Lacey and Lethal Read online

  He ran his tongue over his sharp tooth, the bite of pain just adding to his pleasure. Their blood mingled as he continued to kiss her. She moaned but didn’t jerk her head aside and pull away. She had to taste it but didn’t seem to mind.

  The bonding began as he opened his emotions and allowed his hormones to do their thing. He fought the strong urge to rip his mouth away and bite into his wrist to feed her from his vein while sinking his fangs into her throat. He wanted more of her in every way. It would seal the bond forever.

  Not yet, he ordered himself. She’s not ready. This will have to do for now. Anyone near her will know she’s mine with my blood in her system. Patience.

  Lacey shouldn’t have been surprised when Lethal ended up biting into her tongue and sucking on it. It was bound to happen if she kissed a vampire. The pain eased and the erotic sensation of what he was doing to her made her unconcerned that the coppery taste of her blood filled her mouth. He slowed the pace, she moaned in protest as the pleasure eased just enough to keep her from coming, but he kept kissing her.

  The taste of blood mingled between them. It was actually kind of hot. Lethal was a master at taking her right to the edge of climax before easing back. She frantically kissed him, trying to convey how badly she needed him. She clawed at his shoulders, digging her nails in. It seemed to excite him as he fucked her harder, faster, until Lacey jerked her mouth from his to scream from the intensity of the orgasm.

  Something wet ran down the side of her mouth as she panted. It was warm as she rested her cheek on the mattress. Lethal’s body shook above her, in the throes of finding his own release as he came deep inside her. She loved how she could feel that with him.

  “Sleep, love.” He lowered his head and brushed a kiss on her throat. “We start our new life when you wake.”

  “I’m okay. That was amazing but I’m not going to conk out on you. I’m so not a guy. If you need a nap, at least roll over first. Don’t trap me under you. Of course I can’t swear I won’t find a marker to write on you if you pass out. I’ll be bored and that’s never a good thing.”

  He chuckled. “I believe you would.”

  She dropped her hand away from his shoulder and reached for the side of her face, bothered that she might be drooling, and wanted to wipe it away before Lethal noticed. Her fingers touched something slippery and she pulled her hand back to stare at them.

  Blood. A lot of it. Too much. She turned her head, staring up at him in shock. That wasn’t only from a nick to her tongue. “You fed from me?”

  “We fed from each other.” He hesitated. “I gave you some of my blood.”

  Horror flashed through her. “What?”

  “It was necessary.”

  She struggled but Lethal was too heavy. He spread his knees wider and gripped her wrists, pinning her under him.

  “Get off!”

  “Lacey,” he crooned, “calm down.”

  Is he kidding? “What did you do to me? Oh my god. Did you turn me into a blood slave? Will I have to go around saying ‘yes, master’ like the goon in those old vampire movies?” Tears filled her eyes as she continued to struggle. “Damn it! I trusted you!”

  “I marked you.”

  She wished she could touch her neck but he refused to let her go. What if he’d bitten her while he’d been going down on her too? She assumed she’d have felt his fangs sink into her skin but what if she was wrong about it hurting?

  “You bit me?”

  “No. I shared enough of my blood with you that anyone not human will smell me on you from at least ten feet away.”

  “Why?” Panic quickly set in. “You can’t turn me into a brainless minion. I’ll fight it.”

  “You watch too many movies.”

  Her strength suddenly waned and she gave up struggling, going still. “You didn’t ask me if I wanted your blood. What will it do to me?” A terrible thought entered her mind. “You’re not changing me into a vampire, are you?”

  “Not yet.”

  That answer wasn’t comforting in the least. “Lethal? What will your blood do to me?”

  He frowned. “It tells others that you’re mine. No one would dare harm you.”

  “You said to use your given name and I’d be safe.”

  “What if they don’t give you the chance to talk? Rogues are out there.” He leaned in closer. “Did the one who took your sister have a conversation with her first?”

  The reminder was grim. “No. He just grabbed her and was gone in a flash.”

  “Exactly. Even my enemies wouldn’t dare touch you. They’d know it would be a death sentence. I’d track them to the ends of the earth if that is what it took and they’d pay dearly for it. No one is that foolish.”

  Lacey forced a few deep breaths. “You could have asked first by explaining it to me. You didn’t.”

  “I’m sorry for that. I was worried you’d say no.”

  “I would have. What are the side effects? Don’t tell me there won’t be any. I’m not an idiot. I’ve seen what you can do and there’s no way your blood won’t affect me.”

  “It will heal you. Does your tongue hurt where I nicked it?”

  She ran it over the roof of her mouth, not feeling anything unusual. “No.”

  “Small doses of my blood over time will keep you from aging. It will make you feel stronger. I’ve heard, in some cases, the sense of smell and eyesight sharpen as well.”

  “You heard? You don’t know for sure but you did this to me? What am I? A guinea pig?”

  “I’ve never marked a lass before.” Broad shoulders shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I plan to change you over when you’re ready.”

  “I don’t want to be a vampire.”

  “I want you stronger, Lacey. I need you to be my equal.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I told you, I don’t create vampires. It’s made me more powerful than others my age who have continuously shared their blood. Anyone I turn will be stronger than a newly sired vamp. I want you to be difficult to kill. You’re too fragile as a human.”

  “You said I’d be safe since I have your blood.”

  “From others of my kind. What if you were hurt while you’re away from me during the day? I couldn’t reach you, Lacey. My blood in your system will help but massive injuries wouldn’t heal. You could die.”

  It was kind of sweet in a morbid way. She had to give him that. “I can’t ever drink blood. I’d make a horrible vampire. It’s not only gross but I’ve spent three years hating bloodsuckers. Never once have I ever considered wanting to become one.”

  “You’ll need to feed and you’ll crave blood once you’re turned. I promise it’s enjoyable.”

  Her mind ran over the possibilities and her jaw clenched. “You have to feed too.”

  “Yes.”

  Anger surged. “I see. This is your way of having an open relationship with me, isn’t it?” Confusion clouded his gaze. It pissed her off. “You want to date me but you know I’ll have a problem with you touching other women. One human donor wouldn’t be enough, would it? Even if I allowed you to take my blood, you’d need more. You’ll turn me into a bloodsucker so I can’t complain about your feeding habits. No thanks. I told you this couldn’t work. I’m into monogamy. Get off me. Your clothes are in the other room. Get dressed and leave now. Thanks for not killing me. We’re even.”

  His mouth pressed into a tight line. “Date?” He scoffed. “I am offering a lifetime commitment—you will be mine and I will be yours. I would never toss up a lass’ skirts…unless you were in them.”

  “I don’t wear skirts.”

  “You know what I mean. You’re all I want.” He looked sincere but it had to be some kind of trick.

  “Whose blood will we drink then? Can two vampires sustain each other?”

  “No. We’d have to drink it from bags as well.”

  “You said it tastes nasty.”

  “I said cow blood does and it was cold. I buy warm, fresh blood from my