Robert Read online

  He licked her up, her essence addictive. He’d been so long without a woman—over three years, to be exact. After the bonding ceremony, the thought of touching another woman had repulsed him. The connection between Sophie and him had been strong from the beginning. No matter what he was doing, he had always been able to sense her.

  “Hold on to the frame,” he told her. He’d seen her clenching her fists and, if his assessment was right, as well as never having had a man between her thighs with his cock, a man’s tongue was new to her as well. This would drive her to the pinnacle in a matter of moments.

  He wanted to spend as much time as he could arousing her, so that when he took her virginity the pain would be slight.

  Robert spread her lips open with his thumbs. He tongued her clit, sliding up and down her slit. He licked her clean, then teased her clit again, creating more of her cream. He could see the hold she had on the bed. Her head was flung backwards, her groin moving in time with the rhythm of his tongue. He smiled as she squirmed and growled in frustration when he stopped her building towards the desired peak.

  As she felt the rising climax within her, her stomach sucked in and he could see the orgasm gathering—then he pulled away, exploring the rest of her pussy. There was more to a woman than breasts and a clit. He teased the fine hairs surrounding her pussy. A little closer and he would feel the wetness of her slit, not from his licking but from her own cream. Her arousal intensifying with each caress. She appeared to be sensitive—everywhere he touched elicited a response from her.

  He smiled when she moaned once again, her body and her thrusts becoming more frenzied as he refused her more of what she wanted.

  His cock was tight and begging for him to plunge inside her body, but he wanted this to last. A woman’s first time should always be memorable as the beautiful force it was.

  “Please,” she gasped when she couldn’t take any more. “Please, let me come.”

  Her body was on fire and he would need to put the flames out soon—otherwise he would spoil the moment.

  He flicked his tongue over her clit, teasing and tormenting, keeping his attention on her.

  As she climaxed, he felt the response of her body, sensed the rush of endorphins pulsing through her blood. He heard it, too, as she screamed her completion into the room.

  Her body jerked against the continuing onslaught of his tongue. He saw and tasted the cream leaking from her body.

  Robert had the male satisfaction of knowing he’d been the first to bring her to orgasm with the use of his tongue.

  Soon she was moaning for him to stop, but he refused. She had wanted orgasm and he would give it to her—multiple orgasms.

  Before long, her body hurtled into another orgasm, leaving her faint and sated. Only when Robert was satisfied that she would be able to take him inside her body without pain did he move up the bed.

  She opened her eyes. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, my mate.” He slid along her body. Taking his cock in his hand, he pressed it against her entrance.

  “This may sting a little, but I want you to look at me and never let go,” he told her.

  She circled her arms around his neck, connecting them further with her touch.

  He guided himself into her slick entrance. He didn’t look away. When his cock was in far enough that he didn’t have to hold on, he moved his hand out of the way, placing it near her head.

  “I’m sorry,” was all he said before he jerked his hips, embedding his shaft right to the hilt inside her pussy.

  Sophie screamed but she held on to him and didn’t look away from his eyes. He saw the pain she felt and he felt it too, in his heart and soul. He hated causing her pain and it almost undid him. But he couldn’t stop. If he didn’t complete inside her body and feed from her, they would be able to take her away from him forever, and that would be more unbearable than the few seconds of pain she was going through. At least he tried to tell himself that.

  “Are you all right?” he croaked.

  She nodded, the action jerky but reassuring.

  He moved, pulling himself all the way out, slowly allowing her to become accustomed to his strength and size. He wasn’t small and she was.

  “Tell me if it hurts.”

  She nodded, not able to find the words, he assumed.

  He thrust back inside her. Her eyes widened.

  He stopped abruptly.

  “Have I hurt you?” Robert panicked. He needed to complete the ritual but he wouldn’t be able to if she was in pain. As much as the pain of losing her would hurt him, in this moment, with her pain clear on her face, he couldn’t be responsible for bringing her more. He was torn between doing the right thing and risking his very life source.

  She shook her head but no words came out. Robert refused to move. He needed to make sure she was all right.

  “I feel so full,” she said.

  He chuckled, resting his forehead against hers.

  “It feels wonderful,” she gasped as the jerks of his laughter sent shock waves through her pussy.

  “It can feel better.”

  They were his final words before he took her on a journey of sexual pleasure. He pulled out of her body before plunging back inside her, going further and deeper with every stroke. He lifted her left leg over his hip, angling her pelvis so that he could go further inside her. Sophie cried out. Robert made sure to hold her on the edge between unbearable pleasure and pain. He knew he was large, thick and deeply seated inside her. Robert had spent so much time thinking about how it would feel to be inside her cunt. So many restless nights of fucking his own hand when all he wanted to do was be with this woman. The woman who would be his for the rest of his life. Her pussy contracted around him and he forced himself to hold back, to give her more time before he plunged into her wet heat.

  Robert swivelled his hips, the movement nudging her clit, making her jerk in his hold.

  He took her lips in a searing kiss. She scoured his back with her nails. His thrusts increased in speed. He could feel the heat building between them. He wanted to bring her to orgasm at least once with his cock embedded inside her. He wanted to feel each pulse and quiver. He wanted to know the heights of pleasure he could bring her to.

  “It’s too much,” she panted. Breaking away from his lips, she tried to push him off her as the pleasure became too intense.

  “Let it come,” he urged.

  He smiled as she began to push up, meeting him thrust for thrust. Her skin glowed and her cream dripped around his cock, letting him know the rapture she was feeling. Sophie was so close to the edge of release, he knew how to bring her to the final earth-shattering climax. He would never have Sophie question his skills in the bedroom department if he could help it.

  As he felt her pussy flutter around his thick shaft, he spoke the binding words. “I, Robert Valentine, take Sophie Ford as my bond mate for all eternity, and will let nothing part us. By blood, by love and by all things pure, I cement her to me for life.” He bit into her neck, sealing the bond with her blood.

  Bright light shone around them as the blood bond was accepted and cemented by the natural forces of the earth. Sophie Ford was his and Robert Valentine was hers.

  They were catapulted into a world of love and pleasure, the driving force their need for one another. Robert felt her pulse around him mere seconds before his seed erupted inside her body, burning a pathway into her heart and soul.

  Her body would recognise none but his. Her blood would feed and nurture him.

  Their minds connected, their souls mingled and their bodies collapsed, sated.

  Sophie could feel everything. His breathing against her neck and how much her body had pleased him. She sensed him in the deepest part of her mind.

  “I love you,” whispered across her temple.

  One of the first times she’d heard his voice had been on the ceremonial dais but the voice had been faint. She jerked as she recognised his voice, but again he hadn’t spoken out lou
d. Only now his voice was clearer and she couldn’t question what she’d heard.

  She looked across to see him watching her with his black eyes.

  “How?”

  He stroked her face, her cheek. She could see from his expression how much he cared for her.

  “You were always supposed to be mine.”

  Her heart jolted inside her rib cage. She stopped his hand on her face.

  “What?” she asked again. Her mind was a whirl of activity.

  “The force of nature has deemed you suitable to be my life’s mate. The connection is there because of how well we fit together. You may not know or believe it yet, but you love me, too.”

  She started to protest but he paused her with a finger to her lips.

  “Your mind may not accept it but your heart has awoken for me as have your body and soul. You can feel it and soon you’ll accept it.”

  Hours later Sophie lay awake, thinking of his words. They didn’t terrify her. They soothed her. For the first time in her life, she had a protector to love and care for her. She glanced over at her sleeping vampire. He looked so calm and serene, but her body awoke at the thought of feeling him inside her again. He was becoming a drug for her aching body.

  Did she love this man—this vampire?

  She didn’t know. He intrigued her and throughout the past three years, when she hadn’t been petrified for herself and for Katie, her thoughts had always gone to him. She moved the hair off his face, enjoying the softness on her fingers. She couldn’t believe she was now a woman. This man had turned her from a girl into his woman.

  This vampire.

  Her vampire.

  She smiled as he mumbled in his sleep.

  “You’re going to be the death of me, Sophie.” He moved closer, for her to touch him.

  She laughed. “It’s a good job you’re a vampire and will come back to me.”

  She giggled as he rolled over in the bed and within seconds had her trapped underneath him.

  “Wow, look at how powerful and wonderful you are,” she teased, surrendering to him.

  She offered her lips for a kiss. He took what she gave, taking her lips for more. She moaned as she tasted him. All her senses were heightened. His smell. His flavour. Her body was alive.

  “How can you taste so good?” she said when he broke the kiss.

  “Do I taste better than chocolate?” he asked.

  She smiled as he landed kisses on all her sensitive areas.

  “Much better than chocolate,” she admitted.

  She let out a gasp when he stroked a sensitive spot on her neck with his lips. She arched, exposing her throat to more of his passionate kisses.

  “What about ice-cream?” he teased, leaving her neck to travel to her swollen breasts.

  She nodded, unable to form words. She watched his dark head as he took a beaded nipple into his mouth, nipping her slightly. Her breasts were so sensitive, a wave of bliss set off contractions inside her pussy, making her want more.

  “Answer me.” She felt one of his fingers thrust inside her wet channel as his teeth did wicked things to her breasts.

  “Yes,” she managed, her hands going instinctively for the headboard, her eyes closing of their own accord.

  “What’s your favourite colour?” he asked.

  She shook her head, trying to think past the dizzying heights of arousal.

  “Why?”

  “What better chance to get to know you than in bed?”

  She chuckled. “Red. My favourite colour is red.”

  She opened her eyes, looking down at him.

  “Yours?”

  “Green.”

  “I only eat green sweets,” she admitted.

  He laughed at her confession.

  “Why?”

  “I figure they’re healthier, since vegetables are green.”

  Robert laughed.

  How bizarre—they were getting to know each other while on the verge of making love.

  “I eat any type of sweet,” he answered.

  “I bet.”

  “I can’t help it. I have a sweet tooth.” He removed his finger from her dripping channel and brought it to his lips, tasting her.

  Sophie flushed at the suggestive act.

  “How do I taste?” she couldn’t help but ask.

  “Sweet.”

  She smiled.

  “I’m going to make love to you,” he informed her.

  Sophie lay still and surrendered to his masterful skill.

  He took her on a rollercoaster ride that seemed to have no beginning and no end. Nothing mattered—not Katie, not the Council, not even the fact he was a vampire. Sophie was content to be in his arms.

  Once he had brought her to the peak of ecstasy, balancing her on the edge until he guided her over into her climax, he followed soon afterwards.

  She lay spent, her mind starting to accept that she just might be falling in love with her mate.

  Chapter Eight

  William watched as Katie woke up, her cheeks regaining their colour. His blood mixed with hers would give her some control over her powers and would give them some leverage with the Council. He hated those fucking uptight bastards. They didn’t know what it meant to experience loss. His father could talk the talk but as far as he was concerned he’d never had to deal with the shit.

  William spent as much time as possible trying to stay away from the fight and the political crap the Council were spilling, but no matter what he tried to do he always got sucked back in.

  He glanced down at his wrist watch. Time was ticking and Robert should be at the Council meeting by now. Part of him wanted to say stuff it. Take the witch and make a run for it. Katie was too valuable and precious to give her up to the Council, even if they only wanted to protect her. She deserved more than to be someone’s job.

  Through the taking of her blood, he’d seen her life, her fear and above all her strength. She was terrified. He understood her terror and could relate. Yet even though she was afraid, there was also a part of her willing to stop, turn around and fight. He’d seen her love for Sophie and what she’d be willing to do for her friend. He’d also seen the way she thought of him and the kiss they’d shared.

  William couldn’t think about that. He needed to concentrate.

  Katie was weak. He’d been surprised at how quickly he’d managed to drain her and how much of his blood she’d needed to survive. Her magic was on the point of killing her. Not because she was a bad witch, but because she’d been trying to suppress her powers. William hadn’t told her yet that in order to sustain a healthy balance she had no choice but to use the powers gifted to her. Why was it that witches like Katie always got the fucked-up end of the scale?

  He crouched down, watching the dark circles under her eyes disappear.

  Her refusal to use her magic, to understand where it came from, was killing her. Gently—he didn’t want to wake her too soon—he trailed a finger across her cheek. So vulnerable. It was like Emma had come back to him.

  He cursed, moving away from her. He took a huge gulp of whisky from the bottle. He would do anything to numb these feelings.

  He glanced down at his watch again. She’d been under for almost twenty-four hours. But it was working. He could see the colour returning to her skin and her body beginning to awaken of its own accord. Sometimes, after a forced blood feed like he’d done, the body could not sustain itself and would need reawakening before the bond could begin. With Katie being a witch, it helped to speed up the process. What didn’t help was how weak she had been to start off with, but all was well. She was waking up.

  “Come on, sweet cheeks.” He looked at the time. “I haven’t got all day.” As he got older he’d found that he didn’t need as much sleep, so his days were longer. He’d spent all morning watching her for any sign that she was reviving. Watching her and wanting. Katie wasn’t like any other female he’d met, not because of her magic but because of what she’d gone through. She’d experienced lo
ss.

  These morbid thoughts would be the death of him.

  He was pleased he hadn’t killed her. Taking just enough blood had never been his strong point.

  Her groan made him look at her face again.

  Her eyes were open but she’d raised a hand to her temple.

  Should he tell her he’d had to knock her out to stop the fire erupting from her hands? On second thoughts, he could keep information like that to himself.

  She rolled over, coming to her knees.

  “What happened?” She got to her feet but missed her footing and nearly fell flat on her face.

  William caught her. “I’ve got you, little one.” He spoke to try to calm and soothe her.

  Her head shot up as soon as he spoke.

  “You bloody bit me.” She raised her hand to her neck to inspect the damage. A good thing she’d been out for the count. Her neck was healed even though his feeding hadn’t been clean. Usually women flocked to him and he could take whatever he wanted. Katie had been the first person he’d taken by surprise. Her blood had tasted pure, but with the hint of sunshine.

  “I only took a little blood,” he lied.

  “It bloody hurt.”

  She tried to move away but he could see that she was dizzy.

  “Tell you what, darling—you rest on me while I get us to the car.” He began escorting her out of his house.

  “Whose dress is this?”

  The question startled him. “My sister’s.”

  He helped her into the car, not bothering looking at her, then started the car up and they were on their way to the Vampire Council.

  “How did I get it on?” she queried.

  He smirked. “I put it on for you.”

  Her gasp forced him to stop the chuckle erupting from his mouth. His little witch was such a prude.

  “You’ve seen me naked,” she shrieked, making him wince. He was sure the sound had perforated his ear drum.