Blood at Stake (Warriors of the Krieger Book 2) by Theresa Hissong

throat as I swallowed my first
taste. More blood entered my mouth, and I felt Ashby shift on the
bed, his erection pressed into my sex. I growled in warning,
telling him to sit still. I felt his body shake with a soft
laugh.
    Once I was full, I released my hold on his
vein, using my tongue to wipe away the mess I had made there. When
our newly changed eyes met, his were full of hunger. Not only for
my blood, but for my body, and I couldn’t deny him either.
     

Chapter 8

    Ashby
     
    With Dragus gone, I was technically in
charge, but all I wanted to do was to stay here with Lydia. Her
tiny tongue stroked across the two tiny puncture wounds on my neck,
sealing the spot where I gave her nutrients for the night. The idea
that I was providing for her caused my ancient heart to swell with
pride. I didn’t realize how much I’d enjoy having a tiny woman to
call my own, until I woke up that morning already mated to the
fiery redhead.
    “Ashby,” she whispered and pulled her auburn
hair over her shoulder. I kissed her, tasting my blood on her
tongue. “You need to feed, my mate.”
    The vein in her neck pulsed in time with her
heart. Our hearts beat slower than a humans, but the sound of a
vampire heart was like a lullaby to our senses, like one was to a
babe. The gentle hum as it beat slowly soothed me, just as her
unique scent enticed me. In fact, now that we were mates, I would
be able to find her just from her scent alone. Her natural smell
was like a winter’s night, cool and crisp. Her blood inside me was
a natural tracking device. My mouth watered as I inhaled her
uniqueness. My fangs had already started to ache from the feel of
her finding nourishment at my vein, but now, they demanded I take
my meal at her throat.
    I struck her pale, slender neck with that of
a beast. I couldn’t help my desire for Lydia. As true mates, my
body and soul connected to her on a level different than I’d ever
known. It was almost like we were one.
    Her phone rang, and I released her vein to
hiss at the intrusion. My mate pulled me back to her neck as I felt
her fumble for the sound. The room quieted, and I purred my
approval. My protective instincts flared as I pushed out with my
ability to sense the things around me, thankful that I found
nothing.
    “Thank you,” I said, as I released her vein,
closing it with a quick swipe of my tongue.
    “Have you told anyone?” she asked softly,
pulling her auburn hair back over her delicate shoulder. I pushed
it away again, causing a soft smile to light up her face.
    “I find that I quite enjoy looking upon your
throat,” I admitted, stroking the silky flesh where I’d just taken
my meal. Lydia was still in my lap, and I refused to let her
go.
    “You didn’t answer me,” she laughed.
    “I’d rather not do that until I must,” I
sighed. “Can we just have tonight?”
    “Sure,” she whispered.
    I captured her lips again, sipping and
drinking her tiny mouth. When I pushed my tongue against her bottom
lip, she opened for me willingly.
    “Tell me about yourself?” she asked after I
eventually released her lips. Her beautiful mated eyes were glossed
over from our few moments of tender kissing.
    “I was born in Umea, Sweden. My mother said
that I was born on the hottest day in 1689. My father was a
fisherman and barely made it home in time for my birth.” It was
hard to remember my family. It’d been so long since I thought of
them that my memories took me back for a moment. Lydia waited
patiently for me to resume my story with her head resting on my
chest. Her ear was against my heart.
    “I was twenty-seven and had lost my wife to
the plague,” I admitted. If she wanted to know about me, then she
was going to know everything.
    “I’m so sorry, Ashby,” she gasped and sat up
so that we were looking eye to eye. “Did you have children?”
    “No,” I shook my head. “I spent most of my
time on a boat. We had been married for a few years, but she never
became pregnant. Our