Fatal Cravings: Immortal Keeper Vampire Paranormal Romance Series by Daniella Starre (a book to read txt) 📗

go against that for as long as we are wed. I will not hurt you, but you must realize that Viktor will know if our marriage is a sham. If he does not believe we are truly wed, he will come after you.”

“And you?” I asked.

"You do not need to concern yourself with me," he said, his tone turning gruff.

I furrowed my brow. “I made vows too,” I said. “We’re to protect each other.”

“Right now, the only way I can start to protect you is by…” Maxwell inhaled deeply.

The breath caused his chest to rise, and my gaze fell to his bare torso. I had always thought eight packs were a myth, an urban legend, but he had eight abs. His pants were hung deliciously low across his hips, and he wasn’t wearing a belt. Magic pants. It was the only explanation as to how they didn’t fall down.

“I need to claim you,” Maxwell murmured.

How was he standing so close to me? Had he moved? I couldn’t tell. I was nearly dizzy with grief. My sister… my parents…

He outstretched an arm toward me, but I took a step back, shaking my head.

I cleared my throat. “I understand if we have to… but my parents… my brother-in-law… my aunt… Word won’t have reached Viktor yet, and he could be moving in on them—”

“Oh, you sweet summer bella bambina.”

I flustered. “I’m not a girl. I’m your wife.”

His smile was crooked and so very sexy. “My bella moglie. Come sei dolce.”

“I don’t want compliments—”

“And I don’t want insults.” His dark eyes flashed, the black overtaking the gold. “I have already sent men to go out and protect your family.”

“Even my aunt?” I asked. He had only just learned about her!

Maxwell placed his hands on my shoulders. “Even her. I would not bring you here for this purpose…” He tilted his head toward the massive bed. “Not without first ensuring their safety. They are to be brought to safe houses, different ones just to be—”

“Amber’s husband too?”

“Yes, mio cara. I will take care of everyone you love and care about.”

As sweet as his words were, my heart still ached for my sister, but if this was the only way I could help to protect my family…

I reached out and placed a hand on his chest. To my surprise, I could feel his heart beating.

“When you refused to let me drink from you, I had to find another,” he explained.

“I didn’t think…”

"No two vampires are the same. Not all of us have beating hearts, but most of us have found a way to control the blood we drink and…"

Confused, I pulled back and glanced down.

His pants were tented.

My jaw dropped. I hadn’t even thought about how blood flow was what caused a man to become hard.

“I… I’m sorry,” I murmured.

“About?” Clearly amused, he lifted his eyebrows.

“I don’t know if it will be any good for you,” I explained, staring at his chest instead of his eyes.

He placed his hand beneath my chin to lift it to force me to look at him.

“You do not have to worry,” he promised. “I have… some experience in that area, and I will make certain you will feel as little pain as possible for your first time and much pleasure too.”

Slowly, he turned me around. He unzipped my dress, and I shivered from the cold the moment my dress hit the floor. I could hear him rub his hands together before he turned me back around.

He still had on his pants and I my bra and panties. His gaze wandered over my body.

“Pick a word,” he murmured, his word thick.

I furrowed my brow. “A word?”

“A word for me to know to stop.”

A safeword.

He wanted to give me a measure of control when my life was spiraling so out of control it seemed as if everyone I knew was dying.

Was being killed.

By my hand.

Or another’s because of me.

Maxwell eyed me, watching me, waiting.

Did he have a safe word for each and every woman he had been with over the course of his long life?

I didn’t want to think about that.

And I didn’t want to think about anything else but this moment. I had dreamed about this for so long—being with Maxwell—and the circumstances were… I wished we could have been together under any other circumstances, but I needed his protection.

My family needed this.

And I still needed him.

I always had.

“I don’t need one,” I whispered.

As he watched, I reached behind me and unclasped my bra, letting it fall to the ground. Then I moved to my panties, but he shook his head. My hands trembled as I fumbled with his pants. They fell to the ground, and he stepped out of them smoothly.

His cock was thick and long. I wanted to touch it, but I felt a little afraid.

Which only made me think of the fear my sister felt when the vampire attacked her.

I was doing this for her, for my parents, my family.

But that wasn’t enough.

I had to do this for me.

Because I wanted to.

And I did. I did want to.

My hands gripped his cock, stroking it. My touch was a bit weak, but the more I stroke, the more sure I became, the stronger my hold, the faster I stroked. When I dared to look up at Maxwell, his head was back. His neck was long, and his eyes were closed. He looked like a statue of sex and raw masculinity, but his neck was what called to me now.

Still stroking, I lifted onto my toes and licked the curve of his neck.

A hiss escaped his lips, and Maxwell swept me into his arms. In two long strides, he deposited me onto the bed, my legs hanging over the side. He stood yet, positioned between my legs, and his fingers trailed down my body from my shoulders over my breasts. He paused there, his fingers teasing my nipples a little before his hands came down to my hips. His fingers hooked my panties, and I thought he would remove