and wait,” Bridget said.
“It’s closing.” Steven wiped the blood with a clean piece of gauze.
Sari leaned closer. “Look, David. It’s almost healed.”
“I can see that.”
For some reason, David wasn’t as excited as he’d thought he would be. Maybe it was because he already knew that he had transitioned and the test was only a formality, or maybe it was the heaviness of what he’d learned during his coma, or perhaps it was knowing that he wouldn’t see Jonah again as Jonah.
Even if his brother reincarnated within the clan, it could take hundreds or thousands of years, and he might not even realize who he was.
“Welcome to immortality, David.” Bridget put her hand on his shoulder. “I wish you and Sari a happy and long life together.”
“Thank you.” Sari sounded choked up. “Can I take David home now?”
“Yes, you can.” Steven collected the tray. “You can come back later for painkillers.” He smiled. “You will need them soon.”
“I don’t feel anything yet.” David patted his gums with his fingers. “There is no swelling or tenderness.”
“It will come.” Bridget patted his shoulder again.
“Are you going back to the village?” Sari asked the doctor.
“Tomorrow. I promised my mother to spend some time with her.”
“Then you can join us for the celebratory dinner tonight.”
“What are we celebrating?” David swung his legs over the side of the bed.
“Your successful transition, of course.”
“I’d rather celebrate privately with you.”
Sari sighed. “Being mated to a public figure takes some adjustment. My life is rarely private.”
After pushing his feet into the flip-flops Sari had brought him, David wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her closer to him. “That’s a very small sacrifice, which I’m more than willing to make. I’m just glad to be alive and have an eternity of celebrating with you to look forward to.”
58
Sari
“I’ll order something for us to eat.” Sari led David to the couch. “Bridget said to keep it light, but I don’t know what that means. Do you have any preferences?”
“Yes.” He took her hand and tugged on it. “I want you to sit right here and kiss me.” He pulled her onto his lap.
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse.”
She cupped his cheeks and kissed him gently, brushing her lips against his and slowly reacquainting herself with the velvety softness.
It was sweet, it was loving, but it wasn’t what David wanted.
With an impatient groan, his hand closed over the back of her head, the other over her thigh, and he claimed her lips.
As his tongue swept into her mouth, sliding over hers, Sari let herself get lost in his taste, his warmth, the solidity of his chest, and the hard length prodding her from below.
The hand on her thigh slid up, smoothing over her waist, her rib cage, and when it closed over her breast, Sari let out a breathless moan.
His touch was gentle, almost reverent, but as she leaned into his hand, he deepened the kiss and thumbed her nipple through her blouse.
As a sharp bolt of pleasure spiraled through her, she responded with the same intensity. Writhing on top of his hard length, she gripped David’s neck and plunged her tongue into his mouth.
Even though it hadn’t been that long since the last time they’d made love, they were devouring each other as if they were starved.
Perhaps they were, but maybe the real reason for the desperate need to reconnect had more to do with David’s close brush with death than the time they had missed together.
It was about reaffirming life.
David's lips left hers only to trail down her jaw, her neck. And then he nipped the skin, igniting an intense hunger for his bite.
Except, it would take months until his fangs were fully grown and his venom glands functional.
“Sari,” he whispered against her skin, and then his tongue flicked over the spot he nicked. “I can’t wait to give you the pleasure of a venom bite.”
“I can’t either,” she breathed. Cupping the back of his head, she pressed him to her neck. “Bite me.”
He nipped her again, sending a volley of sparks straight to her core, then licked the spot, teasing her to distraction.
“I want you in me.” She rocked against him.
With a strangled groan, he lifted her a little and yanked her pants down along with her panties.
She chuckled. “You’re getting stronger by the minute.”
“I’m desperate.” He cupped her center, stealing her breath as his finger found its way between her wet folds.
Startled by the loud knock at the door, Sari jerked.
“Ignore it,” David murmured against her