Scarlet Heat

  “Well, it was a long shot anyway. Thanks for trying.” I couldn’t stand to be close to her anymore—not without wanting to do a lot more than lie there passively while she licked my cheek. I started to shift her off of me but Taylor stopped me with one hand planted firmly on my chest.

  “Wait. There may be another way.”

  I frowned. “You mean another way to heal me?”

  She nodded. “How much do you know about the Crimson Debt?”

  “Isn’t that some kind of a vampire thing? Where you bite somebody at the same time you’re—”

  “Making love. Yes,” she finished for me. “It’s supposed to heal the one the Debt is paid to from everything—all ailments physical and emotional.”

  “But isn’t it usually the vampire it’s supposed to heal?” I asked, frowning. “I mean, unless it’s two vampires doing it. Then, I guess—”

  “It’s another long shot,” she said. “But I think it could work both ways. The person giving the blood during sex is the one paying the debt—healing the one who is taking blood. I don’t know if it will heal you or not but it seems to me if you bit me and drank from me while…”

  “While I was inside you,” I said roughly. My cock surged again. “Yeah, I get it.”

  “I mean, I can understand why you might not want to try it.” She looked away, her cheeks flushed. “We are broken up, after all. It might be…awkward.”

  “It’s not that,” I said. “Of course, I want to try it. But last time things between us got…kind of rough. I don’t want to do it that way again.”

  “Of course not,” she said softly. “We can take it slow. And I think I’ll be able to be careful since you’ll be biting me instead of the other way around. Of course…” she looked at me anxiously. “You might be nervous that taking my blood would form a life-bond between us—like the one Addison and Corbin have. But I promise you, that wouldn’t happen unless I was to take your blood too. And I won’t—I swear I’ll keep my fangs strictly to myself.”

  “I wasn’t thinking of that at all,” I said truthfully. And I hadn’t been—my mind was too full of images of Taylor naked and open under me. Just the idea of holding her and making love to her—not just fucking or breeding but actually taking our time, taking it slow—was intoxicating. Almost more than I could stand.

  “So…” She gave me a shy, uncertain look. “Do you…would you like to try it? It might not work but I think there’s at least a chance if we—”

  “Yes,” I said, reaching up to cup her cheek. I pulled her face down to mine. “Yes,” I murmured again, brushing my lips to hers. “I want to try it. God, do I want to try it. But are you sure? I mean before, you were so upset…”

  “I know,” she said softly. “But, well, I can’t say I’m over it—what happened in my life before, with Celeste. But I feel better about it now. I feel…safe with you.”

  I felt like she’d reached into my chest and squeezed my heart.

  “Thank you, Taylor,” I murmured, really meaning it. “I don’t feel like I deserve that but well…thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. It’s true.” She kissed me back shyly, her lips feather light against mine. “So we’re going to try it?”

  “Absolutely,” I growled softly.

  “And…you won’t be upset if it doesn’t work?” She looked at me anxiously. “Because I really have no idea—”

  “I gotta be honest with you, baby—at this point, I don’t give a flying fuck if it works or not,” I admitted, kissing her again. “I just want to hold you one more time.”

  “Right,” she whispered and I thought she looked sad. “One more time.”

  “I want to do it right this time,” I told her, brushing my lips against hers again. God, she tasted sweet! “Wanna take my time with you. Treat you like you deserve to be treated.”

  “Oh, Victor…” My name on her lips was a soft, helpless moan. I kissed her again, more deeply this time, enjoying the sweet taste of her mouth. I swore to myself then and there that I would take it slow, that I would make love to her as gently and sweetly as I possibly could.

  That I would show her how much I still loved her, even if we were destined to be apart the rest of our lives.

  * * * * *

  Taylor

  My heart was pounding in my chest. The slow, sweet kisses seemed to go on and on and on. Victor hadn’t been kidding when he said he wanted to take his time. I already felt like I was going to explode and he hadn’t done anything but kiss me yet. I felt terrible that I hadn’t been able to heal his brand and I really hoped this worked. But I had to admit, healing him wasn’t my only motivation. I wanted an excuse to touch him one more time, to let him touch me before we went our separate ways.

  I wasn’t in heat anymore—at least, I didn’t think I was. But I was already feeling the familiar rush of need and desire as Victor deepened our kisses and stroked my hair. His tongue was hot and his mouth tasted faintly of cinnamon and some wilder flavor I couldn’t name. Maybe it was just him. He licked me slowly, teasing me into following him, drawing my tongue into his mouth so he could suck it gently until I felt like I was going to explode.

  “Victor,” I whispered when the kiss finally broke. “Please…I need more.”

  “Me too.” His voice was a soft, deep growl. “But I don’t want to rush you. Need to know you’re ready every step of the way.”

  “Ready for what?” I whispered breathlessly. “Tell me what you want to do next.”

  “Mmm,” he murmured. “You want dirty talk, baby? Is that what you want?”

  I bit my lip. “Maybe,” I confessed.

  “Well, the first thing I want to do is get you naked. How does that sound?”

  “Good…it sounds good,” I whispered.

  “Let’s do it then.” He pulled off his t-shirt, baring his muscular chest. I ran my hands over the smooth, warm planes eagerly, enjoying the feel of him. I loved relearning his body.

  Victor groaned softly. “I love the feel of your soft little hands on me. You mind if I return the favor?” he asked, tracing the buttons on my blouse.

  “No, not…not at all,” I managed to say.

  “Good.” Slowly, he unbuttoned my blouse and pulled it apart, baring my breasts in the white lace cups of the bra I had on.

  “Love you in this.” Victor traced the lace that framed my breasts with one gentle finger. “Sexy and sweet at the same time. It fits you.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” I whispered.

  “More than like it,” he growled, pulling me down and kissing the tops of my breasts. “I fucking love it.” He looked up at me. “Can I suck your nipples, baby? I really want to taste you again.”

  In answer, I reached back behind me and unhooked the bra. I shed it and the blouse too, leaving myself bare from the waist up. The cool air made my nipples into stiff little peaks and I felt a shiver run through me as his eyes devoured me hungrily.

  I was still straddling him while he lay back against the arm of the couch. Victor reached up and pulled me down until my breasts swayed in front of his face like ripe fruit. For a moment, he simply cupped them in his hands.

  “So sweet,” he murmured as he stroked me up and down, teasingly avoiding my nipples. “So fucking hot and sweet.”

  “Victor…” I gasped pleadingly as he rubbed his scratchy cheek against my sensitive slopes.

  “Just taking it slow, baby.” He gave me a little half smile as he brushed a soft, barely there kiss over one aching nipple. “Just showing you how I feel.”

  How do you feel? I wanted to ask, but I was afraid to. I wished he would say that he still loved me, that he needed me back in his life. But so far he hadn’t said anything like that. Maybe he thought it was better that we stayed apart. In which case, this was my last chance to show him how I felt too…

  Oh Victor, I thought as he licked me gently, tracing my nipples with the hot, wet tip of his tongue. I love you so much. I wish you still loved me…

  “You okay, b
aby?” He looked up from his licking for a moment. “Am I moving too fast?”

  “No.” I carded my fingers through his thick, wild hair. “No, not at all. Not fast enough, actually.”

  “You want me to step it up some?” His eyes flashed wolf gold and he captured one of my aching peaks between his lips and sucked hard, pulling as much of my breast into his mouth as he could.

  I moaned and pressed up against him, giving him better access, offering myself shamelessly. Victor growled low in his throat, clearly more than ready to take me up on my offer. He sucked even harder at my first nipple until I swore I could feel every sensation in my tight little nub as a tingle of electricity that went straight to my throbbing clit.

  He switched to the other breast, torturing the first nipple sweetly by pinching me as he did so. God… I writhed against him, unable to sit still. I could feel myself getting wet, getting ready for him. I wanted his hands and mouth all over my body—never wanted this to end.

  Victor shifted under me and I could feel the hard ridge of his cock rubbing against me through both our jeans. There were too many clothes between us. Way too many. I needed his skin against mine. Victor seemed to feel the same way.

  “You need to take these off.” He rubbed my jeans restlessly. “They’re getting in the way.”

  “I know,” I murmured. But even though I wanted to be naked with him, I still felt shy about stripping down in front of him. Victor seemed to sense my hesitance.

  “Only if you’re ready, baby,” he murmured, stroking one big hand over my thigh. “Take your time.”

  His thoughtfulness and patience gave me confidence and made me feel more comfortable—more secure.

  “I’m ready now,” I told him. “To take off my jeans, at least.”

  “Take them off, then,” he said softly, his eyes hot.

  I got up for a moment to peel off my jeans and then I had on nothing but my silky white lace panties. I was embarrassed to see, though, that they didn’t cover nearly as much as I would have liked. I was so wet that my juices had saturated the white silk, making it transparent as it clung to my mound. The soaked fabric outlined my pussy lips, which were already so swollen with need they were opening on their own, showing just a hint of my clit.

  Victor groaned and his eyes flashed gold again at the sight.

  “God, baby, you’re so fucking wet.” He reached up to cup my pussy and I rubbed wantonly against his palm, my need overcoming my embarrassment. I wanted more—more of his hands on me, more of his body pressed against mine—more of everything.

  “Victor,” I whispered, pressing my mound into his hand. “Victor, please…”

  “What do you need, baby?” he growled softly. “Need me to touch your hot little pussy? Like this?” His big hand slid up and found the edge of my waistband and then his fingers were dipping inside, sliding into my panties to cup my naked pussy in his big, warm palm.

  “Oh!” I threw back my head and rubbed against him shamelessly. God, I needed this. And not just the way I had needed to feel him touch me while I was in heat. I needed his hands on me because I loved him, because I longed for the touch of a man who wanted to give me only pleasure, never pain.

  “So slippery and hot,” he murmured and I felt his thick fingers parting my pussy lips even more, sliding gently but firmly against my aching bud. “Does this feel okay, baby? You like it when I stroke your sweet little clit?”

  “Y-yes,” I managed to say. “God, yes, Victor.”

  “You know what this reminds me of?” he growled softly. “The first time I ever touched you.”

  “When you were trying to help me back down the heat,” I whispered.

  “Uh-huh.” The blunt pads of his fingers slid over my slippery folds, caressing me gently but firmly, slowly driving me crazy. “I wanted to taste you so bad, wanted to lay you down and lap that sweet honey right from the source but all I could do was finger you.”

  “I love it when you touch me,” I confessed.

  “I love the soft little noises you make when I pet your hot, slippery little clit,” he rumbled. “And I fucking love the way you taste, baby.”

  “It’s that good?” I asked breathlessly, raising an eyebrow at him.

  “Taste for yourself.”

  He pulled his hand out of my panties and ran one wet finger around my mouth, painting my lips with my own juices. I gasped, uncertain how to react. I had tasted myself on his mouth before but I had never expected him to do something like this. It was strangely erotic but completely unexpected.

  “Now, kiss me,” he growled, pulling me down as his hand plunged into my panties once more.

  I moaned as our lips met and his fingers entered me at the same time. His tongue plunged into my mouth as he thrust deep inside me, penetrating me slowly and thoroughly, making me crazy for him, making me need to come.

  I tasted so good on his mouth—salty and hot—and the slow pumping of his fingers inside me was driving me over the edge. I was getting close…so close…and then suddenly he stopped.

  “Victor!” I almost cried when he pulled his fingers out of me.

  “Not like that.” He shook his head, his eyes half-lidded and completely gold now. “I don’t want you to come on my fingers, baby.”

  “How, then?” I couldn’t keep the frustration out of my voice.

  “I want you to come all over my face.” His voice was a low, lustful growl. “I want to feel your sweet little pussy getting all creamy and hot while I fuck you with my tongue.”

  “Oh…” His hot words made me tingle but I hadn’t expected this. “The…the point of paying the Crimson Debt is for you to come,” I reminded him. “While you’re biting me.”

  “We’ll get there.” He gave me a lazy smile that made my stomach flutter. “Eventually. But there’s no rush—we have all night.”

  “I guess so,” I said, feeling my cheeks get hot. It was still a revelation to me, how much he liked to do this. How he seemed to crave my taste and enjoy making me come so much with his mouth.

  “Hey, you okay?” he murmured, brushing my cheek lightly with his fingertips. “Am I embarrassing you? I thought you wanted dirty talk.”

  “I like it,” I admitted. “And I like that you, uh, want to do that to me…”

  “You mean that I want to lick your pussy?” he growled. “I told you, it’s a wolf thing, baby. We like to taste our mates.”

  I felt a sudden rush of sadness. “I liked being your mate,” I admitted softly. “I’m so sorry I ruined it, Victor.”

  “Don’t be.” He stroked my cheek again. “Don’t think about that now. Right now I want you to just relax and let me make you come. Can you do that for me, baby?”

  Slowly, I nodded. “I think so.”

  “Good.” He sat up and pushed me gently off his lap. “Then get comfortable and spread your legs for me. I want to lick every inch of you tonight.”

  His words sent a hot shiver through me. I leaned back against the cool leather of the couch and watched as he got to his knees on the floor in front of me.

  “Gorgeous,” he murmured, as he got between my legs. “God, you’re beautiful, all spread out like this for me, baby. But I’m afraid you’re going to have to lose these.” One thick finger traced over my white lace panties, right between my pussy lips.

  “Oh…of course.”

  Blushing, I pushed the panties down. But now I found it hard to spread my legs again. It shouldn’t be this embarrassing—he’d seen me naked often enough, I reminded myself. But back then we had been together—married for all intents and purposes. Now I wasn’t sure how he felt about me anymore. And besides, I had always been shy. It was hard to drape myself over the couch naked and just spread everything out for him to see.

  Victor seemed to sense my reluctance.

  “Don’t be shy, baby,” he murmured, stroking my knees, which seemed to want to stay firmly glued together. “You know how much I love to look at you.”

  “I know,” I whispered. “I just??
?I feel so…so vulnerable.”

  “That’s what making love is about,” he said softly. “Making yourself vulnerable—trusting the other person not to hurt you. I know you don’t remember what happened between us last time but I didn’t get to be nearly as gentle as I wanted to be. Please let me make it up to you.”

  His soft words and the way he was stroking up and down my legs with his big, warm hands slowly melted my reserves. Biting my lip, I nodded.

  “Okay,” I murmured and let him part my thighs.

  I was embarrassed all over again when I saw how wet I was. What was it about Victor’s touch that made my juices flow so freely? I didn’t know but I was glad his couch was leather. My pussy and inner thighs were drenched and shiny, clearly showing how ready I was for him. Even more telling, was the way my outer lips were so swollen and hot they were parting on their own, showing off the pink bud of my clit, throbbing for attention.

  “God, baby. So fucking beautiful,” Victor murmured hoarsely, drinking me in. I was glad he’d told me before that he liked it when I got so wet. It made it a little less embarrassing to spread myself for him like this—but only a little.

  “I’m glad you like what you see,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t shake too much. “But…I’m feeling, uh, kind of exposed here.”

  He gave me another lazy smile.

  “Let’s see what we can do about that, then.”

  He got into position between my thighs and bent his head but I didn’t immediately feel his tongue. Instead, he rubbed his rough cheeks over my inner thighs and pussy mound, almost as though he was marking me—or bathing in my scent. I gasped as his stubble scratched over my sensitive flesh, setting my nerve endings on fire.

  “Victor?” I asked breathlessly.

  “God, baby, I’ve missed you,” he groaned, looking up at me at last. “Sorry…I just wanted to scent you again. One more time before…”

  My heart felt suddenly heavy. “Before what?” Before we never see each other again, probably.

  He shook his head. “Never mind. I just love the way you smell. The way you feel against my mouth and cheeks.” He rubbed one cheek gently over my pussy again, making me gasp. “I could go down on you all night, you know that?”