I Want You To Want Me. Kathy Love

breathed it out. Guilt immediately filled him, even as he wanted to do it again.

      He studied her, watching as his first breath calmed her, although she was still awake. He closed his eyes again and breathed in. Euphoria, vivid, intense and so wonderful filled him. He was floating, floating on pure bliss.

      He exhaled, the release of air laced with the hint of a pleased moan. His body quivered. God, he wanted all of this woman. He wanted to be deep inside her when he tasted her life force. He ached with that need.

      He took more of her energy—but not as deeply this time. Hard as it was to deny himself.

      Then he looked over at her. Her eyes were shut, and for a moment, he panicked. He’d taken too much. That was his first terrified thought, then she sighed. He watched as her chest rose and fell, her breathing even with sleep.

      She was fine. Just fine. He released the pent-up breath he didn’t even realize he held.

      “Erika?” he asked softly.

      She answered him with a small, quite adorable, little snore. His lips quirked into a slight smile. Guilt still filled him, but he was pleased to see her calm and peaceful.

      But he didn’t allow himself any more time to watch her. She was far too beautiful, and the temptation was too much. He had to go.

      He eased up off the sofa, making sure not to jar her. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t rouse, but he didn’t want to risk disturbing her. He walked to her room and pulled the thick duvet off her bed and brought it back to the living room.

      Carefully he draped the comforter over her. When he was done, her cat, who’d watched from the back of a chair across the room, jumped down from his perch and sauntered over to take a spot on the puffy cover. He plucked at the velvet material until he’d arranged it to his liking, then settled down behind the curve of Erika’s bent legs.

      The cat regarded Vittorio with condescending gold eyes.

      “I take it you don’t much like me,” he said quietly to the cat. “Good decision.”

      Vittorio turned to leave, then noticed again the plate of sweets on the table. Again, he pictured her coming back from attempting a truce, sitting down, and eating them. All the while disliking him.

      He had to remember that was a good thing. He cast one last look back at her, and started toward the door. Then just as he would have dematerialized to his apartment, he stopped.

      He returned to the table, and stared at the plate of treats she’d made for him. The thick cut squares glinted in the lamplight, the milky glaze holding together each piece of rice crisps. He picked up one of the squares, the coating sticking to his fingers.

      Even though he didn’t ever crave food, he bit into it. The crisps crunched, and sweetness flooded his mouth. Slowly he chewed, savoring the sticky, sugary flavor. He swallowed, then took another bite.

      He ate one more bite, finding it hard to swallow, only because he was no longer designed to eat human food, not because he didn’t want to keep eating.

      Reluctantly, he placed the half-eaten treat back on the plate. He didn’t allow himself to glance at Erika as he faded, just like he didn’t allow himself to consider why it suddenly seemed important to eat what she’d made for him.

      Chapter 7

      “So what was he doing?” Orabella knew this particular moment, as she straddled Maksim in their bed, probably wasn’t the best time to question him about Vittorio, but she couldn’t help herself.

      Maksim opened his eyes, regarding her with an ironic glint that stated he agreed with her unspoken logic. “Nothing of interest. Having a drink in a dingy little hole-in-the-wall.”

      Orabella nodded, then pivoted her hips, riding him like one of her deceased husband’s prized ponies.

      Maksim’s eyes flickered shut as he moaned with pleasure.

      “That’s it, baby,” he muttered roughly.

      But Orabella didn’t share his satisfaction. She was focused on other things.

      What was her darling son doing here? Surely he knew she’d eventually come looking for him here. New Orleans was one of his favorite places. Just as he favored his dreadful, spiteful brother. And other dreadful creatures.

      Did Vittorio want her to find him? The idea excited her. Her hips moved faster. She closed her eyes, picturing her son’s angel face.

      A face so like her own—which would ultimately make it impossible for him to deny or forget her. They were the same person, the only two who could truly understand each other.

      But what if he was here for a different purpose? Some of her pleasure waned. Vittorio always seemed to have a fondness for the women of the South. Another mystery to her.

      And frankly, no woman he picked was good enough for him. No woman was good enough, period. The only one worthy of his love was his mother. He had to know that, deep inside, didn’t he?

      “Are you sure he wasn’t there to meet someone?”

      Maksim opened one eye. “It didn’t seem that way.”

      She nodded and twirled her hips, pretending she was enjoying their sex as much as he was. Sometimes having a lover was such a nuisance.

      But she did need him, for multiple reasons. Maksim could follow Vittorio. Vittorio would sense her instantly if she got within two hundred feet of him. And while that should have irritated her, because it did make it hard to get to him if he didn’t want to see her, it also thrilled her. His awareness of her proved how connected they were. One soul in two bodies.

      Her hips ground down hard on Maksim’s, taking him deep. Vittorio was going to love her again. She would give him exactly what he’d missed all these years. He’d be thrilled.

      She ground herself down onto Maksim, taking what she needed. What she needed for Vittorio. He’d be so pleased. He’d have to forgive her.

      “Oh yeah, that’s it, baby,” Maksim growled, his words shattering her lovely thoughts.

      She rolled her eyes in arrogance, then disguised the gesture as one of overwhelming bliss.

      “Will you follow him tomorrow?” she couldn’t stop herself from asking.

      “Of course.” Maksim’s voice sounded as irritated as she felt.

      “And tell me if he talks to anyone?”

      “Yes.” Maksim’s large hands spanned the curve of her hips and took control of the pace, lifting her and impaling her over and over.

      She had to admit, she did like it rough and his aggressiveness and rapid rhythm did feel good. She flung her head back and let her arousal rise. Maksim would report everything back to her, and she would know what her baby boy was doing. And eventually, she’d get what she wanted. She would use what Maksim was giving her, and then she would make Vittorio return to her forever.

      She just had to keep Maksim blindly devoted to her for a little longer. She cried out as her release hit her, but before the last shudder quivered through her body, she wiggled off him.

      “Where you going, baby?”

      Orabella graced him with a coyly shy look. She licked her perfectly glossed lips. Demons loved naiveté. And he adored her ingenue act, never guessing it was just that. A show.

      “I want to taste you,” she said shyly, managing a blush.

      Maksim rose up on his elbows, looking down at his penis. The sated organ began to swell and lengthen again. Sex was another thing demons adored. And Maksim was insatiable.

      He glanced back to her, raising an eyebrow. “Well, who would I be to deny you your wants.”

      Exactly, she thought as she took his now huge and hard erection into her mouth.

      Erika