five minutes ago, and I wanted to see you again —even though I’d be risking ridicule at best and ostracism at worst.” She took a step closer to him, that vulnerability in her expression. “I’m sure this is all overwhelming for you. One minute you’re going about your business, and the next you’re blooded with a Bride—”
“One I didn’t choose .” He was taking his frustration out on her, and he couldn’t seem to stop. “I didn’t manage monogamy as a human, though I could have wed my pick of the most ravishing women in my country. How do you think I ’ll fare with a female I can’t touch?” Especially now that he could have others.
Her eyes narrowed, and lightning struck outside. “Monogamy? I’m not angling for a wedding!” All shades of that previous vulnerability were gone, replaced by haughtiness. “And if you don’t think I can hold my own against all those eighteenth-century mortals you were out tagging, then you’re a fool, Casanova.” At his expression, she added, “Oh, yes, I know all about you.”
He went still. “What are you talking about?”
“I was alive back then. And all the Lore heard about the ruthless warlord brothers from Estonia. The general, the scholar, the enigma, and . . . the manwhore .”
He clenched his jaw at the thought of having his life analyzed, especially by creatures he didn’t even understand. The Forbearers could garner little information on Lore beings—their lives held secret—and yet they’d been actively following his own exploits?
“A manwhore?” Was that all he’d been remembered as? “Maybe I left behind the women I’d enjoyed because I didn’t want to deal with exactly this. ” Even now he wanted to end this argument by kissing her and taking her to bed, which confused him even more. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the hour we just shared was the best we ever will —it’s all going to go downhill from there.”
“You don’t have the sense to realize you were blooded by one of the only Valkyrie who would accept a vampire in her bed.”
“To do precisely what there? Freeze?”
In a flash, she drew back her blistered hand to slap him.
“Do it, ice queen. And feel the sting with me.”
Lightning struck again as she lowered her hand. “You’re not worth it, leech,” she said, but he was scarcely listening. Below her collarbone, a small line of blood had just risen from the last remnant of her wounds.
That stark red against her alabaster skin called to him, made him imagine following the trail with his tongue, then pinning her down to suck from her breast.
Already the scent was all around him. And now to see it?
Don’t look at it.
How the hell had Nikolai restrained himself from biting Myst all those years ago?
Murdoch’s hands fisted as he struggled not to fall upon Daniela. He ’d been able to resist touching her when under the most painful pressure he’d ever dreamed of.
But I’m not going to be able to deny this call. . . .
TEN
HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING? They’d been doing so well. Fantasy made reality . . . somewhat.
But now the vampire’s eyes had flooded black again. So he was as angry as she was?
Danii turned from him to snag the T-shirt, donning it as she dropped the sheet. When she met his gaze, he appeared even more incensed than before.
“Obviously, I need to leave,” she said, while thinking, Tell me I’m your Bride, and that I will be staying. Be an arrogant, possessive Neanderthal vampire!
She wanted him to simply inform her that he would never let her go and she would just have to accept that, or whatever domineering misguided tripe these manly men always said. To women that aren’t me.
This one wouldn’t even look at her. “You need to go. Now .”
Kicking me to the curb. She didn’t know how much more of this her ego could take. Leeches were detested by most Valkyrie—by most of the Lore—yet Danii had been ready to offer this one more. He has no idea what
“One I didn’t choose .” He was taking his frustration out on her, and he couldn’t seem to stop. “I didn’t manage monogamy as a human, though I could have wed my pick of the most ravishing women in my country. How do you think I ’ll fare with a female I can’t touch?” Especially now that he could have others.
Her eyes narrowed, and lightning struck outside. “Monogamy? I’m not angling for a wedding!” All shades of that previous vulnerability were gone, replaced by haughtiness. “And if you don’t think I can hold my own against all those eighteenth-century mortals you were out tagging, then you’re a fool, Casanova.” At his expression, she added, “Oh, yes, I know all about you.”
He went still. “What are you talking about?”
“I was alive back then. And all the Lore heard about the ruthless warlord brothers from Estonia. The general, the scholar, the enigma, and . . . the manwhore .”
He clenched his jaw at the thought of having his life analyzed, especially by creatures he didn’t even understand. The Forbearers could garner little information on Lore beings—their lives held secret—and yet they’d been actively following his own exploits?
“A manwhore?” Was that all he’d been remembered as? “Maybe I left behind the women I’d enjoyed because I didn’t want to deal with exactly this. ” Even now he wanted to end this argument by kissing her and taking her to bed, which confused him even more. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the hour we just shared was the best we ever will —it’s all going to go downhill from there.”
“You don’t have the sense to realize you were blooded by one of the only Valkyrie who would accept a vampire in her bed.”
“To do precisely what there? Freeze?”
In a flash, she drew back her blistered hand to slap him.
“Do it, ice queen. And feel the sting with me.”
Lightning struck again as she lowered her hand. “You’re not worth it, leech,” she said, but he was scarcely listening. Below her collarbone, a small line of blood had just risen from the last remnant of her wounds.
That stark red against her alabaster skin called to him, made him imagine following the trail with his tongue, then pinning her down to suck from her breast.
Already the scent was all around him. And now to see it?
Don’t look at it.
How the hell had Nikolai restrained himself from biting Myst all those years ago?
Murdoch’s hands fisted as he struggled not to fall upon Daniela. He ’d been able to resist touching her when under the most painful pressure he’d ever dreamed of.
But I’m not going to be able to deny this call. . . .
TEN
HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING? They’d been doing so well. Fantasy made reality . . . somewhat.
But now the vampire’s eyes had flooded black again. So he was as angry as she was?
Danii turned from him to snag the T-shirt, donning it as she dropped the sheet. When she met his gaze, he appeared even more incensed than before.
“Obviously, I need to leave,” she said, while thinking, Tell me I’m your Bride, and that I will be staying. Be an arrogant, possessive Neanderthal vampire!
She wanted him to simply inform her that he would never let her go and she would just have to accept that, or whatever domineering misguided tripe these manly men always said. To women that aren’t me.
This one wouldn’t even look at her. “You need to go. Now .”
Kicking me to the curb. She didn’t know how much more of this her ego could take. Leeches were detested by most Valkyrie—by most of the Lore—yet Danii had been ready to offer this one more. He has no idea what
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