Page 48 of Volik

I feel the pulse of gravito move between us, flowing out of my chest and into hers.

We hold each other tighter.

I want to throw her onto the couch and claim her. I want to fill her so full she cannot remember the word scared.

But I need her to know that she can delay this. That we can wait on this part until she’s ready.

Nix arches up, her lips an inch from mine.

And I kiss her.

I am a vampire, not a saint.

I press my lips to hers and push my tongue into her mouth.

Nix clings to me.

Water drips off my hair, evaporating off my shoulders in little puffs of condensation.

Her body radiates heat back at me.

It has been a hundred years, maybe more, since I have hugged someone. Truly hugged them. But it’s never been like this.

An embrace.

And the person I hugged never felt like this.

So warm. So soft. So perfectly molded to me.

I hug her tighter, tilting my head and pushing my tongue deeper into her mouth.

My fangs scrape along the sides of my tongue, reminding me that they are longer than they used to be. That I need to be careful.

Her eyes are shut.

She’s lost in the moment. The kiss. In me.

But I need to give her the option.

I need to be the responsible one.

Adjusting her in my hold, I maneuver Nix until I have her seated on my forearm. Tucked against my side, her thighs still on either side of my body.

The arm not holding my mate reaches out toward the kitchen.

I open my fingers, and when a smooth wooden handle slams against my palm, I close them.

Chapter 26

Nix

Volik boosts me higher, breaking our kiss.

I blink my eyes open and look down into his.

I wrap my arms around his neck, holding myself in place when I realize I am sitting on his forearm.

He’s once again holding me up with one arm, his hand gripping my hip, without a single grunt or noise of exertion.