Brigid arched into him, wrapping her legs around his hips. “Yes.”

He sucked and pulled, willing her vein to swell for his bite. Then, with one final slow thrust, he held her at the peak and bit.

Her body shuddered and pulled at his as her blood slid down his throat and she sobbed in release. Rich. Thick with the essence of her. Sweeter than any wine. More satisfying than any food. He was heady with it. Carwyn took deep draws before he pulled away, baring his own neck to her so she could strike.

She rolled them over and he felt one of the legs on the bed give out, the resulting jolt sending a wave of pleasure up his back, making his spine arch just as Brigid bent down and slid sharp fangs into his neck. The combined pleasure of her body and bite rocketed through Carwyn and he could no longer hold back. He roared in release and threw his arms out, gripping the bedposts until they snapped like twigs beneath his fingers as the earth beneath him gave a slow roll.

Hours later, Brigid lay limp, her cheeks flush with Carwyn’s blood and her own pleasure as he wrapped his arms around her. He held her as his heart slowed its galloping pace. Finally, she let out a soft sigh and relaxed completely. Her body draped over his broad chest as he trailed fingers up and down the delicate ridges of her spine.

“I love you, wife,” he whispered.

“I love you, husband.” She nuzzled her face into his neck, tasting his earlobe with her tongue until he groaned and rolled her over. Her eyes widened when she saw the clear intent.

“Again?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “A thousand years is a lot to make up for.” He glanced around the room. The bed was already splintered and the table by the bed was knocked over. The lamp lay flickering on the floor and a bookcase lay on its side. He deliberated as his hands and mouth began moving again. “There may be some foundation damage… On second thought, why don’t I just buy you a new house?”

“You think that’s going to be necessary?”

“Very.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Dublin

January 2013

Brigid stood in the doorway of her small kitchen, surveying the damage. Pots that had hung over the counter were scattered on the ground. Cupboard doors hung open. The bowl of fruit—one of the few human foods that Brigid still enjoyed—was tossed over and the apples rolled over the wood floor, which had obviously buckled in places. She walked over and lit the stove, curious whether it would work. A blue flame popped up and she put on a pot of water to heat two bags of blood.

She was glad that the damage appeared to be localized. No doubt further… activities would have woken the neighbors, but for the moment her enthusiastic new husband appeared to be distracted.

Husband.

She had a husband. Brigid stifled a laugh and tried to wrap her mind around the ridiculous, thrill-inducing thought.

She reached over to the refrigerator just as she felt the rush of energy snake behind her. A long arm curled around her waist and her neck tilted to the side when she felt him nuzzle in for a quick bite. Brigid smiled and enjoyed the shiver of pleasure that tickled down her spine as Carwyn’s fangs slid into the soft, tender flesh.

“You really have quite the appetite, don’t you?” she laughed.

“Mmhmm.” He only took a few drops, choosing instead to let his mouth linger as he pierced his tongue and sealed the tiny wounds. “You’re delicious.”

“Well, thank you. You’re not bad, either.”

She felt a low, satisfied rumble in his chest as the water heated.

Carwyn asked, “Why don’t you just heat the blood with your hands?”

“Plastic. Melting. Horrid smell. I learned my lesson early on that one. I haven’t figured out quite how to heat them up slowly yet.”

“Hmmm.” He seemed to enjoy just feeling her skin. Large hands slipped under the T-shirt she’d put on. His cheek lay against the nape of her neck.

Brigid smiled. “You’re quite cuddly for an ancient monster of terrible strength, you know.”

“Quake with fear, my love.” He nibbled on her earlobe. “I’ll be attacking something very soon.”

She shook her head. “No more quakes for a bit, please. It’s a miracle the house is still standing.”

“No, it’s not. I went outside and made sure to shore up the foundation and feel around under the house after you got out of bed. No obvious structural damage.”

“You mean…” She bit her lip. “You rearranged the earth to make sure the house didn’t fall over?”

He spun her around and his smile was more than a little conceited. “Well, since I was the one causing the earth to move earlier, it only seemed fair.”

“You’re never going to get tired of that joke, are you?”

“No. Want to go outside?” He ducked down and sucked at what she was already thinking of as his favorite spot on her neck. “I have ideas.”

“Well, your ideas should wait until we’ve had something to eat.” She slapped a hand over his mouth as his eyes lit with mischief. “Something other than that! We do have to get sustenance from more than each other, Carwyn.”

“Not as much, though,” he mumbled through her fingers, nipping at them until she shook her head and turned back to the stove. He righted the chairs in the kitchen and sat down. “We won’t have to drink as much now that we’re exchanging blood.”

Her heart began to beat faster when she thought of the first moment she had felt it. Carwyn above her. Surrounding her. The cracks in her heart filling with his love. The acceptance. The rightness as his body cleaved her and his fangs pierced her skin. Her blood entered his body as he entered her. Their amnis weaving together until…