“Are you sure we can paint here? It doesn’t look like anyone works here.”
“We’re welcome to use anything in the warehouse,” he reassured her. “The owner hosts paint nights here a few times a month.”
The owner must have an exceptional cleaning staff. Or very neat and tidy painters. Erica looked around again. Not a spec was on the floor. Julius seemed impervious to its glory as he fidgeted with several bottles of acrylic paint.
“I wasn’t sure what paint to get. The clerk at the store assured me that these were best for my value. Whatever that means.”
“All paint is good paint,” Erica reassured him. The acrylics in his hand would serve their needs for the night. “Let’s set up.”
Erica bounced around the studio, getting two stools in case they wanted to sit, grabbing a few spare towels, and filling two tall glasses with water from the sink in the back before placing them by the canvases on top of the stools. A spare tarp laid neatly folded on top of a ten-foot table slab at the far end of the studio. She grabbed it, and they stretched it out underneath the canvases he’d leaned against the wall. It surprised her how easy it felt for her to be in a stranger’s studio with such familiarity.
“We’re set up,” he said with pride, looking at their handiwork.
“Where are the brushes?” she asked as she thumbed the primary colored bottles of paint.
“I’m sure there’s some around here.”
“To use another painter’s brushes is tantamount to treason,” Erica said. “It’s wicked bad luck.”
“I did not realize this.”
“That’s alright,” she said quickly when his beautiful features frowned in disappointment. “We can use our fingers. I’ve always wanted to try the hand painting technique. We just need palettes.”
She bit her lip and lapped the studio, searching several drawers until she found two unused palettes.
“Are you sure we can use these?” she asked, holding them up.
“We can use anything in here,” he said, rolling up his sleeves.
Erica squeezed several globs of the primary colors onto each of their palettes and handed one to him. They turned to the stretch of empty canvas in front of them.
“Where do we start?” he asked.
“Follow your muse. Is your muse not cooperating?”
“I don’t believe so.” He shook his head. “What does one do with no inspiration?”
“This.” She dipped a finger into a glob of red paint and flicked it toward his canvas. Splatters rippled across it.
“Hey! That was my canvas.”
She laughed. “Oops.”
“I see what this is. Art sabotage!”
“Or inspiration,” Erica said innocently, but Julius was already dipping his hand onto the palette and smearing the paints across his palm. Huge globs coated his fingers. Julius poised for his strike.
“Don’t you dare!” Her warning came too late. Julius was already flicking the paint at her. A glob of it hit her arm. “You dirty, rotten…”
Julius moved out of squirting distance when she squeezed a pool of paint onto her palette. Following his lead, she drenched her hands, then ran after him with palms open.
“Stop, I need to construct my masterpiece!” He laughed, holding his hands up in surrender. She went for his canvas instead. In retaliation, he went at hers. His large hands did tons more damage than her dainty fingers ever could. But as the slashes of paint came together, they didn’t look bad.
Erica’s head cocked to one side as she surveyed their work. “We paint well together. It actually looks pretty.”
Julius followed her gaze, his expression turned serious. “It does, doesn’t it?”
“We should do a duet.”
“Seriously? You’d paint with me?” He asked like a fan whose celebrity idol called them on stage to sing alongside them.
“Of course. It would be my honor.”
Julius’s reverent look was steadfast. He grinned. “The pleasure is all mine.”
This time, they turned back to the canvas and painted side by side. To her surprise, Julius met it with a confidence that only those with extensive hours sitting in front of one would possess. His hands were sure and calm as the paint glided from his fingers and onto the canvas effortlessly.
“I didn’t realize you could paint,” Erica said in awe, watching him swirl blue and red together to make a stunning shade of purple. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Julius shrugged. “It’s nothing compared to what you can do.”
“Yes, it is. This is really good. It looks like a galaxy.”
“I think my muse has finally appeared.” His smile stole her breath for a moment. “I see why you’ve always wanted to try this. Feeling the paint under your fingertips, it’s otherworldly. It’s fluid and graceful.”
He turned back to the canvas, vigorously dipping his fingers into the paint and spreading it in large strokes. Even under Julius’s paint-stained clothing, she could see every ripple of his muscles work. It was as if he were making love to the painting in front of them. Watching him was… erotic. The more she watched, the more turned on she became. She wondered if he felt the same when he watched her in her studio.
He paused to look at her. “You’ve stopped.”
“I’m just taking in our creation.” She wet her lips and stood back and wiped her hands on her towel. He backed away from the painting as well. She tossed him the remaining paper towels. He wiped his hands, then stood behind her. She was greeted by every single muscle of his stomach as they considered the painting in front of them. Static charged the air between them and all she could sense was Julius. Her heart jumped when his warm breath blew on the spot on her neck that made her toes curl.
“What do you think?” Julius’s lips grazed her neck as he spoke, his voice husky and thick.
“I love this. It’s beautiful.” Her words were breathy and short. She tried to focus on their work, desperately trying to keep hold of her breathing. It was becoming more erratic as Julius subtly traced her curves with his large hands. “And you? What do you think?”
“It’s rousing.” He kissed the side of her neck softly, no longer looking at the painting in front of them. Erica moaned when his hardness swelled against her back. Then again when another kiss pressed against her shoulder.
Julius was not a cautious man. He was demanding and unyielding. Not once did she stand a chance when he pressed his lips to hers. Not against the fire that erupted from Julius and into her, burning straight through her veins.
She let his demanding tongue in without hesitation, eager for him to quell the fire that only he could extinguish.
Her fingers clawed at the hem of his shirt, whimpering when it didn’t come up right away. Julius broke apart for only a moment and pulled it over his head.
Fuck. His exercise regimen served him well. He was a god.
Her palms raked against the hard planes of him, reveling in the feel of his cut abs against her palms. When her hands touched his skin, she lost all thought.
In a flash, his body was back against hers. Erica grabbed the soft tufts of his hair and pulled his lips to hers again. She needed more. Julius’s sure fingers danced at the hem of her pants, gliding into her jeans and under the lace of her panties. Erica widened her legs for him and moved to undo the button. Her lips never parted from his.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he groaned as his fingers dipped lower, finding her wetness.
Suddenly, the door slammed open.
Erica broke away from Julius. He didn’t let her get far, stepping behind her and pulling her against him. She let him. A flush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks as a gust of cold wind swept past them and she stared into a very angry, very feminine face.
“What the hell is going on here?”
12
JULIUS
JULIUS HAD NEVER BEEN SO CLOSE to ripping someone’s heart out. A deep scowl settled on his face as he watched his former su
bject brazenly enter the room. Verna, a powerful mage, had a low current of purple electricity emitting from her fingertips. A glance at Erica assured him she couldn’t see it. Even still, a low growl that only he and the mage could hear rose deep from his chest in warning. Flustered, Verna bowed deeply at the waist and doused the magic from her hands.
“V, what are you doing?” Julius asked, silently encouraging her to break protocol. He didn’t need her bowing to him in front of Erica.
The mage shot up and looked around. Her gaze found the human at his side. Understanding dawned on her face, and she spoke again.
“Your highn—"
Julius cleared his throat loudly. There was an understanding between them. She was never to speak his title aloud when they were in the human realm.
Verna started again. “I’m sorry. I was driving by and saw the lights on and thought…”
“That’s quite all right.” Julius held his hand up and forced a warm smile.
“I completely forgot you were using the studio tonight.”
It was at that precise moment Verna took in his very much naked chest and Erica’s disheveled appearance. It didn’t take much to put two and two together.
“Wow, I’m really interrupting.” She took a deep breath and let it out with a huff. “And, I’m going to go now.”
Verna pointed at the door and backed away slowly.
“No, you don’t have to go,” Erica’s small voice said.
Yes, she did.
Verna seemed to agree with his train of thought. “Oh, yes I do. Don’t mind me, lovebirds, I didn’t interrupt. You have a very pleasant evening.”
“You as well.” His smile was tighter than his pants.
“The table slab in the back is more comfortable than it looks.” The words flew from Verna’s mouth as she opened the door.
“We’ll keep that in mind.”
He watched his subject scurry out of the front of the shop. All the while, he kept his hands on Erica’s slim waist, lightly tracing her outline.
“Did she just say the table slab was comfortable?” Erica laughed, turning back toward the slab where the tarp had been folded, her cheeks tinged a brilliant shade of pink. “Do we want to know how many people have had sex on that thing?”
Julius chuckled. “I don’t think so.”
“You’re not cold?” Erica placed the delicate pads of her fingers on his forearms.
“Do you promise to keep me warm?” To his delight, her fingers ghosted down his arm. His entire body shivered in pleasure. If he were a cat, he would have purred.
“That feels so good,” he murmured.
“You know what else feels good? Your hands on me.”
Thanks be to the gods, the moment was preserved despite their intruder.
“Then, we should pick up where we left off. Where were we?”
“I think we were looking at our painting.” Erica whipped around toward their canvases. He closed the distance between them, pressing his hard length into her back.
“I think we were past that.” His hand glided into her pants. “I think we were here.”
His fingers delicately swiped over her clit.
“Yeah, right there.” Erica whimpered, pressing her ass into him.
He groaned. He was painfully hard. “You are trying to kill me, I’m sure of it.”
She craned at an angle to look at him. Her hazel eyes were filled with want. Need.
Julius pulled her into a searing kiss, still pressing his fingers into her folds. The pulse of her blood thumped through his fingers. She radiated like a fireball underneath him. He pressed against her clit harder, stroking back and forth, eliciting several moans of approval.
“More, I need more,” she gasped.
He needed no other invitation. He pulled her shirt over her head and nearly lost himself. The plump swell of her breasts commanded his complete attention. His vampire rose to the surface, wanting to rake his fangs over every inch of her creamy skin.
“You don’t wear a bra.” His voice sounded foreign to his own ears.
“Should I?”
“Never.” A hunger built inside of him as his attention turned back to her perfect breasts. Julius let his vampire roam and explore. He gave her mouth a short kiss before he left a trail of them down her neck.
She moaned in surprise when he sucked a nipple in his mouth and bit down hard, then moved to the other one and did the same. “Frick. Don’t stop. Please, I need more.”
“On the tarp,” he ordered. “And I’ll give you everything.”
“Yes,” she breathed and lowered herself down.
The spray of her hair across the tan fabric was immensely satisfying. If he didn’t have a desperate need to lick her to pieces, he would sit and admire her.
He joined her on the tarp and stretched out over her. “You’re gorgeous.”
She gave him a coy smile that struck him to his core and wiggled underneath him.
“Tell me what you want,” he ordered.
“Y-you. I want you to kiss me.” Her voice was strained. She pointed to the crotch of her jeans. “Here.”
He loved when she talked to him like that, ordered him. Erica seemed awkwardly shy, even hesitant sometimes. Now, she was sure. The confident woman was budding and there was no stopping it. He didn’t want to.
She whimpered when he lowered the zipper of her pants and slid them down her toned legs. For the all gods, her wetness was alluring. Hypnotic.
“Open for me.”
She followed his order without hesitation.
It took everything in him not to bite a trail up her legs before devouring her wet center. He settled for delicate kisses. He reveled in the taste of her skin. When her hands tangled in his hair, he knew exactly what she wanted. He could never deny Erica anything.
He licked up her slit and nipped at her clit through the fabric of her panties. Erica moaned.
“You’re torturing me.” His beauty was becoming impatient, hips dancing back and forth as she tried to wiggle out of the panties he looped between his thumbs.
“Take them off,” she whined. He kissed the sensitive flesh of her upper thighs, then back on her most sensitive spot.
“You taste amazing,” he murmured. “Tell me you’re mine.”
There was no debate.
“I’m yours,” Erica panted. Her hips bucked toward him. “All yours. Now, take them off.”
He rewarded her by pulling off her panties and putting his nose to her mound.
“Say it again.”
“I’m yours, Julius. Please.”
The sound of her begging nearly stole his control. Not that he had much to begin with. He dove into her wetness. She gushed around him. By the gods, he’d never tasted anything so pure. So. Fucking. Good.
Julius put his mouth on her again, sucking deeply. Her back arched, and a spray of wetness met his tongue. Her nectar was sweet and exotic. The more he licked and sucked, the more she rewarded him with more of it. Her moans ignited the beast inside of him. He became hell bent on devouring her.
Her fingers twisted in his hair and she pulled him tighter against her. Her body began to shake, soft tremors at first. But the harder he sucked, the stronger they became. Her breathing went erratic, her moans louder, egging his vampire on. He slipped a finger into her folds and Erica bucked up.
His fangs drew down. There was no stopping his vampire now. He’d lost his mind.
“Julius.” Her moans built to a fever pitch. Her entire body tightened. “I’m coming.”
His fangs sank into her just as she threw her head back and exploded in his mouth. He should have taken them out, but his vampire was in control now. He sucked deeply, pulling her wetness and her blood into his mouth. This was heaven. He sucked again, savoring her essence on his tongue. She exploded again.
“What are you doing to me,” she panted as her body tightened and went over the edge.
Alarm wrenched his fangs back and forced him to look at her face. One arm w
as draped across her eyes as her nails from the other dug into his shoulder. Her body still convulsing under him. His venom was kicking in, causing her a delightful pleasure that would linger for a while.
“I need you inside of me,” she pleaded. Eager to oblige, he freed his erection and rubbed it against her. She was so wet. “Please Julius, I’m yours.”
He could hear her say that for an eternity and never tire of it.
Erica’s wet heat enveloped him like a glove, soft and tight. His head lolled back. In all his life, he’d never felt anything so glorious. He could feel her from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. His eyes rolled to the back of his head when her fingernails dug into his lower back and she bucked again. Ready. Waiting.
In an instant, he and his vampire were in sync. He pulled from her. The exquisite pleasure was so acute, it was almost painful. Almost. He pushed back in.
“Fuck!” Erica moaned, her legs wrapping around his waist and pulling him in as far as she could take him. He drew from her again. Then plunged deeper.
“Julius.” His name from her lips had never sounded so sweet. Breathy and light, and he wanted more.
He needed her. Hungered for her. He slammed into her again, harder than he thought a human of this realm could take. She was so wet, he slid into her with ease. She cried out in pleasure, clutching the tarp in her hands. “More.”
His hips moved on their own accord, not that he was complaining. His vampire had a blinding need to oblige her, to give her everything he had. His thrusts became quicker. Harder. And each time he slammed into her, Erica’s moans grew louder and more erratic.
She was close. He could feel her pulsing around him. It made him ride her harder. Faster.
“Erica,” he growled, starting to unravel. His fingers were at her clit again, furiously rubbing with barely any precision, drunk on her cries of pleasure.
With one final cry, his name ripped from her mouth as she clenched around him. Her convulsions sent him over the edge right behind her.
Erica refused to let him leave her until he’d gone completely soft. All the while, short shivers rocketed up and down her body. Every time he adjusted, she moaned again and shivered. So, did he.
Love Bitten (Vampire Blood Royals Book 1) Page 11
