Sweet Ruin

NINE

Rune’s black wine hit her veins, carrying fire throughout every inch of her. It drugged her, made her head spin, her flesh burn! Blood drunk. Lust drunk.

How had she gone so long without biting another? Her pierced nipples tightened. Her clitoris throbbed. Her thong was soaked.

Heat poured off his body as he thrust his dick over her. His groans vibrated her aching fangs. He was about to come! She wasn’t far behind. She ground against him for more friction.

When her skirt bunched up at her waist, he gripped her ass, claws digging into her skin. “Fuck, fuck, FUCK!” His cock pulsed against her. “Can’t hold on much longer!”

She moaned, pawing at his back to get closer.

“Drain me of it, then!” His heart thundered, pumping dark wine for her. “Take. More.”

Before, she’d sampled him lightly, unsure how to drink. Now instinct ruled her. She drew from him. Hard.

“Uhhhnnn!” Every muscle in his body strained. “Yes, suck me! Feels like my cock’ll explode!” He grunted, groaned, shoving his hips. “Fuckyessogoodsogood.”

Crazed, he pinned her against the wall, thrusting in a frenzy, shoving his dick between their grinding bodies. On the brink, she writhed to meet him.

“Can’t hold back . . . can’t hold out!” Between his ragged breaths, words from a foreign language spilled from his tongue. He was finishing! No, too soon!

“Ahhh, gods!” His hips surged between her thighs. “I’m . . . I’m . . . COMING!” His big body jerked. He threw his head back to yell.

His throat muscles milked her fangs as he bellowed to the sky again and again. . . .

When his hips gradually slowed and he gave a low groan of satisfaction, the sound of his yells was still echoing through the night. The city.

She remained on fire, subtly rocking on him, wanting this bite never to end. She’d done it, had drunk from another! And his tanned skin had been the cherry on top of his luscious blood. The act had been like sex—except this had been good. Like the best sex she’d ever imagined.

With that bite, she’d known the connection she’d dreamed about.

He released her hair, so she reluctantly withdrew her fangs with a last greedy lick that made him moan.

Catching his breath, he pressed both hands against the wall. He didn’t need to hold her; Jo’s claws were sunk into his back, her limbs coiled around him. The side of her face rested against his.

Moments passed like this. What do I do? Say? She hoped they weren’t fighting anymore. The trinket had been a good trade for his blood.

She wanted to get off with him, and then drink again. Or both at the same time!

He pulled his head back to stare down at her, astonishment in every line of his face. His magenta irises had darkened, and fissures of black forked out from them. Was that typical for a dark fey? Very cool.

In a hoarse voice, he said, “You made me come so hard I thought I would spill seed.”

He hadn’t? His dick still pulsed against her belly, but her skin was dry.

As if in a trance, he raised his hand to her mouth. He rubbed his ringed thumb along her bottom lip, collecting drops of blood she’d spilled. He offered them back to her.

She daubed her tongue to his thumb. Delectable.

Had he ruined her for other blood?

“Suck it,” he commanded her.

When she drew his thumb into her mouth, his lids went heavy. “So damned beautiful. I don’t know how this is possible, female. But the plans I have for you . . . I’m going to eat you alive.”

Earlier, she’d considered him somewhat attractive. Now that she knew what he tasted like, his craggy features took on a whole new aspect. Not to mention that he was supernaturally strong and fast.

Like me.

Plus, he was digging her hard. She admitted to herself she was digging him back. Understandable, since his big dick was still in her panties and he was gazing down at her with an enthralled look.

After the wedding night she’d spent with the romantic groom, she’d had no interest in casual hookups. Now she felt changed again.

She couldn’t live without the connection she’d just experienced with Rune. There was no going back for her.

“Did you pick my pocket to lure me here? So you could feed?”

She released his thumb. “No, I hadn’t planned this. I just wanted something of yours.”

“Why?”

“I guess to know you.” She’d known him in unforeseen ways. Her gaze flitted from his eyes to her bite mark.

His hand rubbed along her outer thigh. She shivered when his fingers traced the back of her thong. “You took my forbidden blood, and you drank it down. Instead of dying in pain, you’re blooming. Did you use some kind of spell?”

She’d known his blood was poisonous but not lethal. At least to others. Just as she’d suspected—rules didn’t apply to Jo. “Don’t know any spells. I survived probably because I’m wicked strong and all.”

“That you are.” He tilted his head, and a black lock tumbled forward.

She wanted to fist his hair and kiss him till their lips hurt. “Nobody’s ever bitten you before?”

“No other vampire would dare.”

Other vampire. More existed. I’m one of them.

How had she become one? Did all ghosts become vampires? She was parting her lips to question him when he said, “I still can’t believe this happened, and little should surprise an immortal my age.”

Immortal? “How old are you?”

“Seven millennia.”

Holy shit! Would she live to be that old? Her mind couldn’t wrap around that number.

“You must be old as well to be this strong.” Nope. “Strange you don’t have a vampire’s scent.”

“What do you think vampires smell like?”

“Aggression and blood.” He leaned his forehead to hers. “Were you very hungry, or did you enjoy my taste?” His tone was gruff, almost vulnerable. “How do I . . . how does my blood compare to others?”

“It’s amazing.”

The corners of his lips curled into that cocky, slanted grin. “What we just did is wicked. Loreans would consider it a taboo.”

Loreans? “Okay. Whatever.”

“Whatever,” he repeated in a rasp. “You not only don’t give a shit, you’re looking at my neck like you want seconds.”

“And thirds and fourths.”

His brows drew together suspiciously. “Have you drunk another of my kind?”

“No, never.”

“Then why did you do it? I warned you I was poisonous.”

She shrugged. “You smelled . . . right.”

“Right?” He said the word as though he were testing it, trying it on. “If you prick me with those fangs again, I’ll penetrate you with this.” He thrust, rubbing his dick over her mound. “Just so we understand each other.”

“Ah! S-seems fair.” She wasn’t the only one who likened her bite to sex.

His sigh-worthy grin deepened. “Tell me your name.”

In a breathless tone, she said, “Josephine.” She’d just given him her name? Her real name.

“The pleasure’s mine, Josephine.” He ripped her panties clean off her body. Then he pocketed them.

Something to remember her by? Because he was going to nail and bail her? As with those other females, he still hadn’t taken off his bow. Ooh, wouldn’t he still have nymph funk on him? And she didn’t have protection. Not that she could get pregnant—no periods—but still . . .

“Now it’s your turn to come,” he informed her. “I’m going to demonstrate that I’ve got more than hints of game. In fact, I believe I promised you I’d make you see stars.”

“I like stars,” she murmured.

He leaned in. To kiss her? “My bag of tricks just got far more extensive. I’m eager to explore this with you.”

Explore. That sounded less nail-and-bail-y. Maybe give him a shot. She eased closer to meet him—

Giggling sounded from the courtyard gate. Rune drew back.

Two women in skimpy party dresses whistled at them. A blonde and a redhead. Like the four she’d seen earlier, this pair appeared too flawless to be human.

“Ah, water nymphs,” he said.

“We heard you across town, Rune!” the blonde said. “It sounded like you lost your ever-loving mind.”

His wide jaw clenched. Well, he didn’t like that comment at all. In a nonchalant tone, he said, “When it’s good, it’s good.”

Good? Dick, please. Her ears were still ringing from his yells.

The redhead added, “If you’re in such a desirous mood, we can tag out with her.”

Hello? He was obviously taken. Clue one: she was panties-less, with her legs wrapped around him. Not a chance, freaks.

“Of course, doves. Later.”

He did not just say “later.”

“We’ll find you after some trysts,” the redhead called. “We’ve got something we know you’ll like.”

“Come back at sunrise,” he told them.

Four nymphs at sunset. One vampire at midnight. A couple more nymphs at dawn?

They blew him kisses and sashayed away.

He returned his attention to Jo. “Nymphs: can’t live with them . . .”

She’d just gotten this guy off—his dick was still wedged between them—and he was making a date with other women! With . . . with nymphs! Asshole!

Why would he do that? He’d reacted to her far more strongly than he had to those others.

Even more confusing? His expression toward Jo was tender. She could almost pretend he was seeing her. Except for the fact that he was planning to see others.

“Now, where were we?”

“You were just arranging a couple of hookups for later.” Her claws sharpened.

He cast her a disappointed look. “Jealousy? You’re already possessive of me.” He too was coming out of a lust haze, seeming to wake up. “I don’t do jealousy. Great gods, vampire, I’ve known you for a total of fifteen minutes.” He dragged his hips back, then all but dropped her. “I haven’t even swived you yet.” He yanked up his pants, dressing so fast his movements were a blur.

She swatted her skirt down. “Possessive? As if I’d want you for my own.” I’d kind of wanted you for my own. I want someone for my own! “You’re just a blood bag in a big-dicked package. Who didn’t last long enough to get me off.” Story of her life! Her lips drew back from her fangs.

With a growl, he pressed her against the wall again. “You’re baring your fangs at me? Defying me again? You have no idea what I could do to you!”

“Do to me? Other than leave me hanging?”

“I fed you, did I not?” He trailed his fingers over her bite mark, and a look of realization dawned on his face. “You bit me, drinking my blood straight from my flesh. Something I have never had to worry about. Blood-taking has consequences, female. Which you well know.”

No, she didn’t!

For the briefest moment, his expression morphed into one of intent. Deadly intent. “Such plans . . .”

Then he flashed her that grin, even as his free hand discreetly inched toward his blade. Shock radiated through her. He was going to knife her because she’d taken blood from his neck?

Lady-killer, literal.

Dickwad!

Too bad he could never hold her.

“Oh, well. What’s done is done.” His words were light, but the timbre of his voice had changed.

As hers did when she was about to kill someone.