She whirled around, ready to escape this madhouse—and bumped into a solid form.

Her eyes shot up.

Quinn. He wrapped his arms around her, preventing her from going any further.

“He’s not any better. He’s using her,” she choked out.

Quinn held the trembling Rose firmly in his arms, instantly realizing that she was about to bolt. He couldn’t understand what had her suddenly in such a frenzy.

“What’s wrong, my love?” he asked and stroked his hand over her hair, trying to soothe her, only belatedly realizing how intimately he was addressing her.

“Your vampires aren’t any different.” She jerked her head toward the bathroom door. “Samson. He’s feeding off her. He’s got her under his thrall. You said you all drink bottled blood.”

It took him only a second to realize what she was talking about. He shook his head. “Lovebirds.”

She gave him a puzzled look that made him chuckle.

“Rose, don’t you know what’s going on between blood-bonded mates? He feeds from her because she’s his mate. A vampire bonded to a human has only one source of nourishment: her blood.”

“But he’s using her. Just like everybody else I’ve ever known. We’re all using them.”

Could she really mean this? Did she not understand what it was like for Delilah to have her mate feed off her? “It’s the greatest pleasure he can give her.”

Her face froze in shock as she pushed back from him. “What?”

“The feeding. The sexual pleasure that comes with it can’t be compared to anything else in this world,” he said and crossed the distance that she’d created between them.

Her back was to the wall now. Quinn slid his finger under her chin and lifted it. He stroked along her jaw, caressing her smooth skin.

How was it that she didn’t know these things?

When she stared at him, a million questions in her eyes, he finally knew how to proceed with her. He would show her what was beautiful about the life of a vampire. He would show her that they all had the capacity to love, that being a creature of the night didn’t mean darkness in their souls.

“Sweet Rose. A vampire’s bite is like a kiss—passionate, sensual, tender. It’s anything you want it to be. Whatever your heart feels, the bite will magnify.”

He stroked his knuckles along her neck, noticing how her plump vein throbbed beneath his touch. Temptation made his gut constrict.

“Like a kiss,” she murmured. “But how?”

“Has no vampire ever sunk his fangs into you? Taken your sweet blood?”

He inhaled, filling his lungs with her tantalizing scent. Oh, God, how he was craving her blood now. The beating of her heart suddenly traveled to his ears, the sound so loud he thought everybody in the house could hear it.

“Never. I’ve never allowed anybody to use me like that.”

Her voice was trembling. He glanced at her eyes, noticed how dark they’d gotten. Her lips had parted, and her breaths were unsteady.

“Use? It’s not like that between people who love each other.”

He lowered his head to her neck, his fangs descending in the process. Slowly, he graced her skin with the tips.

He felt the shiver that went through her. It was a perfect mirror to his own reaction. The lust that raced through him was unparalleled. He wanted to take her right here, take her blood while burying himself in her. Show her what true ecstasy was like. And he would be her first, again.

“Oh, God, Rose, to know that nobody has ever—”

“I remember only one bite. It was horrible,” she pressed out.

Instantly, he pulled away from her neck. Her turning. It must have left her traumatized. No wonder she wanted nobody to bite her.

He stroked over her cheek. “It’s not like that. It should never be like that.” Not between them. It would always be an experience to cherish.

Rose closed her eyes as if wanting to dispel the memories. Her body stiffened, the pliable woman in his arms had suddenly vanished.

If only she were to confide in him, he could help her. But he could see she was distraught. This would have to wait.

“Come, let’s go back and see how Blake likes his new place.”

Before he could pull her along the corridor, the door of the bathroom opened behind them.

“Quinn, Rose, a word please,” Samson demanded.

17

Standing outside on the porch a few moments later, Rose shivered, even though she knew as a vampire the cold night air didn’t affect her like it would a human. Nevertheless, a chill went through her bones. Instinctively her back stiffened.