Free Love Me to Death (Underveil) by Marissa Clarke

next to her while Nikolai stepped into the tub. “Shall I feed you?”
    “No!” Nikolai said.
    The blond man ignored him totally. “Now that you are feeling better, let me introduce myself.” He held out his hand. “I am Stefan Darvaak. Welcome to my home.”
    She took his hand, and a slight electric current jumped through her, causing her to jerk her hand back quickly.
    “Only those under the Veil can feel my energy. What are you?” He sat next to her, both of them with their backs to Nikolai, who was submerged in the bubbles up to his neck. “Or rather, what are you becoming?”
    Tears filled her eyes. She wiped them away with her fingers.
    “I’m sorry,” Stefan said. “I don’t fully understand your situation.” He stood. “Just call if you need anything.” He put the remote next to her. “The red button will alert me.” He paused before exiting. “Be nice, Itzov.” He held up his hand and wiggled his fingers. “Electricity and water don’t mix.”
    Nikolai slid completely underwater, disappearing beneath the blanket of bubbles, leaving Elena alone with the tray of food that looked like a dream. Nuts, cheese, more fruit, and what appeared to be sliced turkey. Yep. Turkey. Her stomach growled as she chewed. Then it dawned on her that Nikolai hadn’t eaten either. In fact, he hadn’t even had any of the juice. He had to be starving.
    He broke the surface with a splash and wiped his face with a washcloth.
    She gestured to the tray. “Want some?”
    He nodded and opened his mouth. She turned to give him access to the tray.
    Bubble-covered hands emerged from the water. “Help me out here.”
    She selected a slice of turkey and rolled it up. Like a baby bird, he opened his mouth and bit off a piece. That mouth. Her face got hot, and she turned away. After a moment, he cleared his throat, and she turned to find him eyeing the other half of rolled turkey slice in her hand. She raised it to his open mouth, and he grabbed her wrist, taking the bit of turkey and her fingers into his mouth, too. His lips and tongue were so warm. She squirmed as pulses of excitement bolted through her as he sucked on her fingers. This should not have been so stimulating. He was her captor. A man sent to kill her. A man who should kill her, seeing how she was about to turn into a monster. How long would it take before her eyes turned red and her soul black? Not long enough, she realized, looking at the gorgeous man with his lips wrapped around her fingers. Not nearly long enough.

    N ikolai saw it in Elena’s eyes: lust, pure and simple, just like that coursing through him. She wanted him. There was no doubt about it. And he needed her. Like he needed to breathe, he needed this woman.
    “Join me.” His voice was barely a whisper—more of a prayer, actually.
    Her pupils dilated slightly, but her knees clamped together and she stiffened and then turned away. Her mind was battling with her body.
    He relaxed back against the marble, willing her body to win the war. “I won’t touch you. I promise. The water is perfect.”
    She looked at him over her shoulder, and he almost shouted “Hallelujah.” She was close. He knew it.
    “I didn’t violate you last night at the hotel. I promise not to touch you now…”
    She jerked around, leaving her back to him again. Her shoulders rose and fell with rapid breaths. So close.
    “Unless you want me to.”
    Her breathing stopped. He had no doubt she craved his touch, but he also knew she was stubborn and scared. Her world had changed completely in the last two days. He wished they could have met under different circumstances—just a man and a woman with no barriers between them.
    “And if I don’t want you to touch me?” she whispered, still facing away.
    “Then I won’t.”
    She swiveled to face him. “I don’t.”
    Liar. “Very well.”
    She set the tray down and stood, clutching the top of the towel wrapped around her. “Please turn around.”
    “ You didn’t.”
    Her