“Not then either?”
“No.”
His grin was lopsided as he shook his head. “I’m embarrassed to say I thought you were flirting with me because you found me attractive. I guess that’s the male ego for you.”
He was embarrassed? “Oh, I find you very attractive. But the drugs are responsible for my behavior earlier.”
“That’s too bad.”
Was he flirting with her now? A new flush of need went through her. Whether he was or wasn’t, her body was responding. “You shouldn’t—”
“I just mean you’re a beautiful woman. Any man would be crazy not to be interested. But I suppose you know that, being a vampire and all.” He came closer, stopping in front of her. “Where do you want me?”
She looked up at him. He was tall and broad and smelled of aftershave, clean and fresh and delicious. Thinking of his features as chiseled seemed too on the nose, considering the kind of supernatural he was, but that word stuck in her head.
“Governor?”
“Hmm? Oh, right, sorry.” Having a brain and a body that were no longer listening to her was as frustrating as it was exhausting.
The lopsided grin was back. It was the only part of him that wasn’t perfect, which made it remarkably endearing. “Hard to concentrate?”
Not on him. “The drugs are making me foggy.”
“Is that what it is?”
What was he implying? She frowned. “What else would it be?”
“You don’t think there’s something between us? My grandmother would call it a spark.”
“It’s just the drugs.” There was no way she would admit to more in her current state.
He nodded slowly, but his expression said he wasn’t the least bit convinced. “I’ll sit on the couch. Would that be okay?”
Her mouth was dry. And her body was on fire. The perfect mix for combustion. “Yes.”
He went to the couch. She followed and sat next to him, her knee touching his. How was she going to do this without making a fool of herself? Doubt crept in.
She scooted back. “I don’t think I can do this.”
“Why not? What are you afraid of? You can’t hurt me.”
She gave him a sharp look. “That’s not what I’m afraid of.” Not after Charlie’s pep talk.
“Then what?”
“I might do something inappropriate.” Like maul him.
He smirked but didn’t let it turn into a full smile. “How about I just give you a pass? Whatever happens, happens. We’ll just chalk it up to you not being you.”
“You’re being awfully cavalier about this.”
“I’m a consenting adult. I can handle it.”
She ran her tongue over her fangs. His eyes tracked every move. “All right, then. Let’s do this.”
He tipped his head back and to the side, keeping his eyes on her. “I’ve never been bitten before. This should be interesting.”
“If you’ve never been bitten, how do you know my fangs will puncture your skin?”
“It’s just a thing all gargoyles know.” He stretched his head back farther, offering himself to her.
She couldn’t stop staring at his throat. His pulse thumped through his skin, his heartbeat clanging in her ears like a dinner bell. Her gums ached. “I thought you were, uh, going to give me your arm.”
“I decided my neck would probably be easier. The skin’s a little thinner there.”
He was the one getting bitten, so the choice was up to him, but sitting beside him made his throat hard to reach. She tucked her knees under her and twisted to face him. Still not the easiest position. She leaned in slowly, trying to work out where to put her hands and how to brace herself, and then he grasped her around the waist and moved her to straddle his lap.
He was quick, giving her no time to do anything but gasp in surprise. He put his hands back on the couch as he straightened his head to look at her. “Isn’t that easier?”
It was. She couldn’t argue with that. But it was far more intimate than was probably safe. “I wasn’t going to… That is, this is very close, and I—”
“You’re about to bite me on the neck and drink my blood.” He squinted at her, clearly amused. “Close is unavoidable. No reason for things to be harder than they need to.”
Fine. If that’s how he wanted to do this, like it was a game, she’d play. She put her fingers on his jaw and pushed his head back and to the side. Her senses, understanding what was about to happen, sharpened down to focus on him like he was the only living creature that existed in the world.
She opened her mouth,