He didn’t let me finish because his lips met mine. His aura surrounded me in a gold, glittery shower, tickling me everywhere it touched. The more he caressed me, the stronger the spark became and the more I wanted him. I pressed myself against him and wrapped my hands around his neck. This time he was not going to get away from me. I wanted him, but he pulled away.

“We can’t.”

“Why? You didn’t stop last time.” I kissed him again, nipping at his neck. The T-shirt fit him a little too snugly, like a second skin. I dragged my nails over the back of it.

He pulled me away from him after a moment. He didn’t want me to stop. The expanding bulge in his jeans told me that along with the mixed emotions on his face and the lust in his eyes. “You’re still recovering from the other night and if we do, it would mean—” He looked away.

My hand rubbed his cock which pressed against the denim. His eyes fluttered closed, and he had to bite his lip to hold in a moan. His fingers crushed my bandaged wrist, and I didn’t cry out. The more I touched him or he touched me the more intoxicating I became for him. My body was alive with him there. My nipples were hard just thinking about what would happen between us. God, I wanted him.

“What would it mean?” I whispered against his ear.

He snarled then bared his lengthening fangs. He kissed me hard, and his incisors cut my tongue. A drop of blood fell onto his tongue. He deepened his kiss and thrust his tongue into my mouth. Tristan’s free hand wrapped in my hair, and he yanked my head back. He didn’t wait to see my expression of ecstasy as he licked my neck and bit down hard. I waited for the sucking to start and him to draw my life into him, but he didn’t. He purred low in his throat and nipped my ear.

“It would mean you lose your humanity, and I damn my soul even more.” With that, he shoved me away. I turned back to see him clenching his fists together. He was fighting his hunger. I got off the bed. He opened his eyes, and I saw them reflect in the light. I also saw the fear in them. I sensed he was afraid he would take me against my will, because he craved me. He’d taste my blood and he didn’t know if he could pull away from me. Through the bond developing between us I perceived he was afraid he would turn into his master and lose his soul to the darkness inside him.

I moved aside and let him in. Ethan strolled into my kitchen, got a frozen bag of peas, and poured me a glass of wine. I plopped onto the couch. He sat next to me.

“Lie back.” I hesitated and then throbbing pain took over. I leaned back on the couch and let him place the peas on my eye.

“Ahh. Cold.” Why didn’t I think of this the last night?

“So, what happened? You have a run in with a doorknob?”

I opened my eye and gulped the wine. My stomach rumbled, and I realized I was hungry. I’d been too nervous to eat before the opening, and I’d worked so much today the time had gotten away from me. I set the wine down and settled the peas back on my eye. “No, the doorknob wouldn’t have been that bad. My ex was drunk and decided to pay me a visit last night. He’s pissed I threw him out. He was supposed to pick me up the night you got that asshole off me. Bastian decided to take his anger out on me. I kicked him in the balls, and I haven’t seen him since.”

“It seems like you need more saving. Let’s see.”

He traced a finger over my face. His touch was tender, and when I stared into his blue eyes, I felt the same attraction that I had for him the other night. I inclined my head closer, smelling the faint vanilla scent around him mixed with the musk of his flesh. It was intoxicating, and I leaned in and kissed him. His lips were warm, and after a moment of hesitation, he returned the kiss with the same fervor. I ran my fingers over his head, feeling the strands of his hair. They were fine and silky. His hand found its way under my T-shirt. Ethan cupped my breast, running his thumb across my nipple. It hardened instantly. The bag of peas slipped into his lap but the cold didn’t stop him. He kissed me harder. My hands wrapped around his neck, but he pulled away, breathless.

“I’m sorry. We shouldn’t—I don’t want to hurt you.” Ethan got up and stood with his back to me.

“Why would you hurt me?” There didn’t seem to be a harmful bone in his body. I got up and went to touch his shoulder. He held up his hand. I stopped before I actually touched him.

“Stop, Christa. I-I should go. I didn’t think my feelings for you ran this deep. Forgive me.” He forced out a breath. Before I had time to react, he had swept me up in his arms one more time for a hard and scorching French kiss.