Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(55)

Grimacing, Lucian realized his back must be shredded meat right now. There wasn’t an ounce of mercy in the man Abbey had been with tonight.

Even with the pain, he didn’t regret his actions. Abbey had been courageous enough to do whatever she thought necessary to stop them. And he’d protect her until his last breath.

“Blood,” he whispered, trying to convey was what crucial to his survival. “Need.”

“I know.” Her voice was soft. “Let me help.”

The intoxicating smell drifted to his nostrils again. What was it? The scent was like sunshine and sex. Never before had he encountered anything so beautiful.

“Drink.”

His eyes flickered open again to focus on the red stain hanging before him. When his brain processed what he was seeing, rage flooded him. She wasn’t allowed to be hurt. Not ever.

“Stop,” she said as he tried to rise. “You saved me tonight. Let me repay the favor.”

Blood dripped from her wrist as she held it out to him. He didn’t know what she’d found to cut herself with but the wound was jagged. Not at all the clean punctures he would have made had she offered this luxury in any other circumstance.

“No,” he said.

“Hush, now.” A soft hand smoothed over his brow and he closed his eyes in pleasure at the simple touch. “Drink from me.”

The damaged wrist was placed against his mouth. A drop of her blood made it past his clenched lips and Lucian nearly howled with pleasure. Had he ever tasted anything as delectable as her?

“Please,” she said when he didn’t move, despite the fact that his restraint was killing him.

There was silence for a moment before she asked, “Is not even my blood good enough for you?”

Her voice broke and he had no defense against the painful sound. Unable to fight any longer, he parted his lips.

Nectar filled his mouth. He swallowed it down, feeling as if he’d just ingested liquid lightning. Her blood electrified every nerve in his body. One sip and already he felt his body absorbing the nutrients repairing his back. What would more of that delicious blood accomplish?

The beast within him took over, banishing his conscience, which begged him to spare Abbey. Instead the vampire rose and took what his body needed.

Fangs sank into her fragile wrist and he heard her gasp in pain. Blood filled his mouth and he drank greedily. Dimly he realized he was making a mistake. If he was stronger, he could make the bite pleasurable for her. But right now, it was about survival.

Mouthful after sizzling mouthful drained down his throat. The pain in his back vanished. Still he drank, unable to break away from the tastiest blood he’d ever experienced.

“Lucian,” a voice whispered. A voice he knew. One he cared for. “You’re hurting me.”

That couldn’t happen. Not ever. Immediately his fangs retracted and the woman bending over him fell away.

He blinked, feeling like he was intoxicated. Pushing himself up caused no immobilizing spasms of pain. He was completely healed with only a few mouthfuls of blood. Abbey was unlike any woman he’d ever met.

And she was currently crouched on the floor by the bed, cradling her wrist.

“Let me help,” he murmured, sliding from the bed.

She moved back, obviously not wanting to let him close.

“Trust me, Abbey. I can make it better.”

Wide green eyes looked up into his. He saw the distrust there and knew he’d earned it. But he waited, giving her the choice.

Slowly she held her hand out to him. When he brought it to his mouth, she stiffened.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered against her flesh. “I can heal as well as hurt.”

He cut his tongue with a fang and pressed the blood to her wound. There were few injuries vampire blood couldn’t fix.

The small punctures vanished the moment he drew his tongue over them. Abbey’s breathing evened out as the pain left her body.

“Thanks,” she said, pulling her hand away from him. “Neat trick.”

“Thank you,” he replied. “You healed me.”

“You saved me.” She looked down. “I really thought Christian would stop.”

That went to show what she knew about a man’s character. “I don’t regret protecting you.”

Her expressive eyes flickered up to his and then away. “Well, I figure we’re even with me feeding you and all. Though I have to say, you lied when we first met. You told me your bite brought pleasure and not pain.”

So he had. “Next time,” he said, touching her thigh, “it will be different.”

“Sure.” She looked away.

He leaned closer, unwilling to let her retreat. “I was half out of my mind. You can’t hold it against me. But next time,” he leaned closer to brush his lips over the pulse in her throat, “when you trust me to, I’ll make my bite better than any orgasm I’ve ever given you.”