“I don’t want you to touch anybody else.”

She was jealous? His heart skipped a beat. She was jealous! And possessive!

“You … I … oh, God.” He had no words to express what he felt. Instead, he tightened his arms around her and brushed his lips against hers. They molded to him instantly.

“You’re mine.”

Mine.

So utterly right it felt to realize she was his, that no matter what, he wouldn’t let go of her. Amaury took her lips in a fierce kiss, branding her, searing the memory of it into his brain. His lips felt raw when he released her, and Nina breathed as heavily as he did.

“You’d better tell me that you want me too.” He searched her eyes for an answer.

“I do, but—” she started.

His heart leapt. She wanted him. “No buts. If you want me, you’ll have me. All of me. And I take all of you. No reservations.”

He felt her arms wrap around his torso as if she would never let go of him again.

“I’m—” He started to say “blessed,” but he wouldn’t let such profanity pass his lips. “Please tell me you want to be mine.” He needed to hear it, needed to know he wasn’t dreaming, he wasn’t misinterpreting her.

Nina pulled away an inch and looked at him. “Amaury, I want you, but I’m scared you’ll toss me aside when you’ve had enough of me.”

“Silly woman. I might be an idiot, but I’m not stupid enough to let go of the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Are you hungry now?” There was a wicked glint in her eyes.

He was ravenous. “Yes, hungry for your body and your blood.”

“Does it hurt?”

Amaury smiled. “No. It will be like an orgasm rippling through your body.” He shuddered at the thought of it. Soon, his fangs would dig into her vein and he would drink from her, while he impaled her on his shaft. There would be nothing better than to drink from the woman he desired while he made love to her.

Amaury took in a deep breath and inhaled her scent. She would be his woman. He’d never been so sure of anything else. Nina gave his mind peace and his body pleasure. As for his heart? If he didn’t know any better, he’d say she was defrosting his heart too.

***

Nina felt self-conscious with the way he was devouring her with his eyes. No man had ever looked at her that way. Amaury looked imposing as he stood in her small studio, yet this powerful vampire had just confessed that he wanted her. Her, a nobody.

His hard body pressed against hers, and she could sense every muscle, one in particular. He desired her, and the evidence of it nudged against her stomach, hard and huge, begging for attention.

She knew she’d gone completely crazy, yearning to be with a vampire. Not just any, mind you, but Amaury. As if she had the same fascination with vampires as what she’d recognized in Eddie’s incoherent scribbles. And what had it gotten him? An early grave. Would her fate be the same if she played with fire—that fire being Amaury?

What if he was right and he couldn’t control himself when he bit her? Would he bleed her dry? Yes, she was scared, but she was even more frightened of not being with him. Under his touch she’d been alive, and she’d finally felt a connection to somebody. A connection she wasn’t willing to give up no matter what it meant in the long run.

Nina wasn’t thinking of a future. It was dangerous to dream of a future. It created expectations, and she didn’t want that. She didn’t want to expect something and then be disappointed. It only led to more pain.

If Amaury wanted her now, she would take that and hold on as long as she could, but brace herself for when he would realize that this wasn’t meant to last.

She recognized the lust in his eyes and the hunger for her blood, but she didn’t delude herself. He was a vampire, he was gorgeous, and he would remain young forever. She had nothing to offer him, but her body and her blood. Maybe for a few weeks or even a few months, he would be hers. And then he’d move on to another conquest.

But she wouldn’t think of it, not tonight. Tonight she’d make a few memories she could keep for herself for when she was alone again.

“Are you gonna kiss me?” Nina asked him.

“Only if you tell me what’s going on behind that furrowed forehead of yours. Are you having second thoughts? We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I’ll be with you even if you don’t want to give me your blood.”

Nina shook her head. “No. I don’t want you to do this with anybody else.” Her objection came out harsher than she’d anticipated.