"You said you don't have any kind of life and haven't for a while." He paused, watching for any hint to her emotions. "Have one with me. It'll be fun. You can still kill vampires if you have a mind to, but you will be fighting at my side from now on. I won't allow you to go out on your own to kill rogues. Nothing is going to happen to you. I'll protect you and plan to cover you a lot." He chuckled. "Spread your thighs wider. I plan to cover you for a few hours at least."

"You want to f.u.c.k me now?"

"Dying to," he rasped. "Kiss me."

"Not with those teeth you're sporting. Tongue piercings aren't as hot on women as men. At least not from my perspective."

He laughed, unable to resist her charm. She was feisty and smart, two things he admired. "I didn't nick that sweet p.u.s.s.y of yours. Kiss me. I'm dying to taste you."

She didn't comply. "I really think you're having a bad reaction to something. Do vampires have doctors? Maybe we should call one."

"Is it so difficult to believe I would want to keep you?" He grinned. "You kept me."

"I couldn't kill you if there was a chance you were good. I've known some monsters in my time who were totally human. It just stood to reason that it might be the same in your world. Good and bad bloodsuckers."

The last smidgen of doubt left Lethal as to why he was so drawn to her. The la.s.s was ideal for him. "I know the perfect cure for what ails me."

"What?"

"You spreading your thighs and letting me inside." He softly growled. "I need you, Lacey. Only you. Stop worrying about me harming you and live for the moment."

"For the record, this isn't what I expected if you broke free."

"Noted. Now open up for me, la.s.s. I want you, and you want me."

"What the h.e.l.l." Her fingers slid into his hair. "We've done everything else. I still think you're having a bad reaction to the blood, but I'm just glad it makes you h.o.r.n.y instead of violent."

"We haven't quite done everything. Agree to stay with me." He could think of a hundred things he'd like to do to her, with her, and have her do to him. She would balk at first at some of it but he was certain, once she got over her aversion to blood, she'd see the pleasure in sharing some with him.

"Tonight?"

"Every night."

"You're high on drugs or cow blood. You don't mean that."

He laughed. "I'm high on happiness and living. You're a breath of fresh air, and you make me content. You live on the edge already as a vampire hunter. Take another risk. What do you have to lose, Lacey, love? Lonely nights with a vibrator? I'm much better, and I don't need batteries. You're hanging out with people you don't trust. You said you can't speak for your team, which implies you aren't close to them." He settled over her, pinning her more firmly under him. "You and I, we're as close as two can be. It will feel right if you'll just release your fears. I'd never hurt you."

"I barely know you but you're acting as if you want us to live together. Every night is pretty specific."

"We fit together." He shifted his hips, his c.o.c.k pressed against her p.u.s.s.y, and he began to stretch her v.a.g.i.n.al walls with his thick shaft. She was pure heaven as the tight fit of her p.u.s.s.y squeezed around his d.i.c.k. "Perfectly."

She moaned. "That feels so good."

"Say yes."

"You're already halfway in." Her hips bucked, trying to urge him to drive all the way inside her body. "Give it to me."

He planned to. "Lacey?"

She stared into his eyes. "Lethal?"

"I won't let you down. Whoever that human was, he was a fool to let you go. I'd never make such a mistake."

He didn't want to frighten her by explaining what he was about to do. She might fight him. As much as he wanted her trust, keeping her at his side meant more. The two needs conflicted, but a sense of urgency to bind them together had taken hold. Part of it was instinct once he'd decided she was his, combined with his pending loss of control. Lacey had his blood almost boiling with the desire to stake his claim.

She'd forgive him once she got over her anger. He had to believe that. There was no way he'd risk anyone mistaking her for anything less than what she was-his.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, hugging his hips with her thighs. "You're big but I think I can survive. Give me your best." She squirmed, a pleading look in her gaze, telling him she wanted him as much as he did her.

"Agree to be mine and to stay with me." Guilt p.r.i.c.ked him, but he hadn't survived so long without taking what he wanted and fighting to keep it. "I'll never harm you. At least not beyond the next few minutes."

"Okay. We'll try this dating thing if that's what you really want. Just quit stalling by committing s.e.xual torture and you can spend every night with me if you get me off."

She mistook his warning of pain as one of possible rough s.e.x. He chuckled. "Not a problem. I'm going to learn every inch of you and how to bring you untold pleasure every day."

"You mean night."

He went for her lips, kissing her smart mouth. Lacey moaned as his c.o.c.k plunged into her deep. Her v.a.g.i.n.al muscles clenched around him and he began to f.u.c.k her in earnest, every thrust of his c.o.c.k bringing her closer to climax. His mouth mimicked his hips, his tongue stroking her tongue, and she cried out when he purposely nicked her with his teeth.

Lacey's blood was sweeter than he'd imagined-actually sweet. His provocative la.s.s really enjoyed sugary treats. There was a lot he learned as he kissed her, coaxing her to bleed a little more by sucking on her tongue to draw it out. He'd have preferred to take it straight from the vein but she'd fear that. It almost drove him over the edge and his b.a.l.l.s tightened in antic.i.p.ation of coming.

He ran his tongue over his sharp tooth, the bite of pain just adding to his pleasure. Their blood mingled as he continued to kiss her. She moaned but didn't jerk her head aside and pull away. She had to taste it, but didn't seem to mind.

The bonding began as he opened his emotions and allowed his hormones to do their thing. He fought the strong urge to rip his mouth away and bite into his wrist to feed her from his vein while sinking his fangs into her throat. He wanted more of her in every way. It would seal the bond forever.

Not yet, he ordered himself. She's not ready. This will have to do for now. Anyone near her will know she's mine with my blood in her system. Patience.

Lacey shouldn't have been surprised when Lethal ended up biting her tongue and sucking on it. It was bound to happen if she kissed a vampire. The pain eased and the erotic sensation of what he was doing to her made her unconcerned that the coppery taste of her blood filled her mouth. He slowed the pace, she moaned in protest as the pleasure eased just enough to keep her from coming, but he kept kissing her.

The taste of blood mingled between them. It was actually kind of hot. Lethal was a master at taking her right to the edge of climax before easing back. She frantically kissed him, trying to convey how badly she needed him. She clawed at his shoulders, digging her nails in. It seemed to excite him as he f.u.c.ked her harder, faster, until Lacey jerked her mouth from his to scream from the intensity of the o.r.g.a.s.m.

Something wet ran down the side of her mouth as she panted. It was warm as she rested her cheek on the mattress. Lethal's body shook above her, in the throes of finding his own release as he came deep inside her. She loved how she could feel that with him.

"Sleep, love." He lowered his head and brushed a kiss on her throat. "We start our new life when you wake."

"I'm okay. That was amazing but I'm not going to conk out on you. I'm so not a guy. If you need a nap, at least roll over first. Don't trap me under you. Of course, I can't swear I won't find a marker to write on you if you pa.s.s out. I'll be bored and that's never a good thing."

He chuckled. "I believe you would."

She dropped her hand away from his shoulder and reached for the side of her face, bothered that she might be drooling and wanting to wipe it away before Lethal noticed. Her fingers touched something slippery and she pulled her hand back to stare at them.

Blood. A lot of it. Too much. She turned her head, staring up at him in shock. That wasn't just from a nick to her tongue. "You fed from me?"

"We fed from each other." He hesitated. "I gave you some of my blood."

Horror flashed through her. "What?"

"It was necessary."

She struggled but Lethal was too heavy. He spread his knees wider and gripped her wrists, pinning her under him.

"Get off!"

"Lacey," he crooned, "calm down."

Is he kidding? "What did you do to me? Oh my G.o.d. Did you turn me into a blood slave? Will I have to go around saying 'yes, master' like the goons in those old vampire movies?" Tears filled her eyes as she continued to struggle. "d.a.m.n it! I trusted you!"

"I marked you."

She wished she could touch her neck but he refused to let her go. And what if he'd bitten her while he'd been going down on her too? She a.s.sumed she'd have felt his fangs sink into her skin but what if she was wrong about it hurting?

"You bit me?"

"No. I shared enough of my blood that anyone not human will smell me on you from at least ten feet away."

"Why?" Panic quickly set in. "You can't turn me into a brainless minion. I'll fight it."

"You watch too many movies."

Her strength suddenly waned and she gave up struggling, going still. "You didn't ask me if I wanted your blood. What will it do to me?" A terrible thought entered her mind. "You're not changing me into a vampire, are you?"

"Not yet."

That answer wasn't comforting in the least. "Lethal? What will your blood do to me?"

He frowned. "It tells others that you're mine. No one would dare harm you."

"You said to use your given name and I'd be safe."

"What if they don't give you the chance to talk? Rogues are out there." He leaned in closer. "Did the one who took your sister have a conversation with her first?"

The reminder was grim. "No. He just grabbed her and was gone in a flash."

"Exactly. Even my enemies wouldn't dare touch you. They'd know it would be a death sentence. I'd track them to the ends of the earth if that is what it took, and they'd pay dearly for it. No one is that foolish."

Lacey forced a few deep breaths. "You could have asked first by explaining it to me. You didn't."

"I'm sorry for that. I was worried you'd say no."

"I would have. What are the side effects? Don't tell me there won't be any. I'm not an idiot. I've seen what you can do and there's no way your blood won't affect me."

"It will heal you. Does your tongue hurt where I nicked it?"

She ran it over the roof of her mouth, not feeling anything unusual. "No."

"Small doses of my blood over time will keep you from aging. It will make you feel stronger. I've heard, in some cases, the sense of smell and eyesight sharpen as well."

"You heard? You don't know for sure but you did this to me? What am I? A guinea pig?"

"I've never marked a la.s.s before." Broad shoulders shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I plan to change you over when you're ready."

"I don't want to be a vampire."

"I want you stronger, Lacey. I need you to be my equal."

"What does that mean?"

"I told you, I don't create vampires. It's made me more powerful than others my age who have continuously shared their blood. Anyone I turn will be stronger than a newly sired vamp. I want you to be difficult to kill. You're too fragile as a human."

"You said I'd be safe since I have your blood."

"From others of my kind. What if you were hurt while you're away from me during the day? I couldn't reach you, Lacey. My blood in your system will help but ma.s.sive injuries wouldn't heal. You could die."

It was kind of sweet in a morbid way. She had to give him that. "I can't ever drink blood. I'd make a horrible vampire. It's not only gross but I've spent three years hating bloodsuckers. Never once have I ever considered wanting to become one."

"You'll need to feed, and you'll crave blood once you're turned. I promise it's enjoyable."

Her mind ran over the possibilities and her jaw clenched. "You have to feed too."

"Yes."

Anger surged. "I see. This is your way of having an open relationship with me, isn't it?" Confusion clouded his gaze. It p.i.s.sed her off. "You want to date me but you know I'll have a problem with you touching other women. One human donor wouldn't be enough, would it? Even if I allowed you to take my blood, you'd need more. You'll turn me into a bloodsucker so I can't complain about your feeding habits. No thanks. I told you this couldn't work. I'm into monogamy. Get off me. Your clothes are in the other room. Get dressed and leave now. Thanks for not killing me. We're even."

His mouth pressed into a tight line. "Date?" He scoffed. "I'm offering a lifetime commitment-you will be mine, as I will be yours. I would never toss up a la.s.s's skirts...unless you were in them."

"I don't wear skirts."

"You know what I mean. You're all I want." He looked sincere but it had to be some kind of trick.

"Whose blood will we drink then? Can two vampires sustain each other?"

"No. We'd have to drink it from bags as well."

"You said it tastes nasty."

"I said cow blood does, and it was cold. I buy warm, fresh blood from my sources. We'll drink from those and from each other." He paused. "Taking blood from donors isn't always about s.e.x, my nave la.s.s."

"Aha!" Suspicion narrowed her eyes. "Here it comes. You're paving the way to excuse you sucking on the necks of other women. See? It can't work between us."

Irritation crinkled his eyes and mouth. "You're being sa.s.sy."

"I'm being honest."

He sighed loudly, shaking his head. "I won't cheat. Is that clear enough?"

"Define your version of cheating. You are pretty old. Nowadays women don't accept a double standard."

The soft growl surprised her before he leaned in closer until their lips brushed. "It's the same as yours, la.s.s. I won't be touching another woman. You won't be touching another man. Now go to sleep."