of him and approached the eternal flame burning from a pit behind the altar. He lit his candle, then carried it to a wall, where he placed it alongside dozens of others. When he turned around, everyone clapped and cheers rang out around them.
It was official then. Trace was now a member of the Governing Council. She couldn’t wait to show him how proud she was of him.
“THE SHOES. They stay on for now.”
He chuckled when he noticed Charlotte’s hand pausing on the strap of her heels. Trace had asked her to wear the lingerie he’d bought her for the Christmas party since he hadn’t been able to fully appreciate it back then. And he’d bought her a new dress—red, this time—which she’d worn under the ceremonial black robe today.
“But—”
“Don’t worry, you’re not going to be doing any more walking.”
He swept her into his arms and carried her into the hotel suite. His footsteps pounded on the hardwood floor of the hallway, echoing the tempo of her heart. When they entered the bedroom, he kicked the door closed and set her next to the bed.
She reached around to unzip the dress, but he stopped her. “I’ll do it.”
Her lips were soft but demanding against his as he eased the zipper down himself. They hadn’t made love since her transformation—not only had he worried about controlling the urge to take her blood, but he’d wanted her to get accustomed to all the changes first, despite her attempts to convince him otherwise. But after witnessing her performance in front of the Council yesterday and today, his needs could wait no longer. Hooking his thumbs under the neckline of the dress, he slid the bloodred fabric from her shoulders and let it drop at her feet.
His erection throbbed as he stared at the creamy mounds spilling over the top of her corset. He touched her soft flesh, warm and yielding under his fingertips, and her breath hitched. God, she was so perfect. Curling his fingers inside, he brushed the tips of her nipples, barely concealed by the lace.
“I’ve wanted this so badly, Trace. You, this, everything. Promise me you will never make me wait this long again.”
That’d be an easy promise to keep. “You have my word.”
As he debated whether or not to unlace her corset, Charlotte unsnapped her panties and did that little shimmy thing until the scrap of lace fell from her hips. Then she reached under his drawstring waistband and her cool fingers wrapped around his shaft.
“Good God, Char.” He rolled his hips forward and felt the glorious friction of her hand.
She gripped him tighter. “I love the easy access of your ceremonial garb. You should wear clothes like this more often.”
A groan that sounded more like a growl burst from his throat. Nope, he decided. He didn’t want her to undress further. He’d take her just like this.
He nudged her onto the bed, but before he joined her, he hesitated.
“What are you doing?” she asked, propping herself up on her elbows.
“You’ll see.” He strode to the walk-in closet and retrieved the large antique mirror he’d spotted earlier. Thankfully, it had castors on the bottom and slid easily over the carpet toward the bed.
Charlotte laughed. “No way.”
“I told you,” he said as he adjusted the mirror. “I’m a very visual person.”
He sat on the bed next to her and ran his hands over her thighs, still encased in the silk hose. Pushing her knees wider, he exposed her sex. It would be hot inside…slick…and very, very tight. God, dressed like this, she was sin, personified. There wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for this woman. Including breaking every law known to man and vampire. Hell, he’d broken many of them already.
Kneeling between her legs, he spread one hand on her flat lower belly and slid two fingers of his other hand into her warm folds. Her muscles gripped him tight as he moved in and out. He placed the pad of his thumb on her swollen nub of flesh, pressing it gently at first.
“Oh, God,” she said, digging the heels of her shoes into the sheets on either side of him. Her muscles tightened, so he pressed his thumb a little harder. “Oh, God,” she said, over and over this time, her voice raspy and raw.
He glanced at the mirror and his eyes locked onto hers. How long had she been watching him pleasuring her?
She came quickly against his fingers. When she was finished, he withdrew and planned to bury another