Zen and the Art of Vampires - By Katie MacAlister Page 0,27

he must have realized he was going a bit too rough with the love bites, for the pain eased almost immediately. His groan trailed off as he clutched me tight, his fingers digging into my arms, his hips thrusting three more times before he stopped.

"By the saints, woman," he murmured into my hair as he deftly backed me up toward the bed. "If I said I've never had it better, you'd probably laugh, but it is the truth. And now, dear Pia, you must allow me to reciprocate."

I was oddly elated and deflated at the same time. There was, I admitted to myself as Alec carefully pulled my cream-colored linen blouse over my head, a certain amount of pride to be had in being told one gave a good hand job, but there was also a distinct lack of... well, a lack. I puzzled over my dissatisfaction with the way the events were proceeding until I realized with horror that Alec was tugging my now-soiled skirt upward.

"No, I'll do it. It's a bit... er... ooky. Why don't you get in bed and I'll just pop into the bathroom and get this off without making any more of a mess."

Alec's eyes were filled with contrite hurt. "You wound me, darling. But I see your point - I was rather more excited than I thought. I will naturally replace your ruined skirt. Let me take it off you and we will proceed."

Embarrassment flooded me, leaving my face hot. "You know, that's not really necessary. I'll just - "

"It is very necessary, I assure you," he said with a wolfish grin. "I will greatly enjoy undressing you."

I wanted to die right there on the spot, but equally, I wanted to experience all the pleasure that was promised in his eyes. Desire won out over shame. "All right, but you have to turn out the lights first."

"Turn out the lights?" A little frown appeared between his brows.

"You're going to make me say it, aren't you? Fine. I can stand a little more humbling. I don't want you to see me naked, OK?"

He glanced down toward my breasts, shameless hussies that were barely restrained by my bra. "Ah. I begin to understand. You are self-conscious about your body and think that I will find fault with it."

"Well, you have to admit there's a lot of me to find fault with," I said frankly, nodding toward the light. "If you could just turn that off, I'll go dump the skirt and we can proceed from there."

To my utter and complete relief, he did as I asked, his laughter filling the suddenly darkened room as he switched off the light. There was a rustle of sheets followed by, "You have nothing to fear, I assure you, but if it will make you feel better, I will satisfy myself with feasting my other senses on you."

While in the bathroom shucking the remainder of my clothing as quickly as possible, I had another quick check that everything was as it should be, wished I had time to brush my teeth quickly, and prayed that I wouldn't do anything to screw up what was surely going to be the best evening of my life.

Alec chuckled as I blindly groped my way to the bed, pausing to hop on one foot for a moment when I stubbed my toe on the bedstead. "You are a tease, Pia Thomason. But such a delightful tease, I can't find fault with your decision to drive me insane with desire. Ah, there you are."

He was warm and male and pretty much fit the description of every fantasy man I'd ever imagined. I slid into bed beside him, crossing my fingers that he wouldn't insist on feeling all the pudgy parts of me. Men liked breasts - maybe if I could keep him interested in those, he wouldn't notice my stomach and thighs and just exactly how big my butt was.

"What have we here? Nipples? How delightful." Before I could point him to the appropriate spots, he dived at my chest, his hands tweaking and touching and generally getting right to business.

"Do you like this?" he asked, and I about jumped off the bed when he took one nipple in his mouth and scraped his teeth against it.

"Dear god in heaven!" I yelled, clutching his head.

"I will take that as a yes." Laughter was in his voice as he turned his attention to my other breast, one hand starting to move downward. I sucked in my