Mating Fever by Crymsyn Hart Page A

he parted from me. I didn’t want him to be gone from me.
    “Can I ask a favor?”
    “Anything.”
    I bit my lip and looked at him. I trailed my finger along his throat. He sucked in a breath. I slipped closer. My lips ran along his neck. I nipped at his flesh. “Let me taste you again.”
    He pulled away with shock in his eyes. “You know if you do, it only hastens you turning into what I am. I don’t want to bring you into the darkness until you are ready to be with me forever.”
    I bowed my head. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to ask.” I began to pull away from him, but he took my arm.
    “No. You don’t have anything to forgive. I was surprised that you asked. That’s all. I’d never deny you anything. But allow me to sip from your veins.”
    I pushed the hair from my neck. I guided him to my throat. His soft lips touched upon my flesh. The bolt of pleasure that speared through me from the simple gesture reminded me what Keaton was. The fear that I originally had for him wasted away. I trusted him now with my soul. He spread his lips over my jugular. His teeth pressed into my flesh. I slipped my fingers through his hair. His teeth plunged into me and I moaned. One hand cupped my breast. He squeezed it lightly. The nipple puckered when he brushed over it.
    As I relaxed, I felt his mind poking against mine. I tried to drop the barriers on my thoughts. He sucked on me harder. The fire he sparked in me grew. It burned along my veins and engulfed me.
    Keaton pulled away after a few more sips. When he did, I was out of breath, and my heart slammed against my chest. He cupped my chin and glanced at me. “Are you okay?”
    I nodded. “Yeah. Fabulous.”
    “I’m glad. If I ever hurt you, then I couldn’t bear it.” He slid his finger along his neck. I wanted to taste him. I hungered for it. The longer I stared at the gash, the more the gnawing grew in my stomach.
    “You’re hungry. It’s faint, but I can feel it in you.”
    I nodded. “Yes.”
    “Then drink, love.”
    I wrapped my mouth around the wound. The blood slid down my throat. It tasted like new pennies and cotton candy mixed together. I took swallow after swallow until Keaton groaned and asked me to stop. I couldn’t. I wanted more. He finally had to wrench me away from him.
    “Sorry.”
    “Don’t apologize to me. It felt wonderful, but if you drink any more you’ll really start to turn. Not that I don’t want that, but you might still wish to remain human.”
    “I’m okay with that. I just don’t want the other to come after me. Can you protect me from the one who wanted me dead?”
    “I’d give my life to protect you. He won’t hurt you again. Ivan has already delivered a message to his house.”
    “You know where he lives?”
    “I know where the head of his line lives. Being on the council has privileges. It will not go unnoticed. You’ve been marked as my mate. He’ll pay for using you as a pawn in his retaliation against me.”
    “Who is it? Why would they want revenge against you?”
    “It isn’t anything that you need to worry about.”
    “But it is because we’re in this together.”
    Keaton drew me into his arms and held me close. He sighed and began to stroke my hair. “My race has a council that keeps the laws. None of them are to hurt our mates. We made a decree not to kill humans. Many of our kind hate that ruling. Trenton and I used to be friends, but after the declaration, we split. Now we are enemies. He kills people violently and anyone I find in his house, his bloodline that is guilty, we kill.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that. I assume that when you first saved me you didn’t know that I was going to be your mate.”
    “No. Trenton’s underling must’ve gotten your scent and then followed it. Or watched us and saw that I was interested in you. He must’ve followed and told Trenton something. It doesn’t matter now. Trenton will recognize you as my mate. And then cease his actions. I sent Ivan to present