Sinful's Desire by Gracie Meadows Jana Leigh

trick. With the vampire now gone, he went to Marlee who seemed to be unconscious with a large knot on her head. Picking her up carefully, he called to Cillian to find Finn, but when he shook his head, he knew he was gone. Walking over to the small car they had driven to the location, he climbed in back while holding her. Her breathing was steady and her heartbeat strong. As they headed home to the castle the smell of blood overcame his senses. He looked to her, she was bleeding from her arm and several scrapes. He would clean those when he returned to his chambers, and this time she would remain in his chamber and he would lock her damn ass in there.
    “Sire, we are home,” Cillian said quietly. Nodding his acknowledgement, he carried her to his chambers.
    “Cillian, address the others that we have rouges on my property and those who wish to feed need permission from me or yourself. If they fail to comply, they will be dealt with swiftly.”
    “Got it,” then Cillian was gone.
    Sin opened up his chamber and laid Marlee on his bed before heading to the bathroom to grab a fresh rag to clean her cuts. With a small basin of warm soapy water he began to bathe her. Taking special care on the cuts on her elbows and forearms. He longed to run his tongue along the cuts to taste her sweet blood and to heal them, but it would go against his laws about consent. As he finished and emptied the basin, he returned to the side of the bed when she moaned and started to stir.
    Pushing hair off her face, he once again waited for her to wake. “Marlee, can you hear me?”
    “Hmm,” she said as she turned her head into his hand. Unable to resist anymore, he lightly pressed his lips to hers. She seemed to stir as her lips started to respond. With his hand already on her cheek he applied more pressure, running his tongue along the seam of her lips. She opened to him. Not wanting it to end, he thrusted his tongue inside her mouth. A small moan escaped as he deepened the kiss and her arms came up, grasping his hair. The sweet smell of her arousal started to fill the room as the kiss continued. Not wanting to press his luck with her, he slowed the kiss and released her.
    “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” he crooned as her eyes remained closed. Then she opened her eyes and he watched while she took in her surroundings.
    “Oh God, I am dead? I was killed by hot and sexy vampires. Damn, this totally sucks,” she muttered and he couldn’t help but laugh.
    “No, my sweet Marlee, you’re not dead, not in the slightest, but I do like that you think I’m sexy.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her in a suggestive manner before smiling at her softly.
    “No, well shit, then I have got to be back in your castle of crazy again.” Marlee was getting tired waking up with her stalker standing over her, and now it seemed he was a vampire, or was she imagining that as well.
    “Yes, you are in my home if that is what you mean. You, Ms. Hicks, seem to be trouble no matter where you go. I don’t know if it’s because of me, or you? But until this threat is lifted, we need to keep you safe.”
    “What do you mean safe ?”
    “You will remain within these walls," Sin gestured around the room before adding, "With me,” so softly it was hard to hear him.
    “With you. Like a prisoner or something.”
    “Or something.”
    “Okay, so I would stay here because someone wants to hurt me, or you?” She was hesitant about asking, but she needed to know the truth. If her life was in danger she would rather be somewhere she would remain safe. One man had already given his life to save hers.
    “Marlee, maybe we should talk. There is much you don’t know about me, about well, everything.”
    “Oh, you mean the fact you’re a vampire and such. That was made known to me tonight with Finn. I’m sorry by the way, you know, for him risking his life for mine. I never meant for anyone to get hurt or killed because of me.”
    “Marlee, he knew what he was doing—what he