HEAT

Eric leant against the bathroom door for a moment, one of his old t-shirts in hand. It would swallow her little body, acting as more of a dress than a shirt, but seeing as he didn't have any pants to offer her, that was probably a good thing. Yes, he could have gone to Pam, but he didn't want her to know, not until he could get his head straight.

Not until he'd tasted more of her blood.

He eased the door open, feeling the heat of steam rush over his skin as he stepped inside, closing the door carefully behind him. He saw the clothes spread on the tiles, a different kind of heat rushing all through his body as his gaze locked on a tiny piece of lace as though drawn to it. He ran his tongue over his lips and caught it between his teeth, forcing himself to look away.

He set the shirt beside the towel, still walking, his gaze locked onto the silhouette ahead of him, the glazed glass blurring her sinful figure. He rubbed his hand over his mouth, closing his eyes, imaging an unobstructed view of her curvy body, of her creamy skin.

He took a breath, her scent surrounding him, filling him until his knees shook, his hunger screaming at him. He managed to contain himself – just – as he stopped barely a foot from the glass, wanting so desperately to join her. 'I'll let you leave, when you're finished.'

He saw her shoulders stiffen at his voice, her scent suddenly stronger, as though she were thinking the same thing. She cleared her throat. 'Oh, thank you,' she said, her voice a little higher.

'I just have one condition.'

'What?' She sounded cautious, her arms still wrapped tightly around her body.

He licked his lips and grasped the handle.

'What are you doing?' Sarah cried as he slid the shower door open, her cheeks flaming red. She glanced over her shoulder, feeling more exposed than she ever had in her entire life.

No kidding, she thought, hoping to God that she didn't look as bad as she felt, You're standing naked in front of a man you barely know.

She was sure that she could feel his gaze, heat searing over her body as though his eyes were raking over every inch of her flesh. She cursed her libido, because despite the embarrassment that was setting her cheeks ablaze, she so hoped that he was thinking what she was thinking.

And her thoughts were definitely not chaste.

'Well, I'm rather hungry, you see,' he said, his voice rumbling deep in his chest. His gaze flickered to her neck, seeing her sweet blood course beneath her creamy skin as she shivered under his stare. 'So, I'll let you go home, but only after you let me drink from you.'

Her eyes widened. 'What?' she exclaimed, craning her neck to stare at him without turning her body.

'I'll let you leave, but first I'm going to drink your blood,' he leant close, his lips brushing over her neck as he took a breath of her luscious scent. 'It has been so many years since I've tasted blood so sweet, so mouth watering.'

She gasped as he lapped at the water that clung to her skin, a shiver sprinting down her spine. 'Please, just let me go home.'

'I will drink from you. The way in which I do is your choice. You see, I can take your blood without your permission, though that will hurt and I don't want to harm you,' he said. 'Or you can let me drink from you and I'll show you a pleasure you've never dreamt possible.'

'Why do you sound so sure that I'll take the second option?'

'Because some part of you wants me to bite you,' he said, his teeth grazing over her skin, fangs shifting out. He bit down without breaking through her creamy flesh, a smile coming over his lips as she moaned, her arms almost slipping.

'Okay,' she breathed. 'Let me get dressed.'

He released his bite. 'Why?'

'Please, Eric.' Her voice was a whisper.

He stilled, his teeth poised over her skin. Was she embarrassed by her body? He didn't think that could be possible, not when she was so gorgeous, with those sinful curves and delectable skin.

He'd never understand women.

He stepped back, voice low. 'I'll be in the bedroom.'

She felt a gust of wind and heard the door close, a shudder tearing through her now that she was alone again. When she'd felt his fangs, she was sure she was going to collapse, a fierce clench of desire shooting straight to her centre. Just the tiniest movement of his jaw would have pierced her flesh, and she'd wanted it.

She'd heard stories about vampire bites, about how amazing they could feel, but she'd never really wondered what it would be like until that second as she stood beneath the hot spray.

She turned off the taps, drying herself slowly, her heart racing. It seemed like it hadn't slowed down since she'd left Merlotte's, as though the mere thought of him made her hot.

Hell, the mere thought of him did make her hot.

She slipped her underwear on, wishing she had more than his t-shirt to wear over her flimsy lace bra and g-string, wishing that she'd done her washing that morning instead of waiting until she could wash a full load.

Sarah cursed herself as she squeezed water out of her hair. The shirt was massive but it still rode high on her thighs, revealing more of her skin than she would have preferred. She stopped beside the door, taking a breath, unsure of what she was about to get herself into. Even with the abilities she had, Eric was still a powerful vampire. He could do whatever he wanted to do to her.

But he hasn't…

What if she could cut a deal of her own? She hid the devious smile that tried to come over her lips as she stepped from the bathroom, looking to the bed, her jaw almost dropping as her eyes locked onto his towering frame.

He was sitting on his bed, his back against the headboard, hands behind his head as he leant back, eyes closed as he stretched his long legs out. Even on the king-sized bed he took up a whole lot of space.

As if that sight wasn't already torturous to her rising libido, he was shirtless, his gorgeously muscled body on display, abs tight and defined. She actually licked her lips as she continued to stare, her cheeks flushing as she realised he was watching her.

'Is there a problem?'

'No, it's just, I…' she cleared her throat, forcing herself to look away and take a breath. 'I'll let you drink from me, but there's something I want you to do.'

He smirked, the wicked curve making her breath hitch. 'And what's that?'

'I want you to keep your hands off me,' she said and some part of him felt a spark of anger at her words, though it was overshadowed by curiosity. 'I'm only going to be your meal, nothing else.'

His eyebrow quirked. 'If that's what you want,' he said, shifting his hands to rest them against the wood of the headboard behind his back. 'They won't move.'

'I want to restrain you. You have my permission to drink from me, not to touch me.'

'Bondage…' he purred, his fangs framed by those sexy lips. 'You know that any restraints you put on me won't be able to hold me.'

'It'll act as a reminder to keep your hands to yourself.'

He smiled again before reaching into the bedside table, the sound of clinking metal filling her ears before she saw two sets of handcuffs in his grasp. He held them up on a finger, quirking an eyebrow at her. 'Shall I cuff myself, or are you going to help?'

Gulp would have been a good way to describe how she felt as she looked from his gorgeous face to the cuffs in his hand, her mouth suddenly dry as she realised what she was going to do. She stepped towards him, willing her hands to be steady as she secured the first set to his wrist, the other end attaching to one side of the headboard. She stepped around the bed, repeating the action on his other wrist.

Taking a deep breath, she sat beside him on the bed, sweeping her hair over her shoulder to expose her neck.

'You're going to have to sit on my lap.'

Her cheeks flamed. 'What?'

'It's not going to be very comfortable for either of us if you're just leaning close. If you sit on my lap, I'm less likely to hurt you.'

She stared at him for a moment, sure that he was lying, but she had to admit that his suggestion sent a thrill of fire through her, though her anxiety went through the roof as she straddled him tentatively, resting her hands on her thighs, unsure of what to do with them.

'Put your hands on my hips,' he said, seeming to read her mind. She was surprised that he hadn't commented on the red that kept searing her cheeks, but as she shifted her hands to follow his directions, she was glad that he didn't mention her mounting embarrassment. 'Now lean on my chest and put your head on my shoulder, facing my neck.'

She wished that her heartbeat would slow down as she complied, knowing that it was just egging on the hungry vampire. She took a breath, startled by just how good he smelt, all masculine musk and a sort of cinnamon. She realised that his skin was actually very soft, though a little harder than humans.

'Relax, Sarah,' he breathed, his lips brushing her neck. Although she shivered, she did relax, leaning into his chest and shoulder, her hands slipping further around his hips. Her heartbeat sped up until it thundered in her ears as his lips closed over her neck, his fangs grazing over her skin as he sucked, drawing her veins higher, though he was not planning on puncturing an artery.

No, he wanted to draw her blood from her body, to feel her shudder under his bite for as long as possible. He circled her skin with his tongue before applying a little pressure with his fangs, causing her to gasp against his neck, the rush of air making him wish he hadn't agreed to wear the stupid handcuffs.

She gasped again as his fangs sank deep, a flash of pain shooting though her, though it turned to something far different as his mouth started to work, drawing the blood from her body in light pulls. She shivered, clutching his hips, a moan slipping from her lips before she could contain it, though she doubted that she would have been able to. Her body was on fire, a fierce clench in her centre making her arch against him.

He growled against her skin, the sound predatory. It should have frightened her, but she didn't care as she rocked forward, chest pressed so hard against his that he could feel the lace of her bra, the pull of his mouth stronger each time. She felt his shaft harden beneath her and wished he would use those powerful hips of his, but – much to her frustration – he didn't.

She didn't even seem to be aware of her actions as her hands gripped his hips greedily, her fingernails grazing over his skin, though they didn't break thorough. He'd fed on humans before, but they'd never had this reaction. Then again, he'd never given them his blood before…

He growled, and she shuddered, her moan vibrating through him, sending a rush of heat straight down south that had him biting harder, straining against the handcuffs. He wanted to break them from the headboard, but he didn't want it to end, the taste of her blood and creamy skin, the feel of her hands as they gripped and clawed at his back.

But he didn't know how much more he could take.

His hunger was almost sated, but his other appetite was still begging to be pleased, his length straining against the fabric of his pants, demanding to be freed so he could take his release, but he wouldn't give in. Something inside him wanted to hold back, to earn her trust.

He took one last pull, feeling the shiver that moved down her spine as he withdrew his fangs from her skin reluctantly, his tongue flicking over the sharp points. She made no attempt to move though, her breath hot and ragged against his skin as he licked her neck, blood dripping from the wound he had created.

'Give me permission,' he growled, grazing his fangs over her neck, tongue still licking the blood from her skin. 'Let me touch you.'