Vampyre | Book I of Bloodlines

DHAMPIR'S KISS

Viola

Night falls, and once the entire house is asleep, I slip into William's secret office to search for any mention of the word "Dhampir."

Darius assures me he had gone through almost everything in search of documents, but he didn't read the books. He insists on coming with me to make sure I stay out of trouble. I'm unsure what he means, but he seems to believe I attract trouble.

As I flip through the pages of the first book I pick up, I'm amazed at how quickly my eyes process the words on each page. At this speed, I could read every book under the sun in no time.

There's so much I'd like to try with this new body that I can hardly wait to be free of Lady Viola Spencer and be whoever I want to be, which right now is just Viola, the Dhampir, whatever that might mean. I pause while flipping through the book when it dawns on me that I will finally be able to have the life I always dreamed of and see the world.

"What's that smile?" Darius asks as he snakes his hands around my waist.

He brushes the hair off the back of my neck and places a tender kiss on it, sending a flurry through my stomach.

This is the first time we've been alone like this, and the idea that we might do more than just kiss makes me so nervous that my entire mind is wiped clean of all my thoughts.

"I suddenly don't seem to remember...anything," I manage to get out.

Darius grumbles and sets me on fire as he kisses my neck again.

"You need to stop that, or I'll never be able to get through all these books," I turn the page, trying to focus.

"We can learn about being Dhampirs as we go along," he growls.

His fingers grip my hips, and I feel his manhood through my thin nightgown and robe.

"Darius..."

"Mm?" His fingers gently guide me to look up at him, and his mouth devours mine from behind.

I won't survive how my body reacts to him without receiving satisfaction. All this build-up and no release will drive me insane if I let him keep this up.

Reluctantly, I pry my wanting lips from his.

"Don't start what you can't finish," I barely manage to get the word out.

Darius watches me intently as I turn to face him, his eyes sparkling with a combination of mischief and predatory desire that challenges my resolve.

I place my finger on Darius' chest, and he allows me to push him back with his hands raised in the air. Those killer fangs do nothing to make this easier, and I feel myself tonguing mine at the sight of his.

"If you don't want to make love to me in this house, then back off because it seems to me that it doesn't matter what I want," I tease.

Darius narrows his eyes at me, clearly not liking what he's hearing. He slips his hand onto my neck, and when he speaks, his voice is raw and vulnerable—he doesn't hide his feelings for me, and I become bolder, knowing without a doubt he wants me as much as I want him.

"And what is it that you want, little mouse?"

I smirk. Let's put the self-discipline of this fierce warrior to the test.

I slide my finger between the buttons of his shirt and inch myself a bit closer to him. No pouting. No whining—I want what I want, and I want it now.

"I want you to make love to me," I drift in a little closer, undoing one of the buttons on his shirt, "on William's desk."