Chapter 66

"Don't come any closer!" Hadrian's voice thundered as he shoved me away from the edge of his bed.

"You know this is the only way!" I cried, my voice trembling with desperation.

"I know..." His reply was faint, almost a whisper, as he turned his head away.

I could see the tension etched on his face, the way his jaw clenched tightly. He was gritting his teeth, fighting a losing battle against the bloodlust that threatened to consume him. It was a war he could not win.

"The bookshelf..." he rasped, his breath shallow and uneven. He pointed to the corner of the chamber. "Look for John Milton's Paradise Lost and pull it out... just a bit."

I didn’t understand his meaning, but I obeyed, my feet carrying me to the shelf. My fingers found the book, trembling as I pulled it out slightly. To my astonishment, the entire bookshelf shifted, revealing a hidden room behind it. I gasped, glancing back at Hadrian for direction.

"Take the shackles..." he managed, his claws digging into the bedframe as if to anchor himself. "If I am to bite you, I need... something to restrain my strength."

Without hesitation, I stepped into the hidden room. The lights flickered on, illuminating shelves lined with strange bottles filled with unsettling mixtures and substances I couldn't name. At the center stood a massive safe, but my attention was immediately drawn to the wall on my left.

Tools of torment hung there—saws, drills, chains, and knives—each one more sinister than the last. A shiver ran down my spine. This was no ordinary room. But I didn’t have time to linger on the ominous display. In the center of the wall, the shackles hung, their heavy silver gleaming coldly. I grabbed them and rushed out. The hidden door closed behind me with an eerie finality.

Hadrian's eyes fell on the shackles, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Good... you brought the ones with silver."

"I didn’t mean to!" I stammered, panicking as I turned to head back into the room.

"No." His voice was firm, though strained. He shifted to sit in the chair, his arms moving behind it. "Put them on me. Quickly. I... I can't hold on much longer."

I hesitated but moved behind him. My hands trembled as I secured the shackles around his wrists. The moment the silver touched his skin, he hissed in pain, his muscles tightening against the burn.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible. My heart raced, fear gripping me as I stepped in front of him. His crimson-red eyes burned into mine, his lips parting as his fangs lengthened. My breath hitched. I didn’t know what would happen when his control broke. Neither of us did.

With trembling hands, I pushed my hair aside, exposing my neck. His pupils dilated as he took me in. Slowly, I stepped forward and climbed onto his lap, my arms circling his shoulders. I met his gaze, allowing him to lean in, his breath brushing my skin. Then, his fangs pierced my neck.

A sharp gasp escaped me as pain surged through my body, white-hot and searing. It felt as though my skin was aflame. My eyes welled with tears, and a moan of anguish slipped from my lips. His bite was merciless, his bloodlust unrelenting as he fed from my carotid. My breath faltered, my chest tightening as my head spun from the loss of oxygen.

"Stop..." I pleaded weakly, the word barely a whisper. I tried to push away, but my strength was slipping too quickly. A chilling thought struck me—I might die here.

Summoning what little strength I had left, I leaned back, forcing his fangs to withdraw. My vision blurred as I fought to focus on his face. The bluish veins that had marred his skin were fading. My blood had neutralized most of the poison.

Our eyes locked. His gaze was predatory, devouring. His chest heaved, his muscles tensing. Then, with a guttural roar, he flexed his arms, and the shackles shattered, silver fragments scattering across the floor.

Before I could react, his arms were around me, pulling me tightly against him.

"Please..." I whispered, a tear trailing down my cheek.

His gaze softened for a fleeting moment, but his hunger remained. One hand cradled the back of my head as he leaned in again. His fangs sank into my neck once more, but this time, the pain was replaced by an inexplicable warmth. It was... intoxicating. His touch was gentler now, his hands roaming my back with a tenderness that sent shivers through me. My body grew weaker with every passing moment, my arms barely able to cling to him.

"Thalassa..." he murmured against my ear, his voice low and seductive.

My name on his lips sent a jolt through me. I opened my eyes wide, meeting his smoldering gaze. A small, involuntary smile tugged at my lips as he bit his finger and smeared his blood over the fresh wounds on my neck.

Leaning closer, his breath caressed my ear as he whispered, "I want you."

My heart thundered in my chest as his words sank in, a faint smile forming despite myself.

He smirked knowingly, his eyes flicking to mine as his hands slid down to grip my waist. My heart raced, a relentless rhythm that mirrored the growing heat between us—a desire I knew he could sense all too well. In one fluid motion, he lifted me effortlessly and tossed me onto the bed. The soft ache between my thighs began to throb, and I felt the unmistakable warmth of arousal pooling there.

He climbed over me slowly, his eyes roaming my body with a deliberate intensity. His gaze was fire against my skin, and I burned under it, unable to conceal the way my body betrayed me. One of his hands trailed from my neck, down the curve of my collarbone, before brushing over my chest. When his fingers reached the edge of my dress, a sly smirk curled his lips. Without hesitation, he tore the fabric from my neckline, splitting it open to reveal lace that did little to shield me from his gaze.

I gasped, instinctively crossing my arms to cover myself, but he only chuckled, the sound low and predatory. Effortlessly, he pinned my wrists above my head with one hand, his strength making resistance futile. My cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and I turned my face away, unable to meet his piercing gaze. He wasn’t having it. Gently, he cupped my chin and tilted my face until my lips were within reach of his. Then, he kissed me.

The kiss was slow and deliberate, each movement of his lips igniting something unfamiliar and exhilarating within me. He deepened the kiss, his tongue brushing against mine with a teasing fervor. My body reacted without thought, leaning into him, craving more. Each second left me yearning, the kiss both overwhelming and maddeningly insufficient.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes trailed down my neck, lingering at my breasts. I flinched as his fangs elongated, glinting dangerously under the dim light. He leaned in, and his teeth pierced the delicate skin just above my nipple. The sensation should have been painful, but it wasn’t. Instead, pleasure flooded my senses, and an involuntary moan escaped my lips.

Hadrian pulled back briefly, his eyes gleaming with something primal, before tearing away my bra. My hands instinctively moved to cover myself again, but he caught them easily.

“You’re mine now,” he murmured, his voice a velvet promise. “And tonight, I’ll savor every inch of you.”

The weight of his gaze sent a shiver down my spine. Slowly, I lowered my hands, baring myself completely to him.

“Good,” he said, a wicked grin spreading across his face as his tongue flicked over his lips.

He shrugged off his shirt, revealing a sculpted chest and abdomen that only heightened my anticipation. Leaning over me, his lips found my breasts, his tongue and teeth teasing the sensitive skin with an unbearable skill. His hands followed suit, exploring my body with a reverence I’d never experienced before. Every brush of his fingers, every graze of his lips, sent ripples of pleasure through me, leaving me breathless and trembling.

My hands drifted into his hair, reveling in its silkiness as I traced the cool lines of his skin. My desire grew uncontrollable; I wanted him, all of him.

He slipped off my panties with deliberate precision, spreading my legs as his lips and fingers explored the sensitive skin between my thighs. Each movement was torment and ecstasy, his touch igniting sensations I hadn’t known I could feel. When he finally entered me with his fingers and tongue, my body arched instinctively, unable to resist the overwhelming pleasure. A loud moan tore from my lips as waves of satisfaction consumed me.

He looked up, his piercing eyes meeting mine. That commanding gaze held me captive, rendering me unable to look away. I surrendered completely, my body and soul laid bare before him. I wanted him to crave me as much as he hungered for my blood.

Shedding the last of his clothing, he pressed his cool, firm body against mine. The contrast sent another shiver through me, heightening my anticipation. His hands traced the inside of my thighs again, ensuring I was ready before he finally claimed me.

The first thrust was a revelation, sending shockwaves through my body that left me gasping. Each movement after was a perfect crescendo, driving me higher with every stroke. I couldn’t catch my breath, couldn’t think—only feel. My moans echoed in the room, a symphony that seemed to fuel his pace. His grin grew darker, more wicked, as he pushed me further, each thrust harder and faster than the last.

I lost myself completely in him, reaching peaks of pleasure over and over, until time itself blurred. When we finally collapsed together, both of us spent, he gathered me in his arms. His embrace was tender, a stark contrast to the intensity of moments before.

My chest heaved with exhaustion, my head spinning. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, soothing me as I sank into him. His eyes found mine again, and he smiled—a soft, disarming smile that sent warmth flooding my chest.

A blush crept up my cheeks as the weight of what had happened settled over me. Embarrassed, I buried my face in his chest.

He chuckled, his arms tightening around me. “Rest now, my Thalassa,” he murmured, his voice filled with an unexpected affection.

His fingers threaded gently through my hair, lulling me into peace. Slowly, my eyes closed, and I let sleep take me.