Just as suddenly as it started, he broke it off and whirled her. She had no chance to recover her breath or senses before his magic drifted into her, preventing her muscles from stiffening. Her eyes flew open, and she knew what was coming before it happened. Jonny bear hugged her with both his arms, the thick length of his arousal against her bottom.
With her heightened senses, his bite hurt far more this time than before.
Ashley cried out as his fangs sank into her neck, wriggling to be free and then going limp when his magic forced her body into submission. Involuntary tears of pain sprang to her eyes, and the sensation of warm desire was replaced by hot, streaking pain.
She gasped.
He didn't release her or withdraw for even longer this time, instead focused on drinking her blood without caring how much pain he caused.
Fear trickled through her. What if he was done playing games with her? What if he didn't care about pissing off Xander anymore? And the pain … it was like fire piercing her neck.
"You're hurting me!" she cried.
Jonny broke off the penetrating kiss slowly.
Pain throbbed through her, and she stood immobilized against him. "I hate you," she whispered.
"Good," he responded in a roughened voice. "What's it gonna take for you to back the fuck off, Ash?"
Nothing under the sky will make me back off. She swallowed hard, not about to utter the words aloud. His breathing was unsteady, his arousal clear. He wanted her to back off but he also wanted her. Was this why he hadn't resorted to more permanent measures? Was there some part of him that did care, even a little?
She shushed the line of thought. It didn't seem possible when he hurt her like this. Physical attraction wasn't the same thing as caring for someone, a lesson she had learned from him before.
"You want me to make you my blood slave?" he demanded. "Because that's the next step."
"Xander won't let you."
"He won't let me vamp or kill you. He said nothing about teaching you firsthand not to fuck with me. He believes in letting people make their own choices and mistakes and right now, I am your mistake."
The truth of his words left her speechless.
"This isn't a game, Ash," Jonny continued. "You're putting you and Brandon in the line of fire."
The mention of her brother made his words hit home. "Let me go."
"Not until I know for sure you understand."
"Fine," she bit off the words. "I won't hunt your vamps anymore."
"You won't hunt any vamps."