Stephan’s deep chuckle sent a shiver down my spine as he stretched out next to me and scooted close enough that our bodies were touching from my shoulder all the way down to my knee. I tensed up, trying to stop my reaction from turning into a full-on shudder as he teased, “Age is just a number, angel.”
I rolled my eyes at his playful banter, but the endearment he’d attached to his sentence sent a thrill through my body. “That’s probably easier for you to say since you’re more than six hundred years older than me.”
“True,” he conceded, gripping my chin between his thumb and index finger to turn my head in his direction. When our gazes met, he added, “But we’re on a level playing field where it matters most. When it comes to love, I’m as much a novice as you are.”
I bit my bottom lip, my eyes going wide at his confession. “So, when you said that there was only one woman for a daywalker, you meant—”
I let my question trail off because I wasn’t sure how to word what I was trying to get at. My cheeks were already warm just at the thought of Stephan and sex. If I’d had to give voice to what was in my head, I might have spontaneously combusted. Luckily, he stepped in to save me again. “Yes, you took what I said exactly how I intended. Daywalkers don’t feel passion for anyone other than their fated consort.”
“Oh.” My shoulders slumped because it really sucked that my libido roared to life for a guy who couldn’t return my interest. Hoping to cover up my disappointment by distracting Stephan, I murmured, “There isn’t any way to make finding your consort easier? I can’t imagine what it would be like to spend your life knowing you could walk right past the only person you were meant to be with and never realize you missed out on meeting them.”
Stephan trailed his fingertips over the birthmark that was hidden beneath the white material of my blouse. “Potential mates are born with a mark right here. It’s shaped like—”
“Two brownish red spots?” I gasped, interrupting him.
“Yes.”
“I have that mark.” I wrapped my fingers around his hand and pressed his palm against my shoulder. “Right here.”
His lips curved up in a pleased smile. “I know, Bronwyn.”
“How could you possibly know?” My head reared back in shock as a possibility occurred to me. “Can you see through my clothing?”
“No.” Humor shone from his bright blue orbs as he chuckled and shook his head.
“Hey, it’s not as if I know all the powers vampires have.” I poked him in the chest, marveling over how firm his lean muscles were. “It didn’t seem as though it was a big leap in logic since you appeared out of thin air on your front step earlier.”
“That’s fair,” he conceded as he lifted my hand and brushed a kiss across my knuckles. “But I know about your birthmark because my body’s reaction to you can only mean that you’re my consort.”
Butterflies took flight in my belly at the discovery that my attraction wasn’t one-sided. “I’m yours?”
“Yes, fate finally favored me.” He slid his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against his chest. “The second our skin touched, I knew you were meant to be mine. I just hate that it took you running from those damn bloodsuckers in the blackest of nights for me to find you.”
I was still absorbing the knowledge that I was born to be Stephan’s consort—and what that might mean to me—as I muttered, “Why were they chasing me? I don’t understand why they targeted me when I’d never seen them before.”
Stephan gave me a comforting squeeze before explaining, “Nightwalkers hunt consorts because daywalkers can kill them. They don’t want any more of us to be born.”
“Wow. Okay.” I blinked a few times as my heart began to race again. “I guess I hadn’t put one and one together to get two yet. But I guess if daywalkers are born, and they can only feel desire for their consorts, then it only stands to reason that they’re made the, um...traditional way.”
He flashed me a smile of pure male satisfaction as need flared in his bright blue eyes. “Oh, yes, my dear Bronwyn. We will most definitely create our babies the old-fashioned way, and I’m quite enthusiastic to get started on trying.”
Sweet heavens, I was almost certain my ovaries just exploded, and he hadn’t even kissed me yet.
4
Stephan
I pulled Bronwyn onto my lap and placed my lips over her birthmark before inhaling her scent deep into my lungs. Her skin smelled like freshly picked apples, but the aroma of her blood made my mouth water and my cock so hard I nearly gasped in pain.
“You want that too, don’t you, angel? To let me claim you, have our babies, and be mine forever?” Her body trembled, and she swallowed hard. My fangs elongated, and I couldn’t stop myself from making a tiny nick and lapping up the droplets of blood that beaded on the surface. I groaned, and my hands clamped onto her hips, shifting her to straddle me until her pussy was pressed against the bulge in my pants.
Bronwyn’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened in a silent O. I took advantage of the situation and sealed my lips over hers. I let out a satisfied grunt when she immediately melted into me and twined her arms around my neck. I hadn’t given her the chance to answer me, but her body clearly knew that she was made for me. My tongue delved in to explore and taste, tangling with hers.
Desire saturated my blood, burning me from the inside out as it traveled through my veins and straight to my dick. The need to fuck my consort was nearly overwhelming. My brothers had tried to explain the fierceness of the hunger I would feel for my woman when we finally met, especially in the beginning. I’d thought I understood, but nothing compared to this.
Bronwyn moaned and pressed closer, pillowing her breasts against my chest. Her hard nipples poked through the fabric of her shirt and bra and my mouth watered at the thought of wrapping my lips around them. I finally released her mouth and kissed the corner before working my way down her neck. She gasped for air and dropped her head back, giving me more access to the delicate skin.
“Stephan,” she moaned as her hands threaded through my hair and clenched the strands while her hips moved restlessly against me. “What is happening to me?”
“Don’t be afraid, angel,” I soothed. “Just let it happen.” Her blouse had tiny buttons running from the top of her collar all the way down. I hoped she didn’t have a sentimental attachment to the article of clothing because I had no patience for the barrier in my way. I palmed her plump, round breasts and gently squeezed them as I gathered the fabric in my fists. Yanking hard, I tore the shirt open, and the little buttons flew off and scattered all about. Bronwyn gasped, and her hands moved to cover her chest, but I practically growled at her as I pushed them away and yanked down her nude silk bra.
Her big, full globes spilled out, and I zeroed in on one cherry bud, sucking it into my mouth and running my tongue over the sensitive tip.
Bronwyn cried out and thrust her chest forward as she moved even more frantically on my lap. Grasping her ass, I helped her work herself over my cock, pushing her toward a climax. I wanted nothing more at that moment than to see my angel come. “Let go, Bronwyn,” I demanded as I switched to her other breast. Pumping my hips up, I met her thrusts and used every bit of my strength to keep from spilling in my pants.