Page 45 of Ruby Red Sky

We sat in silence for several moments, both of us admiring the view and the quiet.

I was about to disturb her, but it couldn’t be helped.

She stood, walking to the ledge and taking everything in. Moving behind her, I pulled her flush so her back was to my abdomen. My hand slid to her lower belly and soon, heat bloomed under my palm. She wasn’t unaffected by me, whether she wanted to admit her desire or not.

I let her feel the hardness of my approval and slid a hand down to her wrist, circling it with my fingers. “You remember Annalise discussing the need to claim and mark you, yes?”

She nodded but didn’t say a word. A fresh spike of heat burned my skin. She was imagining what it would be like for me to claim her.

“My kiss marked you, which could be considered a first step. I will claim you, Cassia. Sooner rather than later.” She shuddered against me, and I felt her gathering herself, her aura tucking in close for a safety that would never come.

My hand pressed against her soft belly, and I moved to just above her pubic bone, enjoying the warmth she likely prayed would disappear.

“My job is to keep you safe. You’re going to submit to what will happen next.” She stiffened, but I continued, “You’re going to drink my blood.”

Just saying those few words pressed my fangs through my gums. She turned in my arms as she said, “No.”

Keeping hold of her wrist, I placed my other on her neck. As she faced me, I kept my lips separated, letting her see my teeth. “You will.”

With our proximity, I felt her stomach roil. A heave moved her chest, rubbing her breasts against my jacket. “No, and you can’t make me.”

“I can and I will. The decision is not up to you.”

“I don’t want to be a vampire,” she insisted vehemently. “I’m not going to drink your blood.”

My anger flared. “I kill those who turn humans, and the humans they turned.”

Her eyes watered. “Don’t make me do this,” she pleaded.

I lifted my wrist to my mouth and listened to the light squeaking sound of my teeth tearing through flesh. My blood trickled down my skin.

“No!” Cassia cried out. I didn’t want to have to spell her, but she was making it increasingly difficult not to. She flailed under my grasp, but I didn’t relent. “Why do you have to do this?”

“It will keep us joined should anything happen to you. I need to be able to find you instantly.”

She choked on a sob. “What else does it do?”

“It keeps you from ageing, optimizes your acclimation to the Realm. Most importantly, it ties you to me.” My blood was going to start congealing. “Drink now, Cassia.”

She tried to wiggle away again and I grabbed her neck. When I brought my wrist to her mouth, she stubbornly refused to do anything. My blood smeared around her face like overzealous lipstick, and I knew I’d have to take the next step.

Once I spelled her, she let out a sigh and soon began searching with her lips, the sensation sending a pleasant tingle up my spine. Cautiously, she raised her hands, curling her fingers around my forearm and holding me in place.

Then she began to swallow.

A whimper sounded in my ear, and it was like electricity had been injected straight into my veins as she drank. Bursts of color exploded behind my eyelids, and the scent of her increasing lust wove around my head like a spiderweb, trapping me in her intoxication.

If just this simple feeding affected me this way, I couldn’t imagine what bedding her would be like. I’d end up tying her to a bedpost and keeping her there.

“Lukas,” she sighed between sips, rubbing her thighs together. “Ahhh.”

I grasped her hips with my free hand, crushing her against my body. I wanted to take her here, right now.

“Stop,” I ground out.

She continued to sup, the delicious, creamy scent emanating from between her thigh causing a flood in my mouth.

“Cassia, that’s enough.”