Chapter 27

When we arrived home, the cabin was dark and silent. Everyone was in bed, which meant we’d be relatively alone and uninterrupted.

“I’m going to change into something more comfortable.” Piper headed for her room.

I kicked off my shoes and wandered into the bathroom where I stripped out of my jeans and long-sleeved button up shirt and changed into gray, cotton pajama pants and a black T-shirt. I had zero expectations of anything happening with Piper tonight, but I did want her to be relaxed enough to talk to me about whatever she was still hiding.

Flicking off the lights, I stepped out of the bathroom and nearly collided with Piper. She wore an oversized night shirt that hung to her knees. Was she wearing anything beneath that? I knew I couldn’t ask, but I would damn well spend the rest of the night wondering. So much for being relaxed.

“Ladies first.” I extended my arm toward the living room, and she proceeded to lead the way.

Well, she definitely wasn’t wearing pants, and I couldn’t see the outline of shorts beneath her shirt. Need, thick and heavy, whipped through me. I had a feeling this was going to end up being the single longest, most torturous night of my existence.

“Still trust me to pick the movie?” I snatched the remote from the coffee table.

“No.” She laughed. “But I am curious to see what you’ll pick, so go ahead.” She tugged the throw blanket off the back of the couch and curled up beneath it.

I sat beside her—as close as I could get without being creepy—and flicked through the channels. But picking a movie was the very last thing on my mind, and I barely paid attention to any of the titles. Finally, I settled on the first scary movie I found.

“Want anything to eat or drink?” I asked.

“No. I’m still stuffed from dinner.” She flicked her wrist, and the lights went off.

I grinned at her. “Show off.”

“You’re just jealous.” She nudged me with her foot, then curled her legs beneath her, the blanket draped over her lower half.

“Of what? A gorgeous woman who can literally do anything I ask with a wave of her hand?” I laced my fingers behind my head and leaned back. “I’ve got it made.”

Piper laughed. “So now I’m your magical maid?”

“It’s only fair if you expect me to be your personal chef.” I winked.

Her face flushed, and she turned her attention to the TV. I tried so hard to concentrate on the movie, but all I could think about was her. How close she was to me. How warm her body was. How her heart fluttered each time I’d glance in her direction.

She lifted the blanket from her lap. “I’ll share if you’re cold.”

“Vampires don’t get cold, remember?”

Her sigh was loud and full of exasperation. “Apparently they don’t take hints, either.” She scooted closer, flung the blanket over both of us, then snuggled against my side.

I froze for half a second, then I relaxed and wrapped my arm around her. For the first time in my existence, I was at peace. I was exactly where I was supposed to be, and having Piper cuddled next to me only made this more perfect. Trailing my fingers down her arm, I pressed a kiss to her forehead.

She hummed with contentment and wiggled even closer. Then she eased her hand up the hem of my shirt, and the instant her hand touched my flesh, my veins burned with lust. I swallowed hard and forced myself to remain still for the sole reason of not wanting her to stop touching me.

Her fingertips whispered across my stomach, and I groaned. My skin erupted with goose bumps, and the lower her hand went, the harder my breaths became. She teased my navel, her fingers dangerously close to disappearing into the waistband of my pants. I let my head fall back against the couch, and I bit down on my bottom lip.

Every nerve ending in my body sizzled and ached with a need so strong it stole my ability to speak. My synapses fired hard and fast, setting off fireworks in my brain, making it impossible to think clearly. All I could do was feel. Rationality fled, and I operated on pure animal instinct. My vision clouded with the shift in my eye color, and my gums ached with the piercing pain of my fangs trying to break free.

“Why are you so tense?” Piper looked up at me. “Do you not like this?”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I asked on a sharp exhale. “I’m trying to restrain myself, so I don’t do something you’re not ready for.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks reddened, and the only thing I could imagine was how red the rest of her would be if she let me touch her like she was touching me.

Palm flat against my abs, she continued to stare up at me, and I waited to see what she’d do next. The seconds ticked by, neither of us making a move. In the span of several heartbeats, I ran through a whole list of ways this could play out—every one of them ending with her naked beneath me. Was that what she wanted, though? Would I finally be allowed to kiss her?

She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, then she snapped her jaw closed.

I tilted my head. “If you want something from me, Piper, all you have to do is ask.”

She took a deep breath, and only then, with the rise and fall of her chest, did I notice her nipples were hard. I was a fucking goner. I was barely holding myself together now, but to know she was reacting to me in such a physical way… I bit back a groan.

Piper removed her hand from my stomach, flung the blanket off, then stood. I watched her through narrowed eyes, my heart thrashing violently in my chest. I mentally prepared myself for her to tell me good night, to say she was sorry, that shit was too “complicated,” and then leave me out here alone to deal with the raging erection I had zero control over at the moment.

Instead, she held her hand out to me. “I want you to spend the night with me.”

My eyebrows shot up. Words failed me for a handful of seconds. “When you say spend the night…?” I cocked my head. I didn’t want any confusion between us about what was happening right now.

“Are you seriously going to make me spell this out for you?” She planted her hands on her hips. “Surely you’ve spent the night with a woman before.”

“Multiple women, actually.”

Piper’s face contorted with a scowl, her eyes darkening and narrowing, twisting like polished emeralds exposed to a bright light.

I smirked. “You’re incredibly sexy when you’re jealous.”

She rolled her eyes, but her faint smile belied any aggravation she tried to show. Then, she flipped her hair over her shoulder. “You said if I wanted something, all I had to do was ask.”

“But you didn’t ask. You demanded.” I sat forward and gently clutched her waist. “Honestly, Piper, how are you going to teach me manners when you don’t have any, either?”

Her surprised laughter had a grin forming on my face. Then her eyes narrowed with a devilish glint. “You want manners?” She shoved me hard, and my back hit the cushions. “I’ll show you manners.”

Then she straddled me, and my entire body exploded with white-hot desire. Her body fit snugly over mine, and there was no hiding my arousal. Not that I’d been trying. Her sharp intake of breath stroked my ego, and I once again clutched her waist, holding her in place. She lowered her mouth to my neck and showered me with tiny kisses.

“The polite thing to do when someone kisses you is to say thank you,” she whispered a moment before nipping at my earlobe.

“Thank you. May I have more?”

“That’s a good vampire.” She smiled against my neck, then moved her mouth down my throat. Her breath felt like liquid heat on my skin, and I couldn’t get enough. I flexed my fingers on her waist and drew her closer. She bore down on me, and I jerked beneath her.

“Shit,” I breathed out roughly.

Another smile against my neck.

She was completely unraveling me, and I was powerless to stop her. I didn’t want to. I wanted her to go farther, to push us both to our breaking points. I wrapped my arms around her back, stood, and with superhuman speed, I had her in her room and pinned against the closed door. She yelped with surprise but wrapped her legs tighter around my waist—she wore nothing but a pair of panties beneath her night shirt—and entwined her fingers at the back of my neck.

“Show off,” she said breathlessly.

“You haven’t seen anything yet, sweetheart.”

Every single thing about her was warm and inviting, and she was so incredibly pliant in my arms. I was going to enjoy every second of this.

“Just to be clear”—I kissed along her jaw—“sex is a go?” I eased back enough to see her nod, and then my mouth was back on her jaw as I worked my way down the column of her neck. “But kissing on the mouth is still a no go?”

“Correct.”

“You realize how fucked up that is, right?” I stopped kissing her and stared into her eyes.

“I know, but…” She sighed and rested her forehead on my shoulder.

My stomach sank. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. Every time I brought up the whole no-kissing thing, she got weird on me. Clamming up, refusing to talk, or giving vague non-answers.

She played with the hair at the nape of my neck, her lips slowly puckering against my throat as she lifted her head from my shoulder. “I know I’m not being fair to you right now.” She scraped her teeth down my neck, and I trembled in her arms. “Not telling you with any certainty what you are to me.”

This time, she actually bit my neck—not hard enough to draw blood, but the effect was just as devastating. I slapped my hands flat against the door and held her there with my body as I teased her neck the same way she did mine.

Her heart beat hard and fast between us, and her breaths were hot little puffs on my skin. “But I need to know what it feels like to be loved by you, Jax.” Her voice was a throaty whisper, but her words were loud and clear.

I didn’t need to hear another word. Carefully, I eased her away from the door, carried her to the bed, and laid her down. Then I tore my shirt off over my head. Her appreciative gaze only encouraged me more.

“Wait.” She held up her hand, and I froze. She snapped her fingers, and several candles flickered to life, then she recited a spell.

I raised a questioning brow.

“I soundproofed the room. We can hear what’s going on out there, but no one can hear what’s going on in here.”

I smiled broadly. “Smart. We wouldn’t want your screams of pleasure to wake anyone.” I crawled onto the bed, holding my body above hers. “Especially your sister. She might scold us again.”

Piper laughed. “My screams of pleasure, huh?”

“Mm-hmm.” I lowered my head, my lips grazing the corner of her mouth before shifting to kiss her cheek. The urge to feel her lips against mine flared, but I couldn’t disrespect her wishes, so I’d be content with feeling other parts of her against me.

I adjusted so I had most of my weight suspended in one arm, and then I rested my free hand just above her knee and purposefully dragged my fingers up her thigh, tugging the hem of her night shirt up as I went. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she arched her back.

Kneeling between her parted legs, I eased her shirt off over her head, my fingertips brushing along her sides. She inhaled sharply and trembled. I tossed her shirt to the floor and took a moment to admire her. Full, perky breasts with rock hard nipples beckoned me.

“You’re absolutely positive this is what you want?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said without hesitation.

Thank God. I gently guided her back down onto the bed, and then I took my time exploring her body with my lips, kissing, licking, and nipping every inch of her. She tangled her fingers in my hair as if she were worried I’d suddenly stop. But there wasn’t a force on this earth that could tear me away from her right now.

“You’re so beautiful.” I hooked my fingers into the waistband of her panties and tugged.

She lifted her hips, and I easily slid the fabric down her legs. Then I kissed my way back up, stopping between her thighs. I glanced up to find her watching me through hazy, lust-filled eyes. With a wicked smile, I draped her leg over my shoulder, and then I kissed the only set of lips she’d let me taste.

Her body bucked beneath me. “Jax!” she gasped and fisted the blankets in her hands.

The sound of her crying my name had everything south of my waist straining for release, and I shifted to ease the ache, but that only made it worse. I needed to be inside of her, to feel her welcoming me in a way she never had anyone else. I wanted to brand her with the feel of me.

“Jax. Please.” She writhed and wiggled, though she wasn’t trying to get away from me.

Oh, no, she was trying to get closer. She tensed, then spasmed as she let go of a loud, needy moan. The sound of her pleasure echoed around me, and I was so lost in ensuring that she felt good that I barely recognized the bloodlust building inside of me.

I nipped at her inner thigh, then kissed the spot. “What did I tell you, Piper? If you want something from me, ask.”

She groaned. “Isn’t it obvious what I want?” Her voice was steeped with sexual gratification.

I knew what she wanted because I wanted the same damn thing, but I refused to rush this. Who knew when I’d ever get another night with her? If this was the only time I’d ever have her in my arms like this, I was going to savor every second.

“Stubborn vampire,” she grumbled.

“Needy little witch.” I dragged my body up hers, my face poised over hers, and yanked off my pants one-handed.

Kissing her forehead, her eyelids, and both her cheeks, I spread her legs with my knees. Then I eased inside of her, slow and steady so I wouldn’t hurt her, and every inch deeper I sank, the hotter she was. Lava-like heat scorched me, and she dug her fingernails into my back. Teeth gritted, I buried my face against her shoulder and stilled for a moment, just long enough to regain a little bit of self-control.

She rocked her hips forward, and the control I was fighting so hard to hold onto snapped. I snarled and gave myself over to the need tearing through me. We quickly found an easy rhythm, our bodies moving as one. She hooked her legs around me and clung to my body, her breath steamy little pants interspersed with soft moans.

Before I could stop them, my fangs protruded, and I fought every instinct I had. Biting her right now would be so easy. I could claim her and end this constant loop of misery I’d been in since meeting her. But she hadn’t given me permission, and I wouldn’t be the guy who forever took that choice from her. No, I wanted—needed—her to choose me because she couldn’t imagine a life without me in it.

“My God, Piper,” I groaned. “You feel so damn good.”

This had to be what heaven felt like, because there was nothing on earth that was this good, this perfect. This euphoric.

For the second time, she crashed over the edge and succumbed to her orgasm, and I was seconds behind her. I held her tighter as we rode the waves of pure, undiluted passion until we were both spent and breathing heavy.