I wasn’t sure why I was saying his name—it was half warning, half plea. He knew I hadn’t meant what I said, and now he intended to teach me a lesson. I wanted it. I even widened my legs and he chuckled as he smoothed his hand up my back until he reached my hair, which he pulled, tilting my head back, my throat taut.

“So rarely under my control,” he whispered. “I like you like this.”

He withdrew his fingers and pressed a kiss to my lower back before he guided himself into me. He still held my hair, and once he gained momentum, he released me and placed his hand flat on my upper back, pushing me to the bed. His movements were rough and hard, and I loved it, wanted more of it.

I panted, ragged and raw, and the only thing I hated about this was that I could not see the pleasure on his face. He moved his hand to my clit, rubbing furiously, and then suddenly he was bent completely over me, my whole body resting against the bed. He bit me in the hollow of my neck, and I completely came apart.

When he was finished, he rolled to the side and draped his arm around my waist. I was too tired to move.

He kissed me and then nuzzled my neck in the spot where he’d taken my blood over and over tonight.

“You are my light,” he said as I descended into darkness.

***

I was conscious that it was bright. I could tell, even though I had yet to open my eyes. There was a part of me that did not want to face the day, not in the aftermath of Sorin’s betrayal. Today I’d have to talk about it and feel the pain—but it was not just my pain. It was also Adrian’s and Daroc’s.

“I know you are awake,” said Adrian.

I opened my eyes, blinking up at my husband, who stood beside the bed, naked. His body was smeared with dried blood.

“I’ve had a bath drawn for us,” he said and held out his hand.

When I sat up, my head swam, and I accepted his help as I rose to my feet. I looked down at my body and then back at our bed—it was all stained with blood.

Adrian offered a small smile. “New vampires are messy.”

He walked with me to the metal tub, and I was glad for it because I did not feel completely stable on my feet.

I lowered into the water, steam curling around me as I did. Adrian followed, settling behind me. We spent a few moments cleaning the blood from our skin before I leaned against his chest, his arms crossed over my body, protective, comforting—and then he spoke, his voice soft and serious.

“Tell me what happened. Every detail.”