SEBASTIAN
As soon as the familiar cold stone floor of my bedroom was below my feet, I pulled back my shadows and stumbled away from Luna. Pressing my hand against my chest, I heaved as I put as much room between us as possible.
Luna turned, her eyes wide as they swept over me. “What’s wrong?”
She stepped forward as though to touch me, but I shook my head. The Binding Mark burned on my wrist, and I couldfeelher worry as it coursed through my body.
It was too much. The Binding, her emotions flooding through me, and the thrumming of the shadows within my veins was all too much.
My head pounded and my fangs ached as pure, unadulterated need pulsed through my body. I needed space. Luna was far too close.
“Don’t come any closer,” I growled. “Stay back.”
If I smelled the sweet scent emanating from her for a single moment longer, I would rip off her clothes and have her spread before me on the bed.
Carrying her through the shadows had ignited other needs within me, and now my shadows writhed beneath my skin as I struggled to remain in control. On the night of our wedding, I thought her blood tasted like honey.
I was wrong. Luna’s blood was the sweetest nectar. A gift from Isvana herself. I wanted to sink my fangs into her and taste her as I made her mine in every single way.
The problem was, right now, my touch would not be gentle or caring. It would be hard, bruising, and claiming. Even in the haze brought on by her blood, I knew she deserved better.
“Sebastian?” Luna asked. “What’s wrong?”
Stumbling back, I felt for the knob of the bathing room door. Turning it, I mumbled something about needing to clean up before slipping into the other room. The moment the door banged shut behind me, I slumped against the massive tub and let the writhing shadows out from beneath my skin. They flooded the bathing room, shrouding the space in darkness.
The shadows rubbed up against me, their touch as cool as the night. I ran my tongue over my fangs until I tasted every last residual drop of Luna’s blood.
Get a grip.
Pushing myself to unsteady feet, I tore off my clothes. Leaving them in a haphazard pile on the ground, I turned the shower on as cold as it could go. Bracing myself for the barrage of icy liquid, I stood beneath the pouring water.
The cold was a shock, but it did little to reduce the need pounding through my body. Tilting up my head, I braced my arms on either side of the wall and let the water run over me.
A knock came on the door. “Sebastian?”
I grunted.
“Are you… Is everything okay?”
No. It was not “okay.”
I tasted my Bound Partner’s blood, and I wanted more. Ineededmore.
Strength unlike anything I had ever known ran through my body because of Luna. Unchecked power thrummed in my veins, begging to be released.
The doorknob rattled, and Luna’s worry coursed through me like a tidal wave.
“I’ll be fine,” I choked out as water pounded on my head. “Go to sleep, Luna. I’ll be in here for a while.”
I would stay here until I could trust myself not to break the fragile bond growing between us. Until I could breathe again without wanting to bite her. The cold, unforgiving water rained on me, and I welcomed it.
In the other room, the door opened. The soft sounds of Luna’s voice filled my ears as she spoke with someone, but the Tether never kicked in.
Remaining under the water until my skin wrinkled and my thoughts were no longer a danger to my wife, I forced myself to push all thoughts of claiming her away. Only once I was certain I wouldn’t hurt her did I turn off the water. Grabbing a towel, I dried off, replaying Luna’s words from earlier in my head.
Please, Sebastian. Bite me.
Gods, if only she knew the truth. I would do anything for her, give her anything she wanted.