SeduceMe(26)

Drake knew he could spew an endless litany of flattering sentiments—all true and heartfelt—but they wouldn’t quite repair the damage the way similar sentiments coming from Jane could.

So, once again he remained on the fringes. A difficult place to linger. A torturous restraint, really, that made him realize how important this woman was to him. Whatever he’d thought he and Jane were up to this evening had swiftly morphed into something entirely different when they’d learned all the intricacies of the situation.

Now he better understood the reasons why Shana had retreated into herself. But as much as he was dying to remedy all that ailed her, he had to recognize—and accept—his own limitations in the matter. He had to take a step back and see that what plagued her was not so much about being snubbed by men—which he could certainly make up for given how attracted he was to her and how desperately he wanted to shelter her from any hurt feelings—but that she’d felt insignificant when compared to other women. Women who looked like Jane.

Given all of this, he stayed rooted where he was. The outsider looking in, though the occasional glances that came his way from Shana provided a hint of relief as they confirmed she was still as fascinated by and as drawn to him as he was her.

But she too recognized the intimacy between her and Jane for what it was. A cleansing of sorts, yes. More specifically, though, he sensed the attraction on Shana’s part went far beyond the need for acceptance. Despite her vampire strength, Jane’s size conveyed fragility and delicacy. But her passion knew no bounds and that passion obviously called to Shana’s.

How could he possibly deny her an ounce of fulfillment, even if it was delivered by someone other than him?

“You obsess over stuff even more than I do.”

Her voice broke into his ruminations. He glanced up from the fireplace he’d briefly been unseeingly staring at to find Shana’s gaze on him again.

He said, “I’m trying very hard to see all of this for what it truly is.”

She nodded. “Hard to process all at once, but…” Her eyes drifted to Jane. “I have to stop looking so hard and start…feeling. Right?”

Drake couldn’t see Jane’s grin, but he could sense it.

“Let me help you,” she said.

Shana nodded.

Drake’s fists clenched at his sides once more. This was more difficult than he’d imagined. But he said nothing. He let Jane take the lead again.

Her hands disappeared under the silver material around Shana’s upper thighs, where the slit ended. When Shana lifted slightly off the sofa cushion, Jane pushed the material up to Shana’s waist. Then she swiftly dragged the thong Shana wore down her legs.

The faint scent of Shana’s arousal filled Drake’s nose the way it had earlier, downstairs. He inhaled deeply, letting the provocative aroma mingle with the smell of her blood and the body wash or lotion she used. The fragrant bouquet was intoxicating.

Jane seemed to feel the same, because she pulled in a deep breath and then let it out slowly, along with a low moan. Her hands splayed over Shana’s thighs and she spread them wide as she knelt on the floor and positioned herself between them.

Shana settled back against the mound of pillows, a look of anticipation on her face, along with a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. Drake read her expression for what it was. She wasn’t worried about what Jane was about to do to her. She was worried about how to respond correctly to it, still holding herself in check, still agonizing over being normal—as she saw it.

He could appreciate her concern, though he believed it was needless. Unable to let her agonize a second longer over her doubts and worries, he rounded the sofa and knelt behind her. Though he easily could have touched her—what with there being nothing more than the back of the couch in his way—he kept his hands to himself.

But he leaned in close and whispered in her ear. “Close your eyes.”

She did as he instructed.

“Don’t think. Just feel.”

She nodded.

A second later, Jane’s head dipped and her tongue swept over Shana’s pussy lips, giving her the first taste of the most intimate part of this woman’s body. Her head snapped up. Her tongue swiped her own lips and he caught the sharp tip of a protruding fang.

Drake sprang to his feet, ready to intervene.

But Jane’s visage changed so quickly—from ravenous predator to lustful lover—that he crouched back down, still behind Shana, who sucked in a ragged breath of air between her parted lips. She was completely unaware of the tense and potentially dangerous moment she’d unwittingly elicited.

Drake shot Jane a look and her eyes practically rolled into the back of her head from pure ecstasy. He bit back a groan.