Vail hadn’t known he could feel this way about a human. His attraction to Victoria nearly frightened him in its intensity. He was used to being the one in control, the one with power over his prey’s thoughts and emotions. It was the way things had always been. However, as unnerving as it was, he was discovering that he [i]liked[/i] being at Lady Crest’s beck and call. At first, it had just been her unique blood that had drawn him to her side again and again, but now, she had trapped him physically as well. He would come back to her because he wanted to feed on her blood but also because he wanted more of [i]her[/i]. The mind and body attached to the food source was even more enticing than the food itself. He wanted as much as he could get.

When Victoria admitted she liked having control over him, his lip curved upward in an amused smile. He knew quite well just how exhilarating it could be to have power over someone else. He was also aware that no other human could boast of taming a member of his kind. Their situation was unheard of—at least, he didn’t personally know any other vampires who would let themselves get so close to someone outside their own species. He had heard rumors of it happening before, but the tales had always been cautionary, and he was unsure if they were true. Either way, he had always been told that no good could come of such a relationship. It was only a matter of time now before he would find out if he should have heeded the warnings.

Knowing it was too late to turn back, he pressed into her lips again, gentler now that his initial desperation had faded. This was the route he had chosen to take, and he would just accept whatever consequences came with it. They had to be worth the exciting feelings he had when he was with this woman. He just hoped the repercussions wouldn’t come too quickly.

Pushing what remained of his unease aside, Vail shifted to lay on top of Victoria instead of at her side as he kissed her. He had already crossed the line when he’d met her lips in the first place, so there was no point in holding back any longer. He wanted to have her, the alluring Lady who had continued to tempt him to push his boundaries since the day they’d met. By her reactions until now, he was sure she wanted him too.

He trailed his fingers up her arms and pressed her hands into the mattress, still toying with the power dynamics between them. His heart raced, and he moved away from her mouth to kiss her neck. Though he didn’t bite her, he dragged a thin, shallow cut through her fair skin with one fang. The scent and taste of her blood only stimulated the vampire more, encouraging him to finally break the rule he’d lived by for so long and sleep with the human who’d ensnared his heart.