“Our records date back to the third millennium—BC.”
“Shut. Up.”
He grinned. “Who do you think carried the heavy stones to the top of the pyramids?”
“Holy crap.”
“Language, ainsicht.”
She rolled her eyes. “Crap is not a bad word, Adam.”
Her mind spun like a top, her uncertainty transforming into an almost morbid curiosity. “Okay, so there’s a ceremony, then the union.” Her attention jumped to his face. “You mean sex, right?”
He nodded. “We would make love as husband and wife.”
“Then a transfusion.” They probably had some primitive technology available to assist with that resembled the equipment used in the sixteen hundreds. That was long before the discovery of anesthesia and antisepsis. “Would I get a pain killer?”
“You wouldn’t have any pain. The process is said to be the opposite of pain.”
She frowned. “You’re telling me it’s pleasant.”
He swallowed, nodding slowly, his eyes staring into her. “Very.”
Her insides fluttered, drawing her attention to her body and causing her to shift her weight. Her thighs pressed together under her dress and his nostrils flared.
“You understand,” he rasped.
Her lips parted as she tried to think of a coy response, but she could only focus on the way he now stared at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I want you.”
Her breath left in a whoosh. “Oh.” She dropped her gaze to the floor, her cheeks burning under his attention.
He caught her chin between his fingers, coaxing her attention back to him. Her entire body tingled at his touch. Chills danced over her flesh, drawing her nipples to attention. And, for once, she was grateful for the concealing clothing.
“By your body’s response, I see you want me too.”
Her breasts lifted against her dress. It wasn’t fair that he could read her physical responses so clearly. She had no control over those things. But he was right. The thought of losing herself in a fit of passion to a man like Adam made her wet.
A low purring sound rumbled from his chest. He inhaled deeply and smiled with unguarded male satisfaction.
“Your lust has a fragrance. Its sweet nectar calls to me.” He leaned closer and inhaled again, this time beneath her jaw. His tongue skated over her rapid pulse and she whimpered. “I ache to taste every inch of you.” Another swipe. “To spread your body out beneath mine and slake this carnal hunger that’s haunted me so.”
Her jagged breathing jerked from her lungs. She licked her lips, her eyes growing heavy as his mouth teased her ear.
“Give yourself to me, Annalise. Let me show you how well we fit together as one.”
Her head tipped back, his fingers sifting through her hair as he dragged his teasing lips to the other side of her throat and kissed softly.
“Say yes,” he rasped, scraping his teeth slowly over her flesh and easing her back on the pillows. “Open yourself up to me.”
She’d never had such a response to a man. Her body panted for him. Her knees fell open as her head fell back.
Keeping his eyes on hers, he slowly dragged his palm down the front of her dress, between her breasts and over her stomach. He traced her hip, making a slow glide along the outside of her thigh until his fingers teased the hem of her skirt.
She swallowed, her throat incredibly dry. Parched.
His finger traced a delicate circle on the side of her knee as his mouth brushed over hers. But he didn’t kiss her. When he pulled back an inch, her mouth foolishly followed.
His eyes flashed silver. “Only if you want me.”
Despite her incessant need to understand every unnatural connection he’d explained, she couldn’t deny the sensation of his emotions projecting into her. His lust mingled with hers in a potent cocktail that left her drunk with desire.
All she could feel, taste, smell, and see stirred from her need to have him inside of her. Deep. Penetrating. Possessing. Her need to feel his complete possession created the strongest instinct she’d ever known. It consumed her. Clouded her thoughts until all inhibitions and reasoning disappeared leaving only the two of them in a world without consequence.
She caught him by the back of the neck, holding him close before he could pull further away. Her breath mingled with his, her eyes open and watchful.
He stilled as she slowly licked across his lips and said the magic words. “I want you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Adam’s head jerked back, Anna’s tongue nearly tracing his fang. Hunger matched his desire as her eyes dilated. He could scent her arousal, hear the rapid pulse of her fluttering heart, and feel her desire combining with his.
His hand fisted in her hair, jerking her head back to expose the long column of her throat. He growled at the temptation, biting down on his lower lip until he tasted blood.
“Be very sure, ainsicht.” He held his control by a tenuous thread.