I continued to move, deep inside of her, churning my hips over and over, her slick walls coating me with her hot juices. I felt it as she began to tremble around me. The realization that her o.r.g.a.s.m was seconds away almost made me lose control. I stopped for a moment, trying to stave it off, trying to regain my composure.

"Don't stop," she panted. "Don't ever stop. I want this to last forever. Please... Ren...make it last forever!"

"I can't give you forever, Violet, I wish that I could."

"Baby, let's see how close we can get," she whispered and then she kissed me.

In that instant Violet Deeds became my world, utterly and irrevocably. The rumble in my chest was no longer a warning to heed. It was like a sounding of trumpets, a signal to celebrate. I felt my fangs elongate as I leaned down, trailing hot opened mouth kisses down the side of her face, over her jaw line, to that spot on her neck, the one just below and behind her ear, the one that was to become mine. I had no misgivings. There was no hesitation. I latched on, firmly, my mouth covering her flesh and then I did it. My fangs pierced her flesh, sliding inside of her with one sure thrust, before instantly retracting. My mouth filled with her essence.

The taste of her was powerful, even more so than I had imagined it would be. As that first bit of her blood coated my tongue I was struck by how incredibly sweet it was. It warmed my throat when I swallowed, then the heat built, rising inside of my body, creating a slow burn.

The roar in my chest broke free unbidden, forcing me to release her neck. It sounded fierce and raw and primitive. It sounded exactly like I felt at that moment. Never had I felt such excitement, such hunger. I wanted more of her. No, I needed all of her. I reared up and searched Violet's face, looking for signs of fear, hoping to get encouragement or at the very least permission to continue.

Violet was radiant with her wild mane of hair spread out beneath her, her deep green eyes shimmering with unshed tears. The firelight danced across her skin, creating shadows and painting it so that it glowed. Her chest was flush with arousal and her lips were full and red from the fervor of my kisses.

My hips began to churn, over and over, picking up the pace of that ancient rhythm as my eyes were drawn to my mark, there on her neck, exactly where it was destined to be, exactly where it belonged. I leaned down and lapped up the thin rivulet of glorious nectar that leaked from it. I could feel it as Violet's p.u.s.s.y began to quiver around my c.o.c.k, pulling me deeper still. I was on the precipice and she was right there with me.

"Yes!" she cried out. "Oh! Yes!"

I latched back onto my mark and took a forceful pull.

"Oh, Ren!" she screamed, her voice rough with pa.s.sion as a powerful o.r.g.a.s.m began to wrack her body. I took another pull from her neck as I thrust into her one more time, one last time, spilling my seed, tasting her, taking her, claiming her as mine, for always.

The echoes of Violet's scream bounced off of the walls of the cave. The ecstasy showing in her face filled me with a strange sense of pride. Instinctually I leaned down and lapped at the twin set of punctures on her neck until the wound sealed.

"Ren?"

"Hmm?"

"That was..."

"Amazing," I finished.

"Yes," she agreed, caressing the side of my face. "Amazing. Though you did fall a bit short of forever."

Chapter 4.

Bile rose up in my throat. She hadn't understood. How stupid had I been? What had I done? I'd heard what I wanted to hear. I'd moved too rashly.

I stood up quickly and hastily tossed the blanket at her before I walked over to the entrance of the cave and stepped outside. Heedless of the cold I let the rain pour down on me. I threw my head back, then with my arms outstretched, fists clenched, I let out an unbridled roar. Its sound bounded off the rocks and echoed through the nearby caves before being swallowed by the wind and the rain and the vastness of the ocean below.

"What's wrong?"

"Leave me be!" I shouted as I heard her approach.

She wrapped her hand gently around my bicep. "Come on-"

My eyes flashed red and I rounded on her, making no attempt to hide my fury. "Have

you no sense, woman?" I ground out, struggling to maintain some degree of control.

She released me and stepped back. She was wearing my cashmere coat. The hem hung down to the ground, the sleeves completely covered her arms. She looked so

small and fragile. "I was just teasing, Ren. You were incredible. We were incredible. Ididn't mean to insult your performance. You-""It's too late, Violet! I didn't understand. I misunderstood. I...""Misunderstood what?""When you said that you wanted it to last forever, you were talking about the s.e.x.

Weren't you, Violet?""Yes.""You wanted me to f.u.c.k you forever...that's what you meant.""I wouldn't call it f.u.c.king. What did you think I meant? Did you think I was proposing marriage?" she asked.

"Vampires don't get married. We mate, Violet. Once. For life. Through the Claim."

"Oh."

"Yes. Oh."

I walked with purpose back into the cave and kicked sand over the fire, smothering the

flames.

"So what now?"

"I'm going back to the house," I said picking up two of the bottles of scotch. "I'm going to take a hot bath and have a really big drink."

"Kind of early for a drink, don't you think," she murmured.

I rounded on her, enraged. How dare she. Just who did she think she was? I drink what I want, when I want. I eat what I want, when I want. And except for a short list of prohibited items, I do what I want, when I want. I am immortal. Or...at least I used to be.

I pointed the bottle at her and yelled, "You come in here with that s.e.xy walk, those big innocent eyes, your beautiful hair and..."

"And what?"

"And you've turned my life upside-down, that's what! I told you that this wasn't just s.e.x!"

"And it wasn't, not for me, either. I think this is maybe something we could build on."

"Build on," I repeated, my voice sounding hollow.

"Yes!" she said, enthusiastically.

I shook my head. She was shaking like a leaf. Our union was too fresh, she was still vulnerable, and she would be for months. I threw one of the bottles of scotch against the rocks below and then I leaned down, picking her up and throwing her over my shoulder. I looked down at the rocks below and the image of my mother's crushed body lying on the cobblestone of our courtyard swam before me. I would not repeat my father's mistakes. Not all of them, anyways.

"I need to get you inside," I told her. "It's my job to take care of you now."

"Put me down! I can take care of myself. I can walk. My ankle is fine. I walked down here, didn't I?"

I paid no attention, moving quickly. My strength was not only restored, her blood had magnified it.

The house was cold. Of course it would be cold. She probably had no idea how to start a fire and not enough sense to find the thermostat and turn the heat up. I flipped the switch on the thermostat by the staircase and then proceeded up them, taking two at a time.

"I don't understand why you're so upset," she pouted as I walked through the doorway to my bedroom and then dropped her, rather carelessly, onto the bed.

I walked over to the fireplace, crouched down, picked up the matches, and struck one. "You don't see why I'm upset?" I asked, my voice sounding much calmer and steadier than I felt at the moment. I tossed some tinder onto the grate and watched it catch, taking some measure of comfort in the familiar ritual.

"Can't you explain?"

"Can't I explain?"

"This is going to take much longer to straighten out if you're going to insist on repeating everything I say."

I stood up and faced her. Boy, was that ever a mistake. She was sitting up, one leg tucked under her, the other trailing slightly behind. She was leaning forward on her left arm and on the left shoulder my coat had slipped a bit, exposing one perfect breast. Her eyes were shining with tears and her hair was glistening from the morning rain. My eyes met hers and my mouth went dry. I was already once again craving the feel of her, the smell of her, the taste of her. It took every bit of strength I had not to cross those three feet and gather her up into my arms. But there were things to be said, and f.u.c.king her again wasn't going to change that.

"I did explain. Well, I tried...last night I..." I turned around to face the fire and busied myself adding a log to the flame.

"Try again," she said softly. She stood up and walked over to me. Placing her hand on my shoulder, she added, "Please, Ren, don't shut me out."

I turned and studied her for a moment. She was frightened and uncertain. She wanted me still, yet I could sense that she regretted moving so quickly. Sadder still, I was acutely aware that a part of her regretted having come here at all. I could feel what she was feeling now, whether I wanted to or not.

"I can't really shut you out, Vi. No more than you can shut me out. We're joined now. It's something that can't be undone. The transformation, it's already started."

"Transformation?"

"Your Awakening. We need to talk."

"That's never good," she said, anxiously. "Nothing good ever follows 'we need to talk', Ren."

"Blow."

"Huh?"

"Blow." I released a warm breath into the cold of the living room. It condensed and hung in the air before dissipating.

She followed my lead, then shrugged. "So, it's still cold in here."

"Do you feel it?" I said, opening up the front of the overcoat and unabashedly raking my eyes over her body. She wore only the black thong and stockings now.

Violet smiled. "Well, not when you look at me like that."

I slipped my coat off of her shoulders and watched it pool at her feet before I interlaced my hand with hers then led her over to the mirror above the hearth. Standing behind her, I leaned her head back every so slightly and tilted her head, showing her the set of twin puncture wounds. "You're my mate, Violet. You gave your blood and your body to me. You gave it willingly. Mating transcends the bonds of marriage. There's no such thing as a vampire divorce. This is for life, Vi. As time pa.s.ses, you'll begin to take on some vampire characteristics."

"You turned me into a vampire?" she asked, her voice bordering on hysteria.

"No. Something...in between. Your senses will sharpen, your aging process will slow, you'll get stronger-"

"Now I need a drink," she said as she lowered herself to the floor.

"I'll get you some water," I replied, starting for the bathroom.

"Don't bother."

I turned back just in time to see Violet reach for the bottle of scotch and unscrew the cap.

"Explain," she said before tilting the bottle back and letting the amber liquid trickle into her throat.

I walked over to my chest of drawers, pulled out a cream-colored cashmere sweater and tossed it over to her. "Slip this on. You may not feel cold, but you're still vulnerable to-"

"The magic is gone," she quipped from underneath the oversized garment. "Mated less than one hour and you can't stand the sight of me." Then she took another drink and hiccupped. Christ, she could be adorable.

"Are you going to get drunk?" I asked, stepping into a pair of black sweatpants. "It'd be perfectly understandable."

"I don't know yet," she said taking another swig. "Want some?"

"Nah," I shook my head and joined her on the floor. I stared into the flames of the fire. I didn't know where to start...how to explain. "I'm not sure where to begin."

"Take your time," she said. "After all, you've got all the time in the world, right?"

I reached for the bottle, took a deep swallow, then set it aside. "Maybe that's where I should start. I'm not. Immortal that is. Not anymore. When a vampire and a human mate...something happens. The balance is upset. That's why it's forbidden. I'm tied to you now, Violet. Our life force has been joined. When you die, I die. I'll turn to dust when you leave this life and only then. Like with Grace and Fred."

"That's what happened to Grace?"

"Fred and Grace were mated for a bit over three hundred and fifty years. Grace was human, like you."

Violet closed her eyes and began to ma.s.sage her temples. "I'm not feeling so well.

Could you close the curtains? It's awfully bright in here. And...I hate to say it, but you need a bath. You smell like-"

"I've just had wonderfully illicit s.e.x?"

"Ren!" she scolded.

"Sorry. Everything's the same, Violet, it's just that your senses are sharpening."