Bitten by the Vampire by Bonnie Vanak

Her back taut as a bowstring, she dug her heels into the mattress.
    Shimmering on the edge of a climax, she opened all her senses. The darkness hummed, rising up to push through with each shudder of pleasure.
    She opened herself, and the tension blasted out of her core, shattering her into a million pieces, something dark and delicious bursting from her. Lucien threw his head back, shouted her name as he bucked against her. Warm seed jettisoned into her. He kept pumping inside her until his muscles quivered and he collapsed atop her trembling body.
    Boneless with pleasure, Mara fell back, gulping down several deep breaths. His lungs bellowing for air, Lucien pillowed his head beside her. Their mingled heartbeats gradually slowed until they beat in unison. She listened, wondering if he controlled that.
    Lucien lifted his head with a sleepy, adorable look. Sweat dampened his dark hair. “Yes, I matched my heart’s rhythm to yours.”
    The sweat-dampened sheets began to cool. He pushed off her, watched her with a guarded look. The space between her legs felt wonderfully sore, her muscles ached.
    She felt well-loved.
    Loved?
    What kind of starry-eyed B.S. was that? Lucien didn’t love her. He couldn’t love her. He hadn’t even shared a small part of himself, while she’d poured herself open and given him everything.
    Everything… Mara groped for her demon powers. Nothing.
    Her gaze whipped up to see him study her with a speculative look.
    Stunned realization pushed past the languid pleasure thrumming in her veins. “You seduced me,” she breathed.
    Ebony hair mussed, Lucien propped himself up on one elbow. Splendid in his nudity, honed muscles glistening in the light.
    â€œI warned you would be mine, Mara.” A wicked gleam shone in his onyx gaze. “You did not say no. Had you disagreed, I would have stopped.”
    â€œI need to protect myself! Were you there in the basement when Jones beat me? Taunted me, wanted me to beg for my damn life? All because he condemned me as dangerous, when he didn’t know me at all. You think sex with you will stop me from going after Jones?”
    She swung her legs over the bed’s edge and tried to stand. Weakness shot through her limbs and she fell back.
    â€œIt wasn’t merely sex, Mara,” he said quietly. “I weakened your demon.”
    Sitting up, he stretched out his long fingers. Inky blackness danced along the tips. Lucien regarded his hands with a solemn look. Then he inhaled deeply, and the darkness suctioned into his mouth.
    For a terrifying second, his eyes flashed crimson. Evil. Is that what I look like ?
    Then he fisted his hands, breathed out evenly and his eyes resumed their normal color.
    Mara drew in a deep breath, reaching for her source of strength. Still there, but dimmed as if diminished in strength. No wonder she felt listless.
    â€œHow?”
    â€œWhen you climax, your demon rises to the surface. I pulled part of it inside me.”
    The hurt was so piercing, she could barely breathe. They’d made love and he’d taken advantage of her. Deliberately. He’d warned her this would happen, but she’d been so intent on pleasure, she’d forgotten.
    â€œYou took my powers. I can barely move. Lucien, you had no right.”
    Regret flickered in his gaze. “I will not allow the hunters to destroy you, Mara. It was the only choice. You still have not learned to control your darkness.”
    â€œThere’s always another way.” She gritted her teeth and stood, swaying on two legs. Forcing one foot in front of the other.
    She barely made it into the bathroom.
    Nausea rolled in her stomach. Mara leaned against the sink and gulped several deep breaths, forcing it down. Lifting her gaze to the mirror, she stared at her kiss-swollen lips. Desire had bitten her, hard and fast. The vampire was a wonderful lover, but a dangerous one.
    How could she ever risk sex with him again, knowing