Page 102 of Eternal Surrender

Pain surged though my chest and snatched my breath away as the electric shock jolted me backward, and I plummeted with my arms out and splashed into the water.

I sank to the bottom.

Stunned but relieved to get all feeling back, I saw Ingrid’s distorted silhouette moving above. She’d kicked off her boots and was undressing.

Muffled by the water, I questioned why I’d not thought about coming down here before as I settled onto the bottom of the pool, actually enjoying the stolen serenity, savoring the sensation of being wrapped in warm quiet blueness.

There was a loud splash.

Ingrid’s hands scrambled to lift me. I grabbed her, pulling her into a smoldering kiss. We made our way to the surface like that, spiraling until we reached air, and I let her go.

Ingrid splashed wildly, spitting out water. “You almost drowned me!”

Treading water, I went to help her. “You just tasered me.”

She slapped me across my face, hard.

I grabbed her wrist, twisted her around and hugged her. “I’m trying to help you.”

“Let me go.”

I released her and turned, swimming toward the opposite side. She thumped my back and I fended her off.

Her nails scratched my face. “You branded me his!”

I tried to push away from her.

“That’s what this circle actually means, doesn’t it?” She wriggled, and her right hand got free from my grip and her fingernails slashed my cheekbone.

I wiped blood off my face and grabbed her right arm and swam, dragging her along toward the poolside. “This is not exactly the goodbye I had in mind.”

She spun and went to slap me again. I thrust her against the edge, pressing up against her and using my weight to hold her still. “That’s enough.”

Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the slippery ledge. I caught her hand before it struck me again.

Leaning into her, kissing her passionately, opening her mouth with mine. She bit my lip, and I tasted my own blood. Ingrid tasted it too and she sucked in her breath, startled by the sensations surging through her veins, electrifying her senses.

The potent concoction that was my blood, igniting a heat that surged deep within her, sending a tremor through every nerve, a shiver that left her undone.

She grabbed the ledge with outstretched arms. “What is that?” Her head fell back and she let out a protracted moan.

I hugged her into me. “Just say the words and I’ll let you go.”

Ingrid rocked against me, slowly, surely, responding to the sensations bestowed by the blood, holding my gaze as though hoping to understand her arousal.

I kissed her forehead. “Because of that brand on your arm, no vampire will touch you. It keeps you safe when I’m not there.”

Ingrid’s lips were quivering.

I rested my forehead against hers, studying her every response, each delicate nuance to my ministrations, taunting her with gentle caresses. “We’re going to do this my way, understand?”

She moaned her answer.

Kissing her throat, working downward and lower still, her sighs begging me to snatch her breath from her.

As I did now. . .

Responding to the way she pulled me into her, bestowing a multitude of pleasures to every part of her.