Bittersweet Blood by Nina Croft

head and held her gaze as he ground his hips into the softness of her belly. Heat flooded her, pooled at her core, and her eyes widened. Christian shifted lower, until he pushed against the junction of her thighs, and her whole body went up in flames.
    “Oh.”
    He smiled, lowered his head, and kissed her again. She lost herself in that kiss, only coming back when he went still against her. Opening her eyes, she followed his gaze.
    She closed her eyes again and pretended she was home and there was no six-foot-plus of half-naked vampire on top of her. And no six-foot-plus of fully dressed vampire lounging in the open doorway.
    Piers watched them, an expression of amused curiosity on his face.
    She shoved at Christian and tried to wriggle from under him.
    “Don’t move for a moment,” he murmured into her ear.
    She stilled.
    Sighing, he rolled off her. He lay for a moment staring at the ceiling then sat up and pushed off the bed in one fluid move.
    “Just wondered whether you were ready to have that shoulder stitched yet,” Piers said.
    Christian turned toward him. For the first time since she’d woken, Tara felt real fear. She shivered as she watched him stalk toward the other man. He moved slowly but every step radiated menace. He stared at Piers through narrow silver eyes. If the look had been directed at her, she would have shriveled up in fear.
    Piers just grinned. “Well, at least you don’t seem bored anymore.”
    Christian stared at him for a moment longer, and the tension drained out of his body.
    Tara scrambled to her feet. She wanted out of there now—way too much testosterone pounded through the room.
    Someone had removed her boots and coat, but she spotted them on a chair. Christian watched her, a slight frown on his face, but he didn’t protest as she pulled them on.
    “Right. I’m off,” she said.
    Christian crossed the room and stood before her. “I’m letting you go because you need time to think. When you have, come back to me.”
    Probably in about a thousand years , but she refrained from saying the words aloud. Instead, she forced her face into some semblance of a smile, and nodded.
    He tilted his head toward her. This time, she swayed away from him, but his hand slid beneath the hair at the back of her neck and held her in place. The kiss was hard and fast, and afterward he whispered into her ear, “You will come back, Tara. We have unfinished business.”
    She glanced at the bed, not sure whether he was referring to that or to the search for her aunt, but she didn’t feel up to asking. Perhaps it was better not to know. He stepped away, and she breathed again.
    Tara headed for the door, but at the last moment, she turned and studied him. He was beautiful, but now she recognized it as the beauty of a predator, and underneath she could sense something cold, menacing.
    “Are you evil?” she asked.
    A startled expression crossed his face, then he shrugged. “That’s something you must decide for yourself.”
    She nodded and left the room, ignoring Piers who stood aside to let her pass.
    Graham waited for her outside. He didn’t say anything, just led her to the elevator, but as they stood in the closed space, Tara couldn’t stop herself from glancing at him surreptitiously. She recalled the expression on his face as Christian fed. He caught her looking and raised an eyebrow.
    “What does it feel like?” she asked. “When a vampire feeds?”
    He shrugged. “Vampires in general, I couldn’t tell you. I’ve only ever fed Christian.”
    “What’s it like?”
    “Like the best sex you’ve ever had,” he said, his expression dreamy. Then he grinned. “And I’ve had some great sex.”
    “I’ve never had sex.”
    His eyes widened. “Bloody hell. A virgin. Better not let Ella get a whiff of you.”
    “Ella?”
    “Never mind.”
    She looked at him shyly. “Are you and Christian… Do you—”
    “Have sex? Sleep together?”
    She nodded.
    “No. Christian is strictly into girls