“My kind—it feels so strange to say that. I don’t want to offend anybody, but they don’t feel like my kind. They are all so strong and secure, and I feel anything but. And besides, I’m not even a normal vampire: I get sick, human blood disgusts me—”

“I’m sure there’s a perfectly plausible explanation for that. And we’re going to find it. In the meantime, you’ll feed from me.”

“You don’t mind?”

He chuckled softly. “Mind?” His arms wrapped tightly around her as he pulled her closer. “When I feel your fangs in my neck, I’m practically in heaven. It’s the most arousing thing I’ve ever felt.”

Her breath caught in her throat. She’d found it just as arousing. “Is it always like that for you?”

Gabriel’s eyes widened in surprise. “Always? Maya, you’re the only one who’s ever fed from me. I wouldn’t know what it’s like with anybody else—and frankly, I don’t care to know. I’m perfectly happy to let you drink my blood every day for as long as you want to.”

As long as she wanted to? What was he trying to tell her? Did this mean he was interested in a long-term relationship? She remembered what Yvette had told her—that a vampire wanted a human to bond with so he could have children. Did he want that? Was this also what he was ultimately looking for? She couldn’t ask him outright. Everything was too new. It was as if she asked a man after the first date if she could move in with him. Vampire or not—no man wanted a woman clinging to him after a few dates. And besides, they hadn’t even been on a date.

Going down on her while she was unconscious didn’t exactly qualify as a date. Also, there was something else she wanted. “Gabriel?”

He pressed his forehead to hers. “Hmm?”

“Make love to me.” She needed to feel him. Her hand went to the front of his jeans where she could feel his hard length strain against it. Before she could even attempt to pry the button open, he clasped her hand with his.

“I’d much rather show you what you missed while you were unconscious.”

Was he for real? Gabriel wanted to go down on her when he could take his own pleasure instead? “You mean do it again?”

“May I?”

She met his look. It was full of desire and promise. He wanted her. There was no doubt about it. Maya pulled his head toward hers. “Touch me,” she breathed against his lips.

When his mouth claimed hers, she felt an unknown euphoria travel through her body. Everything about him was so familiar, yet so new. His kiss was different from the times when he’d kissed her before. Gone was the hesitation she’d felt from him before, replaced by the confidence of a man who was used to making demands.

His hands explored her with sure strokes. His fingers teased her heated skin, promising pleasure, demanding surrender. Like a conqueror he forged ahead, his tongue dueling with hers, his lips crushing any doubt she’d ever had.

Closer and closer he pressed her to him, his body heat searing her, yet she couldn’t pull back, didn’t want to. He set her aflame. No other man had ever been able to ignite her like he did with merely a kiss and a caress. Like her body knew him, recognized him, and connected to him on a different level.

His hands on her conjured up images of wild and untamed sex, not simply a joining of bodies, but of minds and souls. A deeper connection. All the things she’d ever wanted from a man—all the forbidden cravings she’d never voiced—tumbled to the forefront. She wanted to be taken by him in every way possible.

As his lips traveled south, and he sucked one nipple into his mouth and greedily devoured it, her body heat spiked. She was feverish, but this wasn’t the fever she knew. This was desire for Gabriel. She arched toward him, demanding he give her more. With a low growl, he scraped his teeth against her sensitive nipple.

“Oh, God … Gabriel!”

His chuckle was a deep rumble. By the sound of it, he knew exactly what he was doing to her. He was turning her into putty in his hands. No man had ever been able to do that.

He only lifted his head briefly, his dark chocolate eyes now sparkling red, his fangs protruding from his lips. “I haven’t even started …”

Just the thought of what his words implied made her shiver with delight. A moment later, his mouth moved lower, planting open-mouthed kisses interlaced with playful bites down her stomach. Each one of them felt like a little explosion going off inside her. Had she ever been this sensitive to a man’s touch, or was her vampire side doing this to her?