My breath caught as his fingers traced from my back to my front, a whisper against my jeans. Tugging at the top button. Hinting. “I’m wearing caps,” he said. “The vampire has been defanged.”

Startled, my lips parted as he smiled, showing me that his sharp canines were indeed capped. It sent a surge of heat through me, disquieting and thought provoking. Sure, he couldn’t draw blood, but now I’d let him explore a hell of a lot more of me. And he knew it. But safe? No. He was more dangerous now than if he hadn’t capped his teeth.

“Oh God,” I whispered, knowing I was lost as he nuzzled his head into the hollow of my shoulder and gently kissed me. Eyes closing, I sent my fingers into his hair, clenching as his kiss shifted, moving to the very edge of my collarbone where my scar started.

Waves of demand pulsed from it, and my knees buckled.

“Sorry,” Kisten breathed huskily as he caught my elbows and kept me upright. “I didn’t know it was that sensitive. Just how much saliva did you get dosed with?”

His lips were off my neck and by my ear. Almost panting, I leaned into him. The blood in me pounded, wanting me to do something. “I almost died,” I said. “Kisten …”

“I’ll be careful,” he said, the tenderness going right to my core. I willingly followed his lead as he sat me on the couch, nestling me between the back and the arm. Taking his hands, I pulled Kisten down beside me. My scar was tingling and waves of promise scoured me. Where were we going?

“Rachel?”

I heard the same question in his voice, but I didn’t want to answer. Smiling, I pulled him closer across the couch. “You talk too much,” I whispered, and covered my mouth with his.

A soft sound came from him as his lips pushed back, his stubble rough. Fingers spaced wide across my cheek, he held me still as I pulled his weight farther down upon me. Nudging my hip, he made room for his knee between me and the back of the couch.

My skin tingled where his fingers touched my jaw. I slipped a hesitant tongue between his lips, and my breath came quick as he darted his tongue deep into me. He tasted faintly of almonds, and when he moved to draw away, I twined my fingers at the nape of his neck to keep him there just a moment longer. He made a surprised sound, pushing more aggressively. Now I pulled back, running my tongue across the smoothness of his teeth as I went.

Kisten shuddered, the tremor felt clearly as he supported his weight over me. I didn’t know how far I wanted to go. But this? This was good. I couldn’t lead him on, promising more than I could give. “Wait …” I said reluctantly, meeting his gaze.

But seeing him above me, breathless with his passion held in check, I hesitated. His eyes were black, heady with desire and need. I searched for and found a carefully checked blood lust. His shoulders were tense under his shirt, a hand was firm against my side, his thumb massaging under my halter. The look of wanting in him sent adrenaline to my core, rousing me more than his rough and gentle touch that rose higher to find my breast. Oh, to be wanted, needed.