[Music recommendation: Sophie Hutchings - Fragments Of Light]
Eve's breathing hitched as her eyes widened in realisation at what he was about to do. She opened her mouth several times, trying to come up with a response, but no words came out. Just as she made up her mind to refuse his help, he saw straight through her and cut in with a whisper, "Eve.." his gaze burned into hers, "Let me do this."
She stared at him for what felt like an eternity and reminded herself, she has no reason to refuse this method of help, since she still owed him her blood. So if she lets him do this, he'll only be taking what she rightfully agreed on before. It would be like a debt repaid to him and nothing more. But no matter what she told herself, why did it feel like something more?
The soft flicker of the bonfire painted their faces in shades of gold and shadow, while the heavy rain outside filled the silence that reigned between them. With their eyes locked, caught in a pull neither seemed to be able to break. Eve's delicate, rosy lips parted at last, "Okay.." she whispered. His eyes briefly lingered on her lips before she turned away, as if softly giving him permission to move forward.
As his gaze fell on her delicate shoulder, her fair neck, before traveling down to the wound where fresh blood trailed down the curve of her back. His deep red eyes suddenly flared bright red at the intoxicating sight and scent of her blood that seemed to be pushing him to the edge ever since he caught it. The pull to her blood was so strong that it was pushing him dangerously close to losing it. Never in his life did he think he'd need to exercise this level of restraint in order to simply endure the scent of her blood that smelled so heavenly.
So he leaned closer to her back, gently gathered her wet hair, and pushed it to the other side of her shoulder. He could hear her heart fluttering like a caged bird, stroking his predatory instincts. Making her even more alluring to him than she already was…a walking temptation. Every single thing about her drew him closer to her, wanting to swallow her whole.
As he drew closer, Eve felt his hot breath against her skin, making her shiver in delight, and she finally shut her eyes, as if not wanting to think anymore. What she didn't realise, that by doing so, she was heightening her senses. She felt his warm, large hands lightly curling around her arms, setting her skin ablaze.
Ivan, who had reached his limit, saw a fresh droplet of blood slowly trickling down her back, and before it could disappear beneath the strap of her bra, he dropped his head, parting his lips, to let his wicked tongue finally have a taste of it.
The moment he tasted Eve's blood, he felt an explosion in his mind, like he had ascended to heaven. And as if he could no longer control himself, he let his sinful mouth trail along her skin, slowly licking away the traces of blood from the curve of her mid-back up towards her wound. Eve shuddered at the electric contact of his lips against her bare skin, and without realising it, she arched her back under his touch, her breasts pressing forward, as her mouth parted to let out a helpless gasp.
Ivan, who felt like he was in a state of ecstasy, finally enclosed his mouth around her wound and drank from it without abandon. His hands slid from her arms and slowly curled around her half-exposed waist, pulling her closer to him. Eve, more than willingly, let her weight melt into his front and tilted her head to the side to grant him more access.
Ivan, who was immensely pleased by her unspoken surrender, pressed his hands lightly against her stomach as he continued to drink her divine blood. Both of them lost in their own state of absolute bliss, surrendering to the moment completely. For this was the moment when they finally got to taste the forbidden fruit after their constant push and pull. A reward that either of them dared to claim until now.
As Evelyn felt Ivan's tongue working delicately over the wound on her shoulder, she lifted her left hand unconsciously to weave her fingers into his soft raven hair that was still damp to the touch, like she wanted to anchor herself to him.
Ivan, who was all consumed by the sensation in his body, felt like he could never stop. He wanted her so badly that it burned from the very depths of his soul. With the taste of every drop of her blood, he knew that he could never let her go anymore. For she was the only woman who managed to stir all kinds of emotions within him, making his heart react that he thought was dead long ago. It wasn't just her blood that was stroking his fire to burn brighter; it was her entire being he wanted only for himself. He didn't want to share her with anyone, nor did he want her to desire anyone else but him.
When her fingers tangled into his hair, his hold tightened on her, pulling her closer to him until there was no space left to fill. He felt like he was drowning….drowning not only in ecstasy but also in the tremendous surge of power that seemed to awaken something deep within him. Something ancient that was asleep within him for far too long as he felt it course through his blood.
At last, when he felt the wound finally closed, he lifted his head a little and ran his warm tongue slowly from her shoulder to her neck and all the way to the shell of her ear. "Ha.."earning him a breathy gasp from her.
Evelyn slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him, who was merely an inch away from her. Her half-lidded, glazed eyes locked on his vibrant red eyes that looked so alive. He continued to stare at her in awe as he licked away the last traces of her blood from the corner of his lips. He then lifted his one hand and cupped her crimson cheek.
She looked so achingly lovely in the moment, with her glazed innocent eyes, the warm blush colouring her cheeks, and her slightly parted plump lips. His eyes lingered there as he let his thumb lightly brush across her lower lip and murmured in his sinuous voice, "Tell me, Eve…just what are you doing to me?"
He brought his elegant fingers from her lips to her chin and tilted her face gently towards his. Eve, who was utterly spellbound, breathed his name in a soft whisper, "Ivan.."
"I don't know what this pull is I feel towards you." His arm snaked around her waist, drawing her closer as he brought his nose near hers. His voice dropped extremely low like he was restraining himself, "I don't think I can stop it anymore. Do you want me to stop?" His intense eyes bore deeply into hers as he waited for her reply.
And Eve, who couldn't think straight anymore, just listened to what her raging heart truly desired. She wanted to lean into him, to close the agonizing distance between them so badly, yet one doubt still held her back, one question. So she asked, "And…will this make me one of them?"
Ivan's brows furrowed at her unusual question. "One of whom?" he asked, as confusion flickered across his face.
Her eyes darted between his crimson ones as she whispered, "The ones who serve you…" She held her breath as she waited for him to reply, and when he didn't respond immediately, silence pressed heavily against her chest, letting doubts fester in her mind. She then slowly, almost reluctantly let her hand slip away from his hair and began to pull away.
Just as the space between them began to grow, his arm shot out, pulling her back to him, this time turning her to face him. Her palms pressed against his chest as his arm locked firmly around her back, holding her in place.
"Eve," he whispered her name almost longingly, his hand came to cup her cheek with unbelievable tenderness, as his thumb brushed across her skin, he spoke in his deep voice. "I am a man who has never cared about any other woman before. Never protected anyone. Never spoke their name like this. Never wanted to be near them…" As he spoke, he himself couldn't believe what he was saying.
He leaned closer to her, letting his warm breath fall against her lips. "So… if you ask me whether you'll become one of them, the answer is no. I don't even know what to call this, because I am as unfamiliar with it as anyone could be…" His tone dropped lower, tinged with something close to disbelief. "But I can't deny it anymore, that I don't mind your presence in my life. The thought of giving even a tiny piece of yourself to anyone else makes me want to hunt them to the end of time only to rip them apart in tiny pieces."
Eve's heart raced violently, her wide blue eyes fixed on his face, every word crashing into her like a revelation. And beneath the fire of his honesty, she could sense it; he was just as perplexed by his feelings as she was, shocked by the truth slipping past his guarded lips.
"So… I ask you… what is it that you truly desire?" His piercing gaze locked onto hers.
'What do I truly desire?' she repeated the question in her head over and over again, until it wasn't a question in her mind anymore. For she knew from the very beginning that his man in front of her would be her greatest undoing. So she slowly lifted her hands from his chest to his cheeks and finally listened to her heart's desire. She leaned in gently until her lips pressed against his. The moment it did, fireworks exploded within them, like something long missing had finally found its rightful place...