KissBeforeDying by Aline Hunter Page B

of my chest. One large hand cupped my right
breast. He massaged the mound through my thin corset as his thumb caressed the
hard bud beneath. Knowing he enjoyed hearing the sounds of the pleasure he
created, I didn’t mute my soft moan.
    “Tonight I want to hear my name on the tip of your tongue
each time you come.”
    It wasn’t difficult to make my voice husky and
unrecognizable, not with the heat in his gaze, his attention riveted entirely
on me. “Tell me your name, sire.”
    “Sebastian.”
    I repeated the word in a heady tenor, voice quaking,
“Sebastian.”
    As his face descended, I waited, captivated. How many years
had I longed for that plush mouth against my own? To know exactly how he tasted
and smelled? His blood was thick, spicy and masculine.
    Would the rest of him be as well?
    Just before our lips made contact, he whispered, “Tell me
your name, sweet.”
    Panic almost ruined everything but I quickly recovered,
remembering the ruse, how important it was for my plan. “Arianna,” I expelled
in a rush, using the middle name I had never revealed to him or any other in
his enclave.
    “Arianna.” He sampled the name, rolling it off his tongue.
“A beautiful name to match a sensual vixen.” His grin made my pussy spasm, heat
building between my thighs. “I approve.”
    Lips met and parted, tongues darting out. As expected, his
taste was intoxicating.
    The headiness of his nearness swept through my entire body.
The laps of his tongue were tender, brushing against mine as he coaxed a
response. Unwilling to disappoint I mirrored his actions, thrusting my tongue
into the cavern of his mouth, reveling in his throaty groan of approval.
    His hands trailed down to my waist and cupped my ass. Each
squeeze became harsher, nearly bruising, but it was the most delicious kind of
agony. Years of longing were finally being fulfilled and I wanted to experience
it all—both pleasure and pain. The slick wetness between my legs became a
raging fire and I moaned at the empty ache.
    “Christ, your scent,” he growled, lifting me into the air
and forcing me to wrap my legs around his muscular waist as he strode purposely
for the bed.
    The massive four-post structure was situated against the far
wall, next to the old stone fireplace. Sebastian kept his resting place there
for the sake of his bedmates, to keep them warm. His body temperature depended
on the stretch of time since his last feeding. As I was his provider, I knew it
had been several days. It was to be expected that he went to his lover thirsty.
Bedmates were loved well before they were drained. Afterward their bodies were
taken to the basement and turned into ash inside the incinerator.
    Those thoughts were cast aside when Sebastian released my
ass and brought my heeled feet to the dark wood floor. He unlatched the toggle
at my throat and the red velvet cape pooled at my feet in a cascade of crushed
crimson. The outfit beneath matched the material. The red-and-black lace,
combined with patches of matching velvet, molded to my curves. The bone corset
was incredibly tight, accenting my waist and enhancing the rounded swell of
creamy white at my breasts.
    I had chosen the colors thinking of him, inspired by the
blood-red satin sheets adorning his bed. They were changed daily, but one thing
remained consistent—the shade.
    “Exquisite.” He exhaled the compliment, bringing his hands
to my mask. “I want to see all of you.”
    “Please, don’t,” I cried out in alarm, capturing his much
larger fingers in mine. My voice trembled when I explained, “My face is marred,
sire.”
    For a moment he hesitated, and I worried the ruse had
failed. Vampires had an uncanny ability to filter through and sense lies. After
a moment he smiled, returning his focus to my body. His touch was impossibly
soft, fingers barely whispering over my breasts. Somehow the teasing caresses
were erotic, each brush leaving me yearning for more.
    “Your skin is as warm and soft as silk left