The scent of his sweet blood intoxicated her, the compelling need to taste her bloodmate making her stomach cramp and her heart flutter in her throat. But it was the ferocity of the bloodlust in his eyes, coupled with the way the Dark One was always a little more terrifying during the dark of night, that made Deidre hesitate to touch him or pull away from his tight grip.
"You came for me," she whispered breathlessly.
"You're my blood monkey," he replied.
"That's it?" she asked, disappointed.
He pulled her roughly into his hard body, his fangs lengthening the way they did when he was preparing to feed. "I surrendered my power at the gates of the underworld, and I haven't eaten or fucked in three days. What do you think, blood monkey?"
Deidre hid a smile. "I think this just might work out, Darkyn."
The hunger pangs returned stronger, and she gasped, clutching at his bloodied shirt and pushing her face against his warm chest. The scent of his blood was strong.
"You're hurt," she murmured, disturbed.
"I like the pain," he reminded her.
"Can't you heal?"
"Hush," he ordered quietly and pressed a thumb to her lips.
His rich taste was like a drop of heaven. It soothed her in a way nothing else ever had. The world outside of them was forgotten for a split second, and she rested her head on his shoulder, wanting to weep and drink, to lose herself in his blood, scent and body.
"Now drink, love," he told her.
She wanted to refuse in case he was weaker than he was letting on, but the compelling urge was too much.
Deidre dug her teeth into his neck and sucked down his blood hungrily, not caring who watched her. Slowly, the cramping ceased, and her hunger disappeared, until she was so full, she was almost drowsy.
"You learned to defend yourself," he whispered, nudging her head.
She dislodged her teeth from his neck and nudged him back, the familiar, subdued display of affection making her eyes water. Any doubt she'd experienced about where she belonged vanished. "Yeah."
"Did they hurt you?"
Her split second of hesitation was enough to answer his question.
Darkyn lifted her chin. "Did they hurt you?" It was a warning growl this time, the inquisition of a deity, not the inquiry of a lover.
"Yes," she said in a choked voice. "But I'm okay." She nuzzled his hand. "I'm okay, Darkyn."
It didn't take him stiffening for her to know that no one got away with threatening the bloodmate of the Dark One. Tears spilled down her face, and he caught one on his finger, gazing at it briefly.