Chapter 29

S imon snarled as he pulled me down to kiss him, gripping my hips so they rolled against his. I whimpered into our kiss, clinging to him when he boosted himself up on one knee. Together, we fell back against the couch cushions—Simon between my thighs. He kissed down my throat and my chest, sucking softly on the skin around my collarbone.

I arched into his touch, my eyes fluttering. Perhaps I should have been scared. At any instant, Simon was going to sink his teeth into my throat. I was naked beneath a vampire, and he was going to taste my blood. And I wanted him to.

God, I wanted him.

Simon's kisses moved further up my neck, hesitating. His breath felt hot on my throat. When I didn't flinch, he hummed deeply, and then there was a sharp pain as his fangs sank into my skin—hot and fast. My cry echoed through the room and I clung to his shoulders as shock coursed through me. Just like when he bit my thigh, the pain faded relatively quickly and was replaced by the soft feeling of Simon's tongue lapping over the wounds he'd made.

I was vaguely aware of his hand sliding down my body. He gripped the curve of my hips and the arch of my thighs. I rolled my hips up into his hand, completely at his mercy and loving every last second of it.

Simon lifted his head and my blood dripped down his chin. "I'm going to make you come while you bleed for me, pretty girl."

"Please do," I breathed, letting my head fall back in invitation.

His lips found my throat in the same instant his fingers slipped between my thighs and found where I was hot and wet for him. I yelped as he rubbed circles over my clit. His touch lit a fire within me, one I was desperate to coax brighter and brighter; I wanted to burn beneath him. Simon sat up again, slipping two fingers into me and pumping them in and out in perfect rhythm.

"That's it, my darling," he murmured. My blood coated his lips and dripped down one side of his chin. He made no effort to wipe it away or retract his fangs, letting me see him as he was. Monstrous. Villainous. Magnificent. Perfect.

He adjusted the angle of his hand, arching it so his palm pressed against my clit. With each of his thrusts, he curled his fingers inside me—touching me perfectly. I raked my fingers through my hair, my cries growing louder the hotter the fire burned in my core. With a deep growl, Simon moved his fingers faster, pumping into me. I forced myself to focus on his face, on the blood dripping down his chin and the fangs in his mouth.

He looked unbelievable, like my very own god of night.

I pushed my hips into his hand for a little more pressure. He gave it willingly. "I'm close, Simon," I whispered fervently. "So fucking close."

"I know," he coaxed. "Come for me."

I did.

I shattered beneath him, and he continued his movements until I was a gasping, quivering mess.

I barely had a moment to recover before a loud knock on the door announced that my room service had arrived.

"Does your sister know about our deal?" Simon asked as we lay in the dark later that night.

I paused from tracing circles on the duvet. "No," I admitted.

"Why not?"

I sucked in a breath. "It's going to break her heart that I went around her, but I know her. She'll never budge on this, and neither will I."

Simon hummed. He boosted himself up onto his elbow, watching me through the dark.

I asked him to stay again after I finished eating my dinner. Something about being alone tonight felt wrong. It left a pit in my stomach. He helped me bandage the wound he left on my neck and watched acutely while I drank every glass of water he offered and as much of the food as I could. Then, we turned on the TV for background noise and lay in the dark in a comfortable quiet.

"For the record," he murmured. "I think what you're doing is brave."

"Brave?" I asked.

"You're willing to die for the person you love the most," Simon said. "That's brave."

I smiled slightly, then sat up and turned to him. "Can I ask you something?"

"You may."

"What did you mean when you said ‘it will all be gone' yesterday?"

Simon sucked in a breath. "Vampirism changes things, Lucinda. After you become one, you may decide you're finished with me, or Paris. I simply meant that…" He huffed and shook his head. "I don't know what I meant."

"Except that you do," I pressed. "What happens with us after I become a vampire?"

Simon tilted his head. "Must we have this conversation now?"

I held the duvet against my bare chest. "I think—no, I know—I like you, Simon. I like spending time with you. I like exploring Paris with you. Does all of this end when you make me a vampire?"

Simon lay back on the sheets and took a deep breath. "I don't know, Lucinda."

His words hurt unexpectedly. I straightened further, feeling the need to cover every inch of my bare skin. "What don't you know?"

"Simply that. I don't know what will happen next with us."

"Oh," I breathed. "Okay."

"Is there a particular answer you're looking for?" Simon asked.

"No." I settled back into the sheets and forced myself to lie on my back instead of rolling away from him.

How could he not know?

I knew it had only been three days, but if I became a vampire, I would stay in Paris. That meant we could spend more time together and… what? My soul sank as I thought about it harder. I supposed Simon had a point. It had been a great three days, and the sex was incredible, but how could we know if that meant anything?

I looked over at him again, but his eyes were closed.

I said nothing.