“I don’t hate you, Ryder, but the things you did—I’m not sure I can forgive you for right now, if ever. I need time away from you to think. At any time, did you actually want me, or was I just something to pass the time for you?”
“You weren’t supposed to be more. From the first time I danced with you, I knew I was in over my head. Holding you in my arms, and watching you smile, set things into motion that I’d never thought possible. As I got to know you better, I knew that when you figured out what I had done, it would be the end of us. I didn’t want you to find out like this. You deserve someone who can give you what you want; someone who can be what you need. There’s a problem with that, though, because honestly, I’m not sure I can let you go.”
“That’s no longer your choice. I’m going home without you. Ryder, the contract is over. I’m going to feed from you to show you that I can, and then I’m leaving here. I need to know you’ll stay away from me when I do.”
“It’s not safe,” he argued.
“That’s my problem now. I am out of Transition. I can sift, and even though I might land at your feet when I do so, it’s still sifting. You have one night left with me. It’s all I can give you. It’s less than you deserve, but we both need to feed. I’m sorry that I got anyone hurt because I was upset and refusing to feed. I learned my lesson. I’ll start looking for someone to feed from when I get home.”
His jaw popped, but he kept quiet and nodded, before he fisted his hands against my skin. I could feel him breathing shallowly as the rattle deepened in his chest. “Fine, if that’s what you want.”
“It is, Ryder. I need to be alone to think.”
“You need to feed, and then, when it’s safe, I’ll take you home.”
I turned to look at him, really look at him. Here was this beautiful, deadly creature, who’d done what his culture thought was right, just so he could have me. He’d been doing what he’d been taught from birth, and I had paid the price for it. I could feed from him, because the truth was, I’d never been more sexually, or physically attracted to another person, or creature.
“Fine,” I said reaching up to remove my bra, realizing I’d been arguing this entire time mostly naked. He was faster though. His magic wafted through the room and instantly we were both naked. I allowed my eyes to take in his masculine beauty, memorizing everything, in case I never saw him again.
The rattling that had started deep in his chest, intensified as he pulled me closer. His hands were gentle, but I could feel his urgency to feed matching mine. I allowed him to bring me close and captured my mouth. I was giving myself to him for this night. Tonight, I was his. Tomorrow I was leaving, with or without his help.
He pushed me down on the bed and rained magical little kisses all over my skin again. The entire room was wrapped in his magic, stronger than it had been in the human world. The scent of him was wild and primitive here; dark and sensual, like the creature it belonged to.
He pulled his mouth from mine and whispered in a strange language, his eyes watching mine for a reaction. His voice had been gentle, and endearing. I wondered if it was an endearment, or something I should fear. I knew he wouldn’t brand me again, as he had the last time he’d spoken in this language. This time, I felt no connection from the words, and, as his hand lowered and stroked my naked sex, I gave in and just felt him. It would be the last time I would be with him like this. He’d given me his secrets, and they’d proven to be just as he had warned—too much to come back from. But, I didn’t hate him. I hated what he was, what I was. That couldn’t be fixed with words, or sex. I needed time to heal from it.
I whimpered with need as he continued to touch me slowly, leisurely as if we had all the time in the world. Time was passing around us as I reached down to grasp his cock, stroking the velvety softness in my hand. He gasped at the connection, and moved his hips so that I could better please him. We said nothing, both just lying there pleasuring the other until it became too much, and he took control.
His mouth found mine as his hand continued to work my sensitive flesh. He pushed me back against the bed, pinning me easily. He gave me a sad smile as he parted my legs with his knees and entered me swiftly. He was hard and fast until we both exploded, and fed from each other’s release.
He pulled back, and his golden eyes locked with mine. He began to move around the slickness of my *, until he found the perfect tempo again and continued it. I struggled to make him move faster, but he was intent on doing it slow and gentle this time.