The Vessel - Jenika Snow Page 0,35

us closer together. It would make this bond we had inseparable.

But even if all she wanted to do was sit here and drink wine and talk, fall asleep in my arms while I stroked her hair, so be it. It would honestly be the most perfect fucking night I ever had.

Elise set her empty wine glass down and rested her head back on the chair, looking up at the sky. I stared at her profile, her features so feminine. God, I’d never been in love with someone before, but what I felt for Elise, what had been growing inside me since the first moment I met her, was unlike anything I’d ever experienced in my life. These emotions were new, the sensations unknown.

Was this love? Could you fall in love with someone so swiftly, so profoundly, that it changed your entire world? Could you fall for someone and it steal your sanity until all you felt, all that mattered was… her?

I didn’t know, but I wasn’t about to fight this. I was already in too deep with Elise to let her go, to let anyone else have her. She was mine.

She glanced over at me and gave me the kind of smile that told me she felt good and warm from the wine, but not so far gone that she wasn’t fully aware of what she wanted.

“What?” she asked softly, this teasing note in her voice. I was staring at her so intently; I knew that.

“Nothing,” I said just as softly. “You’re just so beautiful it mesmerizes me.” I watched as her cheeks turned pink from my compliment. “And you are, Elise, so damn gorgeous it makes my chest hurt and has me pretty possessive of you.” I leaned forward and rested my forearms on my thighs, staring at her, unable to look away. I could see her respirations increase, watched her breathing catch as my words really sank in.

For long moments, neither of us spoke, our gazes locked. Everything in me heightened, aware of where this was leading. She licked her lips, that little pink tongue running over the plump flesh. My cock was already hard, had been since she told me she wanted to come to my house, and right now, at the sight of her, my shaft jerked in appreciation and desire.

“The way you’re looking at me,” I groaned out, my voice rough.

“What way?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. But hell, I heard her, and it heated me up like I was on fire, burning alive.

“Like you want me to eat you alive, Elise.” She wasn’t wrong about that, and the rough sound that left me had every alpha part of me feeling satisfaction. “Does that scare you?”

She slowly shook her head.

“How does that make you feel?” God, I wanted to hear her say it.

She was silent for so long I thought maybe I pushed it, crossed lines, went too fast. But then she stood, surprising the hell out of me as she started walking toward me. I stood as well, didn’t even stop as I reached out and wrapped my hand around her waist, pulling her in close to my body. She gasped as her hands went to rest on my chest, as her head tilted back and she looked into my eyes.

“It makes me feel… warm in the best of ways.”

I closed my eyes and groaned again.

“I want you, Lucius.” She looked into my face with wide eyes. “Do you want me?”

Did she really think after everything that I didn’t?

I swallowed roughly and felt my cock jerk. Instead of replying verbally, I pressed my massive erection against her belly. I leaned in so our lips were a hairsbreadth away. “Does that answer your question, baby?”

She nodded slowly and parted her lips, her warm, berry-scented breath intoxicating me further.

“Yes,” she said and closed her eyes, a moan leaving her. “Take me to your room, Lucius. I want this more than I can even describe.”

And just like that, all my control fucking snapped.

We found ourselves back in my room, the heat almost suffocating, the pressure intense. I was barely hanging on, my control thin, my need too powerful to ignore anymore.

“Are you sure you want this?” I asked, needing to hear her say it again and again and again. I’d never get tired of her expressing her need for me.

She nodded.

“No, say it, baby. Tell me.” I was being demanding, but I couldn’t help it.

“I need you, Lucius. I really need you.”

I took hold of her