Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
The source.
Her gaze fixed on the wound. Licking fast and greedily up his chest, Shayla arrived at his collarbone, swallowed the savory fluid coating her mouth, and latched her lips and teeth around the cut.
Shayla was utterly unprepared for the ecstasy of drinking directly from him. On the first full pull of his blood, she came so hard she went blind for the full duration of her orgasm. Brilliant light filled her entire visual field as every nerve and muscle in her body seized and jerked. Her juices trickled from her and slicked up her thighs.
Kael’s tight embrace supported her and he cried out a victorious roar that echoed through the hall.
Her entire physiology seemed to explode and remake itself as his blood completed the alterations she now knew the mating mark had begun. Almost instantly, she felt lighter, healthier, stronger, invincible.
And then his fangs punctured the tender spot at the base of her throat, and Kael began to feed from her as she fed from him.
An approving shout rose up from the surrounding men at his actions.
Her embrace with Kael was every bit as intimate as having sex. Maybe more. Because blood was central to sustaining his life…
And, now, hers too.
She drank and drank until she felt glutinous, but could not pull herself away. He devoured her in the same uncontrolled, needful way, setting off a deep satisfaction within her chest, between her legs. The longer it went on, the more attuned to the blood’s movement she became, and she realized they were literally exchanging blood.
She flowed into him. He flowed into her.
Her heart felt as if it might rupture. Surely, such a small organ could not contain emotions this intense.
I love him. Oh, God, I truly love him. Kael. My Kael.
As I love you, my dearest heart.
His voice in her head startled her so much she nearly released her suction from his neck. His hand tangled in her hair and held her down, petted her, encouraged her to take all she wanted.
Do not fear, Shayla. We are a part of one another now, inside each other. Our blood connection creates a telepathy that is strongest when we feed and make love.
Shayla was in awe of the rightness of his voice in her mind, like he had always been there, providing solace, comfort, companionship. But, just in that moment, there was something else she desperately needed.
I need all of you in me, Kael. Please. I’ll go crazy if I can’t have you.
A possessive growl rumbled against her breasts. We are fully mated, love. I wait only for you to be sated before taking you back to our chamber and making love to you until the sun rises. Over and over again. Until neither of us can move a muscle.
She moaned against his neck. Just a little bit more. I just… She rushed and gulped at the life-giving sustenance.
We have all the time in the world. Slow down. Take your time, dearheart. Savor. Remember? Never apologize for needing me.
After a few more minutes passed, Shayla’s thirst was finally quenched. Slowly, she released her mouth from his neck, shocked to see the deep impressions of her teeth marks in an angry circle.
She gasped. Oh God, I’m sorry.
For what? For being enthusiastic? For being a little rough? My fangs are still buried an inch into your flesh, yes? Teeth marks come with the territory. A warm chuckle accompanied the thoughts. I know what I said, Shayla, but I need just a bit more of you. You taste so good, I don’t want to stop.
Whatever you want, whatever you need, it’s yours, Kael.
She stroked his hair and held him, adoring that he needed her as much as she did him. Her earlier urgency subsided, though it didn’t disappear altogether. Deep down, under her skin, a low-level need remained, maybe would always remain.
She hoped so. She never wanted to lose this feeling.
Free from her earlier bloodlust, Shayla became aware again of the men surrounding them, heads bowed and eyes averted, but still witnessing their union. The embarrassment or self-consciousness she might’ve expected never came. Her conviction in the rightness of all she had shared with Kael made it impossible to feel anything but confidence and pride and love.
Kael released her flesh and licked the wound closed. Because of his body’s natural healing powers, his cut had already knitted together.
He threaded his fingers into her hair and ran maddening openmouthed kisses from her chest, up her throat and over her chin. Finally, he claimed her mouth, tenderly, reverently. Minutes passed, or hours, she couldn’t really tell, before he broke off the kiss. Their marked hands joined, Kael pulled Shayla to his side.
The warriors formed a line before them with Liam at its center. The fierce masculine approval they each wore made her feel like she was one of them.