CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

A few hours later, all of Sofia’s belongings were moved to the castle and her apartment was up for sale. Lance stood staring at the boxes.

“Feel like your home has been invaded?” Sofia grinned, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“ Our home. And no, I don’t, but you have a lot of unpacking to do while I go workout.” He laughed, kissing her nose.

“You’re leaving?”

“Do I really need to help you find places for your panties?” Lance asked, then stopped. “On second thought...”

His lips landed on hers, sucking her lower lip in a way he knew her body responded to. She moaned and he smiled. They hadn’t made love since she had asked him to the first night, and he was giving her space to heal. It was hard because he desired her every minute of the day and night, but his need to love and protect her was stronger.

Marginally.

Especially when she looked so disheveled and gorgeous as she did now in her old college sweatshirt and jeans.

“What are you doing?” he asked as she pulled her top off, revealing a modest bra and her silky olive skin.

“I want you to make love to me,” she answered quietly. “Please, Lance. I want to feel your passion, not your protection, right now. Touch me.”

In a flash, Lance had her in his arms as he spun around and pressed her against the wall, his lips devouring hers, his cock hard against her body. His hand cupped her breast possessively as his thumb flicked over her hardening nipple.

“Yes, fuck, thank God,” she moaned.

Lance kissed his way along her jaw and down her throat, his fangs dragging over her skin. “I’m going to mark you, mate of mine. It’s time.”

She purred as he took her into the bedroom and pulled her jeans off. His fangs cut away her panties, and his mouth watered. God, she was beautiful. Every pink inch of her. “Spread for me, gorgeous.”

Sofia removed her bra as her legs moved apart.

Lance’s eyes roamed her body and landed on her eyes. “I want you to tell me to stop if it gets too much, baby, because I’m not holding back. I need to claim you fully.”

Sofia’s hand slid down her body and began circling her clit, and he nearly died. “Don’t hold back, Lance. I’m all yours. Come and take me.”

“Fuck,” he groaned as he flung his clothes across the room.

Hands on the inside of her thighs, he spread her wider and licked the same spot her thumb was working. As she moaned his name, his tongue continued its path, lapping and sucking her soaked pussy. “Is this for me? All this juice?” he asked.

“Yes, God, more,” she cried out.

“I want you wet like this every day; every fucking day,” he said as he pressed two fingers inside her. “God, Sofia, so tight, so wet. Your pussy is a dream.”

Her body arched off the bed. “That’s it, baby, fuck my hand.”

Sofia continued to work her clit while he finger fucked her and sucked her cream. Their eyes met as her mouth opened and she cried out. As her orgasm rolled out of her, Lance reached down and stroked his cock.

As it subsided, he flipped her onto her knees.

“Hands on the headboard now,” Lance instructed and nudged her thighs apart. “I’m going deep, and I’m going to fuck you like nobody has before.”

His hands were on her body, guiding her against the wall. He flicked her nipples as he slapped her palms into position, then he pressed the middle of her back to encourage her to arch her ass high. “Open for me, baby. Wide. That’s it.”

Fuck, he nearly came right there and then as he took a moment to take in her submissive position. He stroked his cock a few times before he moved in, rubbing it over her asshole. She moaned loudly and wriggled as he teased her sensitive nerves. “Not today, baby, but we will one day soon. And I’ll fuck you with a dildo filling you so completely.”

“Oh God, Lance. Get inside me.”

As Sofia begged him, Lance directed his big cock toward her wet flesh. His hand flat on the middle of her back, holding her, he pressed inside hard and fast.

Sofia cried out, arching as he held her hips and pounded. Deeper, longer, harder he went.

“Sit up,” he instructed. He took one of her breasts in his hand, teasing her nipple when she obeyed. “Touch yourself for me.”

As she pressed her back against his body, he thrust again and again, his hands all over her body, his mouth at her neck.

“Faster. Your clit wants more,” he growled.

“ Oh God .”

“That’s it. Fuck yourself while I’m fucking you, baby. So hot.”

When her pussy tightened around his cock, Lance felt the flush of ecstasy build. His fangs released as both of them climaxed.

Then he began to bite her.

Skin piercing, he sunk into the curve of her neck, and Sofia screamed. A cry of passion, pleasure, as carnal as any predatory creature. An electrical force sped through his body, all but blinding him with pure ecstasy. Together, they roared as their souls bonded.

His cock filled her as he swallowed her blood. After a moment, he removed his fangs and they collapsed on the bed.

He panted, holding her, hoping he wasn’t crushing her but too mind blown to think for a minute. Then, as consciousness returned, he remembered.

Don’t ask, don’t ask, don’t ask.

“I’m okay,” she said, panting.

Thank fuck.

Eventually, Sofia wriggled under his weight and Lance shifted her, turning to hold her in his arms. Her head dropped exhausted onto his bicep.

“I want to take your name,” she told him suddenly, her eyes glistening from the incredible pleasure they’d both shared.

Lance smiled and ran his hand over her forehead, kissing her. It wasn’t a common thing for vampires to do, not like humans did, but from time to time, they did. “I would be honored, Sofia De Luca. Mate of mine.”

“Thank you for believing in me. For protecting me,” she whispered.

He frowned, tipping his head to look at her. “You do not have to thank me for loving you, Sofia.”

“You love me?” she gasped.

“What?” Lance sat up. “Of course I do!”

She closed her eyes and a tear slipped down. “You have never said so.”

Jesus, had he not?

What a douchebag.

“I fucking love you! Every part of you. Your big heart, your brilliant mind, and yes, your stunning body.” He winked. “Perhaps I’m a man of action more so than words,” he started, his voice thickening. “So I will spend my every breath, for the rest of our lives, showing you just how much I love you, my Sofia.”

And he meant every single word.

They met as enemies, learned to trust each other while under the most dangerous and challenging circumstances, and while neither of them had known where they would end up, they had traveled the path together.

Long before the mating bond had shown itself in his eyes, Lance had known he loved Sofia. If he was the romantic sort, he might even say it had been love at first sight. Even if she had been in handcuffs and he had been pointing a gun at her.

“I love you too, Lance De Luca.”

Turn the page to finally read Vincent and Kate’s steamy paranormal, fated-mates, romance in THE VAMPIRE’S CHRISTMAS.