Mask of Poison (Fall of Under Book 1) by Kathryn Kingsley (great novels to read txt) 📕

Not a kiss—not quite—but close enough that it sent her thoughts reeling. Her stomach now felt like a pit of snakes had taken over, writhing around each other in nervous excitement.

His lips left her cheek to press once more to her throat. Deeper, harder, more passionate than before. She heard a shy, confused moan, and it took her a solid second to realize it had come from her. She had never made that noise before—but to be fair, she had never felt like this before, either.

She felt drunk. Feverish and dizzy. Both a million miles away and too close to him at the same time. He was the only thing holding her down—keeping her in the moment.

She didn’t know what she needed. But there it was, burning away inside her, demanding something she didn’t understand.

Then it happened.

He sank his teeth into her throat.

Perfect.

The taste of her blood splashed against his tongue. Sweet and fresh, crisp like spring rain. The taste of her. Her heart was pounding. She was so afraid. Afraid…but needy. She had wanted his kiss.

Oh, it was because he’d hypnotized her. Pulled her into a warm blanket and lulled her into the moment—but it still counted. He’d only just softened the fear that had made her run from him. It was an old trick, but his favorite. It had always worked wonders with the humans on Earth.

Beautiful.

Ember was both naïve and wise, tough and tender. Resilient, yet ready to crack. A walking contradiction, like her two-tone hair. Black and white, somehow forming a stunning, exquisite whole.

He drank her slowly. He wanted the moment to last. His moan mixed with hers as she arched her back, pressing her chest to his. How he wanted to unwrap her, lay her down—have her as his own.

She did so much love to be touched. He had seen the goosebumps form on her skin as he kissed her. Seen the confusion and the passion mix together in her dark eyes as they watched him in fear and anticipation. I wonder if she has ever had a lover before. Certainly, never one like me. That’ll change.

He’d have to shower first. He was so very gooey, with all the blood and disgusting bandages he was wearing, and all. Rxa smiled against her skin. He would find Aon’s personal rooms. He’d shower, make love to Ember in Aon’s bed, then take a massive dump on the sheets before burning the King of Shadows’ home to the ground.

It was a perfect plan.

His day was starting to look up!

Sure, Aon and the others had escaped. But they couldn’t hide from him forever.

And now he had his dove.

And she wanted him!

Her fingers were tangled in his hair, pulling his head to her throat. She was gasping, writhing in his arms. He knew the pleasure that flooded her must be overwhelming. Their hearts were beating as one. Well, okay, her heart was being along with his…something or other. Aon had ripped out his heart, so he didn’t have one at the moment.

I wonder how my blood is moving at all, then.

Weird.

When Ember whimpered his name, he shuddered. What bliss. I had forgotten how good this felt. But like all things, it was soon over. He pulled his fangs from her throat and let his tongue roll along the puncture wounds. They would heal by morning and be little more than a slight sore spot. He knew how to feed without harming his partners. He was never one to destroy the hive to get at the honey inside.

And this prize was one he planned to keep for as long as he could.

Tenderly lifting her head back to his, he licked his lips, eager to savor every last drop of her. “Hello, dove…welcome back.”

She blinked her dark eyes, trying to focus on him. She was lost in the haze of ecstasy that he had brought her. He wanted to see it again. He wanted to see her arching beneath him as he plundered her body. First, he would be slow and gentle. Then, he would see if his theories were correct about the young woman and her personal predilections.

Wait.

Has that part even grown back yet?

Shit.

Oh, well. Maybe later.

“I…what…” She tried to speak, but she was too weak to form a sentence.

“Shh—it’s all right.” He put his mask back on before stepping back from the railing. “I have you.” Catching her in his arms as her knees buckled, he scooped her up in his arms. She was thin and muscular—she was obviously not well-fed and was used to a tough life. There was so much about her that he was so eager to know.

Her head rolled against his shoulder. He leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Why don’t we go find somewhere to rest…I’ll take a long shower, and you and I can snuggle up together in front of a fireplace.” He chuckled. “I can finish licking up that trail of blood later, if you’ll let me…I think I’d like that very much. You’ll like it, too, I promise.”

She muttered something against him, but she was already nearly unconscious. The poor thing must have had an exciting day. If that cretin Aon did anything to her—harmed her in any way—I will make him pay for it in triplicate before I let him die.

He walked toward the exit of the balcony. He would make good on part of his plan, anyway. Aon’s rooms had to be somewhere near the—

After two steps, he paused.

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

Furrowing his brow, he looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms. “What did you…what did you do to me?”

He collapsed.

26

Ember woke up. Maybe. She wasn’t quite sure. She felt dizzy. Like she had drunk too much wine, gone to bed late, and woken up still a little tipsy from the night before.

Nothing was worse than waking up drunk.

But she didn’t remember drinking last night. She didn’t remember—

Oh.

Now she did.

She sat up quickly and immediately regretted it. She groaned and fell back