Blood Kisses (Nightwalkers Book 1) by H. N. Sieverding Page A

movement slow and
methodic. Being engaged in such an intimate setting with Caleb was incredible,
and Ashleigh could feel the intense beat of her heart as she stared at him.
    "I've
wanted to meet you for a really long time. When my friends told me about your
books, and about how Drake was so much like me, I had to read them. And
then…" He lightly brushed the surface of her skin, his touch so soft, it
made her skin tingle in its wake. "I couldn't stop. I loved every line,
every word. Having you here is like a dream."
    He
planted a single kiss on her lips before hovering over her, his words more clear
and sharp than any other conversation she had ever had. "Thanks for
agreeing to meet me and loving me the way you have in your books. I've never
felt connected to someone as much as I do you." The tip of his nose slid
teasingly down the surface of her cheek and the curve of her neck. "How
can I thank you for coming?"
    "This
is a good start." Closing her eyes, Ashleigh tried not to laugh, but a
small giggle escaped.
    "I like the
way you think." He then recited a line from Nightwalkers , "‘You are my sun. Like forbidden rays, that if
they were to touch my skin, I would die. My body melting as the cursed blood
that flows within me burns me alive."
    When his nose
swept back up her neck and cheek, the quick action made her gasp. "‘But I
would die to see a sunrise. To feel that warmth that I can only dream of. I
want to bask in the heat of your kiss, even if it reduces me to ash. I love you’."
    "Wow…"
The anticipation building within her so intensely made her whole body shiver.
"Those words sound amazing coming from your lips."
    "You're
amazing." His fingers slowly marched up her hips and toward her stomach,
his action light and gentle. "And when you fall asleep, I will be here to
wake you…" Her head began to feel very airy, his touches so tantalizing
that she couldn’t even move an inch for fear of losing the intense feeling. "With
my blood."
    He
began kissing her, his hands making slow passes up and down her curvaceous
frame. With each kiss, he could feel her body go more and more limp. Pulling
away from her, he let his nose rest against hers, his stare locking with hers. She
gazed at him with a distant, dreamy expression.
    He
let the tip of his nose slide down her cheek again, his lips lightly kissing
her skin and making her tremble. She couldn’t move, but her whole body felt as
if it were in a state of pure pleasure, so great she had gone into a light
unconsciousness. The world around her was watery, but the sound of Caleb’s
voice was crystal clear. "My kiss is painful but worth every second."
    Then,
he bit her neck. Ashleigh’s mouth shot open, but no sound escaped it. A few hot
tears fell from the corners of her eyes. Caleb took several bites, each one
more painful than the last. This was not like in her books. This hurt. A lot. She
could feel her flesh being torn, the wetness of her blood flowing from the
wound, and Caleb’s taut lips pressing hard against her neck as he drank.
    It
seemed to last forever, though it was only a few minutes. When she closed her
eyes, she blacked out, which was a welcome relief from the pain.
     

     
    The
next time she opened her eyes, she was lying in bed. The change of location,
and her abrupt waking, made her body shoot up into a sitting position. It was
dark, but she could make out the shapes of furniture as she scanned the room
for any sign of life.
    She
could taste blood lingering on her tongue, a bitter aftertaste in her mouth. Fresh
tears escaped her eyes. She felt shaky and weak in her own body, something she
was not used to. Her hand shot up to her neck as she felt for a wound, but
there wasn’t one. She didn’t know where she was, or even if she had dreamt the
entire thing. But this wasn’t her room.
    "Lay
down." Caleb, who had been lying down next to her, grabbed her shoulders
gently as he sat up. "The loss of blood will make you dizzy for a while."
He eased her back