Brant shook his head in disgust. “Stephany. She normally would never betray me like this.”
“Look…” Now she was worried about the lady vamp. “Please don’t punish her for this.” She’d never once stopped to consider how this would affect the other woman.
He raised his brows. “You must think I’m some sort of monster.”
He said it.
“I made her tell me.”
Brant smiled. Out popped those sexy dimples. As much as she hated to admit it, he looked edible, in a gourmet five star restaurant kind of a way. Good thing she was on a strict diet.
“You made her tell?” He shook his head in disbelief. His face turned serious. “The only reason I took blood from Alexandra was so I would be more in control with you.” He pulled himself upright into his full magnificent glory. By human standards, Tanya was considered tall for a woman, yet she had to look up as he took a step towards her.
“Don’t you dare come near me.”
For a second his face clouded with…hurt. No way. The emotion was gone before she could be sure.
“I will be patient. We can take this slow. Let’s get to know each other.” His eyes became hooded as his gaze dropped to her lips.
“When you say get to know each other, you’re referring to conversations and…I don’t know…long walks through the forest or the beach maybe?”
His eyes glittered and he readjusted the towel at his hips. She looked down at the smattering of hairs that started at his navel and disappeared under the material. Her mouth went dry. Damn him, she didn’t want to be this attracted to the big vampire.
Brant threw her a lazy smile. “Yes, I most definitely want to learn a lot more about you. We’ll take long walks, but…we’ll also do other things.”
Tanya struggled to keep her breathing under control. “What other things?”
“I want to get to know your body better too.”
“My”—she swallowed hard—“body?”
His eyes burned. Her pussy clenched. The thought of having sex with this man was not nearly as offensive as it should’ve been. Hell, according to her body it was all systems go.
“No,” she whispered.
His eyes softened. “I told you we wouldn’t do anything until you were ready. All I’m asking is that you give us a chance.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Yes. You have my word that nothing will happen without your permission.”
****
Had he completely lost his mind?
The survival of his people depended on them mating successfully and, more importantly, of them raising potential heirs to the throne. It was his duty as king.
His race had been divided for one hundred years. A bloody war had already claimed so many, making them vulnerable to attack from other species.
Having no future heir would bring chaos and further division. This would lead to the desecration of his coven and potentially of Zane’s as well. Although he cared nothing for his birth enemy, the knowledge still burned in his gut. The last thing he wanted was for his race to become extinct.
Yet, knowing all this, he still couldn’t force this female to mate with him. Although ‘force’ was not the right word. With one kiss, one touch, he knew he could take her easily, but he didn’t want to leave her with regrets.
Brant wanted a willing mate, he wanted more than a relationship. He wanted a partnership, a family. Deep down he knew he could have that with a female like Tanya. If that meant patience, he would deal.
“You have my word Tanya. No mating until we get to know each other and you get to decide how fast or slow we take this.”
“Fine, but there will be no…” Her cheeks turned fiery hot. “Alexandra or any other women for that matter if we’re going to get to know each other.”
He should’ve seen this coming. It was the one thing he couldn’t give her. “Cenwein, for your own good, I can’t agree to that.”
Her brow creased, “Why?”
“Blood lust would make me dangerous to you, especially during sex. I would never forgive myself if…” He stepped towards her and brushed a wayward strand from her face. She shivered. So sensitive. So pure. He could easily lose himself with her.
Her eyes narrowed and her mouth tensed. “No sex then which suits me fine since we don’t know each other well enough anyway.”
“We will have sex.”
“You just gave me your word that I get to decide and I say no sex as long as you are drinking from that hussy. She has feelings for you. It may not be sexual to you, but it is to her.” Her eyes blazed. “You can’t deny that the act is intimate.”