Vikirnoff nodded toward his brother. “In a way. I gave to my brother.” It was easy to see that Destiny was holding on by a thread.
“Pater seems to be losing all his little children. They’re dropping like flies. I doubt if he can father enough to come looking for us. Both of you go hunt and regain your full strength. I’ll be fine while you’re gone.” Destiny attempted to shift herself out of Nicolae’s arms. The movement wrenched a groan from between her teeth. “Ignore that. It slipped out without permission.” She hadn’t managed to move more than an inch; she felt like a wet dishrag held up only by strong arms.
Above her head, Nicolae glanced at his brother. Some communication clearly passed between them, but Destiny was far too tired to read Nicolae. The pain was almost more than she could take. Her injuries were severe this time, and the wounds burned, as always when inflicted by a vampire.
Vikirnoff bowed from the waist toward her in the elegant way of the ancients. “I will leave you so that I may hunt.” He vanished into a stream of mist, already on the move, streaking upward toward the narrow chimney leading out of the cave.
Destiny looked up at Nicolae’s set features and managed a hesitant smile. “You’re just spoiling for a fight, aren’t you? I don’t have the energy. I’m not going to complain if you want to stay. Well, not too much. I won’t mention how pale you look. Or that I can feel your hunger. Or that you’re being silly.”
He stopped her easily, stealing the air from her lungs. Robbing her of speech. Of thought. Of reason. Leaning forward, he locked his gaze with hers. She read the desire there. The absolute need. He took his time, slowly lowering his head to hers. Watching her. Drinking her in. His long hair, wild from the battle, tumbled around his shoulders and skimmed her bare shoulder.
Her heart flipped; her insides turned to mush. Liquid heat rushed through her bloodstream, pooled low and throbbed for recognition. None of it mattered. There was only Nicolae in her world. In her mind. His arms tightened, nearly crushing her to him, yet all the while he was careful of her injuries.
And then his mouth fastened to hers and her world turned upside down for all time.
Chapter Eight
Time stopped. The world dropped away, simply disappeared. He tasted wild. She tasted exotic. The mix was a form of perfection, creating a powerful addiction. His mouth was firm and certain, her mouth was velvet soft and trembling with uncertainty. Nicolae was infinitely tender, murmuring to her as he gathered her even closer so that his body was imprinted on her softer one. Claiming her. And she melted right into him as if made for him.
Her heart was beating with the rhythm of his. Electricity seemed to arc between them. Whips of lightning danced in her bloodstream. Destiny was vaguely aware of the steady roar that thundered in her ears as his mouth took possession of hers. His gentleness was her undoing, the exquisite care he took with her. It was his tenderness that enabled her to merge with him completely.
Nicolae allowed the need to wash over him, through him. How did one survive when the body went up in flames and burned so cleanly? So completely? When the mind roared with need and every muscle was swollen and hard with a craving beyond bearing? Colors danced behind his eyes; fireworks burst through him, shooting sizzling sparks into his bloodstream. He deepened the kiss, feeding on her exotic taste. Possession and obsession were intertwining.
It was her small wince of pain that brought him to his senses. Reluctantly he lifted his head, needing her, craving her, but mindful of her terrible wounds. He rested his brow gently against hers, struggling to regain control of his breathing.
Destiny’s long lashes fluttered and lifted. She regarded him with a dreamy, unfocused gaze. Her breath was coming in ragged little gasps. Nicolae deliberately slowed his breathing, coaxed her into following his rhythm. His white teeth flashed in a small, smug display of male arrogance. Of satisfaction.
Her palm skimmed his jaw, framed his face. “You learned a few things in all those years hanging around on earth, didn’t you?”
His smile widened, his eyes glinting with humor. “I do not believe I ever experienced anything quite like this. Believe me, I would have remembered. It was rather like stepping off a cliff and free-falling through the heavens.”
Destiny was pleased in spite of herself, but too exhausted to keep her hand up. It slipped away from him and she snuggled against him, shifting her hips to a more comfortable position in his lap. At once she came into contact with his fully aroused body. Her blue-green eyes went wide with shock.
“Do not panic, little one,” he soothed gently. “I am not asking for anything.” The pad of his thumb slid over her lower lip to trace the perfection of her mouth.
Destiny’s gaze drifted over his face for a long moment, lingered in the dark depths of his. “You don’t ask for anything, yet you’re asking for everything.”
“In your time, Destiny,” he answered gently. “It will happen; we have all the time in the world.”
A faint smile curved her mouth. “Do we? You’d like me to believe that, wouldn’t you? This isn’t the first time the lifemate ritual has come up. You know, if what you say is true, it won’t matter one way or the other if you say the words and bind us. You’re already fixated.” There was faint humor in her voice.
His eyebrows shot up. Nicolae found he wanted to kiss her again. He was fascinated with the way her mouth curved and tempted him when she smiled. “I wouldn’t say fixated.”
“Sticking to me like glue, then,” Destiny insisted. A soft laugh escaped and immediately was choked off as pain slid over her fragile features. “Just do it. Get it over. Otherwise that idiot brother of yours will sit around glowering at me.”
“Vikirnoff does not glower.”
“Oh, yes, he does. He has those eyes and he gives me the ‘get it together’ look. It’s annoying.”
“What is annoying is that you are noticing his eyes. I do not think there is any need for you to be noticing his eyes.” He scowled at her.
She stared up at his face, a slow grin spreading. “You are jealous. Oh, my gosh, you are totally jealous because I noticed your silly brother glowering.”
“I am
not
jealous. And it is not that you noticed his glowering, it is that you noticed his eyes, which is an altogether different thing.”
“You are so jealous. That’s too funny. As if I’d look at the silent caveman. It’s bad enough that I have to put up with you. Just say the stupid words so I can go to sleep.”
“Destiny,” Nicolae sighed in exasperation. “You are missing the point. This is supposed to be romantic. There seems to be something lost in the moment.”
“Romance? We are definitely, absolutely not having a romance.” She looked panic-stricken.
This time he couldn’t resist. He leaned down and kissed her very gently. His lips lingered over hers, teased, feather-light for just a moment or two. Not long enough to get him slapped, just long enough for her eyes to go dreamy again. “What are we having?” There was amusement in his voice.
She looked confused, staring up at him with a kind of hunted look that made him gather her closer. “Just say the dumb words, Nicolae. Let’s see if it works.”
“Well then, if you insist, I can do no other.” He was very obliging. “But I must insist on a little romance.”
Destiny narrowed her gaze. “I’m not always going to be lying here helpless,” she warned.
“I should hope not. Once was enough to give me heart trouble.” His hands stroked her face, caressed the jagged tears in her throat. His voice was so tender, it sent liquid heat coursing through her body and little butterflies winging in the pit of her stomach.
His arms gathered her even closer, cradling her in his lap. She closed her eyes as his face came closer, as his breath warmed the cold of her skin. Destiny felt her body turn to liquid heat. That warm breath felt like something she’d never thought she would find, not even if she lived for centuries. His lips were velvet soft, feathering down her cheek to the corner of her mouth. She felt tears burning behind her eyes. He was stealing her heart, and he wasn’t stopping there. Her soul was craving him. Truly craving him. She hadn’t thought she would ever have anything worthwhile for herself.