“Good kitty,” she whispered, patting him on the head. “Don’t tell anyone I was here, okay?”
He butted her leg.
The other women had to be in the back cavern with the young ones. No doubt the storm had frightened the young ones, and with good reason. They had lost many an ancestor to the lightning and strong winds that accompanied a storm.
Neona kicked off her leather slippers so she wouldn’t leave a muddy trail straight to the pool. Her tunic was dripping, so she took it off, too, and left it by the entrance. Then she ran past the area where they held their meetings and past the throne, until she reached the dark, glistening pool. Hunching down beside the water, she uncorked the small flask and filled it. Then she corked it and scurried back to the entrance.
One glance back, and she groaned. She’d still left a few small puddles. Zhan trotted up to the biggest one and flopped down in it, rubbing his back against the stone till his fur had soaked up most of the water.
She smiled as she slipped her tunic and slippers back on. Her pet ran back to her and butted her leg.
“You’re the best kitty in the world.” She gave him a hug, then slipped back outside into the rain.
She ran home, then hid the flask in the wooden chest at the foot of her bed. During the day, when Zoltan was in his death-sleep, she would slip some of the Living Water into his bottles of blood.
After putting another log on the fire, she peeled off her wet clothes, then toweled herself dry. Just as she was leaning over her open wooden chest to retrieve some clean clothes, she heard a voice behind her.
“Now that’s a beautiful sight. Hold that position.”
She spun around, her clean clothes clutched to her chest. “You’re back.”
Zoltan smiled as he kicked off his shoes and dropped his belongings on top of his chest. “I was afraid you’d be asleep.” His gaze drifted over her while he removed his jacket.
The intense way he looked at her made her stomach quiver. “I was getting ready for bed.”
“Good.” He pulled his T-shirt over his head and tossed it on his bed. “We have some unfinished business.” He stepped toward her, his eyes darkening. “Nine more climaxes. Nine more positions.”
Her eyes widened. “Surely you don’t expect to do all that in one night?”
He unfastened his pants. “I’ve always prided myself on never quitting a task till it’s done.”
“I see.” Her heart thudded loudly in her ears. “Well, I would certainly hate to damage your pride.”
His mouth curled up. “How thoughtful of you. One might get the idea that you care about me.”
Her heart squeezed in her chest. “Can we truly belong to each other, Zoltan? A vampire and a—?”
“An old crone?” His smile widened.
With a snort she tossed her clean clothes back into her wooden chest. “Do I look like an old crone to you?”
His smile faded as his gaze traveled down her body. By the time his eyes met hers once again, they were red and glowing.
Moisture gathered between her legs. Her skin tingled, just knowing she had such an immediate effect on him. He dropped his pants to the floor and kicked them aside. The bulge in his underwear was blatant. Maybe she should start trying to heal him tonight.
She reached for the waistband of his underwear, but he spun her around to face her wooden chest. He dropped the lid, then bent her over it, planting her hands on top.
“What are you doing?” She glanced over her shoulder. He was leaning over her, his chest against her back and his erection pressed against her rump.
“This is position number two,” he whispered in her ear as he nudged her legs apart with a bare foot.
Her knees trembled, and more moisture seeped from her core. Whatever he was doing, she wanted it.
His hands trailed up her arms, then swept her hair over a shoulder so her back was bare. “Beautiful.” He kissed the back of her neck, then nibbled a trail down her spine. His hands cupped her br**sts, his fingers gently teasing her ni**les.
She shivered, digging her fingers into the wooden chest.
He reached the small of her back and ran his tongue up the indentation of her spine. With a moan, she arched.
When would he touch her? She needed his touch. She rubbed her rump against his groin. “Please.”
He grasped her hips, holding her steady. “I love this.” His hands smoothed up to her narrow waist, then back down the flare of her hips. “You’re so beautiful.”
Her legs trembled, and she locked her knees to keep from falling. “Zoltan,” she whispered. “Please.”
“Yes.” He leaned over to trail nibbling kisses over her rear end. She gasped when his hand slipped between her legs. Oh, God, yes. Finally.
“So wet.”
She whimpered at the feel of his fingers. Insistent, bold, possessive.
“This time I want to be inside you.” He inserted a finger.
She cried out. He plunged another finger inside her, stroking her, tickling her. She gasped for air, moaning and rocking against him. Tension spiraled inside her, climbing higher and higher till she shattered.
With another cry, her knees collapsed, and he held her up, supporting her with his free arm while she throbbed against his fingers.
She was still hazy when he tossed her on the bed and flipped her over.
“Position number three.” He spread her legs, then settled between them, his face just inches away from her wet, swollen flesh.
“Wait!”
He propped himself up on his elbows, and a corner of his mouth curled up. “Do you need a break?”
“I-I think we need to reconsider the—”
“Ten climaxes with no biting, and then you would trust me. That was the deal.”
“Yes.” She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. “But I think there is a flaw—”
“Looks perfect to me.”
The rascal was studying her womanly parts. And with his face only inches away, he was certainly getting a good view. She’d never felt so exposed before. Nor this excited. Just knowing that he was watching made her skin tingle and her core ache to be touched. “What kind of position is this? Do you plan to stare at me till I climax?”
His smile widened. “Do you think that would work?”
“You’re smirking again.”
“And ogling.” He inched closer. “You’re so wet, you’re glistening in the firelight.”
She swallowed hard as more moisture seeped from her. Good Lord, it was working. She could feel the tension inside her coiling tighter and tighter.
“And your scent is driving me wild,” he continued.
Her hands fisted in the sheet. “As I was saying, there is a flaw in your thinking. It’s not my—” She gasped when his tongue swept over her wet, swollen skin.
“You were saying?”
Good Lord, she’d never imagined anything like this. “Yes, I—” She jerked when he licked an especially sensitive part.
“Something about a flaw? Should I stop?”
“No!”
“That’s my girl.” He grasped her hips to hold her steady, then drew her sensitive part into his mouth and suckled.
She screamed as another climax seized her, shaking her violently. By the time she could see straight, he was lying beside her on the bed.
“Are you all right?” He brushed her hair back from her face.
“Are you sure you’re not trying to kill me?”
He kissed her brow. “Just trying to earn your trust. That’s three climaxes without my fangs popping out.”
She inhaled deeply to clear her mind. “As much as I’m enjoying your plan, I don’t think it’s going to work.”
He stiffened. “What?”
“Giving me climaxes is not the right way to test your control. It’s your climaxes I’m worried about. That’s when you would lose control and bite me.” She sat up. “That’s the flaw I was talking about earlier.”
He frowned. “I had a climax at the waterfall and didn’t bite you.”
“That is true.” She glanced down at his underwear where his erection strained against the fabric. “But I think I should test you again. Just to make sure.”
He scoffed. “You shouldn’t play with a loaded dick. I’m about to explode.”
“You’re my prisoner. I can do whatever I like.” She gave him a wry look. “Shall I tie you to the bedpost?”