Page 21 of Beast

I nod. He can give me…orgasms. I like that word. Idefinitely like the feeling.

He stares into my eyes. “Good, then you should understandthat you can tell me no at any time. I signed papers to take care of you, butyou get to pick this. Your body is your own. No one here can take that fromyou. It might have been normal on your plane, but we’re not criminals here.”

“He was the Second,” I try to explain.

His hand comes up to cup my face. “And you are KajaDellacourt. You are better than him. No one gets to take that from you. Noteven me. Do you understand?”

I do not, but I like how I feel when he looks at me like Iam worthy. Maybe this place isn’t so bad if I truly get to choose. “Yes,Dante.”

“I doubt that but I’ll make sure you do before all of thisis over. Are you feeling better?”

He releases me. I miss the feel of his hands on my body.What is wrong with me? I force myself to sit up.

“Yes,” I admit quietly. The weakness is there, but theterrible burning between my legs is gone. I feel a fresh rush of arousal asDante draws his fingers into his mouth. His tongue comes out, and he licks hisfingers clean. That is my essence on his fingers. It is dirty. I cannot take myeyes off the sight.

He leans forward. I can see my moisture on his lips. “Whatdo you expect, darling? You taste good.”

I bite my lip, chewing nervously. “Do you taste good?”

The question is out before I can recall it. I saw the fluidmen leave behind when they reach their pleasure.

“I have no idea. I’ve never tasted myself or any other dude.I don’t swing that way, though I’ve heard it’s pleasant. I like women, despitewhat the tabloids will tell you. Lay back. Do you remember what I said? Aboutyou not having to obey me? You can tell me no at any time and I will honor yourwishes. I want you in this with me. But if you do as I ask, I promise there’smore orgasms for you.”

I do as he tells me, aware that I am submitting. I know Ishould not. It is an act of respect he has not earned beyond being able to holdme down, but I do it anyway. I find I don’t want to break the contact we have.His hands feel so good on my skin. Sometimes it feels like I went my wholelifetime without the sweetness of another soul brushing against my body. Isigh, all the while knowing in the morning I will leave. I will not wait tospeak with Dante’s Second. My senses tell me there are forests nearby. I willlose myself there, but this night I will revel in the feel of his hands on me.I will pretend our mating is real.

“I want to make you feel good,” Dante murmurs. I like theway his eyes roam over my body. There is approval in them. “I think I need toteach you how we do it where I come from. What you call mating, my people callsex or fucking or making love.”

“Making love.” I try the words out on my tongue. Dante’shand cups my breast. I feel myself swell in his palm. He strokes his handaround my flesh, his fingers lingering on my nipples.

“See, you’re a sensual thing,” he says. “Sex isn’t merelyabout penetration. It should involve all of the senses.” He straddles me. Hisknees surround my hips, and I like the way he fills the space. He leans overand runs his nose along my neck, breathing in my scent. I shiver deliciouslyeverywhere he touches. “You smell awfully sweet now, Kaja.”

I let his scent waft over me. He smells so good, clean andmasculine. My hands drift up and touch his red-gold hair. It feels odd. Partsare slightly stiff, but I do not sense he is dirty.

“It’s called mousse. This hair doesn’t look this good on itsown,” Dante explains with a smile. “You’re going to have to deal with myhygiene ritual, darling. We’ll make an appointment with a stylist when we gethome. You’ll like spas.”

I am not sure what a spa is, but I like the way his facefeels buried in my neck. His fangs graze my skin. Is he going to bite me? Ishiver at the prospect and am not sure if I want it or not. I decide todistract him. “Is your pack nice?”

I wondered why his father does not wish for him to mate withone of the females of his pack.

Dante pulls his face from my neck. “Darling, I don’t have apack. I have a family.” He looks at a loss for a moment. “You have no idea whatI am, do you? Have you ever heard of a vampire?”

I shake my head.

He rolls off me and props his head on his fist, lying on hisside. His shirt is off, but he covered his lower body before calling in the weeones. He keeps his free hand on my stomach as though he does not want to breakthe contact, either. “Well, I’m different from you. I don’t eat meat.”

“How do you survive?” Only prey animals eat no meat. Animalsthat live off fruits and grasses are prey. I cannot imagine Dante is prey.

“I live off blood.” Dante shows off his fangs. They are somuch longer than mine or any of the pack males. I reach my hand out and heallows me to touch them. When I pull back, he continues. “My home plane is veryadvanced. It’s probably going to be a shock and seem like magic to you, butyou’ll adapt. You’ll like it. My people used to drink the blood of animals tosurvive. I’m a little different than most vampires. I’m what’s called a royal.My fangs are specialized. I can feed from other vampires or species withoutripping them apart. Most vampires can’t do that. They kill anything they feedfrom. I can take my nutrition from either animals, other vampires, or consorts,like you. I haven’t actually tried another sentient being, but I’m certainlythinking about it now.” He moves his hand up to my throat. He looks at it withgreat longing, his thumb moving across it like he is tracing a line. “You see,you’re what my people call a consort. Your blood is rich, and for someone likeme, it can do some awesome things.”

“You wish to eat me?” I begin to scramble off the bed. I amnot sure of what he means.

He is on me in an instant. He flips me over and holds medown. He put his fangs against my neck until I force myself to calm. “I wish tofeed from you, Kaja. It is an intimacy between husband and wife. In return,I’ll open a vein and let you taste me. You’ll heal faster and stay young longerwith my blood in you. I won’t hurt you.”

“I am afraid,” I answer honestly. “Your fangs are long. Itwill hurt.”

“No, it won’t, and I won’t do it until you’re comfortablewith the idea. I would never harm you. Vampires take their consorts seriously.Trust me, from the way Colin moans, you’ll love it. Once we’re home, I’m goingto force my parents to move my rooms. I hate listening to my sister have sex.It’s gross.” He strokes his hands along my back. I can feel that hard male partof him against my rear. He still wears his pants and makes no move to divesthimself of them, so I lay still. “Besides, I want you to be able to screamwithout any worry. I think we’re going to fit together nicely. I would try toconvince you to let me taste you tonight, if it wouldn’t almost certainly causemy horrible death. I hope when I go I don’t explode the way some do. It’snasty. Unless someone murders me, of course, and then I hope I cover thefucker.”

That horrible burning is suddenly back. It starts as an itchand quickly grows, tormenting my center. What did Dante call it? He called itmy pussy. My pussy aches. The hated tears start.