She'd curled into a little ball, moving away from him. He touched her shoulder. "Rose, Rose, wake up, it's just-"

She attacked. She shot toward him and penned him to the bed. Her hands grabbed his and shoved them over his head. Her legs were on either side of his hips as she loomed over him and her bared teeth-very sharp vampire fangs-came right at his throat.

Julian didn't try to stop her. He just turned his head and gave her a better angle, offering his throat to her. He waited to feel the sting of her teeth.

"J-Julian?" Her breath blew over his neck.

She didn't bite. d.a.m.n.

Rose immediately released his hands. "I'm sorry. It was a stupid nightmare. I was back in the cell, and I was so hungry, I just-"

He locked his hands around her waist before she could move away from him. "Bite me."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"I wasn't stopping you. I f.u.c.king love it when you bite me." He stared into her eyes. "Bite me."

Her chest rose and fell. Her gaze darted to his neck. She licked her lips. Those s.e.xy red lips.

Did she feel his arousal pressing against her? She pretty much had to feel his d.i.c.k. His oversized shirt had hiked up on her, revealing the smooth expanse of her thighs. Her s.e.x was right over his c.o.c.k, and his c.o.c.k was f.u.c.king huge for her right then. The second she'd climbed onto him-h.e.l.l, who was he kidding? He'd fallen asleep hard for her and woken the same way. He couldn't be near Rose without wanting her.

And this was the closest he'd been to having her in a very, very long time.

"When I...when I bite you, I get a little out of control."

He knew that. He was counting on that. "Bite me." This time, the words were a dark order. "You said you'd do anything I wanted." His hands tightened on her waist. "I want this. I want your mouth on me." He wanted her mouth all the f.u.c.k over him, but he'd start with his throat. They could work down from there.

She swallowed and then she leaned forward. Her hair slid over his skin as her mouth pressed to his throat. But she still didn't bite him right away. She licked. She kissed.

She made his d.i.c.k jerk against her.

"Rose..." Julian tried to warn her. He was only going to play nice for so long.

Her teeth sank into him.

Yes. Maybe there was a flash of pain, if so, he didn't really give a s.h.i.t because the pleasure that followed was so intense. It burned right through him and he pressed his neck to her mouth, wanting her to take more. To bite harder.

Later, he planned to bite, too.

He might never have her this way again. After a nightmare, it was probably the wrong thing to do. The wrong time for seduction. A gentleman would back away.

A devil would hold her tighter.

He knew exactly what he was.

His right hand slid down her body. He caught the cotton of his borrowed shirt-he was ridiculously pleased that she'd now have his scent all over her since she'd used one of his t-shirts-and pushed it out of his way. His hand touched her silken thigh. He trailed his fingers upward.

She wasn't wearing panties.

Because, obviously, she liked to make him crazy.

His fingers slid toward her s.e.x. Trailed slowly, giving her the chance to stop him. But don't do that, okay, love? Just- She pulled her mouth from his neck.

His growl filled the air.

Her hands slammed down onto his chest. Her breath heaved out. She had the tiniest drop of his blood on her lower lip. As he stared up at her, with his hand so close to paradise, her tongue snaked out and she licked that blood drop away.

A human male might not have found the whole blood-drinking thing s.e.xy.

He wasn't human. And he found everything about her to be s.e.xy.

"I don't want you holding back," Rose whispered.

His fingers were itching to stroke her. His c.o.c.k was ready to explode.

"Rayce said..." Her chin lifted. "You were holding back when you were with me. Don't do that anymore. This time...this one time, I want everything you have."

His fingers slid into heaven. She was wet and hot and he wanted to ram his c.o.c.k into her and never let her go. "Be careful what you ask for, love."

Her lips parted as he stroked her. She pushed down with her hands, and her nails bit into his chest and she arched up, moaning as he stroked her.

Julian wanted her to come, just like that. With his fingers in her body and pleasure that he gave Rose stamped on her face. He pressed his thumb to her c.l.i.t. He remembered everything that she liked. He'd give her that first. The soft touches. The long licks.

Then...well, once she was lost to pleasure, he'd let his beast out. He'd see if she truly could handle him now.

She was riding his hand. Lifting and lowering her body as her knees pressed into the mattress. He stroked her harder, and he put another finger inside of her. She was so freaking tight. He loved her body. Went f.u.c.king insane for her s.e.x.

He- Julian tumbled her back on the bed. He moved her fast, lifting her legs up and then he put his mouth on her because it had been too long since he'd tasted her. A man could only survive on a fantasy for so long before he went absolutely mad.

So he feasted. He licked and sucked and stroked with his tongue and his fingers until she was shouting out his name as she came. And he didn't give a f.u.c.k if anyone else on that island heard them. She was his-and he was going to have all of her.

"Julian."

He looked up at her, her taste still on his tongue, and he knew that she'd see his beast. He could feel the power filling him. His eyes would be glowing, his cheeks hollowing, and his teeth would be sharpening.

I bite, too.

He crawled up her body. He shoved down his sweats and put the head of his c.o.c.k at the entrance to her body. His claws came out then, and he didn't try to hold back the change. She wanted him? She'd get him.

He raked his claws over her borrowed shirt, and she sucked in a quick breath as he shredded the soft cotton. Just shredded the t-shirt from hem to neck. But he didn't mar her skin. Not that perfect skin. His head bent and he kissed her body. The curve of her stomach. Her belly b.u.t.ton. Then up, up to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and those tight nipples that tasted like sweet candy.

Her legs locked around his hips.

He shoved into her, a deep, hard thrust that made her gasp. Her pupils expanded, and the darkness seemed to fill her eyes. Her fangs peeked from behind her lips and she just whispered, "More."

So he gave her everything.

His claws dug into the mattress. He withdrew, then thrust deeper, slamming into her again and again. She was wet and sensitive from her release and her soft moans just drove him on. So freaking tight. So hot. Sending him out of his mind.

He couldn't get deep enough. The beast wanted so much more.

The beast was going to have her.

He caught the back of her head with one hand. "Bite."

She did. Her fangs sank into his chest, right next to his breastbone. His teeth clenched as the pleasure doubled-tripled, and his c.o.c.k swelled even more.

He let her drink, and her s.e.x contracted around him in another o.r.g.a.s.m. He loved those hot, little trembles around his c.o.c.k-they made him even wilder.

He waited for them to stop, waited for her to pull her mouth from him, and when she did, he offered her a hard smile. "My way now."

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes gleaming, and she just said, "Yes."

He withdrew from her. Lifted her up and whirled her to face one of the wooden posts on that bed. He caught her hands, but then stilled, utterly lost for a moment at the sight of his claws over her delicate fingers.

Stop. Don't hurt her. Pull back- She looked over her shoulder at him. "I can see your fangs." But she didn't sound scared. "My...what sharp teeth you have, Julian." Her voice was breathless. Definitely not afraid. Hungry.

She wanted what he could give to her because a vampire's needs were so much darker than a human's. She didn't even realize how things could be between them.

She would. Soon enough.

He wrapped her hands around the post. "Hold tight." Then his gaze slid to her neck. It was bared to him. Her neck, the sweet curve of her shoulder. Just the spot he wanted.

His hand trailed over her back. His claws slid over her skin. He didn't cut her. Wouldn't. But...

He would bite.

He spread her legs and pulled her hips back against him. He drove into her from behind, and she arched against him, rocking her hips.

Julian's mouth pressed to the curve of her shoulder. His teeth raked her skin. He withdrew. He plunged deep. She moaned. She arched.

He bit.

A marking...because that was the way of his kind. His teeth punctured her, his two canines sinking deep.

"Julian!"

The cry wasn't one of pain. And the pleasure was just beginning. He lapped at her skin even as he drove into her. There was no control now. He took her deep and hard, getting lost in her as the beast and the man claimed the woman he'd always wanted for a mate.

Even if she didn't realize it.

She came again-came with a scream this time. He didn't stop. He couldn't. He thrust and withdrew, thrust and growled. His hands caught hers once more. He held her up against that post and he took her. Soon the pleasure was slamming into him and he roared his release. The climax was so intense his whole body shuddered. Pleasure filled every cell of his body. Pleasure that just went on and on, until he felt absolutely wrung out.

Distantly, he became aware of a dull thudding. His heartbeat-slowing down. Finally. Sweat coated his body and when he looked at his hands-his claws were disappearing. Soon he was just holding his hands over hers. Holding her.

She was so small next to him. Seemed so fragile.

Her head turned. She stared at him. And then she smiled.

Not so fragile now.

"I like it when you don't hold back."

He'd never hold back again.

She pressed her lips to his and the kiss was...oddly sweet. Tender. When he'd never been the tender type, except with her.

But then she turned her head away. She stiffened.

"OhmyG.o.d..." Now Rose sounded horrified. "Tell me...please tell me...we didn't just leave that door open while we had s.e.x."

His gaze shot to the door. To the open door. He'd left it open when he carried her to bed because he hadn't wanted her to feel like a prisoner.

And he couldn't help it. For the first time in longer than he could remember, Julian roared with laughter.

Simon put Keri on the boat. Her boat. Helpful human. He smiled at her and his index finger slid under her chin as he tipped her head up. "You remember what to do?"

She smiled back at him. "Yes."

"Good...good...do exactly what Simon says and you'll get to live another day."

Maybe.

Highly doubtful.

"I'll go to the island," she whispered.

Keri had turned out to be full of surprises. She owned her own boat, a nineteen-footer that she often took out on snorkeling trips. She knew the area well and...

She was going to be his perfect distraction.

He jumped off the vessel and untied the lines for her as she stood at the wheel. He looped the rope into his hand as he watched her. "You'll go to the island. You'll be my distraction."

Her hands curled around the wheel. "I'll find the lost girl for you."

Rose wasn't a girl and she wasn't exactly lost. But, yes, that was the general plan.

"And I'll kill anyone who gets in my way." Keri smiled at him as the boat's engine growled. She looked so innocent. So carefree.

She looked absolutely perfect. A human, heading right into a den of paranormals. Would they kill her on sight? Perhaps. That would be Keri's bad luck. But, if they didn't kill her, if they thought she was just an innocent human who'd gotten lost and wandered into their den...

Then maybe she'd have a chance to find his vampire.

Until he had Rose, his collection just wouldn't be complete.