24. Zan

Istared through the darkness, listening to Kali's heartbeat as she slept. It was racing a bit faster than usual, and I couldn't help but wonder if she was dreaming. Keeping my arms behind my head, I glanced over at her, noticing her lips were pressed tightly together. She definitely wasn't sleeping as peacefully as she had been a while ago.

The sun had gone down over an hour ago, which meant Impulse was in full swing right now. Kali had promised Gia she'd go down and help her tonight, but I wasn't about to wake her up. She could go down there later.

I let out a sigh, my mind wandering back to a few days ago when all that shit had gone down at the beach. It took me two days to fully heal after being shot so many damn times. I shouldn't have fucking let Warner go. Viggo nearly bit my head off when I told him—and he was right. Warner was a threat to us. Not one large enough to be anything other than a nuisance, but a problem all the same. If it were anyone else, no one would have left the beach alive. But he was Kali's best friend. She cared for him. And she would have never forgiven me if I killed him.

I could have entranced him again. Yet I hadn't. Because I'd seen the pain on Kali's face. She didn't want her best friend to hate her. Which was why I hadn't. That was another problem. She hadn't even asked me to let him keep his memories. I'd done it because I knew that was what she wanted. This woman could probably walk me to my death, and I'd follow without question. I was so fucked when it came to her.

A small moan had my attention dropping to her mouth. I watched curiously as she shifted in her sleep. A nightmare? The next sound that came from her mouth was almost a whimper, and it instantly made my cock harden. Whatever she was dreaming about wasn't scaring her. Her hand moved under the blanket, and I tracked her moves until she put it between her legs.

I bit my tongue, my entire body going still. Now I was burning with curiosity. I hoped to fucking everything she was dreaming about me. I wanted her as mine in every damn way. Even in her dreams.

Her chest heaved, and she let out another soft moan, making my control snap. I grabbed the blanket, tugging it off her. Her hand was between her thighs, her fingers brushing the shorts she always wore to bed.

Fucking hell.

My dick was rock hard now, and I couldn't tear my eyes away if I wanted. She continued to lightly touch herself, her soft moans growing louder. Then her eyelids fluttered open, and she jerked when she woke herself up. I stayed completely still as her eyes darted around, trying to see in the dark. But it was pitch black in here. She wouldn't even be able to see me when I was lying right beside her.

Silence smothered the room for over a minute, and I was guessing she was trying to figure out whether I was awake. My lips tipped up in a smug smile when she slipped her fingers under her shorts. She either thought I was sleeping or she just didn't care.

Her breaths came out faster, her fingers upping their pace under her shorts as she chased her release. She seemed to get close, but then lost it. Her face scrunched in frustration as she kept touching herself. I watched until it was impossible to keep quiet anymore.

"Need some help, Kali?" I murmured huskily.

She froze, and I caught her wide eyes cutting toward the sound of my voice, her lips parting in surprise. She hurriedly yanked her hand out of her shorts, and I rolled on top of her, knowing my hard cock was pressing against her stomach.

"Zan," she choked out, her voice a notch higher than normal.

"Tell me what you were dreaming about."

Even in the darkness, I could see her face flush. I was right above her and could see her perfectly, but she was still blind.

"I think it's obvious what I was dreaming about," she said breathlessly.

"Who were you dreaming about?" I leaned down, nipping at her earlobe. "And no lying."

"I don't think your ego needs my answer."

I grinned wickedly, brimming with satisfaction. "Tell me about it."

"No."

"Why not?" I lightly kissed her throat. "Let me make your dream come true."

She blew out a laugh. "Very original."

"Tell me how it began. Then I want to know what was so good that you started touching yourself in your sleep."

I could see the conflict on her face. I was sure that everything that she'd learned from Amaros was running through her head. I would never push her into having sex—especially after she admitted she wouldn't be able to enjoy it with the threat of pregnancy hanging over her head. But that didn't mean I couldn't pleasure her in other ways.

"Come on, Kali," I coaxed softly. "Tell me your dream, and I'll finish what you started."

"Maybe you won't like what I dreamed about."

"Was I in it?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes."

"Then I'll fucking love it."

She hesitated, making my imagination run wild with what her dream was about. She was rocking her hips against me, and I wasn't even sure if she was aware of it. But I was already going crazy. I wanted to taste her until she was screaming.

"My wrists were tied to the headboard."

Her words had me going still. That turned me the fuck on. But it was more than that. She was openly admitting this, meaning she wanted it. If she didn't, she wouldn't have told me at all. She trusted me. Maybe only to an extent, but it was something.

"Still want to act out my dream?" she purred, the confidence in her voice growing.

I chuckled. "That's up to you, Kali. Tell me that's what you want."

"I want it," she whispered hoarsely.

I climbed off her and rolled off the bed before heading toward my dresser. I grabbed a pair of her stretchy leggings and strode back to the bed. Kali didn't move, her eyes trying to follow my footsteps. I reached over and flicked on the lantern, causing her to blink as her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. Her gaze finally found mine, and she bit her lip.

"Turn it back off?—"

"I don't think so," I cut her off. "You want this. Want me. You don't get to hide in the dark."

She glared at me but didn't make a move to leave the bed. And when I grabbed her arms and pulled them above her head, she didn't voice one protest.

"I know it's difficult for you to admit it," I murmured, wrapping the soft fabric around one of her wrists and then the other. "That it's me you want. A vampire. I'm sure me being a Kane makes that even worse."

She squirmed when I leaned over her and tied the piece of clothing to the headboard. Once her arms were secured, I grabbed the back collar of my shirt and pulled it over my head. Her eyes darted to my inked chest, and she couldn't hide the desire in her gaze even if she tried. With a smirk, I climbed back on top of her, straddling her hips.

"I'm everything you've been taught to hate. To kill." I let my palms sink into the mattress on either side of her as I dropped my head and kissed the side of her throat, inhaling her addictive scent. "Yet here you are. Willingly putting yourself at my mercy."

Her heart was pounding out of control, but when I nipped at her ear, she let out a whimper while arching her back. She tugged against the fabric binding her wrists, but it held her in place as I continued to kiss her throat.

"I can hate you while still wanting you to give me an orgasm," she snarked through heavy breaths.

With an amused chuckle, I lifted my head just high enough to meet her eyes. "At least try to lie convincingly, Kali. Go ahead and pretend if that makes you feel better." I raised my hand and grasped her jaw before brushing my thumb across her lips. "But I'm not touching you until you look me in the eye and demand that it's me you want."

Defiance flared in her gaze, and she tried yanking out of the hold I had on her face. I held firm, not letting her turn her head away.

"Last chance," I warned, ignoring my aching cock. "If you don't, I'll walk away right now, and you can go back to touching yourself."

That was the last thing I wanted. But after everything, I needed her to say it out loud. For her to admit that she wanted me. That I claimed her mind and body as much as she did mine. Silence smothered the room, and after more than a minute, I let out a long sigh and released her chin. Before I could climb off her, she cursed under her breath before speaking louder.

"You," she said grudgingly before saying the next words in a rush. "I want you, Zan. I want your mouth on my body. I want that damn magical tongue between my legs. And don't stop until I can't take anymore."

I groaned, needing to fucking taste her. "Be careful with those demands. I could stay between your legs all night."

With a grin, I got off her and grabbed the waistband of her shorts. In a quick movement, I yanked them off her. The shirt she was wearing was mine, and I reached up with both hands and grabbed the collar of it. A gasp escaped her when I tore it down the front, leaving her completely exposed to me.

"Now…" I trailed my fingertips down her ribs. "Tell me how your dream started after I tied your wrists?"

Her cheeks flushed pink. "You kissed me everywhere."

"Starting where?"

"My neck."

I didn't waste another second as I climbed back on top of her and ran my tongue up her throat. Then I began kissing her. I started on her jaw and slowly worked my way down until I reached her shoulder. She was already writhing under me, and when my lips traced her collarbone, she let out a moan that had my self-control straining.

But I forced myself to keep going instead of spreading her legs and tasting her like I wanted. I moved to the other side of her throat, taking my time as I kissed every inch of her skin until I moved to her collarbone again.

When I reached her breast, she sucked in a breath, wiggling underneath me as I sucked and teased her nipple before doing the same to the other one.

"Zan," she pleaded. "You're moving too slow. I need your mouth lower. Right now."

I tsked. "I'm savoring this. Don't rush me."

I stayed true to my word. I didn't hurry as I trailed my lips down her stomach—and then went back up her ribs. I switched to the other side, kissing so lightly that she couldn't stop squirming. But when I reached her lower stomach, I nearly fucking lost it when she let out a cry as I traced her hip bone.

"Please," she breathed out, yanking against the fabric trapping her arms. "It's too much teasing. I fucking need more."

"Did you orgasm in your dream?"

She didn't answer right away as I kissed the top of her thigh. "No."

"Mm," I mused. "Then I guess that means I get to choose how this ends. I want you screaming, Kali."

I pushed her legs apart, scooting down and making myself comfortable. My eyes gravitated to her pussy, and I let out a groan. She was already fucking soaked. I forced myself to keep moving slowly as I kissed the inside of her thigh.

Until her question had me going still.

"Is it hard to resist? My blood?"

"No. Not when I'm about to taste something just as fucking delicious," I answered. Which was the truth. But now that her blood was on my mind, it was impossible not to think about it. Or smell it.

"You can," she said in such a quiet whisper that even I almost couldn't hear it. "Feed from me."

I whipped my head up to look at her, my shock nearly overwhelming. "What are you saying?"

If I thought she was blushing earlier, it was nothing compared to now. She looked so torn, and I didn't say a word, impatiently waiting for her to explain.

"When you fed from me in the basement…" She trailed off, taking a deep breath. "I didn't hate it. And it didn't hurt."

My fingers dug into her thighs as I held her still. "You liked it."

She shifted at my statement but didn't deny it. I grinned like a damn fool as I took this information in. This was just another way to prove that no matter what she thought about me, it definitely wasn't all hatred.

"Spell it out for me, Kali," I murmured roughly. "Tell me exactly what you're offering."

"I never see you feed," she clipped out, her voice shaky. "I don't need you starved when you're between my legs. I'd rather you bite my leg than somewhere else."

I blew out a laugh. "You think I can't control my hunger around you? I'm more than capable."

"You can feed from me if you want." Her words came out fast. "That's the last time I'm saying it. Take it or leave it."

Fuck me.I just told her I could easily control my hunger around her. But her offering it? There was no part of me that could deny tasting her in more ways than just one tonight. I held her stare a bit longer, giving her a chance to back out. Instead, she jutted her hips up.

"You said you could spend all night between my legs," she challenged. "What are you waiting for?"

"Better watch that smart mouth of yours when your hands are still tied," I warned, readjusting my hard-on before sinking back down.

I massaged her thighs before kissing her in the exact spot I'd bitten her in the basement. Goose bumps ran across her skin, and her heart was thudding like crazy. But she rocked her hips, a silent way to beg me to keep going.

I hesitated for only a second before I slid my fangs out and grazed them against her leg to give her a warning. Then I bit down, feeling her body tense when I broke her skin. Her blood hit my tongue, and I moaned as I sucked slowly, not wanting to take too much. I reached up and slid a finger inside her pussy as I continued to feed.

"Yes," she breathed out, grinding against me.

I relished her taste while pulling my finger out and pushing it back inside her. Adding a second finger, I didn't stop pumping them in and out as I kept drinking from her. She tasted so goddamn good. So different from any blood I'd ever had. I had a feeling my addiction to her would never fade. If anything, it only fucking grew.

I finally pulled away, licking up the small dribble of blood on her leg. Blood dripped from my puncture marks, and I wrapped my free arm around her thigh, pressing my hand over the wound as I got resituated. I would have offered to feed her my blood to heal her, but I knew she'd deny it. Without any warning, I dropped my mouth to her clit, causing her to buck against me. Pulling my fingers out of her, I grabbed her other leg, tugging her closer and keeping her in place.

"Fuck," she cried out, struggling against the restraint as I swirled my tongue around her clit.

I had planned to draw this out longer, but I couldn't wait anymore. I fucking wanted to hear her lose control. Upping my pace, I licked and sucked, listening for the telltale noises that she was getting close. When her heartbeat began thrashing out of control, I tightened my hold on her thighs as she tried escaping the overwhelming pleasure.

"Zan," she choked out. "I'm so close."

I didn't stop, feasting on her like she was my last meal. I was fucking ravenous for her. I had a feeling I always would be.

Her legs stiffened, and I knew the exact moment she fell over the edge. A small scream tore from her throat as she came, making my dick twitch. I wanted to bury myself inside her. But that wasn't happening, so I forced it from my mind, focusing on dragging out her pleasure for as long as I could.

When her body finally relaxed, I slowly pulled my mouth from her to catch her staring down at me with an expression I couldn't decipher.

"Did I hurt you?" I asked, unease sliding through me.

"No," she answered, confusion in her voice. "It didn't hurt at all."

Getting off her, I climbed to my feet and quickly untied her wrists from the headboard. She shook out her arms, her eyes dropping below my waist where my hard-on was impossible to miss beneath my sweatpants. She slid my torn shirt off herself after standing up.

Then she shocked me again when she pushed me back a step and then went to her knees. With no hesitation, she tugged my sweats down and wrapped her hand around my cock.

"Fucking hell." I let out a strangled groan when she swiped her tongue over the tip.

She looked up at me, a dirty smile dancing on her lips. "Do you like being at my mercy, Zan?"

Without waiting for an answer, she took me in her mouth, and I watched as pleasure ricocheted through me. Probably a good thing I couldn't utter a word right now. I'd probably agree to anything when her mouth was on me. Which was something she really didn't need to know.

But the power she held over me went above just sexual desire. And I had no idea what that meant for the future.

Any coherent thought flew out the window when she took me deeper and I hit the back of her throat. I fisted her hair but let her go at her own pace as she flattened her tongue and sucked. I wasn't going to fucking last if she kept this up. But she seemed determined to get me off as fast as I did her.

I stared down at her, transfixed. Her back was arched, her ass resting on the back of her heels as she traced the bottom of my cock with her tongue. She looked so fucking sexy.

She reached up, wrapping her fingers around the base of my cock while her head bobbed as she moved faster. My legs locked as I stood there, keeping my hand in her hair. Soon, pleasure tore through me, and I muttered a curse as I exploded in her mouth. She swallowed everything I gave her and didn't pull away until I was finished.

I was breathing hard, and I reluctantly released her hair, not wanting this to end. I could already tell she was about to rush away. The only reason she'd opened up this much was because she'd woken up hot and horny. I doubted this newfound attitude would last much longer. Just like I expected, she got to her feet and moved to walk away. I bent down and pulled my sweats back up before grabbing her.

"Don't close back up," I said gruffly. "We could do this every fucking night, Kali. You know you want it."

"Maybe I want more," she muttered, refusing to meet my eyes. "Which is fucking terrifying. So no, we can't do this every night. Because then it'll go farther. And if I end up pregnant, I'll never forgive you. Or myself."

She tried pulling away, but I wrapped an arm around her. "You do realize that it's not random, right? When I can mate."

"Gia mentioned something about that."

"It only happens every few years," I murmured. "I've only gone through it once so far since turning. And I can tell you with confidence that I'll know the second I can mate."

"How?"

I gritted my teeth, wondering how many secrets I was going to reveal to her when she still didn't fully trust me. Apparently I was going to tell her at least one more.

"I can feel it," I said tightly. "The urge to breed. It's nonstop until the cycle ends."

"How long does it last?"

"It varies. It was eight days the last time, but it's different each time."

"So…" She trailed off, watching me curiously. "You're not feeling that now?"

I chuckled. "Believe me, Kali. I'd know. All I'd be able to think about is sleeping with you."

"I don't think that's any different from how you act now." She was still tense, but her voice held a note of teasing. She must have believed my words, and knowing there was no immediate threat must have put her more at ease.

"It's different," I informed her. "And when it happens, I'll tell you. Then you can lock yourself away from me if you want."

"Promise?"

I sighed. "Yes."

I just needed to keep Amaros from finding out. He wanted me to mate more than almost anything, and if he found out I'd missed the window, he would be pissed.

She nodded, seemingly appeased as she backed away from me and went to the dresser. My gaze dropped to her bare ass, and my cock jerked like I hadn't just come. She pulled out one of my shirts and then opened another drawer and dug through it until she found a pair of panties. I noticed something else fell out of the drawer, landing silently on the floor.

Kali didn't notice, and she muttered something about a shower before crossing the room. She closed the bathroom door behind her, and my stare stayed on the paper that she'd accidentally dropped.

I shouldn't look at it since it was something she clearly didn't want to share with me. I held out for a minute before I moved to pick it up.