Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
My pulse pounds. The bastard’s right. I do crave more, though every part of my brain is screaming at me to shove him away. Because hello—he’s the enemy! He had me abducted and he won’t let me go! So why am I reacting like this?
I don’t know, but I can’t seem to stop.
Lucian seems perfectly happy to take advantage of my inability to stop giving in to my body’s cravings for him. He leans closer until his lips brush my shoulder…then the sensitive side of my neck.
I freeze—is he going to do it? Is he going to bite me now?
But instead, his lips just linger at my pulse, warm and sweet as he presses kisses up and down along my vulnerable throat, sending shivers racing down my spine.
Oh God, why can’t I stop him? I can’t remember the last time I was this hot—this needy. My pussy is so wet and ready I feel molten from the waist down and all he’s done is kiss my neck and tease one of my nipples a little. When did I turn into such a cheap date?
The heat at my core spirals tighter, my body clenching with need. I hate myself for it but I can’t seem to help it.
“This is insane,” I moan. “I shouldn’t want this. You’re—you’re some kind of vampire mob boss, and I’m… I’m just—”
“My Queen,” he cuts in softly, pulling back just enough to look at me. His eyes glow faintly red. I see hunger blazing there, but his voice is steady… controlled. “You are mine, Julia. And when you are ready, I will prove to you that surrender can be bliss.”
I should snap at him. I should call him out for giving me his blood without telling me it’s some kind of aphrodisiac. Instead, my thighs press together again under the water, heat building so fast inside it makes me dizzy.
I glare at him, desperate to cover my reaction.
“You dosed me. That’s the only reason I’m feeling this way. It’s just whatever’s in your blood messing with my head.”
He chuckles darkly.
“My blood caused nothing you weren’t already capable of feeling. It only revealed the truth.” His thumb strokes once more over my nipple, making my back arch despite myself. Then, with a low growl, he pushes away, gripping the edge of the tub as if the restraint takes all his strength.
The sudden absence makes me shiver. Relief and disappointment war inside me.
Lucian draws a slow breath, the muscles in his jaw tight.
“Rest now,” he says finally. “Your body needs time to recover. But soon, little one…soon, I’ll show you what it truly means to be mine.”
I sink lower into the steaming water, my heart hammering, my skin still tingling everywhere he touched me.
And I can’t help thinking that if this really is a dream…God help me, I don’t know if I want to wake up.
Lucian drains the tub one more time, then lifts me out of it like I weigh nothing.
He sets me on my feet and starts drying me all over. Then he tosses the damp towel away and gets another one. The towel he wraps me in is enormous and hot from some hidden warmer—it swallows me in softness.
It comes to me suddenly that—for the first time in hours—I’m not completely naked. I didn’t realize how much I missed the feeling of being covered until I have it again and my eyes start stinging for no good reason.
“Are you all right, lovely one?” Lucian gives me a worried look. “Let me carry you to the bedchamber.”
“No,” I say, sniffing and refusing to cry. “Thanks but I’m fine now—I can walk.”
I take one step…and the world tilts. My knees feel like Jell-O, and I start to go over.
Lucian sweeps me up before gravity can drag me down. One arm under my knees, the other at my back, he cradles me against him. I get that dark, spicy scent again, plus the steady thud of his heart when my cheek presses against his chest.
“There now—you’re safe,” he rumbles, and his words seem to vibrate my entire body.
“I just want to go home,” I whisper, looking up at him. “Back to my apartment…back to Mr. Mittens. Back to rent and spreadsheets and mediocre coffee and office drama and Book Club.”
He meets my gaze as he carries me toward an arched doorway draped with velvet. His eyes are cool storm-gray again—no red. I see nothing but resolve in his steady gaze.
“You can leave the bath, lovely one,” he says softly. “But you cannot leave the Crimson Spires.”
My stomach sinks.
“Lucian—”
“You are mine now. Mine.” There’s no heat in his voice—no drama. Just absolute certainty. “You belong to me—I will not let you go.”
I shut my eyes because the room is spinning and also because if I look at him I might do something stupid, like believe him.