The graceful curve of her neck called to him, and the vein beneath it pulsed in a frantic rhythm, beckoning him to approach.

Her hips undulated beneath him, urging him to drive harder into her. Beneath her half-closed lids, her eyes shone with passion and love, silently repeating her request.

“Zane!” she begged.

The sound of her voice undid him. With a groan, he slid his lips onto the spot where her neck met her shoulder. Shivering, he grazed her skin with the tips of his fangs, the contact shooting a flame of liquid heat through his body. Portia moaned in response. Then he pierced her skin and drove inside.

Her sweet blood touched his tongue, her essence so potent and so rich, the effect hitting him instantly. A high spread through his body, which was humming with pleasurable electricity. He drew more of her blood into his body, and the feeling only intensified.

“I love you, Zane,” he heard her whisper.

He wanted to respond and tell her how he felt, but was unable to let go of her neck. He needed this; he needed her.

His cock worked her frantically, driving them both higher and higher, and the sounds of their lovemaking echoed in his house.

“I’ve made my decision, Zane.”

Her words pushed through the bliss he was cocooned in. His brain didn’t work fast enough to understand what she meant, when he suddenly felt her lips on his shoulder, her teeth scraping against his skin.

“I don’t want to wait.”

All of a sudden Zane understood. His heart stopped only to restart the instant he felt her fangs drive into his flesh.

By drinking from him as he took her blood into his body while they were joined in love, she was accepting him as her blood-bonded mate.

Forever together.

Forever one.

As their blood comingled and their bodies exploded in carnal bliss, Zane’s heart opened wide. There would never again be a wall around it or chains locking it down.

He was free. Free to love.

His mind reached out to her. Baby girl, I love you.

And then, for the first him, he felt her presence inside him, warmth and love spreading in his heart and mind. When her voice sounded inside his body while her fangs were still lodged in his flesh, he knew that he’d never heard a sweeter sound.

You’re mine, Zane, forever mine.

Epilogue

One week later

Zane paced the full length of his living room, little Z running around under foot. Where was she? He’d awakened alone when it was still daylight, and that fact prevented him from chasing after her.

“You could have woken me,” he chastised the dog. “Ever thought of barking when she left the house?”

Z turned his face up to him, turning on his puppy charm.

“Yeah, you’re a great help.”

Even a week after bonding with Portia, he still felt nervous about losing her. His nightmares of seeing her in the burning house were only just beginning to wane. Feeling her in his arms was the only thing that chased them away completely.

Where are you, baby girl?

A warm tingle reached his mind.

I’m almost home, her response came.

Hearing her voice in his head settled his unease somewhat. Thank God for the telepathic bond that came with their blood bond. It allowed them to communicate when they were apart.

When he heard the key in the front door a few minutes later, his heart beat excitedly into his throat and as soon as the door closed, he rushed into the hallway and pulled Portia into an embrace.

Hungrily devouring her lips, he didn’t even give her a chance for a greeting. Only when the dog started barking did Zane release her lips.

“Now he barks. What a watchdog we’ve got ourselves there.”

“Going by that kiss,” Portia hedged, “you must have missed me.”

Her coquettish smile made his heart flip as if it were jumping up and down a trampoline. “What do you think?”

Her eyes locked with his. “Tell me you don’t love me.”

Zane smiled. “I can’t do that, baby girl.”

She brushed her lips against his. “Why not?”

“Because it would be a lie,” he whispered back and took her lips once more.

Breathless, he released her a few minutes later. “Now tell me what was so important that you had to leave our bed.”

Portia pulled away from him and reached into the inside of her leather jacket, pulling out a small plastic bag.

“You have no idea how hard it was to find this in the Mission.”

Curious, Zane watched her as she pulled a silken item from the bag. His eyes recognized the round piece of fabric. He raised his eyes to stare at her.