Fox’s head snapped up and he gave Winter a resolute look. “Then don’t bite me.”
“I—”
“You don’t need it to come, right?”
“No! I…it’s just a way for me to kill two birds with one stone.”
Fox grinned. The plan was on again, just with a slight adjustment. Placing both hands on Winter’s chest, he shoved him against the fridge. “Well, then I say that you drain one of your bags of blood to tide you over while I go up to your bedroom and strip naked. I’m assuming you’ve got lube—”
“Nightstand. Top drawer. Left side of the bed,” Winter answered automatically in a hard voice that only made Fox’s smile wider.
“If you’re a good vampire, you might find a nice surprise waiting in the dark in the middle of your bed.”
Winter seemed to hesitate, his breath caught in his chest and his eyes searching Fox’s face for something. Fox was desperately trying to reboot his blood-starved brain so he could think of something, anything, that would finally tip the scales in Winter’s mind. Fox wanted this, needed this.
“Yes. Go.” Winter’s sharp words almost had Fox shouting for joy.
“Ahh! One catch.” Fox stepped into Winter, pressing his body along the vampire’s so he could feel all that hard muscle and even harder cock in his pants. Fox tilted his head up, offering his mouth. “I want a kiss first.”
“I don’t,” Winter bit out like he was fighting his own desires.
“Yeah, but we’re already breaking the rules by knowing each other. This is role-playing now. We’re pretending we don’t know the owner of that cock and that ass. And if you’re going to not bite me, then I’m demanding you at least kiss me.”
Fox held his breath, waiting for Winter to shoot down his request. He might have been totally willing to cave if it meant taking the vampire to bed, but he wanted this kiss, needed to feel those lips on his. He wanted this temporary connection between them, this sweetness. Winter could pretend Fox was anyone else while his face was shoved into the mattress, but this one small moment, the vampire had to be there with Fox.
The vampire stared at him for a second, and Fox was sure he could hear his pounding heart. Just as Fox drew in a breath to crack a joke, to brush off yet another rejection, Winter lifted one hand to cup the side of his face. For all their joking and heated talk, his touch was surprisingly gentle. His thumb rubbed through the scruff on Fox’s jaw, causing the witch’s breath to catch in his throat.
Fox couldn’t close his eyes. He watched as Winter’s lips slowly descended while his eyes fell shut, his impossibly long eyelashes black against his paleness. The first touch was so light, Fox couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. The sexy, dangerous vampire wasn’t supposed to kiss like this. He was supposed to devour Fox and suck out his fucking soul. This was so incredibly tender, it was tearing down his best defenses and leaving him desperate for more.
On a whimper, Fox pressed closer, pushing up on the tips of his toes so he could feel more, taste more. And Winter gave it to him.
The next kiss had Winter’s tongue sliding along Fox’s lips. They instantly parted on a groan, and Fox welcomed him in deep. He kissed and sucked on Winter’s lower lip. He caught it between his teeth and tugged before releasing it slowly.
A low growl rumbled up from the depths of the vampire’s chest, and Fox swore he could feel it in his soul. Winter’s hands moved along his body, lighting fires everywhere he touched. He couldn’t believe kissing Winter was so wonderful. Kissing had always been an enjoyable pastime, but it had never been like this. He’d never found anyone who matched him so perfectly. He could go on kissing Winter forever and never get tired of his wonderfully soft lips, his talented tongue, or the demanding little noises crawling up his throat.
“More,” Winter demanded. Those gentle hands dropped to grip Fox by the back of the thighs and lifted him up. Fox yelped as Winter took a couple of steps forward and deposited Fox on the island countertop.
Fox blinked and looked around for a second, stunned to find himself there, but the position put him a few inches taller than Winter now. This was even better. He didn’t have to worry about his weakening knees. With a wide grin, he wrapped his legs around Winter and hooked his heels behind his legs, locking the vampire against him.
“Now you’re trapped,” Fox purred.
“Fucking kiss me.” God, how could this man be sexier than he already was? He’d found a way. Winter’s face was upturned, lips puffy from their kisses, his pale blue eyes glowing brightly.
Holding Winter’s face with both hands, Fox kissed him as if his life depended on becoming permanently attached to this man. Winter’s arms wrapped tight around him, fingers digging deep into the muscles in his back. Every kiss was perfect, but they weren’t enough. He wanted more of him.