her by the mortal world. And I believe she appreciated some of the poetic justice in that the man who made her a vampire hunter would be the one to complete her transformation. He was given the chance to save her, and he turned it down. I think she felt betrayed.”
“It is shockingly callous. That does not sound like the woman I met.”
“She does not see it as so. She does not view what has been done to her as a tragedy, but a revelation.” He gently kissed the top of her head. “I wonder if you would not feel the same should you accept my immortal kiss. Or would you loathe me for what I had done, turning you into a monster and a predator?”
“I cannot imagine what would become of my empathic gift were I to do such a thing.” Maxine shuddered. “I fear what would happen to my sanity.”
“It is for that reason alone that I have not already turned you, I admit.”
“Was my opinion not to feature into the arrangement?” She laughed.
“As you so aptly pointed out, I am not one who much asks for anything.” He turned her around in his arms. In one step and with the grasp of his hands on her hips, she was suddenly seated on the balcony railing. Squeaking in fear, she clung to the front of his coat tightly. It drew a genuine and soft laugh from him. “Do you think I would let you fall?”
“I—”
“This is simply easier on my neck.” He was smiling at her fondly. There was such a warmth in those crimson eyes that it soothed her fear of falling. Sitting on the railing did give her over half a foot of height. And as he stepped in between her knees to wrap an arm behind her back, she understood why he had sought to even them.
The fingers of his other hand drifted up over her knee and began to ride her dress up to her thighs. She squeaked again and tried to stop his progress. “We’re outdoors.”
“And?”
“Someone will see!”
“No. No one is near.” He stepped into her and pulled her hips against his. She gasped at the feeling of him there, already eager. Already wanting. He captured her gasp with a kiss that was feverish and needy. Bloodlust. His heart was beating with it, his lips warm against her. His violence against the hunter had turned into a different form of need.
He cradled her head in his hand as he devoured her lips. It was bruising. It demanded she give him control, and she was more than happy to relinquish it. She surrendered to him and the invasion of the warlord who was bent on conquering her.
Victory rang through him like the toll of the bell. His enemy had fallen. There was a violence in his yearning for her. He may not have come from the battlefield of the slain, but the celebration was still there.
When he finally broke from her, she was gasping for air. She clung to him, feeling lightheaded. It was as though her body had been set ablaze. Fire pooled in her. He watched her, heavy-lidded crimson eyes dark with the promise of something sinful. He had been a gentleman to her last night. She knew she would likely not receive the same care tonight.
Or right now, if the feeling of him pressed against her core, his pants and her undergarments the only thing separating them. The thought of him taking her like this on the railing of the balcony made her cheeks grow hot.
A slow smile bloomed over him. He traced his thumb over her cheek, clearly relishing her blush. “Such a shy little creature you are. I wonder if that will change.”
“You assume I have not made the decision to destroy your soul.”
“Have you?”
She paused. “No. I have not made my choice yet.”
“Hm. Well. In the absence of my imminent demise, I think I would like to invite you to dinner. That is…before I lose what is left of my restraint and bend you over this railing and rut you here and now.”
Her face exploded in heat once more. “You are a passionate thing tonight.”
“I am taking pride in my successes. I return to my encampment of war as a victorious soldier. I find the need to celebrate. I enjoy what triumphs I can garner.” He stepped back, adjusted her dress back down to her ankles, and helped her from the railing. “I also enjoy making you blush.”