Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Gianna

The waves crashed below, and the night was cold. Dimitri threaded his fingers through my hair, leaving me mesmerized. My skin prickled with heightened sensitivity, responding to the cool air and the heat of his fingers in equal measure. My mouth ran dry. I was breathless from the dance and the smiling devil in front of me had snared me. I swallowed hard, trying to regain some composure.

The wind blew his hair across his forehead. That smirk he always had. My heart pounded against my ribcage, a thunderous rhythm I was sure he could hear. My hands twitched at my sides, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. I should have pushed him away. Told him that I didn't want to dance with the devil.

But that's not what I said .

Something reckless rippled through me. Heat flooded my body, a molten desire coursing through my veins.

I leaned in, my lips mere inches from his. "I want to get burned." My voice came out husky, barely above a whisper, but filled with undeniable longing.

Dimitri's hand slid down to the small of my back, guiding me toward the bar.

The balcony bar glowed with soft amber light, a stark contrast to the inky darkness beyond the railing. Glasses clinked and muted conversations hummed around us, but all I could focus on was the warmth of Dimitri's touch.

My skin tingled where his fingers rested, sending sparks of electricity through my body.

"What's your desire tonight?" Dimitri's voice was low and husky in my ear.

I lean against the bar, trying to steady myself.

My pulse quickened as Dimitri's eyes darkened, a predatory gleam flickering in their depths.

"Something strong," I managed to reply, my voice barely audible over the crashing waves outside.

He signaled the bartender, never breaking eye contact with me. "Two whiskeys, neat," he ordered.

The bartender slid two glasses toward us, amber liquid sloshing gently against the crystal.

Dimitri raised his glass, that infuriating smirk still playing on his lips. He winked. "To getting burned."

A thrill of anticipation coursed through me, mingling with the fear and desire already churning in my stomach .

I clinked my glass against his, the sound ringing out like a warning bell I chose to ignore.

The whiskey burned a fiery trail down my throat, but it was nothing compared to the heat of Dimitri's gaze. He set his glass down, stepping closer until I was trapped between him and the bar.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" he murmured, his breath hot against my cheek.

My heart hammered wildly, a mix of terror and exhilaration flooding my veins. I gripped the edge of the bar, my knuckles turning white.

"I've never been more ready for anything in my life," I whispered back, sealing my fate.

He slipped his hand around my neck. "Then I say we disappear."

I glanced nervously over at Louise. "But…"

He pulled me close and whispered in my ear, "I promise we'll be back before she blows the candle out on her cake." His warm breath sent tingles across my skin, making it hard to think clearly.

He ran his hand down my arm. "Come with me."

Like I puppy dog, I followed him through the crowded party and outside.

The cool night air hit my flushed skin, a stark contrast to the heat building within me. He led me into the shadows where the water lapped up onto the empty beach. The stars and moonlight reflected off the ocean. My breath caught in my throat at the beauty of the scene, mixing with the anticipation coursing through my veins .

Dimitri's hand trailed down my arms, leaving a trail of tingling sensations dancing over my skin. His slightest touch sparked a primal hunger that made my predatory instincts surge. It was as if every nerve ending in my body suddenly came alive, hypersensitive to his proximity. The familiar ache of my fangs pressing against my gums intensified, a sweet pain that reminded me of my true nature.

A low growl, barely audible, rumbled in my chest as his fingers traced patterns on my skin. The scent of his blood, pulsing just beneath the surface, filled my nostrils, intoxicating and maddening all at once. I could almost taste it on my tongue, rich and vibrant, a promise of ecstasy.

My muscles tensed, coiled like a spring ready to snap. The urge to claim, to bite, to mark him as mine overwhelmed me. My vision sharpened, the world around us fading away until all I could focus on was Dimitri—the curve of his neck, the steady rhythm of his unnecessary breath, the knowing glint in his eyes.

Time seemed to slow, each second stretching into eternity as I battled against the rising tide of desire. This wasn't just lust—it was something deeper, more primal. A dance as old as our kind, the delicate balance between predator and prey, lover and beloved.

I knew, in that moment, that a single word from him, a single gesture, would be enough to shatter my control completely. And part of me—the wild, untamed part that lurked beneath centuries of civility—yearned for exactly that.

He pulled me close, his arm wrapping around my waist, and planted kisses down my throat. Each kiss sent a jolt of electricity through my body, making my knees weak.

I clasped his jacket with my fingers to brace myself. My fingers tightened on the fabric, desperately seeking stability as the world seemed to spin around me. A dizzying blend of desire and nervousness swirled in my stomach, making me feel both lightheaded and hypersensitive to every touch.

I gasped as he slipped his hand behind me, unzipping my strapless dress. My flesh tightened with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as the dress whispered down my body. A rush of vulnerability and excitement coursed through me, my skin hypersensitive in the cool night air.

I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest, trying to hide my half nakedness.

He gently clasped my arms, pulling them apart. "Don't hide anything from me. You're beautiful. And you're mine."

His words were like a sweet caress, my nipples budding. Mine? I wanted to argue, but the truth was, I wanted the devil.

He shed his jacket, laying it on the sand, surprisingly like a gentleman. The unexpected tenderness of the gesture made my heart flutter.

He tucked his fingers into my panties and pulled them down my trembling legs. I could barely breathe. "Step out of these beautiful."

I did as he asked, using his shoulders to support myself. He picked me up and laid me on his jacket. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me, clinging to him for warmth and stability. The rough texture of the sand-covered jacket contrasted sharply with the softness of his touch, heightening every sensation.

I looked up at him, my eyes searching his handsome face in the moonlight. I wanted to see if he wanted me as much as I wanted him. Time seemed to stand still as we gazed at each other, the only sounds the crashing waves and our quickened breathing.

The sound of crashing waves filled the air as I traced the sharp angles of his face with my eyes. Suddenly, he moved at supernatural speed, his suit disappearing in a blur of motion, revealing chiseled muscles and glistening skin. The moonlight glistened off his muscles and my gaze roamed down his ribs to his fully cocked manhood.

His lips curved up into a smile. "Do you like what you see?" My cheeks flushed hot as I nodded, unable to find words to speak.

He leaned over me, his muscles taut and defined as he supported himself with his arms. The weight of his chest pressed against mine, sending tingles through my body. He lowered his lips to mine, the warmth and demand of his kiss making my heart race. His tongue explored my mouth with a slow, sensual rhythm, igniting a fire deep within me that I couldn't ignore.

He slid his rough hands exploring every inch of my body, tracing the curve of my waist and the dip of my hip. His hand molded over my breast, eliciting a gasp from me as he tugged gently on my sensitive nipple. Each touch sent electric jolts through me, making me pulse with an inner fire that threatened to consume us both .

But my own curiosity was just as strong.

I wanted to give him just as much pleasure as he was giving me. My fingers trailed down his abdomen, feeling the muscles tense under my touch, until they reached his manhood. I stroked him gently, relishing the way he hardened under my fingers. He let out a sharp gasp, urging me on as I continued to stroke him with increasing intensity.

As his fingers found all the right spots, I couldn't resist him any longer. I needed him, wanted him more than anything. We moved together in perfect rhythm, our bodies becoming one in a wild dance of passion. Time seemed to blur, reality fading at the edges as I lost myself in the exquisite torture of his tantalizing touch.

Dimitri's lips trailed a path of heat and moisture down my neck, over my collarbone, and finally to my breast where he latched on, sucking and licking with fervor. I tangled my fingers in his hair, urging him closer as I arched my back, offering more of my flesh to him. My hands roamed over his back, tracing the defined muscles that rippled beneath his skin.

With his every kiss, with his every touch, something fluttered in my chest as if it was awakening. I had never felt like this with any other man or vampire. This was different. My senses rocked. I burned for him.

A rush of warmth spread through my body, igniting every nerve ending. Blood surged through me like the waves on the beach, slamming against the rocks.

I pressed my palms against his chest, feeling the cool smoothness of his skin. His fingertips traced patterns on my skin, leaving trails of fire in their wake. Each caress felt like a key turning, unlocking parts of me I never knew existed.

I ran my fingers through his hair, marveling at its silky texture. "Dimitri," I murmured, his name rolling off my tongue like honeyed wine.

My heart swelled with an emotion I couldn't name, both thrilling and terrifying in its intensity. He pulled back slightly, his eyes meeting mine. In their depths, I saw a reflection of my own desire, my own wonder at this unexpected connection.

Cradling his face in my hands, I traced the line of his jaw with trembling fingers. "I never knew it could be like this," I murmured, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

A shiver ran down my spine, not from cold but from the overwhelming intensity of the moment. Dimitri's gaze softened, a rare vulnerability flickering across his features.

"Neither did I," he admitted, his usual smirk replaced by a genuine smile that took my breath away.

He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear. "You're awakening something in me too," he whispered, his cool breath sending tingles across my skin.

I turned my head, capturing his lips with mine. The kiss deepened, slow and exploratory, as if we had all the time in the world. The taste of him was intoxicating, a heady mixture of danger and desire.

I traced invisible patterns on his back, feeling the subtle flex and relax of his muscles responding to my touch. Each touch felt electric, charging the air between us with unspoken promises.

He parted my thighs, his fingers pressing into my skin as positioned between my trembling thighs as if he owned me. I could have pushed him away, but the desire pulsing through was too intense to resist. With a savage hunger, he plunged his hardened cock into me, driving it deep with every thrust. I raised my hips to meet him, seeking the delirious friction that made my vision blur with overwhelming pleasure. Our bodies collided with an animalistic fervor, each movement more powerful than the last.

As Dimitri held me close, a tidal wave of emotion crashed over me, unlike anything I'd ever experienced. My entire being resonated with a newfound awareness, as if I'd been sleepwalking through life until this very moment.

My entire body trembled, every nerve ending ablaze. Dimitri's touch sent shockwaves through me, each caress igniting sensations I'd never known possible. My breath came in ragged gasps, my heart thundering so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

A kaleidoscope of emotions swirled within me—desire, fear, exhilaration, vulnerability—all blending into an overwhelming storm. I clung to Dimitri, my fingers digging into his shoulders, desperate for an anchor in this tempest of feeling.

"Dimitri," I gasped, his name a prayer and a plea on my lips.

Our eyes locked, and in that moment, the world fell away. I saw myself reflected in his gaze—not just my physical form, but the very essence of who I was. A sob caught in my throat, born of the sheer intensity of being truly seen for the first time.

As we moved together, it felt as if barriers I didn't even know I had were crumbling. Each touch, each shared breath, seemed to peel away layers of myself, exposing a raw, pulsing core I'd kept hidden for so long.

Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the sweat on my skin. My body arched, every muscle taut with a tension that went beyond the physical. Something was building within me, a force so powerful it frightened me.

"Let go," Dimitri whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "I've got you. You're mine."

His words resonated through me, striking a chord deep within my soul. A primal part of me responded, recognizing the truth in his claim.

"Yours," I gasped, the word both a surrender and a declaration.

Dimitri's eyes blazed with an otherworldly intensity. He pressed his forehead to mine, our breaths mingling.

"Say it again," he demanded, his voice low and urgent.

"I'm yours," I breathed, the words unlocking something fierce and possessive within him.

With a growl, Dimitri claimed my lips in a searing kiss. The world spun around us as sensation overwhelmed me, every nerve ending singing with the recognition of this profound connection.

A cry tore from my throat as wave after wave of sensation crashed over me. It was more than pleasure—it was a rebirth, a remaking of my very being.

He collapsed on top of me.

"I've never..." I started, my voice catching. "I've never felt like this before."

Dimitri's eyes, usually guarded, now brimmed with an intensity that mirrored my own. "Tell me," he urged softly.

I took a shaky breath, struggling to put the overwhelming sensations into words. I pressed my hand on his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat that matched mine. The synchronicity of our hearts seemed to confirm what I already knew deep down.

"We're bonded," I whispered, the words carrying a weight that made them feel almost sacred. "Fated mates."

As I spoke the words aloud, a surge of energy pulsed between us, as if the universe itself was acknowledging our connection. Dimitri's eyes widened, a mix of awe and recognition crossing his features.

He clutched my hand, pressing it more firmly against his chest. His lips curled into that signature smirk, but his eyes betrayed a vulnerability I'd never seen before. "I knew from the moment I saw you," he confessed, his voice a mix of cockiness and raw emotion. "But I was afraid to hope. Me, afraid. Imagine that. I promise you," he continued, his tone shifting to one of fierce determination, "no one will ever hurt you again. I'll rip out the heart of anyone who tries."

His dark intensity reminded me of my brother, and despite the short time I'd known Dimitri, I believed him with every fiber of my being. It wasn't just his words, but the unshakable certainty I felt in our bond.

"I know," I replied, my free hand reaching up to cup his cheek. "Just as I'll never let anyone harm you. You're mine. No one can tear us apart." My voice shook with every emotion that pulsed through me.

He cocked his eyebrow, a dangerous glint in his eye. "Not even your darling brother? He seems like the overprotective type."

I met his gaze unflinchingly. "I'll fight for you. We're mated."

Dimitri's smirk widened, a mix of satisfaction and challenge. "Well, well. Looks like I've corrupted you already. This should be fun."