Kindled (Book 3 The Kindred Series) by Erica Stevens Page A

building hunger and desire flaming through his eyes. He wanted this; she knew that, he wanted it as badly as she did. He was just being stubborn.
       “It’s ok Devon, you won’t hurt me.”
   Moving swiftly away, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. His hands gripped the mattress so fiercely that the muscles in his arms stood out sharply. His back was ramrod straight, but a small tremor shook him. Cassie reached out to touch his back, but he pulled away , looking as if he was about to bolt away from her .
       “You won’t hurt me,” she said again.
       He swung toward her, his eyes flashing briefly from their beautiful emerald to a fierce blood red that robbed her of her breath. “You don’t know that!” he snarled.
       Though he caused her heartbeat to speed up , the fear that trickled through her w as brief and small. He would not hurt her, she was certain of that. He would never hurt her. “I do,” she said softly. “You could never hurt me Devon.”
       He shuddered again . “Cassie your blood, well it’s a temptation I’m not sure I can refuse.”
       “You can ,” she said forcefully. “I know that you can. I want this Devon; I want to take care of you like you take care of me. I want to ease your need. I want to know what you feel like.”
       He shuddered again, his hands clench ed upon the bed so hard she thought he was going to rip her mattress apart. She could almost hear his teeth grinding as he fought a fierce battle with himself. Cassie sat up slowly, pushing her blankets aside. She reache d out for him, her hand stroked over his rigid back. Though he stiffened even more, he did not bolt away from her as she had feared. He was fighting hard with himself, but it was a losing battle, she was almost positive of that.
        A surge of victory began to build inside her, but she fought it swiftly back. There was no place for victory here. There was only room for the two of them. “Cassie,” he moaned, his head bowing slightly.
       “It’s ok,” she whispered. “I’m here and I’m willing. It’s ok.”
       He turned slowly toward her, rapidly searching her face, looking for any hint of fear. Any hint that she didn ’ t truly want this. “If I hurt you…”
       “You won’t.”
       A muscle twitched in his cheek, Cassie soothed it with her hand, pressing her forehead against his. “You’re wounded and hurt now.”
   “And you’ve helped to heal me.”
       “Weakened.”
       She managed a small smile. “Not so much anymore , and I am still st ronger than any human .”
       “If I lose control…”
       “You won’t.”
       He stared silently at her, his awe and hunger beat against her sh a k ing deep into her soul. Moving slowly, she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, kissing him gently. He remained hard against her, unyielding. She felt a brief moment of guilt, this was torturing him, but if she could ease his need, his hunger, than she was going to do so . She wanted to be the one to help him. She wanted to be the one that he turned too. And she desperately wanted to know what it would feel like.
       She was surprised that the thought did not repulse her more. Before she had met him it would have disgusted her completely, but now it thrilled and emboldened her. With him, it would be wonderful. S he was certain of that , even though she had no reason to believe that it would be. Everything she had seen of vampires feeding was gross, brutal, and deadly.
       It would not be so now.
       She kissed him again, pressing her lips lightly to his. Though he still did not move against her, she felt a weakening in his body, a yielding that curled her toes in anticipation and excitement. Then, suddenly, his arm snaked firmly around her, locking her in place . He was kissing her back, his mouth hard and demanding against hers.
       Cassie’s heart hammered wildly in her chest, her fingers tangled in his hair as he pressed