Blood Flame (Flame 1)

The meaning of his words was not lost to her and she clenched deep inside. As she moved to stand beneath the spray once more, he picked up the bar of soap and worked up a lather.

He spent a good amount of time rubbing her sex, and gliding his fingers inside.

She clung to his heavily muscled arms. The warm water on her back, the sight of his tattoos and his damp hair all worked on her. She hadn’t had a man in her life for such a long time.

His fingers went faster, working her like a piston. “Can you come like this, Iris? I’d like to watch you come and feel your body pulling on me.”

She nodded, her lips parting. But she couldn’t quite speak. She let one word slip from her mind to his. Faster.

His brows rose, letting her know he’d heard her. And his fingers confirmed it.

He went vampire fast so that after three breaths, she was digging her nails into his arms and crying out.

“That’s it, baby. I like to watch you come. That’s it, keep it going.” He sustained the rhythm, dragging out the orgasm until it passed.

She was left feeling wonderfully lethargic. He withdrew his fingers and slid his arm around her waist to support her. He pulled her close, angling them both into the water. He splashed the spray in her direction and used his hands to get the soap off her, then shut the water off.

What she loved was he never lost contact as he helped her from the shower, making sure she didn’t slip. Even when he reached for the towel, he kept a hand on her hip. Afterward, he took his time drying her from head to toe.

Once again, she saw the kind of husband he must have been to his wife, even though it was such a long time ago. “I feel almost human when I’m with you, Connor. Does that sound weird?”

“I get it. This feels almost normal.”

She nodded. “Like being with my husband.” She wondered if it was the wrong thing to say.

He held her gaze, and stopped moving the towel. “It makes me wish for impossible things.”

She took the towel from him. “I know what you mean.”

She covered his hair with the towel, tamping it dry, then worked her way down his shoulders and both arms. She drew a ragged breath. She didn’t want to think about the future. Five Bridges was a wreck and then there was this dark spot on Connor’s soul.

Her own heart was still so full of pain she wondered just how successful a relationship with him could be when so much grief held her captive. “I don’t trust love in this world.”

“I know. It feels like we’re asking too much.”

As she wiped his chest, he leaned down and caught her lips with his. She gave a small cry and wrapped her arms around his neck. They’d survived another encounte

r with a madman and were both alive.

After a moment, he drew back and finished toweling off. When he was done, he took her once more by the hand. He led her straight across the hall, flipped the covers of her bed back so that mostly they ended up on the floor.

“I want you on your back, but first put your ass right here.” He patted the edge of the bed.

She moaned as she all but rolled onto the bed. He dropped to his knees and slid his arms under her thighs. Iris couldn’t believe this was happening. And what she especially loved was how comfortable he was with her.

For two warring species, they shared a phenomenal amount of trust.

He kissed and tongued her navel, which set her hips rocking. She loved his touch, everything he did to her.

He kissed his way down her abdomen until he reached her bare sex. More kisses, then his tongue.

She drew in a soft stream of air as he pushed between her folds and began to lick.

Her whole body rolled and she cried out. The sensation was so perfect, so full of pleasure.

She swore she’d forgotten the real delights of sex. The few men she’d dated had gone through the motions and left her cold. But maybe that had been her fault because of the way her heart hurt and still felt shut down.

Yet with Connor, she was lit up from within and felt his energy riding her entire body. Connor. His name slipped from her mind.