Chapter 13

"Show me how sorry you are." Talon's voice was low and edged with a roughness.

It licked hotly over my skin, sending an answering tremor through me.

I'd returned to the castle with my emotions all over the place. Excited about the baby, and worried I wouldn't be a good enough parent. Upset about my mother and yet glad she knew I was okay. Eager to see Talon but sick of the tension between us.

But that all faded away when I saw him lazing on the couch, hard-bodied and wolf-eyed. In the dim lighting, his face shimmered, vampire beautiful.

In the human world, he could've been a model, the kind they photographed slouched against walls exuding testosterone and attitude. Thick brown curls cut short on the sides and long on the top. Chiseled jawline. Full lower lip.

My heart fisted. Sometimes my love for him was so strong it hurt.

I'd been lanky and awkward from age eleven to thirteen. Even after I'd filled out, I'd felt funny in my own body. Yeah, as a thrall I'd learned to hide that discomfort—wearing the short, tight dresses; applying the makeup—but that had been like playing dress up. Pretending to be someone I wasn't.

But these last two nights I'd said to hell with that. First, I'd dressed down, and Talon had still seemed to find me hot. And tonight I'd dressed sexy, but on my terms, pregnant belly and all.

Now I wondered if I'd been trying to prove that he didn't really want me, Eden. He wanted the seductive, eager-to-please thrall in the tight red minidresses.

If so, I'd been wrong. Maybe sex was all we had, but there was no way he didn't want this as much as I did. His cheekbones were slightly flushed, his eyes heavy with lust.

"Apologize to me, baby." Reaching between his parted legs, he slowly ran his hand up his tented jeans.

Squeezed. Released.

My nipples tightened into points. A honeyed heat slid through my belly.

Yeah, he was being kind of an asshole, demanding I suck him off as an apology. But I couldn't pretend I didn't like it in a kinky sort of way. Because I did…a lot.

And I wanted to do it, wanted to show him how sorry I really was.

"Maybe tonight I'll even let you come," he added.

Okay, that was definitely assholey behavior. My chin lifted. "How do you know I didn't come last night?"

His eyes hooded and the hard planes of his face took on a dangerous cast. "Did you?"

"No," I admitted.

His mouth curved. "That's what I thought. Now stop stalling and suck me."

My stomach contracted at the arrogant demand.

His living room was modern urban-loft—wood-and-metal tables, wide-plank floors, industrial copper lighting, a distressed leather couch. Except for the lack of windows, it could've been in New York or Vancouver.

I lowered myself to my knees on the copper-and-gray Kilim rug in front of him, and his smug expression dissolved. He stared at me with an intent, animal focus. The shark tat swimming up his neck seemed almost alive.

I undid the button of his pants, eased his zipper down over his cock. It surged against his boxer briefs.

Somebody was eager. I shot him a triumphant look up from beneath my lashes.

His chest rumbled in displeasure. "Do it."

I trailed my fingers over his hard length through his boxers. The tip had already dampened the nylon placket.

A sense of my own power filled me. Oh, yeah. He wanted this—wanted me—bad.

I slid my fingers into his boxers. The skin of his abdomen was vampire-cool, but not here. Here he was warm and smooth and thick.

I removed my fingers from his boxers and tugged on the waistband. "Take these off."

He grunted assent and rose to his feet, me still kneeling before him. He bent and took my mouth in a hard, wet kiss.

"Don't move," he said, releasing me.

He pulled off his T-shirt and slipped off his boxers before lowering himself to the couch in front of me again. God, I loved his body: hard-muscled and warm-skinned, his legs long and strong, his chest dusted with wiry black hair.

A liquid rush between my inner thighs made me press them together, and he noticed.

Of course, he noticed.

His nostrils flared and his lids lowered in a hungry, I'm-going-to-devour-you-little-girl expression.

My body responded, mindless and needy. The heat between my legs expanded to my belly, my breasts. My nipples pushed against the filmy bra, aching to be touched.

"Take off your shirt," he said, and waited as I wriggled out of it.

He studied my breasts for a few seconds, then, as if reading my mind, he brought his hands up, shaping them, squeezing them, toying with the nipples. I was so sensitive that it was both pleasure and pain.

"So pretty," he said, almost to himself.

He tweaked them hard, and I flinched and moaned. It hurt, but in a good way.

He cupped my chin. "Too much?"

I shook my head. "I liked it."

His thumb rubbed over my lower lip. "You look so beautiful kneeling for me. You make me want to do such bad things to you."

Yes, please.

A dizzying wave of desire gripped me. My heart thumped, its rhythm echoing the pulsing in my core.

Talon released me and sat back, spreading his arms along the couch again. His eyes snagged mine. "Suck me, pretty girl."

I fisted the base of his cock and sucked the tip into my mouth. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his fingers tighten on the couch back. I took him as deep as I could, then pulled back before taking him deep again.

"Mm," I said, letting the words vibrate around his cock.

His groan was my reward. "That's it. Just like that."

I continued working him with my lips, mouth, and one hand. With my other hand I cupped his stones, squeezing and caressing them.

It wasn't an apology anymore. Or, it wasn't only an apology.

It was me demonstrating how much I loved him. A gift from me to him.

He was close now, his testicles drawn up tight and hard. He released the couch and speared his fingers into my hair, holding my head still so he could fuck my mouth. His strokes sped up, grew more forceful, although he was careful not to go too deep.

It was so hot, having him control me. I slid my free hand between my legs to ease the ache. I sucked harder—greedy for his pleasure.

He came in my mouth with a drawn-out groan. I swallowed it down, then sat back, my hands on his long, strong thighs. Talon exhaled, eyes closed, relaxed as a conqueror. Then he took my face in his hands and kissed me on the lips.

"Apology accepted," he said, drawing me to my feet.

I slanted him a cocky look. "My turn now, right? You promised."

"Did I?"

Actually, he hadn't. And my cockiness was faked.

But he had a small smile on his face as he turned me toward his bedroom. "Get in the bed."

Like the living room, Talon's bedroom was uncluttered, masculine. Walls the color of parchment, and other than the sleek leather-and-walnut bed, the only furniture was a pair of mid-century walnut nightstands and an espresso-colored leather chair. No books, no paintings, no knick-knacks. The only art was a sinuous, hammered-metal shark that covered most of one wall.

I went willingly but veered toward his bathroom as we entered the room, saying, "I need to clean up."

And pee. Pregnant woman, here.

We took turns in the bathroom. When Talon came out, I was standing next to his massive bed, still in my panties and bra, not sure if I should lie down or not.

A few months ago, I would've crawled under the covers to wait for him, but things were different now. I wasn't sure where we stood, how much to assume.

He strolled across the plank wood floor, fully erect again. Without speaking, he removed my bra, dropping it beside the bed.

My gaze moved over his face, my insides tight with a painful yearning.

His hands covered my breasts, weighing them, fingering the sensitive tips.

He slid a hand behind my back, bringing me against his naked body. His other hand curled around my nape, holding me still while he kissed me. Slow, hot kisses that left me dazed and breathing hard.

He released me long enough to draw back the silky blue coverlet, then pressed me down on the mattress so I was on my back looking up at him.

My panties were the next to come off. He knelt on the floor and put my feet on his shoulders, my knees bent and open wide. Grasping my hips, he pulled me toward him. Cool lips touched my inner leg an inch from my sex.

Anticipation hummed in my veins. He feathered his mouth down my thigh, teasing me with light licks and nips.

"I shouldn't be doing this," he said against my skin. "I was going to make you wait at least a week, maybe longer."

I dug my fingers into the sheets. "Please don't."

He lifted his head to look at me. "Please don't make you wait?"

"Yeah. That."

"Mm." He ran his thumb down my slit. "You're so wet." His deep voice roughened. "You really do want this, don't you?"

"Yes." I rocked my pelvis up toward him, desperate for his touch.

He bared his fangs at me, then scraped them along my thigh. To my surprise, he broke the skin, drawing a few drops of blood.

My breath caught. "Are you going to feed from me?"

"Not until you've had the baby. It wouldn't be good for you."

"Oh." I didn't like to think of him drinking from other thralls, but his consideration made my chest constrict. These flashes of caring—of goodness, even if he probably wouldn't see it that way—were why I'd fallen in love with him.

So much love, I had. And he didn't want it. In fact, if I gave into it, he'd sense it and pull back from me.

I swallowed and turned my face toward the wall with the hammered-metal shark.

Talon lifted his head. "Where did you go?"

"Nowhere." I put a smile on my lips and turned back toward him. "See. Still here."

"Eyes on me," he ordered…and licked the tiny wound he'd made on my thigh.

A white heat shot to my sex. He'd released some of the aphrodisiac in his saliva into my bloodstream. Even a tiny amount was a rush.

My pussy clenched. My toes curled. My brain clouded.

Talon's groan seemed to come from far away. "Gods. You taste so good."

He ran his tongue up my thigh again, this time continuing until he reached my center. He opened me with his fingers and licked into me.

I moaned and gave in to the pleasure. It had been so long, and I craved not just the sex, but the closeness. If this was all he could give me, for tonight, I'd take it. For tonight, I'd let it be enough.

He sucked on my clit and I made a needy sound and tunneled my fingers into his thick hair. I felt feverish, my thighs trembling.

"More," I rasped.

He hummed an assent and sucked hard on my clit. "Like that?" he muttered against my sensitized skin.

My hips jerked restlessly. I gripped him harder. If he stopped now, I was pretty sure I'd die.

"Yes. Just like that. But more. Please."

He did it again, sucking, tonguing, even nibbling. And then, holy crap, his finger rubbed at my back entrance, adding an extra sensation.

My orgasm barreled down on me like a freight train. My body bowed against the mattress. Releasing his head, I moaned and fisted my fingers in the soft sheets.

Pleading words tumbled from my lips: "More," and "Oh, God" and "Talon."

Between my legs, Talon growled in satisfaction, the low sound adding pleasure to the nearly unbearable sensations. He slid two fingers into me, stroking my pulsating inner walls while he continued to suck and tongue me until I shattered, calling out brokenly as dark suns exploded behind my eyes.

I was still vibrating when he slid his fingers from me and licked them, telling me to roll over. "Get on your forearms."

I obeyed, drugged by lust and pleasure, my bottom turned up, my breasts on the mattress.

He stroked a palm down the side of my abdomen. "You're comfortable?"

"Yes," I said, my voice muffled against the sheet. I turned my head. "It seems like a good position, actually."

"Good." He stroked my butt, then slapped it a few times. "Such a pretty, round ass."

The tingle spread to my cunt, making my inner thighs tighten.

God, I'd missed this. Talon had ruined me for anyone else.

A human man could never measure up to a vampire, and not only because vampires could fuck all night. It wasn't even because of their aphrodisiac, although that gave you incredible, mind-blowing orgasms. What gave vampires the edge was they sensed your emotions, detected every spurt of arousal. They knew what you needed almost before you did—and they knew how to withhold it until you were crazed with wanting.

And Talon was so very good at drawing out the pleasure.

He knelt behind me, his body curved over mine. Nudging my chin up, he put his mouth to my ear. "If you weren't pregnant, I'd take my belt to you for what you did."

I moaned. "Please," I breathed, not really knowing what I was asking for but so turned on by the aphrodisiac and his dominance that I would've agreed to almost anything.

He rose up and smacked my ass again. "If you hadn't accepted my blood bond, I still wouldn't have let you go. You're mine and we both know it. Say it, Eden. Say you're mine. I want to hear it."

It took a beat for his demand to register.

Unconditional surrender. That's what he was asking for.

In my dazed state, I almost mindlessly repeated it back to him.

But I wasn't ready to surrender that last little piece of me. Not when he was still deciding whether to trust me. Not when he'd made it clear that love wasn't on the table.

I surfaced enough to whisper, "No."

He swore under his breath. Taking hold of his cock, he dragged the head through my juices, a delicious friction that made me groan and press back against him, seeking more.

"Do it," he demanded, "or I won't let you come."

He wasn't using compulsion, but his will was so powerful that my mouth opened to comply. I caught myself in time, though, and closed it, shaking my head against the sheets.

Another hard slap. "I guess I'll have to fuck you until you say it."

I groaned a yes.

"Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you, little girl? You want it hard, don't you? You want to fight me because it feels so good when you give in."

Sometimes I hated how easily he could read me. "No," I lied.

His snarl said he wasn't happy with me, either. "Careful, baby. You don't want to piss me off."

He grasped my hips and slammed into me. I'd forgotten how big he was, how full I felt when he was inside.

Possessed.

Aching.

My nerve endings came alive, my mind and body attuned to him and the pleasure he was giving me. My pussy closed around his cock like it never wanted to let him go.

"Fuck," he gritted. "You're so tight like this. Aren't you?"

"Yes, yes," I said, not really knowing what I was responding to but wanting more. More of his cock, more of him.

"Mine," he said and thrust back inside.

I was drowning in pleasure. Steeped in Talon's earthy, outdoor scent, the feel of his hard body moving in mine.

"Sweet Lilith, what you do to me." He slowed down, keeping me on the edge for long minutes with shallow, teasing thrusts. "You're mine. Say it."

"Please," I said instead.

His body curved over mine, his fingers teasing my clit. "Mine," he crooned. "Say it or I won't let you come."

"No." Was that whine coming from me? "Please. I need to..."

"Say it." He pulled those knowing fingers away.

Lungs jerking, I thrashed beneath him …and broke. "I'm yours, all right? I've always been yours."

It was the truth and we both knew it. My eyes pricked, and then a couple of hot tears spilled down my cheeks.

Because the opposite wasn't true. Talon wasn't mine. I'd never come first with him. No thrall would.

"Good girl." He reached beneath our bodies, rubbing my clit as he pounded into me.

My mind whirled into oblivion. I arched my body, pressing back against him as the pressure built inside me. Gasping for oxygen, straining against him. Caught between his body and the mattress.

My climax slammed through me like a rogue wave, dragging me under and tossing me around until I didn't know which way was up.

Talon kept thrusting, then groaned and stilled deep inside me. My inner muscles clenched around him, and he husked, "Fuck, baby, that feels so good," and followed me under the waves.

His head fell forward. I felt him breathing against my spine, still deep inside me. Then he touched his lips to my lower back and withdrew, flopping down onto the mattress next to me.

I turned onto my side, my head on my bent arm, flushed and loose and satisfied. Gradually my breathing slowed. I watched as Talon's hair-dusted chest rose and fell at a vampire's sluggish pace—three or four breaths per minute.

I love you.

I reached my hand out to touch him but halted halfway there and curled it next to my breasts instead.

He turned onto his side, so close I could see the gold flecks in his chocolate-brown irises. "You cried. Why?"

My eyes slid from his. "I don't know. I'm…emotional these days. Hormones. And the sex was so intense." That last part wasn't even a lie.

He grunted, and I could tell he knew I wasn't telling him the whole truth, but he let it go. "So you saw your mom today."

I grimaced. I should've known Jones would report us.

"Yeah, but it wasn't planned. I have no idea how she found out. She was just there in the waiting room after I saw Olivia."

Talon shrugged a powerful shoulder. "I didn't think you had anything to do with it, but you should've told me."

"I was going to," I said, which was the God-honest truth. "I was just waiting for the right moment." I hesitated, then added, "But now that they know I'm home, they want to see me."

A noncommittal grunt. "Did you tell your mom why you left? What you did?"

"No. There wasn't time to explain. And—" I heaved a breath, then admitted—"I was too ashamed to tell them. But I will, I promise."

"Are they going to give me trouble about this?"

"Probably. I asked Mom to hold off for a couple of weeks, but I don't know if my dad will go along with it. Maybe if you gave me access to a phone—?"

Talon had been absent-mindedly caressing my abdomen. Now he stilled. "No. And don't ask me again."

"Sorry," I muttered.

Talon rolled onto his back. I stared at his profile, wishing I hadn't said anything.

"Olivia told you I'm having a boy?" I asked.

"Yeah." His expression softened. He turned back to me, smiling. "She sent me one of the pictures she took so I could see for myself."

"Yeah? Could you make me a copy?"

"Sure."

"Thanks." I traced a circle on the sheet between us. "I guess that makes you happy, right? That he's a boy?"

A slight frown creased his forehead. "Because I wouldn't be happy if we were having a girl?"

I nodded. "You're a lieutenant—I figured you'd want a boy." Yeah, the Maritime Syndicate had a couple of females in key positions, but they were the exception, not the rule.

"Hell, I don't care as long as the baby's healthy. And Olivia said he's doing great—a strong, active little guy."

"That's how I feel." I grinned, remembering what the baby had looked like on the black-and-white screen. "And he is—he was moving the whole time."

The corner of Talon's mouth ticked up. "My mom said that when she was pregnant with me, I kicked her black-and-blue."

I blinked. "Yeah? He's not that bad."

"Yet," Talon responded.

We grinned at each other. "You're scaring me here," I teased.

"Sorry. But I'll be there to help with him."

My heart did a happy little skip. "Good. That's good."

We were still looking at each other. Our smiles faded, but that was okay, because it felt like Talon was drinking me in the way I did him.

His eyes dropped to my abdomen. "I—whatever you need to get you through this, let me know, okay?"

I dipped my chin. "Okay."

"I mean it," he said.

"All right. And thanks."

Fragile wings rustled in my chest, that hope I couldn't quite seem to shake off. For the first time, it felt like we were partners in this.

Until Talon added, "You don't have to thank me. I'm the guy responsible. It's only right that I take care of you both."

"Oh. Of course." My heart plummeted.

So that's what this was about. To Talon, me and the baby were a "responsibility." Something he hadn't asked for—or wanted—but was making the best of.

I mean, I admired him for that, but it was like he'd reached out a fist and crushed those small, hopeful wings between his fingers.

"Right." He ran a hand over his face and sat up.

He must've sensed my disappointment because I could practically see him retreating inside his walls. Adding bricks to make them higher. Reinforcing them with concrete.

He glanced over his shoulder and I thought he was going to tell me to leave, but instead, he said, "The primus and prima want to see you."