Immortals After Dark 12 - Lothaire

he covered one breast with his free hand, gently kneading, she cried, “Don’t touch me! I don’t want you!”
    He bent down to kiss her, but she craned her head away. He pinched her chin, holding her still . . . she clamped her lips closed against his.
    He jerked back. “What is this? Be like you were with me the other times! When you melted for me.”
    “That was before I fully understood what a nasty piece of work you are.”
    “Because of a few shifter beheadings? Come on, Lizvetta, it’s not as if I went around cock-slapping gnomes.”
    Her jaw dropped. “You are amazing ! A deadly, wretched, friendless monster. Pretty on the outside and not much more. God, just find the ring and put me out of my misery!”
    “Be like you were with me! That was not a request.”
    “Fuck you, vampire.”
    “Soon.”
    “Let go!” When he didn’t, she screamed, “Let go, let go, LET GO!”
    “Dark gods, shut up!” he yelled, but he did release her.
    She scurried from the bed. “Why would you be unfaithful to Saroya? The first time we were together was because she was late for a date, the second just happened, but this would be premeditated. Why can’t you just wait for your Bride? It isn’t me you want—you’ve told me a thousand times how inferior to Saroya I am. I swear I will let her rise.”
    Ignoring her, he commanded, “Return to this bed now .”
    “Did she recede because she didn’t want you?”
    He gave a raw laugh. “What female wouldn’t want me?” Lothaire-speak?
    “Me! You asked me why I was still a virgin? It’s because of men like you—the takers. Selfish, stupid men! I don’t want you!”
    “Of course you do, Elizabeth. Just looking at me gets you wet.”
    “Looking at you reminds me of the kind of man I should be with.”
    “And what kind of man is that? Drunken, poor, pathetic?”
    “No. I’ve never met him, but I see him plain as day. He has crinklesaround his eyes when he smiles and tanned skin from working outdoors. Honest labor has callused his hands. He and I will hunt together, cook and eat big family meals together. He’ll marry me and love my family, too.” Voice gone soft, she said, “He’ll give me a baby boy and a girl.”
    Lothaire’s eyes narrowed. “No. He won’t. You’ll never know another but me. Now, come back to bed and stop behaving as if this is some kind of event. We’ve pleasured each other before, and all I want from you is to exchange a couple of orgasms.”
    “I’m not the type of woman who’ll let a man treat her like trash, then get him off whenever he likes. You’ve done nothing to deserve being with me.”
    “But your honest, tanned, imaginary husband has? Think about him
all you like, yet it will be me who wrings screams from you tonight. I can make you want this. One bite, and you’ll be begging for me to touch you.”
    “A vampire roofie? Can’t get it any other way?”
    “Do you want me to work for it, then?” Lothaire’s voice grew husky. “I will, Elizabeth. I’m not above seduction to get what I want.”
    His eyes locked on hers with that predatory glint, and she again felt like his helpless prey, the object of a merciless vampire’s lust.
    For some reason, the idea of that made her breaths shallow. She felt her skin growing flushed as if to attract him—
    One instant she stood beside the bed; the next she was in it, lying back under the firm press of his hand.
    Before she could even think about defending herself, he’d worked the silk down off her shoulders to pool at her waist.
    Indignation burning inside her, she threw a wild punch, but with that supernatural speed, he easily secured both of her wrists in one hand. “Ah-ah, you’ll only hurt yourself. And amuse me. Now, relax.”
    She tensed even more.
    “Sweet Lizvetta, with your hot skin and hot blood.” He stretched her arms over her head, pinning her wrists there once more. “Let me see if I can’t stoke a fever in you.” With his free hand, he rolled one nipple between his thumb and forefinger. “Do you like this?”
    “No!” She gasped out the word.
    “Liar. And what about this?” He pinched the other one.
    Her hips bucked. “No!”
    At her ear, he purred, “Be my dear, and tell me you want me.”
    “I won’t do it!”
    He bent to one of her breasts. She felt his warm breath fanning over it and barely kept her eyes open.
    He’d never suckled her before. He’d wanted to the first night, but she’d denied him. During their second time