He teased, stroking slowly at the interior of her mouth and deepening the kiss. The driving touch urged her to respond to him. Lorcan repeated the action, this time stopping to deliver slow and light brushing strokes against each fang. He flicked at the sharpened tip of one until she was gasping, then paused long enough to let the need settle into her fully before switching his arousing play to the other. In desperation, she timidly brushed her tongue up to his; he growled his encouragement. Lorcan he felt her smile against his mouth before she allowed her tongue to drift along the length of his.
Kaitriana continued with her hesitant touches until he deepened the kiss and began stroking light fingertips over her jaw line. His soft caresses teased down to the heavy pulse in her throat, across the exposed skin of her collar bone, and then back. The feel of his fingers on her bare flesh caused her mouth to grow hot against his. Emboldened, she traced the edge of his lips before slipping her tongue past them. Kaitriana took time to explore his fangs as he had hers.
His groan echoed in the room and Lorcan crushed her tightly to his chest. Still holding her in the crook of one arm, his other hand tangled in the mass of jet curls and pulled her head back so he could ravage her as he truly desired. Kaitriana was making hot little sounds low in her throat and she was beginning to writhe against him.
Lorcan returned the favor; he eased the pressure of his mouth and began taking his time to explore her fangs again. This time, gentleness forgotten, he traced hard circles against the length of each with his tongue just as his fingertip had earlier, over and over. His heated possession was causing Kaitriana to tingle with the need for more.
He was enjoying her reactions; her nails were dragging at his chest and she was kissing him wildly, matching the thrusts of his tongue aggressively. Lorcan knew she was reacting solely to the pleasure he was giving her, allowing it to overtake her exhaustion and hunger. When he pulled away from the kiss, her sound of disappointment pleased him. He shushed her and then tore at his own lip with a fang before returning it to hers.
Lorcan allowed his blood flow over her lips and tongue as he took the kiss deep again. He was growling low and deep, by heaven she was sweet. The languid movement of her body sliding against his chest as she writhed sensuously was driving him to the edge. The arm holding her tightened as she boldly took his lip and suckled as he had with her just moments before.
His blood was filling her with warmth and Kaitriana felt intoxicated, dizzy. His taste was potent and all of her senses were attuned to only that, only Lorcan. She wanted to drink him fully, not these teasing drops. Refusing to move her lips from his, she demanded breathlessly against his mouth instead, “Please Lorcan…more.”
Lorcan coiled her hair slowly, tight around his fisted hand. He held her head back as he raised his lips. His eyes swept her flushed face and bruised mouth. Torturing himself a little more, he lowered his lips and hotly traced her pulse with his tongue before nipping gently at the column of her throat.
Kaitriana moaned. He had earlier given her a brief picture of the ecstasy those fangs could deliver. She wanted more. Kaitriana stilled as he repeated the light bite and begged sweetly again, “Please Lorcan…please.”
His blistering gaze sought her face. Her eyes mirrored his - black ringed in ice. Like all Vampire, hers too shifted with any high emotion. Unlike the rest of the species, she matched him in this singularly odd trait. Lorcan had to disengage, because her eyes were pleading with him to continue and he wanted nothing more than to do just that. It was then that he noticed the lightning storm filling the sky outside the keep. If he did not calm her soon, the Elite would be shadowing into his chambers with swords drawn for battle.
His vision fell to her neck longingly, but Lorcan knew full well the witch could not be his that night. He knew that she did not even really understand what she requested by tempting him. Gathering Kaitriana closer, he quieted her when she began to protest by tucking her head into the crook of his neck. Lorcan leaned back against the wall, holding her close as he regained both breath and composure.
Her body would not still and Kaitriana nuzzled her face against his throat, whispering to him with a needy edge, “Lorcan…”
He understood her want; her newborn hunger was driving her to beg him to feed her. The tiny taste he had given was just enough to reawaken her appetite. Her arousal from their passionate play was also driving her pleas. Lorcan was still reeling with it, but he would deny himself this now because he would do nothing half-way with this one.
“Shhh…my little witch. You too must learn when to stand down,” he could not help but grin at turning these words on her. He felt the sting of her reaction as her fist impacted hard against his breastplate. Lorcan tilted her face to his and held it there with a hand firmly on her chin. He needed to watch her expressive face. His gaze was intense, penetrating, while letting her body slide slowly down his front. He savored the feel of her lithe little figure as her curves contacted with his hard planes.
Kaitriana was unsteady on her feet when she reached the ground. He loved her reaction and her inability to hide it. For a heartbeat Lorcan held her against him, his eyes challenging her to remove herself if she could. She did not push away. Instead her eyes tortured him, as the hope he would pull her back up into his embrace was clearly evident. One last second of torment and Lorcan exhaled slowly, setting her a good arms distance from him.
CHAPTER 13
Lorcan turned abruptly, waving her towards the overstated bed occupying the very center of his massive chamber. Appearing now completely unaffected by their exchange, he had assumed his authoritative warlord demeanor when he ordered brusquely, “Go lay down, I need to see to your feeding.”
Kaitriana hesitated for a moment, but realized from his expression that he would not be pleased were she to disobey him. She padded to the bed, grumbling the whole way over his abrupt disengagement from their kissing and his apparent easy dismissal of the same. She was also more than a bit anxious over the thought of this ‘feeding.’
She climbed right smack dab in the middle of his bed, fluffed her ruined skirts with a great show and flounced down with a huff to face him. Lorcan was watching her with a laughing grin. She stared him down, content to pout in the face of his amusement, “Lorcan, you have let me taste of you, can you not just provide what I need?”
Kaitriana appeared sincere, but he raised a brow at her, wondering if she was being deliberately difficult or serious. Before he could respond, she continued on, “Because if you bring me some squawking human and expect me to chomp chomp chomp, you can forget it.”
Lorcan laughed loudly, just then recalling that she had used those words on him a long time ago. Chomp chomp chomp indeed. Still shaking his head, amused, Lorcan began pulling the heavy armor from his torso and discarding it. Now in the leather breeches and a black shirt that he had worn beneath the armor, he looked a smidge less intimidating when he strode back to her. Taking a spot on the edge of the mattress, he crooked a finger, “Come here little vamp.”
She was unsure of his intentions. Maybe now he would take her to task over her sass, so Kaitriana edged only a few inches forward from her spot in the center, perhaps within arm’s reach…if he stretched. He did though and to her shock so quickly that he had her across his lap and was staring down at her before she could resist.
His eyes were still full of humor when he explained, “I will not bring you a human to chomp Kat, but neither can I give you this feeding. The amount of blood that you should consume to ease your hunger as a newly born should not come directly from the vein of a living vampire unless you want to find yourself mated.” Lorcan would have to remember to be mindful that all Kat knew of his breed had been taught by her Witch family, which no doubt left much lacking in her education.
Kaitriana had questions in her eyes so he continued patiently, “As a new vampire you will require substantially more blood at this feeding than is required normally to slake your thirst and keep you healthy. Right now you have very lit
tle blood in you; the blood that I am having prepared will contain a mixture of herbs that will help you with the lingering effects of the transition.”
He traced the dark line of her brows with a single finger before sliding down to tap the tip of her nose, “After that, if you wish me to give you blood you need but ask.” Lorcan slid his fingertip on down and parted the seam of her lips, playing with the tip of her fang. His voice had taken on that husky tone again that made her feel all warm inside, “If you behave, I may feed you often.”
Her eyes went black immediately and she stayed perfectly still, not daring to breathe. Her gaze locked on his as he leisurely rubbed the finger over her lips, tongue and fangs. His eyes responded in kind when her tongue darted out to flick at his finger but a sharp knock at the door had him withdrawing his touch. Kaitriana remained motionless but watched intently as he leaned down to her. Lorcan swept his lips over her brow before scooping her up and repositioning her to recline against the pillows stacked high against the headboard. He shadowed to the door. Completing a hushed exchange with Colm, the door was closed again and he was back positioning a tray carefully on the table to her side.
She passed a glance over the contents of the tray but shortly returned her attention to him. Kaitriana was much more interested in this time she was getting to spend with her warrior than what he might have on that tray and she admitted to herself that she hoped he would give her more of his kisses before he took his leave. Her gaze sought his and she found him studying her. Shifting nervously under his scrutiny, she questioned, “What did you mean Lorcan, about mating and consuming too much from a living vampire?” Her expression was earnest, she really had no idea.
It still amazed him that the Witch breed possessed so little understanding of the Vampire. He finished filling an oversized goblet to the brim and helped her into a sitting position against the pillows. Delivering it into her hands, Lorcan turned to provide her with an answer, “As a newly formed vampire, you have only the minute amount of blood that was left in you when you were bitten and that which was fed to you to turn you; neither is substantial. I must assume that you were created as all have been before.” Lorcan thought her eyes saddened as she nodded her answer. That was a curious reaction, and he did not wish to press her on it now given her exhaustion, so he continued on, “Do not think you will be withholding that story much longer, pet.”
Lorcan ran an assessing gaze over her, noting that she had only evidence of marks from him marring her skin. Another puzzle, but he kept his expression neutral while he explained, “The Vampire physiology requires that you maintain a certain level of blood to sustain you and you need to replenish yourself with a substantial volume before you begin to suffer ill effects.” He was pleased to note that she had been drinking the offering, no hesitation in her after the first reluctant sip.
Absent the haze induced by his kissing, she was increasingly aware of the throbbing that would not leave her brow, the light making her eyes ache, and the marked dryness in her throat. She gave him a gingerly nod to convey her understanding. Kaitriana had been surprised that the contents of the cup actually tasted wonderful; the warm drink was soothing and it was as though she could feel the liquid coursing through her body. She was far from done, she actually craved more.
He smiled as he took the cup to refill; he was doubtful that she was even aware how quickly she was consuming his offering. The creases in her brow indicated she was mulling over his explanation when he slipped the cup back into her grasp.
When she reached for the refill, her eyes probed his, “So if I drink too much blood from one vampire, I will be ‘mated’?”
Lorcan could tell by her tone that she thought it was ridiculous, “No Kat, if your blood stores are severely depleted and you replenish from a living vampire source, it will result in a ‘mating.’ Your kind would refer to it as a bonding, the kind between witches when they take a spouse. When vampires mate the female is bonded to the male by the sharing of blood and the bond cannot be severed.”
She halted the goblet’s path to her lips, unaware that she was nearly done, as she had gulped the liquid down in her hunger. Kaitriana was so engaged in the conversation that she had failed to note that Lorcan had patiently refilled it each time. She was becoming drowsy and settled back deeper into the pillows. His easy tone was lulling her, but she still fired off her questions in rapid succession, “How do the Vampire do this? And why is the female bonded to the male and not the male to the female?” Continuing to sip, she let her eyes drift closed.
Lorcan could tell she was becoming sated and would be unable to keep awake much longer. Smiling over her question, he wondered how long it would take her to equate herself to ‘the Vampire.’ Rather than answer, he made her finish her cup. Finally he took it from her hands and pressed her back into the pillows. One hand on her shoulder, he trailed a single fingertip slowly up the length of her arm with the other. His desire to touch her creamy skin was insatiable.
Kaitriana roused herself enough to push at him with a mighty frown, protesting, “I need this blood off. I cannot sleep covered in the stench of those evil Darks.”
She was stubborn, fighting the effects of the feeding and the herbal mixture that should be knocking her on her sassy little butt. Lorcan had a feeling he would need to grow used to a battle of wills with this one. He shadowed to the bath and returned momentarily with a basin and cloth, “This is as good as you will get this eve, little one. No arguments.” His strict tone told her that he would tolerate none.
Her frown remained until she realized his intention as he rubbed the dampened cloth softly across her brow. She made a purr of pleasure and he continued gently over her face and neck. He gave careful inspection to the flawless skin there for any lingering evidence of his earlier abuse. Lorcan took his time, thoroughly cleaning her chest and arms; he left and returned once more with a basin of clean water.
Dipping her hands, he stroked each finger to make certain no gore remained. He thought Kaitriana may be deep into her sleep when he finished his ministrations and he smiled with pleasure at the picture she made. Her dark curls were tousled about on his pillows and her pale skin was gorgeous against the dark blue silks that covered his bed.
Her hand brushed to his and her lashes fluttered. Kaitriana rolled on her side so that she would remain facing him and burrowed into the pillows. Lorcan settled a coverlet over her but she issued a sound of objection when he stood. Her delicate hand shot out from under her coverings towards him and her heavy-eyed blue gaze found his. “Please do nae leave me, Lorcan…please?”
Lorcan smiled at her slipping into the older dialect in her sleepy state and sat down to the side of her yet again, “Little Kat, you must sleep. I am ordering you to do this and you will not disobey me.”
Kaitriana snuggled closer to where he sat, “If you will stay for but nary moments more, I will be asleep, milord.” She had his nod of assent before murmuring, “You did nae tell me how…the mate…”
“If you close your eyes…” Lorcan petted her hair and Kaitriana obediently closed her eyes. He smiled tenderly at her; she pleased him greatly. He was so drawn to her that he would have much preferred to have shown her and been done with it, claiming her rightfully as his alone. That was not for this night.
Instead he slipped his fingers down her hair and drew the heavy mass of curls back from her neck. Lowering so that his breath tickled her ear, he traced lazy designs over the column of her neck with his fingertips, “We bond our females to us because we are an arrogantly dominant and fiercely possessive species Kaitriana. Instincts drive us to guard our females, we are the protectors. Few females of our breed have the strength to become warriors, and even with those that do, their males would not submit to being drained and bonded. It would be a sign of weakness.”
He was telling the truth, but he was also having a little fun goading her. As a Warrior Caste witch she would not agree with his breed’s attitude towards females. Lorcan was rewarded when she began to
protest, a grin tugging at his lips as he shushed her and moved on, “Your mate will pierce your neck right here.”
He pressed two fingers firmly against the vein in her neck. Lorcan was pleased with her shiver, but he was charmed when Kat countered grumpily in an obstinate tone, “Perhaps…if I allow it.”
Lorcan continued, noting her blush when he boasted in a hot whisper, “You will allow it…you will beg for it. When he takes you to his bed, your instincts will make you want him to drink of you while he loves you.”
Kaitriana tugged at her lip in reaction and her breath quickened. His little witch’s responsiveness astonished him and he felt a moment’s guilt. She was innocent and he should be getting her to sleep, not playing these games with her but Lorcan could not help himself. Her unguarded reactions made him crave her and he was not looking forward to walking away from her for the remainder of the night.
“He will be slow in taking your blood, prolonging his pleasuring of you,” his fingers continued to trace the vein in her throat. “When he has nearly depleted you…” Lorcan leaned in and ran his tongue along her neck as if tending the wounds that did not exist.
Kaitriana gasped at the unexpected contact with the warmth of his mouth and shifted to her back. Her hands left the confines of the blanket to grasp at the front of his shirt. His eyes flickered at her response to his teasing; he knew her arousal, knew without seeing that her eyes were swimming with black.
Lorcan tugged her hands free and captured them together in his one. Easing her wrists over her head, he lowered to lightly brush his lips across hers…twice. Her eyelids fluttered and he slid his lips across her cheek to hover over her ear, “No Kat, eyes closed.” Her lashes stilled.
Chosen: Book 1 in the Ancients of Light series Page 9
