Eternal Captive: Mark of the Vampire by Laura Wright Page B

have expected to feel such a profound pain slice through her with his words, but she did. It was her sad truth. She belonged to Synjon in word and promise, but her body, her unbeating heart…Well, unfortunately, they both seemed to want to belong to Lucian Roman.
    She lifted her chin and pretended a meat cleaver hadn’t sliced her in two. “Maybe I’m not special to you, but your blood is inside me and that makes me special in a whole other way.”
    His jaw tight enough to crack a couple of teeth, Lucian stood up. His strong, muscular body was momentarily bathed in sunlight, making him look like a god carved in marble.
    “Nicholas’s twin said you would go after me,” she continued. “That we would…have sex here. That we would breed and you would begin your destiny.”
    “It won’t happen,” he uttered with ruthless defiance.
    “I’m glad you’re so sure of yourself.”
    “Go to sleep.” He started walking away, toward the shoreline.
    “Because I’m not all that sure of me,” she called after him. “Hey! Hey—I’ll admit it. Right here, right now, in front of you and whoever is listening or watching.” When he didn’t stop or turn around, she jumped up and ran down to the shoreline, grabbed his arm,and yanked him to face her. “My body and my blood want it—they want you.”
    “Try telling them both to fuck off—that works for me.”
    She wasn’t listening to him. “But my heart…”
    “Doesn’t beat, Princess. Just like mine.”
    “Must you always be so cruel?”
    “You enjoy my cruelty.”
    “No, I don’t.”
    “It’s what makes your mouth water and your pussy cream.”
    She gasped, dropped his arm, and slapped him hard across the face.
    He didn’t even flinch. “Oh, please do that again,” he whispered, his nostrils flaring.
    Shaking now, her eyes filling with tears, Bronwyn slapped him again.
    “More,” he hissed, his eyes blazing down at her as his body closed in. “One more time, Princess. Just to make sure I understand.”
    Bronwyn didn’t move. She just stood there, her mouth trembling, her hand tingling from the double contact with his cheekbone and jaw. She couldn’t do it again…didn’t want to…
    “Fine, I’ll shut us both up.” He pulled her to him and covered her mouth, kissed her hard and hungry until her lips were bruised and she whimpered.
    Tears spilled from Bronwyn’s eyes as he eased back just a fraction of an inch. She should’ve had the urge to ram her knee right up between his legs, push him away, tear at his lower lip with her fangs. But her body betrayed such thoughtful, protective instincts. Instead, her skin pleaded for more, her breasts ached for his hands, his fingers, his mouth. “You disgust me,” shewhispered, her tone fraught with passion and fear and desperation.
    “Good,” he returned harshly, but his mouth trembled too. “Then you won’t be tempted to run after me again.”
    As he backed away, turned, and headed down the beach, his dark and dangerous scent following after him, Bronwyn stared, unblinking. She’d gone after him and tempted him, tempted the beast within him. Why? Why would she do such a foolish, harmful thing unless she was asking him to take her—asking the Breeding Male buried within him to take her…
    That thought broke her soul in two.
    “You disgust me,” she’d said to him, nearly against his mouth.
    As she watched him advance farther down the shore, she wondered just who those words had truly been meant for.
    Were they really aimed at Lucian Roman?
    Or herself?

9
     
    A lexander returned to the villa just as the light was changing. As expected and hoped for, his true mate stood anxiously outside the massive front door, her blue eyes sweeping over him, checking for blood or bruises—anything to explain his long absence.
    Sara shook her head. “It’s nearly dawn.”
    “I’m sorry, my love.” He gathered her in his arms and kissed her temple. “I couldn’t leave until I had some news.”
    “News?