She collected all her strength and pushed herself up so she could bring one hand to the front clasp of her bra. With difficulty she managed to open it just as Luther plunged deeper into her, making her land back in the cushions. On his next withdrawal she succeeded in freeing her breasts from the cups and shucking the bra.

“Fuck, Katie!” he called out and pulled out of her.

“No!” she protested. “Don’t stop!”

He gripped her legs and turned her onto her back, his eyes wild, his fangs extended. His gaze landed on her naked breasts, and she could see him salivate.

“Fuck me, Luther, please!” she begged.

He rolled over her and plunged his cock back into her. Katie let out a contented sigh, relieved that he filled her again. Without him, she’d felt empty.

Luther was riding her hard and fast. She’d never known that such wildness could give her such pleasure, but with every hard thrust and every withdrawal Luther was driving her closer to the edge. Her entire body began to tingle. All her nerve endings seemed to awaken with awareness. And inside her a fire began to burn, slowly making its way to the surface.

“Yes, Luther,” she chanted, pressing her head into the chaise longue and arching her back, offering him what she knew he desired.

A growl came from him, then his breath caressed her breast and teased her nipple. When she felt the tips of his fangs scrape against her skin, she shivered with pleasure. He drove them into her, causing her a split-second of pain, but it vanished as quickly as it had come, making way for pleasure.

She felt him pull hard, feeding from her. Some of the blood spilled from his mouth, so greedily did he drink from her. She felt it trickle down her breast. But Luther didn’t seem to notice. He continued to drink, while farther below, his hips thrust back and forth.

Katie let herself go. Luther feeding from her lulled her into a trance, while his pistoning cock sent waves of pleasure through her body. Her clit throbbed. Then her body erupted in a symphony of ecstasy. She heard nothing but her own heartbeat and Luther’s moans. Her sex spasmed and she felt Luther respond in kind. His cock jerked inside her. Then she felt it: his hot semen filling her as he continued to move inside her. Slower now, but no less tantalizing.

She felt cool air waft against her breast, then a hot tongue lick over it. Katie lazily opened her eyes and watched Luther lift his head from her breast and retract his fangs. His eyes were still glowing red, but the moment he met her gaze they turned back to their rich brown color.

Katie opened her mouth to speak, but no words came over her lips, because the only words she wanted to say were ones he didn’t want to hear. Instead she lifted her hand and ran it through his hair. It was damp from his sweat.

He held her gaze, but he, too, was silent. After an eternity, he rolled off her and stood.

She looked up at him, drinking in his perfect male form for the last time, before he turned his back to her and began to get dressed.

I love you, she mouthed silently behind his back and pushed back the tears that threatened to expose her true feelings.

41

Luther looked over his shoulder at Katie, who stood in the hallway, watching him and Roxanne getting ready to leave.

“Give me a moment,” he said to Roxanne and crossed the distance between him and Katie with four long strides.

Wesley retreated into the living room, giving them privacy.

Luther put a finger under Katie’s chin and tilted her face up. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but words failed him, just like they’d failed him when they’d made love. He’d sensed it then, in fact had felt it growing inside him over the last few days and nights. The feeling that he couldn’t live without her. That she was meant for him. That he was meant for her. He didn’t want to acknowledge it, because it was impossible for something like that to happen to him. And to happen so fast.

And why should it? Most vampires only got one chance at finding their mate. Why would he of all people get a second one, when he knew he didn’t deserve it? Or was it all an illusion that would be ripped from his hands the minute he grabbed for it? He’d been down that road once before with Vivian. And he was frightened to take that same path again. What if it led him to the same horrible end? So he could be punished once more.

“Katie,” he murmured, unable to turn his feelings into words.

Tears rimmed her emerald eyes. Her breath blew against his face, so sweet, so tempting that it nearly tore his heart in two.

He pulled her into his arms and brought his mouth to her ear. “I can’t promise you anything, but I want you to know that what’s between us means something to me.” He took her hand and pressed it against the place where his heart beat out of control. “You are in here.”