Lustre of Twilight (Love Bitten)

“Don’t worry too much. You’d look gorgeous in a brown paper bag, sweetheart.” His hands drifted around to cup my butt cheeks. “But I get where you’re coming from. Just having you tell me you’re ready for our claiming ceremony is cause for a celebration.”

He started to shift my core closer to his hardening member, but I held firm and murmured, “No. We better get a move on if we want to be done before it’s time for us to crash.”

There were only a couple of hours before sunrise, and it would have almost been the start of a new day for me only a week ago. But my internal clock had turned nocturnal in the days I had spent with Jareth. The transition had been so seamless I had barely noticed that my nights had turned into my days and vice versa.

“Fine,” he grunted, lifting me up and twisting around to set me on the floor next to the bed. “But as soon as we get back, I’m going to eat your pussy without letting you go over the edge until you’re begging me to let you come.”

I bent low to brush my lips against his and whispered, “Look at you, threatening me with a good time.”

“Fuck, you’re perfect,” he growled as he rolled off the mattress. His hand drifted down the front of his body, clothes following in its wake.

He did the same with me, and I glanced down at the stylish leggings and sweater he’d dressed me in and laughed. “It’s going to be so cool when I can do that myself.”

“Soon. Very, very soon,” he promised as he wrapped his fingers around my wrist and teleported us to my house.

When I found myself in my living room, my head jerked back in surprise. “I thought we were going to drive over so I could bring a bunch of stuff back with me?”

He flashed me a quick grin before explaining, “I figured we’d save some time if I brought you over first, and then I’ll grab my SUV. This way, you can pack up whatever you need before I come back.”

“Brilliant idea.” I went up on my toes to brush my lips against his. “Hurry back.”

He patted my ass before disappearing into thin air, and then I raced upstairs to go through my closet. Flipping through the hangers until I found the dress I’d been searching for, I was so focused on finding the perfect outfit that I didn’t notice the signs that my personal space had been invaded until it was too late. Strong arms wrapped around me from behind, but I knew immediately that it wasn’t Jareth. I jerked my head back in the hope that I’d do enough damage to break free. All my effort earned me was a creepy laugh that freaked me out even more.

Twisting my neck around, I met the bright red gaze of a vampire—a nightwalker. Struggling in his crushing hold, I hissed, “I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doing, but if you want to live, you’d better run now while you still can.”

His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, his lips curving into a cruel smile. “You’re awfully bold for someone so breakable.”

If only I’d urged Jareth to claim me already, I wouldn’t have been human anymore. As a daywalker, I would have had a fighting chance against the vampire. But my only hope now was to delay the inevitable long enough for Jareth to have the chance to rescue me. “Maybe there’s a reason for my confidence.”

He turned me around so we were face-to-face. “I don’t see how that’s possible, but please do tell.”

I lifted my chin and muttered, “I’ve already survived an attack from a whole bunch of vampires before. There’s only one of you, but there were at least a dozen of them.”

The vampire didn’t look surprised by my boast. If anything, he seemed amused. “Yes, I’m aware that the daywalkers rescued you from my minions before they could deliver you to me.”

Holy crap, he must be the master they’d spoken of. The one who they’d seemed to be waiting for after they’d captured me. I didn’t know what he had planned for me, but it couldn’t be good. “Jareth will kill you for this.”

“He’ll certainly try.” The vampire trailed his finger over the birthmark on my neck. “But the odds of him succeeding will greatly diminish after I’ve claimed his destined consort as my own.”

His bold claim went against everything Jareth had told me about daywalkers, but a shiver of dread still went up my spine. This vampire hadn’t just stumbled across me. He’d been lying in wait for me in my home so that he could force me to spend an eternity as his plaything. I sent out a mental plea for Jareth to hurry, just in case this evil creature had found a way to cheat destiny.