Gulping, she nodded, angling her neck toward him. “Take a lot. I really don’t want to kill you.”

Sweet words, really. His fangs dropped, and before she could ask any more questions, he struck.

* * * *

Adare’s fangs struck deep into Grace’s neck, and she gasped, her eyelids closing instantly. Pain and numbness and pleasure collided inside her, spiraling out in every direction. Sparks flashed behind her eyelids and she moaned, leaning into his touch. Into his heat and hardness.

Smoothly, with his fangs remaining in place as he drank, he turned her to face him. One hand twisted in her hair to pull and elongate her neck even more, and he went deeper, overwhelming her.

Her blood electrified and rushed through her veins faster than ever as if to get to him.

Her thighs gripped the outside of his, and she pressed herself against the obvious bulge in his jeans, crying out as electrical shocks zinged across her engorged clit.

His fangs retracted and his rough tongue scraped across her neck, sealing the wound.

She partially lifted herself away. “You didn’t take enough.”

His hand twisted more, and his mouth crashed down on hers. The tip of a fang caught her lip as it retracted, shooting hunger through her every nerve. He went deep, hard and fast, kissing her with indescribable ferocity. He tasted of male and spice and a hint of sweet metal.

She moaned, opening her mouth, taking more of him.

His free hand gripped her hip, pulling her even closer against him, forcing her to ride the hard ridge of his erection. Pressure built inside her.

Wait a minute. Wait. She plastered a hand against his chest and pushed, wrenching her mouth free. “Stop.”

He stilled.

She panted, tried to get herself under control, and then groaned. “We have to stop. Emma said you’d need twenty-four hours to assimilate the blood you just took.” Her hands shook with the need to rip off his shirt and go to town on his magnificent chest. Instead, she pushed away, sliding across his thighs to stand. Her sex ached for him, and she partially bent over, trying to ease the pressure from her own jeans. “This is so hard.”

“That’s what she said,” he rumbled.

Her head snapped up. Even in pain, she stood, her mouth agape. “Did you just make a joke? A real joke?”

Lust sizzled in his eyes and agony darkened his high cheekbones. “I’m very funny.”

She chuckled. “I didn’t know that.” If she didn’t die from lust, it was going to be interesting getting to know him better. Getting to see a side to him that nobody else ever saw. The side that cracked a joke when they both were so aroused the air thickened around them. The desire slowly ebbed so she could at least walk. “I’m, ah, going to go eat something. A lot of something.”