Sensual Danger (Venice Vampyr #4)

Nico motioned his head toward the bridge where the dead body of the Guardian still lay. “But he’s dead. He won’t be able to tell his fellow Guardians that the machine doesn’t work.”


“But he was also the only one who knew who I am. The others don’t know. They’ll never find us.”

“How do you know?”

“He was using the knowledge of who I am as leverage with the other Guardians. He said, a wise man never reveals his sources. He was too greedy to share the information. We’re safe.” She sighed. “Now, let’s get you home.”

He shook his head. “I won’t make it.”

Oriana’s breath hitched. “No! Don’t do this to me! Don’t die on me!”

He shook his head. “What I meant to say is that I won’t make it home without blood. My body is too damaged to sustain another moment in the sun. I left our gondola on the canal parallel to this. I won’t make it that far unless I have a chance to heal first. To heal I need . . . ”

His eyes dropped to her neck, and he saw her shiver.

Then a smile suddenly curved her lips. “I suppose it’s the least I can do after you saved me from the Guardian.” She inched closer.

“Yes, it’s the least you can do,” he confirmed, smiling too.

Oriana tilted her head to the side, exposing her pale neck. He raised his hand to brush over her skin, then caught sight of the charred surface of it, and pulled it back.

“I’m sorry, I’m not much to look at right now.”

“I don’t look at the exterior, my love,” she murmured. “Because I can see your heart.” She pressed her hand over the spot where his heart was pounding out of control. “You risked your life for me.”

Then she brought her neck to his lips. He inhaled her scent.

“Drink from me.”

His fangs lengthened and nudged against her neck. He opened his mouth wider, then drove the sharp tips into her skin. A momentary tensing of her muscles was the answer, but then she relaxed against him, and he began to pull on her vein.

Her blood was rich and sweet. Greedily he drank from her, feeling how her blood spread in his veins, nourishing him, healing him. His cells restored themselves, the charred skin falling off him and new skin covering the exposed flesh. His hair grew, replacing the strands that had been burned off.

With every drop of her blood, his strength returned. And with it came the desire for her. The desire to have her. He pulled her up, having regained his full strength, and without removing his fangs from her neck, pressed her against the wall.

Then his hands pushed her skirts up and pressed the fabric into her hands to hold it up. She complied without complaint. Opening his breeches a moment later, he freed his cock. He was hard.

His fingers found the slit in her drawers, and he pushed inside her, seating himself to the hilt. Oriana moaned in response. The sound echoed in the archway and accompanied the thrusts with which he claimed her and made her his in every way.





19


They had disposed of the Guardian’s body in the canal, weighing it down with a few stones and wrapping his cloak tightly around him, a task Oriana performed without flinching.

Nico couldn’t feel happier, knowing that his wife had allowed him to drink her blood.

“Did you like it?” he murmured now as they lay in bed, her naked body wrapped around his, their limbs entangled.

She chuckled softly, and the sound warmed his heart. “Do you really have to ask?” Her hand trailed down to where his cock was already swelling again. She wrapped her hand around him. “If you need more . . . ”

He laughed softly. “If you’re worried that my cock won’t be hard enough for you, my wanton wife, then don’t be. For the important things, I always have enough energy.”

“I just want to make certain that you’re completely healed.”

“I am.” He pressed a kiss on her lips. “Thanks to you. And now it’s time to thank you for it.”

Her cheeks blushed. “But you already thanked me. First under the archway, then here.”

Nico pulled her closer, caressing her soft backside. “Oh that? That was only a reflex to reassure myself that I’m still alive.”

“Oh!”

“Thanking you is going to take a little longer.”

Her eyelashes opened, almost crashing against her eyebrows. “How long?”

He brushed his lips against hers. “Eternity.”

Oriana suddenly pulled back and sat up. “For you maybe, but I don’t have eternity. I’m human.”

Nico sat up and faced her. “You have a choice, my love. But not now. Not yet. I want us to have children first.”

“Children?”

“Yes.” He stroked his hand over her stomach. “I want my seed to grow in you. Once we’ve filled this house with our children, you’ll have to make a decision whether to join me and become what I am, so we can live together for eternity.”

Oriana opened her mouth. “Ah—”

Nico placed his finger over her lips. “Not now. I want you to learn more about us first, so you’ll know what your decision means. You’re a scientist, are you not?”

She nodded.

“Then you’ll want to examine all issues before you come to your conclusion.”