Dark Fire by Christine Feehan. Dark Series – book 6

Darius forced his mind away from her teasing mouth. She was drooping with exhaustion. He could have her- she would never refuse him, and he knew he could ensure her pleasure-but her body cried out for rest and nourishment. Before all eke he needed to see to her health and protection.

He pulled her head up so he could kiss her gently, tenderly. “You are right, baby,” he said softly. “We cannot possibly until you have rested. I want you to sleep.”

He held her against him with his one good arm while the water cascaded over them, washing away the stench of blood and death.

“Make me be like you.” Her words were so low, barely discernible even to his acute hearing, that he wasn’t certain he had heard her correctly. Perhaps his mind was simply playing tricks on him.

“Tempest?” He said her name against her neck, his heart pounding with temptation. He closed his eyes, praying for strength to resist the velvet seduction of her words.

She raised her head so that her emerald eyes could search his face. “You could do it. Make me like you. Then you could rest without worry. Sleep the way you’re supposed to sleep. Just do it, Darius. Take my blood, and give me yours. I want you to live.”

There was resolve in her voice, in her mind, yet her slender body was trembling at the enormity of what she was going to do. Her thoughts were centered only on him, on his well-being. Darius groaned, fighting the selfish beast, the one that wanted it all-his lifemate, the fires of ecstasy burning between them for all eternity. She didn’t realize what it would cost her. The sun. The blood. The hunters. Humans abhorring what she would become. Even the danger of such an experiment.

His fingers crushed her hair in his hands. “We cannot, Tempest. We cannot even consider such an action. Do not bring this up again, as I do not know if I have the strength to refuse such a temptation.”

Her hand stroked his face, sending living flames piercing his body until he could think of nothing but possessing her. “I’ve thought a lot about it, Darius, and it’s the only way. If I was like you, there would be no need for you to worry about my safety. I could be with you in the ground.”

He felt the hard slam of her heart when she said it, saw the mental image of the earth closing over her head, of being buried alive. She pushed the thought away, but her pulse was racing.

He caught her hand to still her caressing fingers before he lost all good sense. Her scent was beckoning him; his body was hard and full with need. His mouth could actually taste her, the hot, tempting spice of her blood. He had never wanted anything more. “I will not even consider such a thing, Tempest. The danger to you is too great. I have made the decision to live as humanly as possible. I am willing to age as you age, to die when you die. Converting you is a risk I am not willing to take.”

“Watching your health and strength slowly dwindle is not something I’m willing to do, Darius,” she protested, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her fingers settled over his buttocks and began a slow, erotic motion that threatened to turn him inside out. “I’m not making an impulsive decision without thought. I’ve really given this a good amount of consideration. It’s the only answer for us. The only thing that makes sense.” Her mouth skimmed over his chest, her tongue lapping at his nipples, lazily tracing a bead of water to his flat stomach, swirling around his belly button so that every muscle in his body cried out for her.

“You have not thought it through.” His voice was a husky ache of need. Unable to stop himself, his hand skimmed over her satin skin, moved up to cup the soft weight of her breast, his thumb stroking her erect nipple so that she shivered and pressed into him. “You cannot abide closed-in places. The thought of being buried in the earth is repulsive to you. Your mind cannot deal with the idea of drinking blood.”