Longing for You, стр. 4
Alexis felt the corners of her mouth rise into a smile. That wasout of character. “Good.” She walked around to Katie’s back. “And you want togive me your neck?”
She saw Katie shiver and the pulse point in her neck pound.Alexis’s teeth broke through her gums at the sight, and her mouth watered. Thehunger she had felt in her gut was even more demanding.
This wasn’t normal for her. She never needed someone likethis—well, never since she had fed from the only woman she’d ever loved. Thatthought was ridiculous.
Just feed from her and get out of here.
Alexis took a step closer and pulled Katie’s blouse around hershoulders. She inhaled sharply when her fingers touched Katie’s skin and feltKatie shiver. This encounter was making her feel, and it scared her, but shecouldn’t turn back.
Just do it.
She moved closer so that her lips were next to Katie’s ear. Sheclosed her eyes and inhaled Katie’s sweet perfume. It was intoxicating to her.
“Do you consent?”
“Yes, Duca,” Katie said in such a breathy, wanting voice.
Alexis’s hunger, and now her sex, burned with need. This wasn’tabout a lesson any more, it wasn’t just feeding—it was a need. Alexis neededKatie.
She sank her incisors into Katie’s neck, and before she eventasted her blood, Alexis was lost in the taste of Katie’s skin. Then Katie’sblood hit her tongue, and she experienced both shock and unbelievable bliss atthe same time. Alexis sucked harder, and after Katie’s initial gasp, thefeel-good chemicals hit, and she relaxed in Alexis’s arms.
Alexis’s head swam with what she could only describe as joy. Shewas sating a hunger that she didn’t know she’d had since Victorija Dred firstturned her and destroyed her humanity.
She should stop, but it just wasn’t an option. Alexis stepped evencloser and pushed her groin into Katie’s bottom. Katie responded by groaningand slipping her hand into Alexis’s hair and pulling her into her neck evenmore.
This wasn’t feeding any more—this was a prelude to sex. Sex, love,and feeling like she hadn’t since her fiancée was killed. The shock of the realizationpoured over her like cold water.
No. That couldn’t happen again. She was never going to letherself feel that way again. Alexis pulled away from Katie’s neck sharply,making Katie gasp, and like a coward, she ran.
“Alexis? You all right, mate?”
Slaine pulled Alexis back from her memories. She rubbed her faceand said, “Yes. Give me some Debrek Special Reserve, will you?”
“Will do,” Slaine said.
Alexis needed blood to calm herself. The memory of Katie neverdulled in her imagination.
Slaine served her the glass of warmed blood, and she brought it toher lips. Katie’s dance with the shapeshifter in female human form came to anend, and she saw the woman whisper something in Katie’s ear that made herlaugh.
Then Katie somehow sensed she was looking and returned her gaze.Alexis took a sip of the blood from the glass and whispered to herself, “No onewill ever taste like you.”
“Slaine? Your finest malt whisky. Great wedding, eh?” Bhal said,joining her at the bar.
“Hmm.” Alexis nodded.
Bhaltair was leader of a group of warriors, bound by honour toserve the Debrek clan, and had been a mentor of sorts for Byron.
Slaine gave Bhal her whisky. Bhal said, “You don’t seem tooenthusiastic, Duca.”
“I have reservations about a big celebration. Byron has taken hereye off the ball now that she is bonded. There is a war brewing between thewitches and the vampires. After Victorija’s last defeat, the Dreds are in aweakened state, but they are angry and eager to strike back.”
“That may be so, Alexis, but Byron and the Principessa couldn’t besafer here. We will deal with what we have to deal with tomorrow, for tonightwe celebrate,” Bhal said.
“There’s nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal. My vampireson the ground in Europe tell me there are newly turned vampires flocking to theDred banner, as well as some smaller European vampire clans.”
Bhal patted her on the shoulder. “I know it’s the job of the Ducato anticipate problems, but don’t let life pass you by.”
“Life? What life?” Alexis asked.
Bhal indicated over towards Byron. “Your friends, the people whocare about you. Byron needs you as a friend, not just as her lieutenant.”
Alexis snorted and took a quick drink. “Byron doesn’t need me anymore. She has the Principessa.”
“Of course she needs you. More than ever now that she has a familyto protect. You know what would happen if Byron lost Amelia? She would makeVictorija and her father look like pussycats. It’s our duty to keep them bothsafe and protected—for all our sakes. That’s why she needs you.”
“Maybe.” Alexis wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Besides, I think you have someone else to take up yourattention.”
“What are you talking about?” Alexis knew exactly what she wasmeaning.
Bhal indicated towards the dance floor. “Be careful though. If youdon’t grasp your chance, someone else will, and you’ll be full of regret.”
Pain or regret? She couldn’t stand to have her heart broken again,so she would just have to live with her regrets.
* * *
Katie almost floated back to the table escorted by her new friendGreda. They were soon joined by Daisy, who came back from the dance floor tooand took a seat.
Ever since Katie had met Daisy through Amelia, they had becomegreat friends. Daisy worked at Amelia’s family’s suit tailoring business but inher free time was a paranormal hunter.
Through her YouTube channel, Daisy and her small band oflike-minded friends ghost hunted and interviewed whistle-blowers who said theyhad information on the paranormal world. But when Amelia had fallen in lovewith Byron, Daisy had finally found the paranormal world she had alwaysbelieved in. Unfortunately, she now had to keep it secret herself, in order tokeep her friends safe.
“They say never trust a shapeshifter, but Greda was lovely,” Katiesaid.
“I could say the same about any paranormal in this room,” Daisysaid.
“I suppose it might seem that way, but I’ve been brought up inthis world. It’s normal to me.”
“I can’t believe those are Byron’s parents,” Daisy said. “Her mumis bloody gorgeous. If it wasn’t for the grey streaks in her hair, you wouldnever believe she was her mum.”
Katie looked over to the middle of the dance