No, this couldn’t just be because she was a vampire now. Even if she were still human, she was certain, Gabriel’s touch would ignite her the same way. But she couldn’t think any further, because the second his mouth reached her pussy and buried itself in her dark thatch of hair, her brain shut down. All she could do now was to feel.

When his tongue lapped at her moist folds, Maya moaned. He answered with a growl. She couldn’t imagine a sexier sound. As she steeled herself for the onslaught of sensations his tongue unleashed on her, she slid her hands into his hair and felt him tremble. A smile stole onto her lips. The knowledge that she had the same effect on him as he had on her filled her with satisfaction.

His tongue drove deep into her while his thumb rubbed over her clit. His action stole her breath. Again he speared his tongue and forged deep into her, then he pulled back and let his tongue slide over her clit. Her need spiraled.

“Need you inside,” Maya demanded. She wanted to feel his hard shaft inside her, filling her, taking her, making her submit to him.

A finger plunged into her, then a second one, but she wanted more, needed more.

“Your cock. Let me feel you inside.”

But Gabriel didn’t heed her demand; instead, he drove three fingers into her and sucked greedily on her engorged clit. Before she could repeat her demand, he clamped down on her clit and drove her over the edge. The waves of pleasure crashed over her like a tsunami annihilating the Pacific coast.

By the time her breathing returned to normal and her body’s spasms had subsided, Gabriel had pulled her back into his arms and cradled her to his chest.

She lifted her head to look at him. “I want you inside me.”

He smiled and put his finger on her lips. “Next time, baby, next time.”

How could he not want this when she clearly felt his raging erection press against her stomach? “Now, please.”

Gabriel cupped her face with his palm. “You need to rest a little. I want you, baby, don’t ever doubt that. And soon, I’ll make you mine.”

His kiss prevented her next question.

Seventeen

Maya took a deep breath before she stepped into the kitchen. She felt invigorated by her shower and by having slept in Gabriel's arms. He had given her more pleasure by touching and kissing her than she had ever felt during regular sex. When she was with him, things felt right again in her life. Almost as if everything was normal again, no, not normal—better.

For the first time since the transformation, she had a true awareness of her new body. She felt how her senses were attuned to her surroundings, how her body processed stimuli differently. It was a strange experience, almost as if this wasn’t her body, but somebody else’s. Somebody else's, because for the first time in her life, she’d felt true sexual satisfaction in this body. Or maybe it wasn't that she had a vampire body now, maybe it was all because of what Gabriel had done: he’d showered her with tenderness and passion without taking any pleasure for himself.

Maya knew Gabriel was in the kitchen even before she entered it. He'd slipped out of bed an hour before sunset, reassuring her that he would want nothing more than spend the entire night in bed with her. But he had work to do.

Gabriel greeted her with the smile of a satisfied man plastered on his face and drew her into his arms.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked against her lips.

“Only up until you left the bed.”

His lips curled upwards before he brushed them against her mouth. Then he straightened himself, and his face turned serious again. “I had to get in contact with my people. I spoke to Ricky, but he hasn’t been able to get in touch with your friends yet. I guess they are harder to pin down than we thought.”

“I could page them if you want.”

Gabriel shook his head. “And tell them what? Ricky said that a neighbor saw Paulette leave with an overnight bag.”

“Oh, I forgot. She has that one-day seminar in Seattle once a month and likes to go there the night before so she won’t be too tired.”

“Good. Then she’ll be back tomorrow. I’ll tell Ricky. As for Barbara, he’s trying to catch her at the hospital.” He looked at his watch. “I have to meet with Zane now. Do you want to feed before I leave?”

The thought of sinking her fangs into his neck made Maya feel flushed again. If she fed from him now, there was no way he would leave this house within the next hour or two, because for certain she would drag him back to bed.

“No, I'm fine right now.”

He gave her a look she thought might be disappointment. “If you say so.”