“Alex,” Hope gripped my face with both of her hands.
My breath came out in heavy rasps, like I was choking on my own memories and couldn’t focus on anything except for the terror of never being wanted.
Or loved.
Or cared for.
And then there was Hope.
She kissed me softly then.
On the corner of my mouth.
I ran my tongue over the spot where her lips had touched and was met with the salt of her tears.
She was crying.
No.
I reached up and touched my cheeks.
Those tears were mine.
“It’s okay.” The weak elf calmed me. The weak human spoke peace into existence, and I felt it wrap its arms around me, grounding me.
“This must happen.” I whispered. “It cannot be stopped.”
“Do you see me stopping it?” She countered in a brave tone.
“No.” My lips twitched as I reached for the front of my leather pants and tugged them free. “At least not yet.”
Her eyes widened a fraction before she lifted her head and said in a shaky voice. “I’m not afraid.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Yes, I am,” she echoed. “Death by orgasm wasn’t really on the plan for today.”
“Believe me when I say…” I stole a kiss and then another. “It would be a good way to go.”
“Says the one who’s living.”
“Silly elf.” I gripped her chin with my thumb and forefinger. “It is called the little death — both people die — let’s just hope that once you find your pleasure, it isn’t so overwhelming your heart stops.”
She gulped. “Will the heat get worse?”
“It will always get worse until you find what you need.”
“And what do I need?” Her heart hammered in her chest. I could hear it soaring to new heights as she leaned into me.
“I thought that should be obvious.” I thrust my hips against hers. “You need me.”
I didn’t give her time to think before I thrust into her, holding her body in place, allowing each sensation to build across her body in small manageable waves before the pleasure built once again.
“What’s—?” She squirmed and then relaxed before her body went completely rigid, her eyes widened and then she whispered. “Is that all?”
Uncontrollable laughter bubbled out of me. “I ripped off the band-aid.”
“Am I the band-aid?”
“Go ahead….” I challenged her, arching my eyebrows with amusement. “Move.”
She frowned.
I gripped her hips and blew across her lips knowing it would cool her down a fraction before the heat built up again between us. She had no choice but to move.
She flinched.
It was enough.
Her entire body exploded around me like a rainbow bursting through the kitchen, and then she moved again.
I gave her everything, allowing her to experience me without me forcing her, but when she slid her body against me a third time, I knew I couldn’t stay frozen.
Because a siren could only allow someone to take their pleasure for so long before they have to reciprocate.
It would be a pity if she died.
Because I liked her.
Too much.
More than I should.
I love you!
Don’t leave me! Don’t go to her!
The familiar voice screamed at me only to stop the minute Hope collapsed against my shoulder.
She panted against my shoulder as she experienced another release, and then I whispered with a wicked grin. “My turn.”
Hope
HIS EYES BLAZED red as he lifted me slowly into his arms. I opened my mouth to speak, but jolts of pleasure rocked through me, stealing my words. I couldn’t stop those intoxicating zaps even if I wanted to; it was like every time I moved, I was shocked.
He was right.
It would be a good way to go.
I’d never felt anything like it before.
How was it possible to feel so much? To be so sated yet greedy for more of him?
His overly long hair seemed to grow before my very eyes into something out of a fairy tale as rainbow colored strands entwined with one another and then went completely black as night. His eyes went from red to an icy blue that filled the entire expanse of his eyes.
His skin appeared as though kissed by the sun, the smell of rain attacked my senses. And then he spoke.
“You will belong to no one else.” His voice was as commanding as it was heavy, as though the weight of his words had settled across my body pushing me like gravity into the table.
I couldn’t shake the familiarity of his words, the way they burned into my soul like I’d been waiting for them for thousands of years.
Alex’s eyes locked onto mine. “Say yes.”
It was the fighter in me — that demanded I say no. That said he should at least say please.
But I was too overwhelmed to do anything but nod as his head tilted to the side in a predatory movement that had me wondering if he was more animal than man.
My answer came when he quite literally leaped into the air, pulling me with him before literally sucking the life out of me with his kiss.
He drank me.
This wasn’t kissing.
It felt like he was devouring my soul, my entire body clenched as his lips molded around mine, sucking, plundering as his tongue flicked, as he sucked until I thought I was going to pass out.
Air left my lungs.
And then Alex exhaled into me, as if he was bringing me back to life, and at that moment, he thrust into me again. Another breath, another thrust, until he filled me with each exhale. Like he’d stolen my soul and was giving me his.