Annie Nicholas - Sigma

“Of course. Just because we’re not human doesn’t mean we have to act like monsters.”

He tugged his shirt off, exposing a hard muscled chest, and then lifted his chin, offering her his jugular.

Hunger growled to life in her body. Overpowering. Fast. Bloodlust seized her, and any semblance of control disintegrated as her vision went red.

Rich fluid coated her tongue. Salty and warm, it eased the cramps in her stomach. She sank her teeth deeper into the source of her bliss, and then popped open her eyes.

Swallowing reflexively, the warmth spread from her stomach into her starved system. She lay on top of Sam, his arms and legs sprawled across the bed. She released her clenched bite on his neck. Oh crap, had she killed him? “Sam?” Her voice trembled and she shook his shoulder. How much had she drank?

He still had that sultry smile on his face as he peeked at her under heavy lids. The dark chocolate of his gaze melted over her body. “Hungry?” His flesh healed where she’d bitten him.

Something dripped from her chin. She swiped a hand across her mouth and stared with widening eyes at the blood on her palm. “Merciful heavens, I’m an animal. I’m so sorry.” The apology didn’t cover her horror. She hadn’t lost control since she’d been a fledgling. “The blood loss–it’s been a long time since the lust has gripped me so hard.” Desire to lick her palm almost overwhelmed her. She needed to feed more.

“I’m used to being fed upon. We’re Daedalus’s main source, but I like your style of feeding better.” He ran his hand over her bare spine and quirked an eyebrow at her. “The wound is gone?”

Now that she’d fed, her body healed fast. Tissue had knitted together, growing seamless, smooth skin where her injury had been. “Yes.”

He raised his chin and offered his neck once more. “Better to feed from me than attack the housekeeping.”

She licked her lips. Straddled over Sam’s hips, she couldn’t ignore his erection pressed against the juncture of her thighs. Desire to rock against it swept through her body. Hanging her head, she took a shaky breath. She was in over her head.

He brushed his fingertips over her hair. “Is there someone else?”

She gave a sharp snort of contemp. “No.”

He rose onto his elbows. The motion made her lean back, sliding her pussy over his cock. An electric itch ran over her nerve endings and set butterflies loose in her stomach.

“Do you have someone? Umm…a mate?” She’d sound stupid if that was the wrong word. They didn’t have shifters around Pal Robi, so she had to go by things she’d read in magazines and books.

“No. I’m a bit of a loner.” He rested his hand on her thigh. “I gather you might be more interested in a full course meal than just a snack.”

She stared at his nice-boy-next-door handsome face and the knots in her lower back tightened. Oh hell, when would she ever receive another chance like this? Biting her lower lip, she nodded. She could use a good, no-strings-attached fuck, the kind that left a woman limp and too exhausted to think. And Sam seemed like the kind of male who could provide those things and more.

However, Sam contained all the right amounts of dominance and tenderness that attracted her on so many levels she couldn’t even count them. She’d grow strings. She knew she would. And like he said, he was a loner.

Ever since her master had dragged her into this mess, she’d been on the run. Pal Robi was a security company he’d created, but it was a front for vampire government, a seat of power for the Prime of the northeastern part of America. Some idiot had thought he’d gathered enough supporters to take it away from Daedalus, even sent one of the best slayers after him.

Now, who owned the slayer? Who had a large pack of wolf shifters at his back? And who’d just obtained a list of names of potential traitors on a thumb drive stolen straight from Pal Robi computers by little old her?

Daedalus would triumph. He always did because he took risks such as helping a pack of omega shifters. Maybe it was about time she took one too.

She rocked her hips, rubbing Sam’s hard cock against her more sensitive areas. “Yes, I think I deserve a full course meal–and dessert.”

Sam tensed and fisted the sheets of the bed as Clementine rubbed against his erection. The way she gazed at him and called him dessert sent all his blood rushing to his cock. It throbbed, trapped behind the zipper of his jeans. He hadn’t taken a lover in months and all those pent up urges suddenly roared to life.

Her veil of innocence vanished as a spark of mischief twinkled in her eyes.

She unclipped her bra and tossed it to the floor with her torn t-shirt, setting her perfect handful-sized breasts free. Rosy pink nipples perked in the cool air, her pale skin flawless.

He sucked in a breath. His inner beast howled as a wave of her scent rolled over him. Clementine stirred his animal nature. After months of uneasy quiet, his beast responded to this vampire like she was more than a packmate.

Taking slow, deliberate breaths, he calmed his beast. She’d be theirs. No point in tearing the rest of her clothes off and scaring her away. Delicate creatures like Clementine needed caressing, not crazed animal fucking. The muscles in his back and arms twitched with the effort to not pin her to the bed until the beast finally retreated. Just a little. But enough. He rested his head back on the mattress and reached for the bouncy temptations of her breasts, wanting to twist those little buds until she panted for more.

A sharp slap to his hand stopped him. “Ouch.” He jerked his hand back. Her strength and speed were more than he would have guessed, but then again, she’d tossed him on the bed like he weighed nothing when she’d fed from him. That was sexy as hell.

“I didn’t give you permission to touch me.” Her sweet smile transformed into something more sensual.

He grinned back, enjoying this side of his new bedmate. Resting his hands behind his head, he relaxed into the pillows. “I might like this game.” His beast remained close to the surface, waiting to pounce and play with the half-naked vamp. A growl rumbled within his body. “For now.”

“I don’t play with my food.” She grabbed his t-shirt and pulled it over his head with one swift motion. “I devour it.” Licking a solid line along the center of his chest, she trailed her hard nipples over him as well.

Desire flared hot as his head was jerked back by her hand tangled in his hair. The sting of her delicate fangs triggered his balls to clench. He moaned. Pain and pleasure made sex a sharper experience. It drew him into the moment, setting his worries aside, and kept him there. Living in the now, hot and sweaty.

He ran his hands along her back, his vixen too entranced by blood to reprimand him. The erotic touch of her lips on his neck was like nothing he’d experienced. Daedalus was the only vampire who’d fed from him prior to tonight. Nothing sexual in that bite.

She tugged at his hair with one hand while caressing his shoulder with the other. Her bite more tender than predatory.

Relaxing into her embrace, he fluttered his eyelids closed. Ever since Katrina’s old pack had attacked their home six months ago, he hadn’t taken a female to his bed. He’d been pretty carefree with his partners, but didn’t have the time to waste anymore. He needed to prove to his friends, and to himself, that he took his role as Sigma seriously.

So, he took a backslide with Clementine. The sacrifice was worth it.

“You taste better than I’d thought.” She eased her hold on him and trailed a line of kisses along his jaw. The soft brush of her lips, her words, lit a hole in his chest he hadn’t been aware existed. “I’m going to do terrible things to you, Sam,” She whispered close to his ear.