He relented and smiled sadly as he stared at my mattress. “I would have given anything to have you drag me in here these last couple of months.”
I stared up at him and sighed. Part of me still cared deeply for him, but the intense feelings for Ethan confused the hell out of me. I didn’t know who or what I wanted. Now, I was half in love with two vampires, which even I knew was insane, not to mention very dangerous.
I tossed a couple of pillows and a blanket at him. “There you go. Now you can rest and we’ll talk about it in the morning. I’m staying home from school, by the way. I’ll help you get through this.”
He sighed and then got down on the carpet, not saying anything.
“Goodnight, Duncan,” I said, sliding under my sheets.
He still didn’t say anything.
I moved to the edge of my bed and looked down at him. “Duncan?”
He cleared his throat and turned so his back was to me. “Goodnight.”
Obviously, I couldn’t really sleep with him down there, but I felt like I was doing the right thing. It was my fault he’d been turned into a vampire and I planned on helping him deal with it. As I began sorting things out in my muddled head, I heard a choked sob coming from the floor.
“Duncan,” I murmured, going to him.
He turned to me. “Don’t. I don’t want your sympathy.”
“How about my shoulder?” I whispered, putting my arms around his neck and pulling him closer.
“Things are so fucked up,” he choked. “All I wanted was to work on boats and be with my dad. It was all that mattered. Then I met you, and...”
Then he met me and I messed up his life, I thought. Now he’s cursed for life.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into all of this.”
“No,” he said, pulling away so we were looking into each other’s eyes. “You don’t understand. What I was trying to say is…then I met you and I didn’t care about anything else. I love you, Nikki. You’re all I think about. I’ve missed you so much, and now that I’m one of these… things,” he said with a grimace, “we won’t ever have a chance…”
I placed my finger on his lips. “Shh… Duncan, don’t ever say ‘never’, okay? There might be a way to beat this and I’m going do everything in my power to help you.”
His eyes began to glow brighter and as I stared into them, a wave of intense desire swept through my belly.
“Duncan,” I whispered, as he grabbed my hand and brought it to his mouth.
He kissed my finger with his lips, taking a small taste with his tongue. “Oh, God,” he groaned, shuddering with pleasure. “You taste so good.” Then, he realized what he was doing and tried pushing me away. “No, get away from me.”
But my heart was pounding in my chest and I couldn’t help myself. I slid my fingers behind his neck and pulled his mouth to mine, hungry for his lips. “Kiss me,” I whispered against his closed mouth. “Please.”
He moved his face away from mine. “Stop. I’m sorry, I must have done something to you,” he said.
But I couldn’t stop. Whatever fire he’d ignited was growing and I couldn’t help myself. “It’s okay, Duncan,” I said, touching his lips with my finger, knowing it would be his undoing. “Just let me kiss your lips.”
Duncan released a heavy sigh, but gave in. He wrapped his hands around my waist and turned me over until he was on top of me, our bodies pressing together. As our tongues met, I could feel his excitement below pressing up against me. Wanting to feel it closer, I wrapped my legs around his torso but he froze up.
“We have to stop,” he gasped, his eyes smoldering with hunger. “Before I lose control.”
I slid my hand into his dark, wavy hair. “I’ve already lost control,” I replied, dragging his mouth back to mine.
He kissed me hungrily, sucking on my tongue as I moved my hands over his shoulder muscles and down his back until I reached the curve of his buns. I gripped them tightly in my hands and he groaned against my mouth. “Nikki.”
“Duncan,” I whispered back.
His cool hands began to move under my shirt, first touching my belly, making my quiver because of the chill. Then they moved to my breasts and the sensation was oddly… exciting.
I gasped.
“You okay?” he whispered.
I nodded and closed my eyes as his hand was replaced by his tongue, which was only slightly warmer.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered huskily.
“Duncan,” I breathed, clutching his hair in my hands and pulling him closer to my breasts.
Something happened in that moment. He stiffened up and moved his face away from my skin. “I have to leave,” he said, “before I can’t stop myself from taking you.”
I released a sigh. “You don’t have to.”
He clenched his jaw. “We’re not talking about the same thing. The hunger is magnified being this close to you.”
I touched his lips again. “Duncan…”