Aleksei held her tightly, nearly crushing her to him, his hand moving over her body, shaping her breasts, sliding his palm down her side to her hip. Over her back. He touched and held her as if she meant everything to him. Tears burned close at the beauty of it. At the beauty of being his entire focus. His only. The one.
Gabrielle swept her tongue over the pinpricks in his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. “You’re really beautiful, Aleksei,” she whispered. “So much so, sometimes you take my breath away.”
He was silent a moment. Tense. She felt the way his body had gone hard and tight. His hand went to her chin. She didn’t want him to see her ridiculous tears so she stubbornly tried to keep her face buried against his shoulder. She should have known better. Aleksei didn’t take no for an answer. Not about anything. His hand moved to her jaw and he turned her face to him, tipping it up so his eyes could drift over her.
“Kessake.”
Her heart beat faster. There was possession there. But there was so much more. His eyes burned over her. Marked her. His brand sinking deep. The sound of his voice, calling her little cat in his own language.
“I almost destroyed you, Aleksei. I could have lost you. The world could have lost you, all because I was so foolish and didn’t understand the gift I was given.”
His thumb moved through the trail of tears. “I want you to stop this. Right now, Gabrielle.”
His tone was velvet soft, but still commanding. Firm. Gentle. She had no idea how anyone could manage that, but he did.
The pad of his thumb followed the track of her tears right down her face, erasing them. His mouth moved close and he sipped the tears from her lashes and then used his tongue to wipe every evidence of them away. His hands went to her hips, fingers digging deep, and he turned her, right there in the pool.
“Straddle my lap, kessake, we are not nearly finished before we go hunting.”
He really gave her no choice, not that she wanted one, but the moment she turned, her legs over his hips, her breasts tight against his chest, his cock buried deep, his mouth was on hers, and everything fell away but him—everything but Aleksei and the feel of his hard body and the pleasure he brought to her.
17
Men are stronger and you can take a little more from them, especially if they are big. If you can avoid it, do not go into a house, even if invited. And you must be invited in if you plan on taking blood. That is a protection measurement for all as well as showing respect. It will not be difficult for you to get an invitation, you will simply use your voice to enthrall, but still, the risks are greater. Children. Family members. Not a good thing, kessake.”
Gabrielle stood in the shadows with Aleksei just outside a bar. The sky drizzled silver drops but he kept the rain off her, his arms locked around her waist, keeping her body tucked close to him, sheltering her. She leaned back into him, liking the way he surrounded her with his protection. He made her feel safe. Her body was trembling, but she didn’t know if it was from nerves or excitement.
No one had ever bothered to teach her these skills. Aleksei wanted her to learn to be self-sufficient. She loved that. She wasn’t certain she could actually lure someone to her and take their blood, but she wanted to try.
“Do you understand, Gabrielle? It is important. You can get into a house if you cannot find adequate prey elsewhere and only in an emergency.”
“I understand,” she said softly, reaching back to touch his face with her hand. “I’m listening. And I’m grateful you’re taking the time to teach me.”
He nuzzled her hand with the slightly rough scruff on his jaw and then turned his face to press a kiss right into the center of her palm.
“I am enjoying our time.” He moved the long slide of hair off the nape of her neck, pushing it around her left shoulder as she dropped her hand. That gave his mouth access to bare skin and her right ear, unhindered by her thick hair. “It is always better to find a place such as this one where there are numerous patrons to choose from. Always choose one entering if possible. They have not had anything to drink and so they are untainted. Those coming out can be used in an emergency, but their blood is not that good.”
She moistened her lips, more aware of him, of his strength, of his hunger, of his power. When he moved he was fluid, a flowing of muscle and bone; when he stopped, he was utterly still. It was impossible to conceal the power in him, and he didn’t try. When he didn’t want to be seen, he veiled his presence, rather than trying to blend in.
She sensed a sudden change in him, in his focus, and a shiver of trepidation and excitement went down her spine. She’d never felt more alive.