Redemption (The Penton Vampire Legacy) by Susannah Sandlin Page B

he left her tonight, her freedom was going with him.
    He took her wandering hand, gently removed it from his thigh, and stretched out next to her on the bed, closing his eyes for a moment to take in the scent of her—a sweet, delicate floral overlaying clean skin touched recently by the sun. He took her face between his palms, his eyes seeking to lock with hers so he could enthrall her again before this went any further.
    But she was focused on his mouth. “Kiss me,” she whispered. “Please.”
    He was still thinking of excuses when she raised her head and pressed her lips to his, the softest brush that drew his lips down in response. He kissed her top lip, and then nipped at her bottom, keeping his fangs to himself, before covering hermouth with his. Need jolted down his spine and straight into his groin as her tongue sought entrance to his mouth.
    No more. He rolled away from her with a groan and sat up. “Krys, we can’t do this. Not—”
    “Why not?” That laugh again, and he looked back to see her watching him with parted lips, her own hunger naked on her face. Her pulse thudded in his ears, and he knew that if he moved to touch her she would welcome him.
    “Aidan, I can already tell you overthink things—just shut up and kiss me again. Unless...” She sat up and looked at him uncertainly. “Unless you don’t want me, and that’s OK. I know you’re probably used to more beautiful women than me and—” She looked down at her hands. “God, I’m just humiliating myself. Maybe you should go after all.”
    Was she being coy? But no, she was blushing, her skin turning an enticing shade of pink. How the hell could she possibly think she wasn’t beautiful, or that he might not want her? Without thinking, he reached out a hand, brushed his fingers lightly across her cheek, and cupped them around the curve between her neck and shoulder. “You shine like the sunlight,” he said softly. “Don’t ever doubt how beautiful you are.”
    She leaned into his hand and kissed his palm, then reached down and tugged at the bottom edges of the T-shirt, pulling it over her head. She bit her lip and her blush deepened as she sat holding the shirt, seeming unsure what to do with it.
    Aidan wet his lips. Her breasts were small, high, and firm; her mix of courage and vulnerability was about the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. He wanted his mouth on her. Now.
    “Hell, woman, you aren’t making this easy.” Just another kiss. He could kiss her, then enthrall her and walk away. He took the shirt from her and threw it aside, his heart speeding to keeptime with hers as he stretched out beside her again. He gathered her into his arms, his kiss harder than before. Reckless. A fang brushed her lower lip, and his breath grew uneven as he watched the tiny drop of blood form, its sweet perfume enveloping him. Gently, he covered her mouth with his again and groaned as the blood hit his tongue, destroying his last shreds of conscience.
    “I want you.” Her fingers found the bottom edge of his sweater and slipped underneath, raking nails up his spine as he moved his mouth to the sweet spot underneath her ear. That did it. He ripped the damned sweater off, and then lowered his lips back to her neck. He bit gently, pulling the skin between his teeth hard enough to feel her pulse speed and bring a soft gasp, but not enough to break skin. He would not drink, damn it, and he wouldn’t—
    All thought retreated as her hand slid between their bodies and splayed out on his chest, running the length of his torso down to his hard length, stroking gently till he thought he’d come in his pants like the teenager he hadn’t been in four hundred years.
    With a deep, rumbling groan, he edged a knee between her legs, and she rolled to her back to accommodate him, cradling him between her thighs.
    “Yes,” she breathed, closing her eyes. He rolled his hips, pressing himself against her, using the rough denim of his jeans for friction.
    He