“Better?” He shook his head. “Smarter for you, for both of us, yes, but not better.”

She knew exactly what he was implying. And what she wanted. To let herself go. To accept the comfort he was offering, even though she barely knew him. He’d helped her today, done everything he could to find Hannah. He wasn’t really a stranger anymore. He was somebody she could rely on. More than she’d ever been able to rely on any of her previous lovers or boyfriends. Didn’t that make him a friend? And friends could give each other comfort, hold each other for a moment. That was all it would be. Just a short embrace at the end of a long night.

Whether she stepped closer to him or whether Blake leaned in, she wasn’t entirely sure, but suddenly her face was only inches from his, and his arm was coming around her waist, bringing her hips flush to his, her body connecting with his.

The first thing she felt was the heat emanating from him, from every part of him: his hand on her lower back, his pelvis brushing against hers, and his breath ghosting over her face. Then he drew her closer and his heartbeat seemed to reverberate in her body, echoing the rapid drumming of her own.

“I should let you go,” he murmured, his mouth coming closer.

“Don’t.” She slid her hand onto his nape, feeling him shiver. “Please don’t.”

~ ~ ~

Her tender plea sank deep into him, settling in his groin, adding fuel to the fire that raged there. He’d promised himself not to act on it, but when she’d touched his cheek, he’d thrown all his good intentions out the window.

“As if I could.” He whispered the words against her red lips, lips that had tempted him all night. Lips that parted now in invitation.

Damn it, he had no chance of resisting now. She held all the cards. And she was practically begging him to kiss her. He wasn’t the predator in this game; wasn’t coercing her into something she didn’t want. He wasn’t even seducing her; Lilo was seducing him. And while he held her in his vampire arms, arms she wouldn’t be able to escape unless he allowed it, she was the one who held him captive.

“As if I could escape you now,” he corrected himself and brushed his lips over hers.

The touch was electrifying. Her lips were warm and soft, yielding to him. He was hesitant at first, not wanting to spook her in case he’d interpreted her signs incorrectly.

“You want that?” he murmured.

She hummed, and the sound vibrated on his skin, making him shiver. Her fingers on his nape pulled him closer. There was no doubt now: she wanted him as much as he wanted her. All hesitation gone, he captured her mouth fully, dipping his tongue between her parted lips and stroking it against hers.

A spear of white hot heat shot through him, sending blood rushing to his groin. Fuck, this was worse than he’d expected. Worse, because at the rate he was getting aroused he’d have her flat on her back in about sixty seconds, thrusting into her in the middle of the hallway where the boys could surprise them at any moment.

But not even that thought could stop him from delving deeper into her, exploring her, tasting her. And, damn it, she tasted good. Felt even better. He angled his head to get better access, and she obliged him and did the same. She now lapped her tongue against his, demanding he kiss her harder.

For a moment, he tore his lips from hers. “Damn it, Lilo!” But despite the fact that her kiss was teasing the vampire inside him to emerge, he couldn’t stop. Crushing her mouth with his, he pressed her against the wall and pinned her there. Passion and lust surged within him, seeking an outlet. Breathing hard, he claimed her mouth more fiercely than he’d planned. Planned? Hell, he hadn’t planned this at all. It had just happened. One look into those cornflower-blue eyes, and he was lost.

Too late to do anything about it now.

He thrust his pelvis against her, feeling his hard-on rubbing along her stomach, cradling him with her warmth and softness. Tempting him to unleash the beast within him.

Lilo kissed him back with a passion he hadn’t expected, especially not from a woman who barely knew him. She was pure fire and unrestrained hunger. She was positively wanton. He felt her heartbeat reverberate in his chest, her soft breasts crushed against him. Gentle moans escaped from her throat whenever he gave her occasion to breathe. But the reprieve never lasted long. A mere second, and she would seek his lips again, demanding more, a deeper connection, as if she couldn’t get enough of this kiss, of him. Just like he couldn’t get enough of her.

His cock ached now, desperate to plunge into her heat and find release. He let his hands roam over her body, exploring her luscious curves, caressing her, seducing her. Yes, he knew what he was doing. Using her vulnerability to get what he wanted: a taste of this beautiful and brave woman. He should be ashamed of himself for giving into his baser needs and stop this madness now. He’d brought her to his house to protect her, not to maul her like a hungry animal. But his cock cared nothing about that. Didn’t know what honor was. Only wanted to feel her. To be with her.

And she did nothing to stop him. There was no resistance. He didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of stopping this, of doing the honorable thing and letting her go to bed—alone. All he could think about was how to maneuver her upstairs to his bedroom where they could continue this folly with some privacy. Where he could strip off her clothes and feast his eyes on her, while he brought her to ecstasy.

But he knew that wouldn’t be enough. Even finding release inside her wouldn’t suffice. No, he knew with a certainty he’d never felt before that only when he tasted Lilo’s blood would he be truly satisfied. Sated. Happy.

But this would mean exposing himself. Showing her who he was. What he was. How would she react? Would she still rub her sexy body against him and allow him to touch her? Would she still want to touch him? The way she touched him now? With her warm fingers sliding underneath his shirt, her fingernails clawing at his back, while he tunneled underneath her top and touched the smooth skin of her abdomen? He slid higher, slowly, gently, waiting for her to stop him. But no protest came from her lips, lips that were busy devouring him.

Only a few more inches and his hands would be on her breasts, cradling those perfect globes in his palms, teasing those nipples with his fingers...

“Blake, luvvie, are you h—?”

Blake spun around, breathing heavily, glaring at the person coming through the front door.