Sacrifice (Book 2)

Chapter 6.1 - Sweet Elixir

Madison sat on his lap, facing him. He took her legs and wrapped them around his hips, then slid his hands under her ass so he could lift her as he dug his heels into the bed to push them to the center. Damn. She weighed practically nothing. And she felt...it was hard to describe...as if her bones were hollow like a bird. It ripped at his chest to feel their pointed ends poking through her flesh. She had no meat left on her. What the hell had happened?

Her eyes were closed and tiny lines formed over her brow in concentration. He brushed her hair over her shoulder and cupped her chin in his palms. He leaned in and murmured in her ear, "Madison, please."

Her body softened and she leaned her head forward so their foreheads touched. He couldn't stop looking at her lips, so pink, so soft, so close to his. That heady roar was back in his veins. What the hell was this feeling? It strung him out, twisted his insides with need, and drove him with a purpose he couldn't shake. It submarined him with feelings he didn't want and couldn't understand. Shit. It made him want to whisper words of goddamn poetry to her. He was glad she couldn't read his thoughts. Because she would hear him say things he never would have imagined he'd say out loud. Like she was as beautiful as a coral-colored sky at sunset. That she could take his breath away in a single look. And that he suddenly realized how empty he felt the last four years without her.

Damn. He was screwed.

*

She opened her eyes and met Cole's gaze. The aroma of his blood was entwining lazily with her senses and seeping deep into her being. It carried the fragrance of forest pine, with hints of spice and heat. A warm mantle of comfort and tranquility encircled her. He was familiar and safe. She felt connected to him on a level beyond human bonds. They had shared blood and her body thrilled at the possibility of comingling again.

He brushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Oh God, she wanted what he offered. His eyes were filled with emotion and said more than words could express. She brushed her fingers across his lips to let him know she understood; no words were necessary. They shared the desire.

She couldn't stop herself from reaching for the buttons at the top of his shirt. She needed to feel his skin under the tips of her fingers, on her lips, on her tongue. Slowly she unfastened each small button. His hands were under her rear again, kneading her with his warm palms. Sitting astride him, he was notched under her and hard. His heat permeated the layers of clothing between them. She felt on edge, and worried if she moved too fast she might fall headfirst into an abyss of need.

She pushed the shirt off one shoulder, then the other. He didn't resist. His eyes tracked her hands, watched every movement. She reached for his shirtsleeves and pulled the buttons free of their moorings, then pulled the garment off completely.

Looking into his eyes, she studied him for a minute. God, he was gorgeous. She stroked her fingers along his strong jawline and wondered if he shaved before seeing her; his face was so smooth and stubble-free. Raising a hand, she combed her fingers through his mink-soft dark brown hair. It was longer on top now, and the natural curl folded over on the crest.

She wanted to memorize every part of him. His green eyes with specks of blue captivated her. She remembered the morning she woke up with his residual eye color, and smiled. She wore his markings fondly. Tilting her head, she continued to commit his form to memory. Her hand shook as she skimmed the pad of her fingers along the nape of his neck. Cole was still as a statute under her touch. He let her lead because he didn't want to frighten her. She didn't understand how she knew this. But there was no doubt in her mind this was so. She might not hear his thoughts, but she felt his emotions like vibrations on nylon strings plucked in a sultry Spanish guitar melody.

She placed both palms on his broad chest and leaned in to the small trail of blood. Closing her eyes, she inhaled. A yearning she hadn't experienced in years was building in her body. It coiled around her, caressing her into a state of surrender as she hovered over the small cut. She couldn't move away from it. Her vampire instincts were too strong. Her fangs plumped and elongated, poking through her lips. A fanged vampire about to feed was disgusting, and she buried her head in Cole's neck so he wouldn't see how aroused she was.

Her body was tight as a bowstring. She fought to keep from moving her lips toward the delicious nectar he promised. The muscles in his shoulders tensed for a second, preparing for the bite. And then the tension eased out. He kept silent as she inched closer to the glorious, intoxicating forbidden fruit. Her heart pumped wildly in her chest and blood pounded a hallelujah chorus in her ears. With fangs fully drawn, there was no going back. Her tongue peaked out between her lips, lingering a mere centimeter from the nourishment she so desperately needed. Then she closed the distance.

Lashing out her tongue, she sealed the wound closed.

The Queen laid her head down on Cole's shoulder and began to cry.

God, she was a strung out mess. But she couldn't accept what he so selflessly offered. Her life was not her own anymore. Too many depended on her. She had to act responsibly.

She covered her face with her hands and wept. She just couldn't seem to control the crying fits. What was wrong with her? The trip had sapped much of her strength, but four days without blood shouldn't have been a problem. She felt weak, as if she were anemic, which was impossible. The exhaustion was overwhelming. It took everything in her to remember who she was now.