pain and accept my lot.”
“I’ll never accept a life without you in it,” Mirceo said. “You’re denying us for reasons that no longer apply. Why? Perhaps you don’t lack faith in me. Perhaps you lack faith in you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Chew it over. We’ll discuss it after we collect our impossible bounty.” Mirceo removed his sword belt and his trench coat, tossing them atop a trunk.
Cas cleared his throat. “What are you doing?”
“Settling in for the duration.” He reclined on the furs, hands behind his head.
The vampire in my bed. Desire was a whip across Cas’s back.
“If only we had something to do to kill time.” Mirceo’s voice was lazy, seductive. That sexual tension sizzled between them. “I could use a top-off, and you look like you’re about to burst.”
“Because you’re turning me into a host!” Cas could bloodlet, but that would help for only so long. Whenever a host lost blood, his body assumed he was ceding it to a vampire, so it would produce an excess.
And right now, Cas’s excess had settled into his groin—away from his brain. How was he going to concentrate on the job like this? He needed to drain himself of blood—and pressure.
Holding Cas’s gaze, Mirceo murmured, “Won’t you feed me, Caspion? I’ll make it good for you.”
Finally Mirceo had asked. Who could deny this prince? “Fine. You’ll have your dinner from me. But we’ll do it my way.” Mirceo had manipulated Cas; why not use the vampire to make one of his countless fantasies come true?
Expression brightening, Mirceo traced to stand before him. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’m going to show you what I’d expect from my mate.” Reclaim control. Dominate the prince. “And, leechling . . . you are not going to like it.”
SEVENTEEN
Caspion eased ever closer. His swollen horns were straightened, his eyes gone black. Even his fangs had lengthened. So wickedly demonic. “I’m going to own you for a time. Because that is what I do to my partners.” At Mirceo’s ear, he rasped, “I’m going to own you because you’re a prince, and I think a part of me hates you for that. A part of me needs to put you on your knees.”
These dark musings got Mirceo harder than he’d ever been. Pre-cum wet the inside of his breeches.
He reached for Caspion’s shaft, but the demon seized his wrist. “Ah-ah. I’m in control. Take off my sword.”
With an intrigued lift of his brows, Mirceo unbuckled Caspion’s weathered sword belt, then tossed it away.
In reward, the demon used a black claw to cut a line along his own neck. “Come, have a taste.”
Mirceo eagerly did, leaning in to daub his tongue. A moan escaped his lips.
“My blood rules you, doesn’t it?”
If this was Caspion’s idea to scare Mirceo away . . . failure was at hand for the demon. “There is nothing like it.”
“And biting me?”
“When your flesh gloves my fangs, I see heaven.”
Caspion swallowed thickly. “Unbutton my shirt.”
Mirceo did, spreading the material wide to bare the demon’s brawny torso. Blond chest hair glinted in the firelight. I’ve wanted to nuzzle it since I first met him. Mirceo was helpless not to now, rubbing his face in it, inhaling with delight.
Caspion hissed in a breath, then sliced a line above his nipple. “Suck, vampire.”
Mirceo eased over to press his mouth to the crimson. As he sucked, his tongue teased the hard little point, eliciting a growl from the demon.
Caspion cut a line above his other nipple, drawing Mirceo to it as well. Repeating his suck, Mirceo grew nigh dizzy on the luscious wine offered to him.
“What would you do for my blood?” Caspion demanded, voice a low rumble.
Dazed, Mirceo whispered, “Anything.”
“You’d plead for it—just as you’d plead for me to fuck you. To give you my claiming bite.”
The idea of Caspion marking him got Mirceo even harder. “I’ll plead, if that’s what it takes. I need to be possessed by you.” He didn’t necessarily crave penetration, but he would make the most of it to have Caspion. Maybe Mirceo could eventually persuade him into receiving on occasion. “It’s just a matter of time, demon.” The longer Caspion waited, the more out of control he would grow. “Fate will only let you resist for so long.”
Clasping Mirceo’s nape, Caspion leaned down. “Shut up.” His firm lips took Mirceo’s, his pointed tongue seeking.
Mirceo met him, groaning into the kiss. The demon had to be able to taste the blood, but it didn’t cool his ardor. Caspion’s aggression was palpable—and mounting.