Scarlet Heat

  I finished with his eye and noted with satisfaction that it looked just the same as the other one. My healing powers had developed wonderfully since I had been with him. Next was the silver knuckles scrape on his cheek.

  This one was a bit harder to reach. I had to sit down in his lap to get on the right level. I jumped up again, though, when I felt the hard ridge of his cock brushing against my naked pussy through the thin material of his sleep pants.

  “Sorry.” His voice was a soft, deep growl. “Can’t help it, baby. Having you so close…”

  “It…it’s okay,” I whispered, staring at him uncertainly. “I’m just not sure if…”

  “Come down,” he urged me gently, looking into my eyes. “I mean, if you want to.”

  “I do,” I said softly. “I just…I’m not sure.”

  Victor stroked my cheek. “I won’t hurt you, Taylor. Won’t take more than you want to give. I like the way you feel against me.”

  “I…I like the way it feels too,” I confessed a little breathlessly. The soft way he talked to me, the gentle way he touched me, was so different from the abuse I’d suffered when I lived with Celeste. He made me feel safe…safe and loved. I felt something inside—some knot that kept me bound up in fear and bad memories of the past—beginning to loosen, just a little bit. Yes, I thought. I want this. I can do this.

  I lowered myself down again, letting myself settle more fully in his lap. Victor gave a soft, deep growl and I had to bite back a moan as I felt my pussy lips part around the thick ridge of his shaft. The sleep pants he had on were made of thin, soft material and it seemed like I could feel every bump and ridge of his cock rubbing against my bare, open pussy and my slippery inner folds.

  And speaking of slippery, now that I was pressed against him, I could feel how wet I was. A surge of embarrassment went through me and I started to get up again.

  “What’s wrong?” Victor held me gently but firmly by the hips.

  I bit my lip, my cheeks going red. “Nothing except…I’m, uh, afraid I’m getting your pants, um, all wet.”

  “I know.” He held my eyes with his. “I love it. Now come on, baby—I thought you were going to heal me.”

  “Oh yes…yes, of course.” I relaxed in his lap and took a deep breath, trying to stop my heart from beating so hard. That’s what I was doing, I told myself—just healing him. That was all this had to be—we didn’t have to go farther if I didn’t want to.

  Leaning forward, I cupped his face in my hands and went back to work.

  I could feel the numbing tingle of the silver spreading through my mouth the minute I licked him—it was like licking a mildly electrified wire, not pleasant but not unbearable either. I traced the scrape over and over with just the tip of my tongue, paying careful attention to the deepest part of the wound until I tasted only his blood without a single tang of the burning metal that had marked him. I was just about to finish up by sealing the wound when Victor gave a low groan.

  “Did I hurt you?” I pulled back at once, looking into his eyes, which were pure gold.

  “Uh-uh. No, baby.” He shook his head but his hands tightened on my hips. “I’m afraid you’ll have to get up now, though.”

  “Why?” I asked anxiously. “Was it…is there something I did wrong?”

  “Of course not, you’re perfect.” He gave me a strained smile and I couldn’t help noticing that his eyes were glowing so brightly they looked like molten metal. “It’s just…this is, uh, harder than I thought.”

  “What is?” I asked, even though I already knew.

  “Touching you. Being so close to you when you’re in heat without doing anything about it.” He sighed roughly, his hand going to the small of his back. He rubbed it fiercely. “I’m sorry, but my condition—”

  “The moon sickness?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  He nodded. “Uh yeah, that. It makes it…I’m just really close to…to having a serious problem. So I’m afraid I can’t let you finish healing me.”

  “But…I was so close to being done,” I protested. “I hate to leave the job unfinished—you could have a scar.”

  “Taylor,” he said quietly, looking me in the eyes. “I’m sorry but I can’t do this anymore. I though I could but it’s a bad idea. I can’t…can’t let you lick me again unless—”

  He broke off abruptly.

  “Unless what?” I prompted, my heart beating like a drum in my chest.

  Victor cupped my cheek. “Unless you let me return the favor. And I don’t mean licking your face, baby.”

  All the breath left my lungs and for a moment I felt completely frozen. I knew what he was talking about—licking me, tasting me. My pussy throbbed with heat and I felt fresh wetness between my legs as I pressed against him.

  “Victor,” I whispered. “You know I want to…to let you. I’m just so…I’m still afraid.”

  “You don’t ever have to be afraid of me. I’ll be gentle—so gentle.” He pulled my face closer to his. “Here, let me show you.”

  He had kissed me before—once in our first glam-session and also when he was touching me before, helping me back off the heat that threatened to consume me. But this kiss was different.

  His lips barely brushed mine at first, nuzzling against me so softly, so delicately I could barely feel anything but his warm breath. Then, slowly, he pressed his mouth to mine, first kissing my top lip, and then my bottom one.

  “Oh,” I whispered softly against his mouth. The way he touched me, so tenderly, so gently made me feel utterly desired, utterly cherished.

  “So sweet,” Victor murmured roughly and took my mouth again, this time deepening the kiss until I could just feel the tip of his tongue brushing against the seam of my lips, asking for entrance.

  I moaned breathlessly and opened to him. He tasted wonderful, like scotch and cinnamon and some dark spice I couldn’t name. His hands cupped my face as he kissed me, his long fingers warm against my skin. I could feel the tension of his big body and knew he was holding himself back, forcing himself to go slowly and carefully when part of him desperately wanted to do the exact opposite. But I felt nothing but safe with him. Nothing but loved.

  When he finally pulled back, I looked into his glowing golden eyes and nodded.

  “Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, Victor, do it. I…I want you to.”

  “God, baby, you don’t know how much I want this,” he groaned softly, kissing me again. “Do you want to lie down or should I taste you sitting up?”

  “Um…” I cleared my throat. “How…how would you do that?”

  “Like this.” He slid down and propped several pillows behind his shoulders so he was sitting against the headboard. “Come here and I’ll show you,” he said, motioning for me to come closer. “Unless you’d rather lay back on the bed?”

  I though of how open and vulnerable that position would make me feel and shook my head.

  “I…I think I’d rather do it this way.”

  “Come on, then,” he murmured. “But take that shirt off first. It’ll get in the way otherwise.”

  Blushing, I slipped off the shirt and laid it to one side. It was the second time he had seen me naked but I still felt self-conscious.

  Victor’s eyes were hooded with desire and he gave a soft growl of approval deep in his throat.

  “God, you’re beautiful, baby. Your soft, full breasts—those tight little nipples. Can I suck them some before I go down on you?”

  “I…I guess so.” My heart was drumming in my chest as I leaned forward, offering him my breasts.

  Victor was just as gentle with them as he had been with my mouth. I had to bite back a moan as his rough cheeks brushed my tender slopes and then he leaned forward and captured one tight, aching peak between his lips.

  “Oh!” I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. His mouth was hot and wet and the teasing way he traced my nipple with his tongue made my pussy throb with need. The heat surged inside me, and suddenly I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Victor,” I
begged as he sucked my second breast, taking as much as he could into his mouth at one time. “Victor, please…I can’t…I need…”

  “I know,” he growled softly, releasing my tingling nipple. “Come here, baby—let me give it to you.”

  I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to do at first but he quickly got me into position. He sat back against the headboard again and drew his knees up. Then he pushed me back gently so that my shoulders settled against them. He pulled me closer and parted my legs until the soft V between my thighs was even with his mouth and my calves were over his shoulders.

  I don’t think the position would have worked if he hadn’t been so big but as it was, it left me in a semi reclining pose—cradled and completely supported by his body.

  I was also completely open for him.

  “God, you’re gorgeous,” he murmured, his eyes devouring my bare pussy hungrily. “Look how open and wet you are, baby.” He stroked one long finger down the center of my slit, making me jump and moan as it traveled lightly over my clit. “This sweet little pussy needs to be licked,” he growled. “Licked and kissed and tasted until you come…come so hard.”

  “Yes,” I whispered, unable to help myself. I could look down the length of my own body and see exactly what he was doing. The sight of his mouth so close to my slippery folds, the pink pearl of my clit partly visible and throbbing with need, was enough to make me feel dizzy with desire.

  I expected him to dive right in, so to speak. The lust in his eyes was clear and I was spread out before him like a feast. But Victor took his time.

  Bending his head, he pressed his lips gently to my mound, kissing my pussy in the exact same way he’d kissed my mouth. Just as he had promised.

  “Victor!” I moaned as he went on and on. I kept expecting him to deepen the kiss but he didn’t. He just kept pressing soft, feather-light kisses to my outer lips, exploring me as tenderly as though I was a delicate flower with petals too fragile to touch with more than a whisper.

  I felt like I was going crazy. “Please!” I begged and he looked up at me.

  “Slowly, baby.” His voice was a deep, hoarse growl, at odds with the gentle way he was touching me. “Don’t want to rush you.”

  “You’re not,” I assured him breathlessly. “Please, Victor…please can you kiss…kiss inside me?”

  His eyes flashed. “I’d love to get inside you, baby. You mind if I spread you open a little?”

  Biting my lip, I shook my head. “No, I um, guess that’s okay.”

  “Good.” With his thumbs, he parted my outer lips, opening me, exposing my inner folds completely. My clit throbbed as it came fully into view, the little pink nub the aching center of my need. “God,” he muttered and I heard his breath catch in his throat. “So fucking gorgeous.”

  I squirmed with embarrassment when I saw how wet I had become. My entire pussy was drenched and even my inner thighs were shiny with moisture.

  Victor seemed to sense my discomfort because he looked up at me, one eyebrow raised.

  “What is it, baby?”

  “It’s just…I’m so…” I motioned to myself. “I didn’t know I was so…so wet.”

  His eyes flashed. “Didn’t I tell you before how much I love that? The wetter you get, the more I want you. And besides, it’s just your pussy’s way of getting ready for me. You know that?”

  “I…I guess so,” I whispered.

  “I know so,” he growled with certainty. “Now watch me, baby. Watch me taste your sweet pussy and suck that hot little clit. Watch me make you come.”

  I couldn’t have looked away if I tried. The sight of him opening me, preparing to finally taste me, was making me so hot I could barely breathe. God, I wanted his mouth on me, that hot, wet mouth I had felt against mine and sucking my nipples earlier. I wanted to give myself to the pleasure he offered and not stop until I reached the peak.

  He pulled me closer until my pussy was right up against his mouth and I tensed, getting ready to feel him taste me. But once again he took it slow.

  Gently, softly, he nuzzled against me, pressing his mouth and nose into my folds without licking me. I wanted to ask what he was doing but then he inhaled deeply, drinking in my scent, bathing in my essence.

  “You smell so good,” he nearly groaned, rubbing his rough cheek against my inner thigh until I gasped. “I’ve been wanting to get close enough to really scent you for fucking ever.” He looked up. “But even better is going to be tasting you. Tasting that sweet pussy honey you make right from the source.”

  “Victor…” I gasped. “Oh, please…please, now…”

  “God, I love to hear you beg for it, like that,” he growled. Without warning, his tongue came out and bathed my entire pussy in one long, slow, sensuous lick.

  I stiffened and then arched my back, pressing my pelvis up to him shamelessly, wanting more…more…more.

  Victor didn’t disappoint me—he split my thighs wide and his big hands came up and around to cup my breasts. I moaned when his hot, wet tongue swiped over my open pussy again as he gently tugged my nipples. Sparks of pleasure shot through me, leaving me shaky and breathless. Then he covered me completely with his mouth, sucking and licking, tasting me desperately, as though he would die if he didn’t.

  He had only just started but I had been hot for so long I didn’t need much. I could already feel myself climbing the peak. As he licked me again, I had my first orgasm. Pleasure shot through me and my back arched as soft, helpless sounds came from my lips.

  “Oh, Victor…oh!”

  Victor looked up at me, his eyes blazing gold.

  “That’s right baby, come for me,” he murmured, kissing me again. “Come all over my face while I eat you.”

  And then he went back to work, tasting me with long, slow licks and tracing my throbbing clit with the tip of his tongue until I felt like I was drowning in pleasure, losing myself completely in the joy of giving up control and letting him do what he wanted with me.

  I don’t know how often I came—I lost count after awhile and Victor was tireless. He clamped his mouth to my pussy and pressed his tongue inside me, penetrating me deeply, making me gasp and cry and beg for more, always more.

  It was a good thing he was so tireless. The heat rode me mercilessly, demanding that I give much more than a single orgasm to satiate its incessant needs this time. I writhed in Victor’s lap, my fingers buried in his hair, my hips bucking helplessly as I opened myself to him. It felt so good, so right. And in those pure, shining moments of pleasure, I was able to let go completely, to forget my past and simply be.

  It was wonderful and despite how long it lasted, it was over all too quickly.

  Chapter Seventeen—Victor

  Taylor came again and again, giving herself without reservation, riding my face and pressing her sweet pussy up against my tongue until she finally had enough. I drank her in, tasting her with the same passion she had used when she drank my blood. Her honey was so sweet, so hot it made my cock throb with need and I loved the way she trusted me enough to really let go.

  Her sweet little body writhed against mine, her hips bucking as she gave it up completely. I only wished that it was my cock buried inside her instead of my tongue. She was so tight and hot and wet. So ready, so full of need. I wanted to give her everything, to claim her and make her mine completely. But we couldn’t go there, not yet. I had to be content with tasting her.

  It took a long time to back the heat down to an acceptable level—not that I minded. When she started shying away from even the gentlest touch of my tongue, I knew she was finally over the worst of it.

  For now, anyway.

  I laid her gently on the bed beside me and started to get up. Now that she was finished, I had to get into the bathroom and take care of myself. I had thought that helping her get over the heat would calm my own need down some. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so. I could feel the brand burning my lower back like fire, threatening to get completely out of control if I didn’t do something qui
ckly.

  But as I started to get off the bed, Taylor put one small hand on my thigh.

  “Are you okay? Where are you going?” she asked softly.

  I shook my head. “Just gotta…take care of business, baby. I’ll be back in a minute. Sorry.”

  I started to get off the bed again but her voice stopped me.

  “Wait.”

  “What?” I tried not to sound impatient but I could feel the curse threatening. This is why I can’t have a mate, I reminded myself grimly. I’m a danger to her like this. I need to get this taken care of fucking now.

  “Can I…could I…” She hesitated uncertainly. “I mean, maybe I could help. By, um, touching you. Would that be all right?”

  I was touched by the uncertainty in her eyes. The fear and bad memories that hovered like shadows in her background, waiting to eat her.

  “You don’t have to, baby,” I said, my voice coming out rougher than I’d intended. “Really.”

  “But I want to.” She sat up and reached for me, her soft little fingers finding the hard ridge of my cock through the sleep pants I wore and making me groan aloud. “Victor,” she said softly, looking at me. “Do you know how long it’s been since I actually wanted to touch a man like this? I want to help you, I really do.”

  “Baby…” I groaned, collapsing back on the bed. “I don’t know…”

  “Well, I do.” She had a look of determination in her eyes, an expression that said she’d been wounded before but she trusted me not to hurt her now. “Please,” she whispered. “All I can do is touch you but maybe…maybe that will be enough?”

  “More than enough,” I assured her, relaxing back on the bed. “All right, if you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure.” She loosened the drawstring on my sleep pants and started pulling them down determinedly.