Scarlet Heat Read online

  “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