Blood Heart

by Lexi C. Foss

  “We’ll be leaving soon,” he whispered. “I promise.”

  She nodded slowly as faith dilated her pupils. That look undid him. He didn’t know how he’d managed to convince her to trust him, but he would never take it for granted.

  “I still need to scan you, and I think Luc will want to talk to you about a blood sample. Afterward, we’ll go wherever you want, for as long as you need, okay?”

  “Blood sample?” she repeated, sounding uncertain.

  “He’s out of options since the CRF serum doesn’t tell us much.”

  “Oh…”

  “But you can say no,” he assured. “Everything that happens will be your choice. Always.” And that applied to more than the research. He meant that in the bedroom as well.

  She nodded again. “I’ve never been to Bora Bora.”

  He grinned. “You’ll love it.”

  “Okay,” she agreed, her lips curling into a small grin.

  He nuzzled her nose. “Okay.”

  Their brief exchange, though meant to be private, must have appeased Tom as well, because he had left without a word.

  Trust, it seemed, was the theme of the day.

  19

  A Lesson in Confidence

  Benefactor denied request to remove pleasure receptors, stating subject should feel satisfaction. Upgrade is forthcoming.

  —Entry Log 116.11.4-7

  Lizzie expected a hotel room with beach views, not this gorgeous, secluded cabin on the ocean. There were others like it, but each one was strategically placed to give a semblance of privacy. And it came equipped with a private dipping pool, as well as an open deck to the salt water below.

  And one giant bed.

  “This is incredible,” she said as she opened the balcony doors.

  Jayson’s scanner hadn’t picked up any devices—indicating they were free to enjoy their stay without interruption—and the two large suitcases Jacque had teleported with them suggested they would be here for a while.

  Lizzie had mentioned her job, not that it mattered anymore, and Jayson said someone would handle it for her. Whatever that meant. Something told her she wouldn’t be working for a while, if ever again.

  Being coddled should have bothered her, but after the last few days, she welcomed it and didn’t ask any questions. She was just grateful to be away from Hydria and Tom. And Stas, too. The latter had showed up at the end of Lizzie’s medical session with Luc and tried to express her regret, but it fell flat.

  Lizzie wasn’t ready.

  She understood the reason Stas and Tom kept everything from her, at least on a logical level, but that didn’t fix her broken heart. She needed time to think, and she couldn’t do that with them barraging her with apologies.

  This—the sea, the fresh air, and the new experience—was what she needed. And the fact that Jayson knew and understood that floored her.

  She should be just as angry with him, but all the blame fell at Stas’s and Tom’s feet instead. Mostly because they were the ones who lied to her for months, even years.

  Not Jayson. Everything he told her was a version of the truth with missing details. They were important omissions, but not nearly as devastating as the ones her best friends kept from her.

  Tom was alive.

  Stas controlled people and would someday be immortal.

  Two very important facts that true friends would never withhold.

  Jayson’s only fault was knowing the truth and not saying anything, but it was never his place to tell her. She understood that after their discussion on the plane, and perhaps even before that.

  Her initial hurt had been the result of her intense feelings for him and the overall situation. But it took time to learn someone’s faults and secrets, and their friendship was still very new. She thought that might be why she could be so angry with Stas and Tom, but not with Jayson.

  Or maybe it went deeper.

  Her connection with him defied comprehension. Staying in a room alone with him should terrify her, yet all she felt was satisfaction and perhaps a little bit of anticipation. Especially with the way he was looking at her now.

  “Jacque bought you some clothes,” he said as he wheeled over the suitcase.

  She frowned. “He did? But how did he know my size?”

  “I gave him the information he needed.”

  She glanced at the bag then back at him, uncertain. Her sizes varied by store, something her mother loved to ridicule her about. Because apparently, Lizzie had control over the fashion industry. “Uh, are you sure you got it right?”

  His eyes roamed over her slowly and thoroughly, leaving her a little breathless. “I’m confident in my measurements.” He set the suitcase on a luggage rack and unzipped it. “But feel free to try them on, Red. I’ll be changing into swimming trunks.”

  She swallowed as he sauntered off with his own bag in the direction of the oversized bathroom.

  Swimsuit. Yeah. She could handle that.

  Her whole sense of time was backward after hopping from Rome to Hydria to Bora Bora, but she thought it was morning. A glance at the clock confirmed her theory.

  Talk about the longest day ever. She could get used to having a teleporter around.

  Lizzie peeked at the contents laid out before her and grinned at the array of color. Sundresses, flip-flops, and several swimsuits.

  Perfect.

  Her jaw dropped as she found the lingerie. The French designer brand was one she knew well, but not one she ever purchased from.

  “Oh, crap,” she breathed. The gorgeously crafted handmade items were nothing like her usual flair, and very sexy.

  Jacque picked these? Her cheeks warmed. Oh dear.

  “I definitely think you should try those on,” Jayson said as he entered the bedroom in a pair of black swim shorts. No shirt.

  Her mouth watered at the sight of all that delicious muscle on display and, at the same time, dropped open at his comment.

  “I… These…” She cleared her throat. “I’ll just be putting on a swimsuit.”

  She grabbed one blindly and walked swiftly to the bathroom area. A huge round tub, a marble shower, and a double sink took up about a quarter of the space. The toilet was off to one side with an oversized walk-in closet across from it. Another long marble counter ran the length of the adjacent wall.

  So much space for two people. No wonder Jayson only reserved one room.

  Lizzie removed the outfit she purchased in Rome and folded it on the counter, and picked up the string bikini.

  She held it up and nearly swallowed her tongue.

  Not a full-piece bottom, but a thong with little strings at the sides.

  That’s what she deserved for rushing the selection process, but seriously, who wore thong swimsuits?

  Lizzie pinched the bridge of her nose. She should have checked the swimsuit before undressing herself. Walking out there in a towel to dig through the suitcase would attract attention, as would putting all her clothes back on and starting over again.

  Damn it.

  Why would Jacque buy her such sexy outfits? Was it a European thing? Maybe all the women in Hydria wore thongs. Jayson probably wouldn’t notice, right? Or he’d be comparing her to all the other women in his life.

  No. She couldn’t go there, or she’d lose all her confidence.

  Right. Okay. She would wear it and cover up with a towel. Jayson would be none the wiser, especially if she jumped into the water after him.

  The deep-red bikini top fit her perfectly, as did the bottom, though that didn’t surprise her. Not a whole lot of fabric on a thong.

  She found a towel, wrapped it around herself, and wandered barefoot into the bedroom, where Jayson stood waiting with the hotel phone in his hand. His other hand rubbed his chest idly, bringing Lizzie’s focus to all that muscle again.

  So hot.

  Especially the way he drew his palm up to the back of his neck and squeezed, accenting his biceps.

  Immortality seemed to gift men wit
h insane sex appeal. Between Jayson, Issac, and Balthazar, the female gender didn’t stand a chance. Neither did the males, for that matter.

  As if hearing her thoughts, Jayson turned and winked at her while listening to whoever was on the phone.

  “That sums it all up nicely, thank you.” He hung up. “I arranged for an early dinner on the beach for after our swim. I figure we’ll be hungry again by four or so.”

  “Uh, sure.” She gestured toward the deck. “Okay. After you.”

  His gaze danced over her as he sauntered toward her instead of the open doors. She backed up into the wall and gulped as he entered her personal space without preamble.

  “Why are you hiding?” he asked, voice deceptively soft. The heat from his chest radiated against hers, but he didn’t touch her. Not physically, anyway.

  “I-I’m not.”

  He traced the top of the towel, just over her breasts. “Liar.”

  Jayson tugged on the knot, and her hands flew up to catch the fabric before it fell. Butterflies took flight in her abdomen as he grinned at her instinctual reaction.

  “I warned you, Red.” A sharp yank sent the towel to the floor. “I’m done holding back.”

  Lizzie tried to cover herself, but he captured her wrists and pressed them against the wall on either side of her head. Warmth pooled between her legs at the show of dominance, causing her to squirm and Jayson to grin.

  His gaze touched every inch of her bare skin, leaving her hot and bothered by the end of his exploration.

  “This color looks amazing on you.” Approval deepened his tone, sending a shiver down her spine despite the warm air. “I think we’re ready to renegotiate limits.”

  She swallowed. “What did you have in mind?”

  He slid her hands over her head, where he clasped one big palm around both her wrists. It left her feeling exposed and powerless, but she trusted her captor. And she was more than ready to further explore with him.

  “This isn’t about me, but about you, sweetheart.” His free hand slid down her arm to her collarbone, and lower. Her nipples pebbled as he played his fingers over her cleavage. He tweaked one stiff peak without warning, eliciting a moan from Lizzie as she arched into him. It hurt, but the way he massaged it afterward felt so, so good.

  “Mmm, I can work with that,” he murmured as his touch shifted south. Her breathing escalated as he traced her belly button and ventured lower to the small patch of fabric covering her mound.

  His eyes held hers as he slowly drew his thumb over the top of her bikini bottoms to her hip bone before continuing the path of her swimsuit along the crease of her thigh. Electricity hummed in her veins as anticipation thickened the air between them.

  “Not a limit,” she breathed, telling him with words and her body that she was ready for whatever he wanted.

  But rather than take what she offered, he skimmed his knuckles along her thigh, around to her bare ass. He cupped one cheek and applied pressure, forcing her hips to meet his.

  “Do you feel that, Lizzie?” he asked, his voice low and seductive. “Do you feel how much I want you?”

  God, yes. She nodded.

  “Words, Lizzie.” He pinched her ass in reprimand, then soothed it the same way he did her nipple. “Do you feel how hard I am?”

  She swallowed and started to nod again, when she realized his demand. “Y-yes,” she managed to say, though it sounded more like a groan.

  “Good.” His hand slid to the strings decorating her thighs. “Never belittle yourself by hiding, Red.”

  He held her gaze as he continued. “I promised never to lie to you, and I make no exception now when I say, you’re gorgeous, Elizabeth. I’ve thought that since the first moment I laid eyes on you, and my attraction has only grown.” He punctuated the point by pressing his groin into her again and drawing another moan from her throat in the process.

  “I went easy on you the other night, sweetheart,” he whispered darkly. “But your limits have expanded, and I intend to explore them thoroughly.”

  “Yes, please,” she breathed as she arched into him again. They could swim later. Or during. She didn’t care as long as it meant more of that pleasure he introduced her to over the last week. It was unlike anything she had experienced, and she yearned for more.

  He tugged on the bow at her hip until it came undone. Her heart rate kicked up a notch as he explored her freshly exposed curls with his thumb.

  “I bet these are red too.” His lips caressed her mouth with each word. “I can’t wait to see how you blush down there while I’m tasting you.”

  Her knees trembled with the image his words evoked. What would it feel like with no barriers?

  The other side of her bottoms came undone and fell to the floor between her legs. He licked her bottom lip before nibbling gently. “Hang on, Red,” he whispered as he released her hands. “I’m going to devour you now.”

  That was the only warning he gave as he went to his knees before her and kissed her there.

  “Oh God…” She tried to grab the wall and failed.

  It was wicked, wet, and so very wild.

  Her head fell back on a moan as his tongue explored her intimately. She thought the pleasure from the other night was intense, but it was nothing compared to this. His hands on her hips were all that kept her from falling.

  His name fell from her mouth as a plea to never stop, but he controlled every move. She was a slave to his demands and the pace he set with his mouth.

  “More,” she begged, not knowing what she meant but knowing she needed something. Her thighs shook with the mounting pleasure, and she wondered how long she could remain standing.

  He took the choice away from her by rising to his feet and kissing her soundly on the mouth. The taste of her own arousal knocked her legs right out from under her. Jayson lifted her into his arms without missing a beat and carried her to the bed.

  The soft sheets soothed her heated skin, but only the man crawling over her could ease the ache between her thighs. She threaded her fingers through his thick hair and forced him to kiss her again. He grinned against her lips but placated her silent demand by sliding his tongue into her mouth and staking his claim on her soul.

  Deep down, she knew no one would ever come close to making her feel as Jayson did. His skills set the bar too high, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Make love to me,” she whispered. Fuck me were the words he probably wanted, but she couldn’t seem to say them. They felt dirty and vulgar and so inappropriate for this moment.

  He palmed her cheek and kissed her far too softly. “Love is not a word I use lightly, Lizzie.” Another caress of his lips was followed by his tongue lightly dancing with hers as he untied the strings at her nape. He drew his nose across her cheek and pressed his mouth to her ear. “But it’s a word I may just use for you.”

  Her skin burned as he trailed kisses along her throat to her breasts. His nimble fingers slid beneath her back to unfasten the top and tossed it aside. She bowed off the bed as he sucked her nipple deep into his mouth with a force she hadn’t expected. Pain mingled with euphoria, confusing her nerve endings and heightening the pulse between her thighs. When his hand wandered down to explore her wetness, she moaned.

  It was as if he had every button on her body memorized. He knew where and how hard to press to drive her insane with need.

  Her hands were in his hair, tugging and pulling, as her body trembled uncontrollably beneath his.

  And then he entered her. Not in the way she originally requested, but with two fingers twisting in a delicious pattern that brought tears to her eyes.

  Heaviness weighed down her limbs as she fought for her elusive climax, but it evaded her.

  Lizzie groaned in frustration as Jayson pulled away, and subsequently froze at the sight of him removing his swim shorts. He did so slowly, as if performing a striptease meant only for her, and tauntingly revealed the part of him she’d yet to see.

  She licked her lips at the
beautiful sight of him fully nude and longed to explore him for herself.

  He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth for a warning nibble. “Touch me now and we’ll be doing this an entirely different way,” he murmured as he settled between her thighs.

  “I don’t care how it’s done,” she breathed. “I just want you.”

  His erection prodded her slick folds and found her entrance with ease. Her hips flexed in encouragement, but his palms held her down.

  “Minx,” he murmured, his tone holding a touch of admonishment. “You’re forgetting who’s in charge again.” His thick head slid inside her while he spoke, causing her to still beneath him. “This is going to hurt, Red.”

  Her lips parted to reply, but a shocked gasp exited instead as he penetrated her innocence in one swift move.

  His warning did not prepare her for the severe reality of the experience. She thought it would be slow and didn’t expect to be split in half by his impressive length.

  Tears pricked her eyes, and not the good kind. She clung to his shoulders, begging him not to move again.

  “Breathe.” He nuzzled her neck. “Concentrate on me, sweetheart. Feel my mouth”—he licked a path along her throat—“and my touch.”

  His hands drifted up her sides to cup her breasts. She whimpered as his thumbs thrummed her stiff peaks.

  “That’s it, Red. Feel me.” He nibbled her jaw while his fingers worked magic around her nipples. She pressed into him and jolted at the reminder of the fullness below, but it didn’t throb in the way she expected; it was more of a tingle.

  Lizzie lifted her hips to test the friction and found the movement far more pleasurable than she anticipated. Another shift had her moaning in approval.

  His hot length branded her insides, claiming her as his in a way no other man ever had or would. He would forever hold her virginity, a gift she would never give anyone else, and she was oddly at peace with that.

  His mouth took possession of hers as his body began to move. Slowly at first, almost teasingly so, before steadily increasing in power and in ferocity. He grabbed her hip to control the pace as his opposite hand cupped her cheek.