“Drucilla,” he said, “I understand that your feelings for me have changed. I’m a monster, but let me be your monster. Let me stay close so that I can keep you from harm.”
Her monster.
Dru liked the sound of that.
14
Dru closed her eyes, trying to call back her common sense.
But when she opened them again, she was still standing in front of a man she had come to care about.
Not a man…
“Drucilla, say something, please,” he murmured.
He lifted a hand toward her and then let it drop again by his side, as if realizing that she must be frightened of him.
But no matter how much she knew she should be, she realized that she never had been. From the moment she’d met him, she’d felt a connection, and she couldn’t deny it any longer.
The pain in his eyes was more than she could bear.
She moved to him slowly, lifting her own hand to touch his cheek.
He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch.
She lifted her other hand, cupping his face between her palms.
“Drucilla,” he murmured, eyes still closed as if the emotion would break him.
“I don’t care,” she whispered.
He opened his eyes.
“About what?” he asked.
“About any of it,” she said. “I need you, Viktor.”
His arms were around her in a heartbeat as he pressed his lips to hers. His movement was lightning fast, as if he had been hiding his true speed from her until now.
She had just enough time to twine her arms around his neck before he lifted her in the air and deposited her on the bed.
“Drucilla,” he moaned into her hair, sweeping his hand down to loosen the tie of her robe and expose her to the cold, candlelit room.
She watched his expression as his eyes raked down her body and saw tenderness and lust in equal measures.
His face was at her breast, as suddenly as if she were watching a film with missing frames.
She felt the softness of his mouth close over her nipple and the pleasure licked through her like a flame.
He flicked his tongue and circled her other nipple with the pad of his thumb.
The sensations sizzled and Dru arched her back and cried out, need setting her on fire.
He growled and nuzzled her belly, nudging her thighs apart as he trailed kisses down her body.
She howled with need, lifting her trembling hips to meet his mouth.
“My God, Drucilla,” he groaned.
Before she could beg, he gave her what she craved.
Dru felt herself almost lift off the bed with the pleasure of his tongue caressing her, slowly at first, and then with such speed his dark head seemed to blur between her thighs. His touch was quick, but light, just enough to send her over the edge with pleasure.
The the rising tide lifted her, then broke her into shimmering pieces.
But Viktor didn’t stop.
15
Dru was splintering apart with pleasure. The climaxes were coming so fast she could hardly tell where one ended and the next one began.
She tangled her hands in his dark hair, trying to pull him away before she disintegrated completely.
Viktor only growled and sent her flying again.
“Enough,” she whimpered as she came down from another dizzying high. “Please.”
She felt his mouth slowing on her sex, with long, soothing strokes of his tongue.
“Beautiful girl,” he murmured against her belly as he crawled up to lie beside her, pulling her close.
She snuggled in, letting his clean scent wash over her, as she tried to catch her breath. She felt like she was filled with warm honey, tingling and sweet all over.
Viktor pressed his lips to her hair. She could feel the steel length of him pressed to her hip.
Lust shot through her again, stronger than before.
She rolled over slightly to stroke him with her hand.
He pulled away so fast her hand caressed only the air.
“Drucilla,” he said warningly.
“I want to touch you,” she told him. “I need you.”
He paused as if torn, but when she reached for him again, he caught her wrist easily in his hand.
“Please,” she whimpered.
“Oh, Drucilla,” he murmured. “Don’t you see that you can’t?”
She buried her face in his chest, embarrassed that she couldn’t control herself enough to make this easier for him.
He let go of her wrist and she slid it up to his chest, stroking him lightly.
“That’s so good,” he whispered, his eyes closed as if he were in ecstasy. “It’s been so long since anyone has touched me like that. I’m afraid of what might happen.”
She leaned back slightly and caressed his rough jaw and the silk of his hair.
“Do you ever have to cut your hair?” she asked absentmindedly.
He laughed gently. “No,” he told her. “I don’t have to shave either.”
She slid her hand back to his chest. Even through his shirt she could feel the solid planes of muscle. She stroked his pecs and allowed her hands to slide down to his abs.
He put his arms behind his head and relaxed.
The room was cold and quiet. There was nothing but Dru’s breathing and the slight hush of her hand skimming across the fabric of his shirt.
She felt such peace, even as the tension in Viktor’s body grew. He never opened his eyes, even as his cock strained for her hand.
He could do this, she was sure of it.
She lay her head on his chest again and ran her hand slowly down his right hip, melting inside as she saw his cock twitch in anticipation of her touch.
She slid down slightly, loving the feel of his abs under her ear.
“Drucilla,” he whispered.
“It’s okay,” she crooned.
When she brought her hand back up again, she allowed the tip of her finger to trail along his length.
Viktor groaned but he didn’t move.
Emboldened, she slid down further still, and nuzzled him through his clothes.
His hands gripped the sheets, knuckles white.
She smiled and kissed the tip of him through the fabric as she stroked his length with an open palm.
“No,” he roared.
Suddenly she was being pulled into the air and pinned on her back.
She gasped and he sealed her mouth with a brutal kiss, his tongue invading her mouth as he held her down.
When she tried to pull back for a breath, he released her and sat back.
“Viktor,” she murmured.
He smiled at her lazily and she could see his canines were just a little too long. His eyes were so pale that they were nearly white.
He turned his head away a second before a loud knock sounded at the door.
16
“Just a sec,” Dru yelped, scrambling out of bed to get dressed.
By the time she had tugged on some clothes, Viktor was standing beside the bed, looking unruffled.
He observed her curiously.
What could he be thinking?
“Dru?” Channing called, banging on the door again.
She rushed over and opened up.
“It’s time for interviews,” Channing said excitedly. “I need my recording officer.”
“Of course,” she said. “Let me grab my notepad. Or should I use the typewriter?”