Chapter 65: Chapter 65

“Yup,” she grinned. “Come on.” She patted the rock next to her, and he joined her.

“Thanks, by the way,” she said sheepishly.

“You’re welcome,” he laughed—how could he stay mad at her when she looked so happy? She genuinely enjoyed their outing. Her bright smiles were stunning, and they appeared more frequently than ever before.

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Ryder’s and Elena’s hike lasted the entire day, and when they returned to the cottage, her feet hurt and she was incredibly tired. Nevertheless, she wore the brightest smile on her face. It had been a wonderful day; she had spotted rare flowers and enjoyed her soulmate’s presence. There had been no distractions, just him and her.

As the second day of their vacation neared its end, they retreated to the patio, basking in the light of the moon. It was cold outside, so Ryder offered her a blanket. Elena sat between his legs on the lounger and leaned her back against his chest, staring at the sky with a faraway gaze.

Ryder’s attention rested solely on her. Where else could it have been when her neck was so close? Her alluring scent had been teasing him all day, and he was slowly losing the fight against his thirst. His fangs elongated. He couldn’t help himself—she smelled so amazing, and having her neck right in front of his nose didn’t make it any easier. His fingers brushed her hair aside, uncovering it for his ruby eyes to see.

“May I?” he whispered in a low tone that betrayed his desire. His warm breath caressed her skin. She had to suppress a shudder.

“Yes,” she replied and tilted her head back, letting it rest on his shoulder.

He hummed, connecting his soft lips with her skin. Heat spread through her body, gathering in her stomach. She loved it when he kissed her neck—but just how amazing would it feel to kiss his lips?

The stinging of his fangs sinking into her neck didn’t bother her anymore. The ache subsided within a few seconds, so she let herself enjoy the addicting sensation of his lips. She became hyperaware of their wet touch while he sucked her blood, drinking it ravenously. His hard chest rose and fell with heavy breaths while he held her in his arms.

His desire was palpable—and a strange tension hung in the air. It had not been there before, but now it was all around them, thick like syrup. Elena’s hand grabbed his thigh when his fingers unexpectedly slipped beneath her shirt, leaving fire in their wake. Her breath hitched at the cool sensation of his digits mapping her hipbone and stomach area.

His tongue licked her neck. He had removed his fangs but didn’t stop tasting her to his heart’s content, savoring the honey-like sweetness of his soulmate’s blood. Elena was torn between going up in flames and becoming a puddle—her neck had always been a sensitive spot, so the continuous teasing of his tongue was pleasant torture.

“You are the sweetest temptation, buttercup,” he murmured, leaving a messy kiss on the bite before he licked off the remaining blood. His hand halted just below her chest and lingered in the same spot. A sudden gasp fell from her lips when he bit her neck again—not to draw more blood, but to tease her. His teeth grazed her delicate skin without breaking it.

She gazed up at the stars with hazy eyes, her hand reaching up to Ryder’s hair, caressing his black strands. He breathed in her alluring scent one last time and pressed a kiss on the bite mark before his lips left her heated flesh. He hadn’t taken much of her blood, as tempting as it was, since he didn’t want to burden her during their vacation.

“Are you alright?” Ryder asked, prompting her to turn her head. She locked eyes with him.

“Yes, you were gentle. Are you sure you’re a vampire?” she chuckled, interlacing her fingers with his when he placed his hand on her stomach. “You’re so careful all the time despite your strength. I really appreciate it, you know? It’s nice.”

“First and foremost, I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” she smiled, winking at him. “I love our vacation, we should do this more often.”

She angled her body, laying her ear on his chest and curling up on her side. A low chuckle made his chest vibrate. He embraced her affectionately.

Elena mumbled something inaudible and closed her eyes, snuggling up to his body. The loss of blood, even though it wasn’t much, tired her. She let out a contented sigh as his hand trailed over her back. Minutes passed. All they heard was the occasional call of an owl and the rustling of the trees in the wind. The songs of cicadas surrounded them.

“Elena?” he asked, but didn’t receive an answer. He dipped his head to gaze at her face, finding her fast asleep. “You must have been tired, hm? We’ve been outside for a long time.”

He sat up and moved her body in his arms so that he could pick her up and carry her inside. Her head fell on his shoulder. She mumbled something in her sleep, and it sounded suspiciously like his name. He made his way into the cottage, not turning on the light as he walked into the bedroom and lay her on the bed. Removing her shoes and spreading a blanket over her, he made sure she was comfortable. It could get cold at night in the mountains—not that it bothered him as a vampire, but she might catch a cold.

“Sleep well,” he murmured. He changed his clothes before he joined her and slipped under the blanket next to her.

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Waking up the following morning was like falling into a sea of clouds. Elena felt warm. The buzzing magic of their soulmate bond enveloped her and Ryder. She opened her eyes and found him lying next to her. His sleeping face rested on the same pillow, only centimeters apart from hers. He was so close—so incredibly close. It wouldn’t take much to bridge the distance between them and lock her lips with his. They looked pink and soft, like petals. Her gaze followed the elegant line of his cupid’s bow to the barely noticeable dimples he had. The silver metal of his piercing hugged his bottom lip. She found his preference for lip and ear piercings attractive… and she wondered what the metal would feel like if they kissed. Would she feel his sharp canines as well?