Blood of the Maple

“My poor sweet. Had a rough night, have you?” Parker tugged her shoes off one at a time. “Let me help you.”

It was her turn to whimper. “No sex. Sleep.”

“And surprisingly enough, I’m not into necrophilia. I like my women moving, thank you.” He slid her jeans off, chuckling when she glared at him out of one eye. “Sorry. My woman. Singular.” Her panties were removed next and tossed to the floor. She’d yell at him later for making a mess.

Her shirt slid up her body and over her head, followed by her bra. She bet it was somewhere next to her panties. The warm comforter was pulled over her, and a kiss brushed her forehead. “Sleep, my love. I’ll be here when you wake.”

Amara couldn’t answer. She was too busy following orders.

Chapter Ten

Parker didn’t think Amara had caught his slip of the tongue. She was so exhausted she’d barely noticed him tucking her in or his slide between the sheets. He’d joined her soon after, slipping easily into sleep.

Too bad nightmares followed him. Terri chased him through his daytime slumber, sometimes trying to cajole him into making love to her, sometimes doing horrible things to Amara while forcing him to watch. It was a mishmashed jumble of images and words that left him with no doubt her brain was as moldy as the rest of her.

Parker scented the air. If Ash was in the room again eyeing Parker’s naked sotiei, he’d make toothpicks out of him. But no strange scents assailed him, so he opened his eyes.

Amara, wide-awake and alarmingly innocent, stared down at him, her green eyes bright, her red curls tousled. “You snore.”

His lips twitched. “I do not.”

“Do too.”

“Do—I’m a vampire, love. I do not snore.” He hid his wince. He’d called her love again, damn it.

“Aha!” She reared back and pointed. “You did call me love. I knew it.” She flopped back against the headboard and crossed her arms over her chest, a satisfied smirk on her kissable lips.

Parker tried to cover his ass. He didn’t know exactly how Amara felt and had no desire to frighten her off. How do you tell the woman of your dreams that, yes, you were willing to stalk her to the ends of the earth and back? Because Parker would follow wherever Amara chose to lead him, no matter what that entailed. “I’m English. We call everyone love.”

“Liar, liar, plants for hire.”

Parker bit his lip. Goddess, his woman was crazy in a good way. “That’s pants on fire.”

“So you say, but you haven’t proved it to me this morning,” she muttered, blushing furiously. “Did I say that out loud?”

The grin Parker had been trying to hold back burst through. She was his personal ray of sunshine, and he’d gladly burn for her. “Yes, you did.” He used his telepathy to grab hold of her ankle, light enough that she wouldn’t feel it until she tried to move. He’d strengthen his hold only if she struggled. Somehow he doubted she would.

“Crap.” She tried to slide out of bed “Parker.”

“Hmm?” Parker had no intention of letting her out of that bed anytime soon, not until they’d both satisfied their early-evening itch. “Is there a problem?”

“Let me go, Parker.”

He rolled over and settled between her legs. “I’m hungry.”

“Are you?” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Did you know the diner makes a mean Belgian waffle?”

“I’m not really in the mood to up my carbs.” Parker nibbled at her chin. “I have something much tastier in mind.”

“And then I get my waffles?”

Parker licked her neck, right where he’d left his mark. “I could live with that.”

Amara set her feet flat on the bed, her knees bent around his waist. “What are you waiting for, then? Get a move on. I’m hungry too.”

Parker pretended to glare, but he was barely holding back a laugh. “Did you just tell me to come so you can go?”

“Maybe.” She arched her hips, brushing the soft curls at the juncture of her thighs against his cock. “Are you complaining?”

“Hell yes.” He took one of her nipples into his mouth and teased it until it was hard, her breath coming in short pants. “I like to take my time, savor my meal.”

“Savoring is good.” Amara shifted slightly and lifted her other breast to his mouth. “Savor this.”

Parker bit down gently, careful not to break the skin. She’d be too sore for round two if he did that. “Mmm.”

Amara had amazingly sensitive nipples. He toyed with them until she was squirming beneath him, begging him to take her. But he wasn’t ready yet. She needed to be closer to the edge before he’d sink inside her in more ways than one. “Did I ever tell you I wanted to lick every inch of your body?”

Amara shook her head. “Fuck me, Parker.”

He smiled. Her eyes were wide, the bright green darkened with passion. “Soon, sweet. Soon.” He sat up and helped her roll onto her stomach. “First things first.” He scooted down her body until he was even with her feet. He lifted one delicate foot and sucked her toes slowly into his mouth. They curled as he loved them with his tongue, tasting the unique flavor that was his sotiei. She jerked when he ran his tongue up the arch, and he filed that ticklish spot away to exploit later. Right now he didn’t want anything distracting her from what he was doing to her body.

She’d scream when he finally sank into her.

He did the same thing to the opposite foot, loving on it until her hips jerked against the sheets. He ran his tongue up the backs of her calves and toyed with the backs of her knees, finding places that made her squirm and that made her squeal.

He moved up her thighs and bit into her ass, drawing blood with his fangs. He sipped at the sweet nectar, careful to move with her when she threw her head back with a moan and came, making the flavor that much richer. When he lifted his mouth, he smiled. “How do you feel about matching marks?”

Matching marks? He had to be kidding, right?

Nope. He wasn’t. His fangs sank into her other cheek, drawing her essence inside him. The orgasm his bite had drawn forth roared back stronger than before. She shuddered, the orgasm rolling through her with the force of a tsunami. Amara didn’t want to hold it back, didn’t want these incredible sensations to end. He could feed off her forever, and she wouldn’t complain.

“Parker. Please.” She needed him inside her, needed to feel that hot, hard length sliding and fucking and making her scream.

“Not yet. I need more.”

More? More might kill her.

But what a way to go!

His tongue was so hot, so wet as it slid up her back. She hid her shivers as best she could, but knew it was no use. He felt every move, every twitch. His hands, those strong, clawed hands, scraped up her sides, and she couldn’t help herself. She arched into his touch, eager for more of his skin against hers. When he reached the back of her neck, she could feel his cock pressing into the crease of her ass, and she wanted him there, wanted him inside her. “Fuck my ass.”

He froze.

Amara hid her smile and pressed her ass up against his rock-hard erection. “Please. I need it.”

With a savage snarl he moved off her and reached into the bedside drawer to pull out a brand-new bottle of