Once Bitten (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #1)

When it hit, I climaxed with the greatest intensity that I’d ever experienced. It smashed into me with the heaviest metaphysical weight that I’d encountered during a physical act. The strangest sensation accompanied it, something that hurt deep inside my mind as it stripped away any barrier left between the vampire and I.

I heard the howl that tore out of my throat but didn’t identify it as me. In the same breath, Arys sank his fangs deep into that soft hollow above my collarbone. I arched my back, and as the howl died out, it turned to cries of sheer joy. A sound low in his throat echoed me as he sucked and licked at the bloody wound. It hurt so badly but it felt so good.

I wrapped my legs tightly around him as he carried me to the fluffy bed, careful to check for glass before setting me down.

Everything in Arys’s house that had run on power of any kind had been blown far past capacity. We had completely lost control. The disastrous potential of that much power alarmed me.

With our nagging metaphysical energy spent, we were left with the hum of residual power in the room and the continued sexual enticement of the moon, which I gladly gave into. Arys was more than happy to quench that thirst as well. We remained entangled in one another until just before dawn, when finally we lay exhausted.

I lay there amidst the down blankets and the satin sheets, breathless. My mind scrambled to make sense of everything that I’d seen and felt. I had been unprepared for the experience. A complete bearing of souls was not what I’d had in mind. Arys broke the silence first.

“That was a trip.” He gave my hand a squeeze.

I lay, collapsed on the bed beside him, staring up at the ceiling. The blood still roared through my ears, and I shook slightly, whether from a chill or from aftershocks, I wasn’t sure.

“Really Arys, what the hell was that? That was so far from normal.”

“Why, thank you. You were damn incredible yourself.” He laughed, and I gave his arm a halfhearted slap. With all that had just taken place, I was surprised that the atmosphere was so comfortable.

I knew the things that Arys had seen inside my mind. He knew my secrets, my hopes and fears. I said a silent prayer that I could trust him with that.

“Seriously though, did you know it would be like that? A complete sharing. I can’t imagine how that could happen.” I was insistent despite the fangs that now nipped playfully at my throat. When he bit at my br**sts, I pushed him back to force him to reply to me, despite the tingle that grew low inside me again.

“No. I never would have guessed it would be something that I couldn’t block. When our powers joined, it tore away any mental barriers between us. I’m not sure I can say I would have done it had I known we would share everything.” He pushed my hands down and pinned them against the bed. “But now that it’s too late, we might as well make the most of it.”

Arys’s lips made their way to one of my br**sts. His tongue traced circles around my nipple as he chuckled wickedly. His eyes met mine, and he asked, “Can I taste you again?”

The fact that he wanted permission to bite me spoke volumes in terms of respect. I didn’t need to answer, though, as I played with his feather soft black hair. Enough had passed between us that words didn’t seem important.

After a moment, his fangs sunk deep into the fleshy underside of my breast. A sound escaped me that was both pain and pleasure.

“Do you treat all of your lovers this roughly?” I asked with a hint of teasing. My breath was stolen as his fingers sought out the warm, inviting place between my legs.

“Of course not. You’re a werewolf,” he replied as if that was explanation enough. His tongue lapped at the blood he’d spilled, and I strained against him, wanting more than he was giving.

“You’re high. High on power and werewolf blood.” My voice sounded terribly lazy. Arys looked up at me with a crimson smear on his lower lip. His eyes burned with a predator’s glow.

“Funny comment coming from a lady with such stunning wolf eyes. Howl for me, Alexa. I want to hear how much you love this.”

I did love it. His touch rocked me in ways I never thought possible. As much as I wanted him to scratch the itch inside me again, I wanted answers.

“Do you know what’s happened to us Arys? I need to know. I don’t know enough.” My words stopped, and I dug claws into the sheet beneath me as his mouth replaced his fingers, hot against my core.

“What do you need to know? Power wants to be used.” He spoke slowly, and his lips never left my flesh. “And enjoyed in the meantime.”

“Ok, no more talking,” I groaned. My questions temporarily forgotten, I urged him up so that he kneeled over me.

A sinful smile curved my lips as I gazed up at his hard body. He was more than ready for me again, and I growled my frustration when he didn’t immediately take me.

“Arys,” I murmured. “Don’t play with me, boy.”