the company was restructuring so I was helping him out. If it all worked out I would’ve gotten a really great promotion.
“Anyway, one night I got home past ten. Mark had mentioned that he wanted to do dinner, but I had completely forgotten about it. When I arrived, I saw the candles and how they had burned down. The plates of cold food. I felt bad. I walked into the bedroom, and he was sitting on the bed. He had tears in his eyes and a ring lying on the bed. An empty bottle of wine stood on the nightstand. Mark said that he’d had enough and that he was going to leave. I tugged on his arm, nearly dragging him back into the bedroom. He shoved me into the wall. I lost it. I ran after him and clutched his arm again. We were in the living room.
“He said he found evidence. Receipts for hotels and dinners, but those were from the clients I had handled for my boss. Mark thought it was all part of me trying to hide the affair. I was distraught. I grabbed one of the vases and threw it at him. He dodged it. He’d been drinking and pushed me backward. I stumbled and landed back first into the glass coffee table. He tried to help me up, but lost his footing and fell down into a shard of glass. It went straight through his chest. The phone had been knocked down near me. I called the cops. They broke the door down. I was taken to the hospital and was questioned. The courts ruled it was an accident. Ever since, it’s weighed on my conscience. I’ve pushed the memories down, hoping to forget them.
“I almost had. I’d resigned myself to being alone for the rest of my life. And then you come along and become my vampire in shining armor.”
“What happened was an accident. There is no curse. You deserve to be happy. You’ve suffered long enough. Forgive yourself.”
I sniffled and nodded. “I’ve told myself that many times. But it never happens. I’ve gone out on dates before, but they all end badly. One guy, while crossing the street to meet me, was run over by a bus. Another one fell onto the third rail of the subway and was electrocuted while I watched. I could tell you more horror stories, but I’m sure you don’t want to hear about them.”
He smoothed my hair and hugged me. “I can understand why you think you’re cursed. But you’ve just had a run of bad luck. Very bad luck.”
“But I don’t want it to rub off on you. I don’t want you to get hurt because of the evil cloud that hovers over me.”
Keaton smiled. “I won’t. I’m over two thousand years old. I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah, but what if now that you’ve met me, the curtains fall down and you go up in flames. Or Ivan beheads you. Someone follows me here and stakes you. I couldn’t bear it.”
“Nothing like that is going to happen. I swear.”
“You can’t be sure of that. I —”
He placed a finger to my lips. “Hush. I can take care of us. You are my life now. Don’t you know that?”
I shook my head barely believing what I was hearing from him. He was willing to take care of me. He didn’t believe that I was cursed. Neither had Stephania. She had said all I had to do was tell Keaton and he would understand. It seemed that he did.
He took another tissue and dabbed my eyes with it before handing it to me. Keaton swiped his thumbs across my cheeks taking away the excess moisture and smiled. I saw the absolute love in his gaze. He saw me as a jewel. It was evident in the way that he handled me. In the way that he loved me.
“I don’t see how you could.” I backed away and blew my nose before taking another tissue.
Keaton chuckled. “Madison, you’re beautiful, intelligent, and so full of passion that it burns inside of you. You’ve dampened the flame so much that you haven’t let yourself experience it for a long time, and that isn’t living. You have to let yourself live. Let me take care of you. Let me love you.” He held my face in his hands and kissed me lightly, sweeping his tongue across my lips before I opened my mouth to his. His tongue tangled with mine. A small moan let loose from my throat. I rested my hand on his chest. In that moment, I felt completely safe with him. He kissed me a little longer, lazily, letting me taste him until I pulled away.
Some weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I did feel better, but I still wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything, Madi.”
“What if I get through this mating fever and I choose not to be with you? What happens?”
He sighed. His forehead furrowed in distress. “I hope that doesn’t happen.”
“Why?”
“Because I’d never be able to see you again. I’d have to take the memories of me from your mind. Or have a friend do it since I can’t penetrate the veil of your thoughts. I’d have to spend an eternity alone pining for you until there happens to be another chance of a woman coming into my life that might be my mate, but who knows if that would happen. Please don’t tell me—”
I shook my head. “No. I don’t plan on abandoning you. I just wanted to know. Keaton, I like you. Even though you stalked me and kidnapped me.”
“But?”
“But, I don’t know.”
He pulled away. “I know what your problem is.”
My eyes widened and I crossed my arms over my chest. “Really and what is that?”
“You think way too much. I might not be able to read your mind, but I can see the wheels already turning in your brain. The cogs starting to get caught as you think about the prospect of love. Of someone breaking your curse and coming to rescue you. You can’t believe in a happy ending. Don’t let yourself think. What do you feel? What did you feel when I came to you as a bare shadow and pleasured you?” He kissed my neck.
Keaton was right. I did think too much. Way too much for my own good. I thought back to earlier when he had me on the bed. My body flushed with heat. The pleasure of the recent memory overwhelmed me. I had wanted all of him. I had desired to hold him. I needed him buried inside of me. But I wanted him forever. I was ready to accept everything that he was. If I did, then I knew that I loved him even if my brain hadn’t completely processed it yet. My heart already had. He continued to place soft kisses along my throat, but didn’t advance toward my breasts or any other body part. I sensed he was waiting for me to tell him it was okay.
“I enjoyed the experience.”
“Exquisite torture wasn’t it?”
I nodded. “No one has ever done that before. Not that they could. I loved it. I want more of it. I want more of you.”
“Good. That’s all you need to listen to. Know I would protect you with my life.”
I nodded and got up. Stephania’s warning came back to me. I went into the other room and grabbed the salt. I started pouring it on the windowsills. Keaton grabbed my hand.
“What are you doing?”
“Stephania said I should put this around any entrance to a room tonight because there was evil afoot. I’m sorry. I should’ve asked. I just had a feeling it was something I had to do.”
“No. It won’t bother me. She is a wise friend to have. Let me go and tell Ivan not to come in until tomorrow when we can clean this up. Salt is protection and will keep evil at bay. Not that Ivan is evil, but the troll in him is repelled by the salt. Even us vampires. We can enter a domain, but if there was salt across the threshold it would even hold us out if we meant evil intent.”
“It’s a strange world that you exist in.”
He laughed and released my wrist. “It certainly is. One I really hope you can experience with me. I’ll go tell Ivan about the salt.”
I caught Keaton’s hand before he went out of my reach and pulled him to me. A confused look ran across his face. I conformed my body to his. My brain said to stop, but I pushed that away. Keaton told me to feel, so I was just going with what I felt. I pressed my lips to him and nipped down his throat until my mouth covered his Adam’s apple. I flicked my tongue across it and sucked on it. I raked my fingers along his chest and began to unbutton his shirt. Keaton moaned and backed away.