Free The Lost Centurion (The Immortals Book 1) by Monica La Porta

help but inch away from him and flinch.
    “I’ve been waiting for almost all my existence to vindicate Aurelia, and now I’m so close to it I can feel it in my bones.” He swung his long legs over the edge of the parapet and walked back inside the house without a look to spare for her.
    Diana thought it was better not to follow him right away and lingered on the balcony to cool her senses. The moon was now shining high in the night sky and several stars were visible. She gave a better look around and realized the terrace was filled with vases full of succulents, some of them blooming with colorful flowers. A swiveling sofa was shielded from the nocturnal humidity by an umbrella that had been left open. She sat on the sofa and gently rocked it back and forth, thinking of the conversation she just had with Marcus. The hunger hit her without warning. She doubled over, fell, and screamed in pain. The terracotta tiles covered in wet dew felt too cold under her forehead. She breathed through clenched teeth and cried, writhing on the floor.
    “Diana?”
    She felt Marcus wrapping her in his strength, his arms around hers, his breath fanning over her mouth. As before, all of her senses were hijacked by the hunger. All that was left of Diana was her need to feed. His blood flew loud in his veins, its scent calling to her. She fought to gain control over her urges, but her fangs lowered in her mouth and she couldn’t will them back. He changed position and his throat was exposed to her. Her scream was muffled by his skin, her tongue already searching for his throbbing vein. She sat on his lap, latched her legs around his waist, her hands to his neck, and bit deeply at the base of his throat. His blood inundated her mouth and she swallowed greedy gulps. He tasted rich and spicy. Her hands left his neck to roam over his back, her body seeking his through the caresses.
    ****
    Marcus couldn’t move. The pleasure was intoxicating. Her hands where everywhere, and she had made his shirt disappear. He raised the hem of her tank top and slid his hands underneath. Her skin was soft. His fingers caressed the side of her breast, and he wished he could kiss it. As she had started feeding from him without a warning, she also stopped and retreated several feet away from him, a horrified expression on her face.
    “It’s okay, little thing.” He walked to her, but she stared up at him, her eyes full of tears. He crouched before her and took her face between his hands. “It’s my fault. I should’ve known better than to leave a vampling without food for a whole day.” He caressed her cheek and she leaned into his hand, her breathing hard and fast. “Your body is going through a radical change, and your mind isn’t ready to follow yet because you should be primed by your sire.”
    “Virgil…”
    “Yes, Virgil should be the one raising you. I’m sorry you’re stuck with me instead.”
    “Would you hug me?”
    He leaned and took her in his arms and felt her whole body shaking. “You haven’t drunk enough. You still need to feed.”
    She shook her head. “No, I won’t drink again from you tonight.”
    He noticed how hard she was trying to control herself to keep from biting him and nodded. “Let’s go back inside. I need to rest and so do you.” He scooped her up and she hid her face in his naked chest. Out of the corner of his eye, he located his discarded shirt by the umbrella stand, but decided to come back later to pick it up.
    Once in his bedroom, he deposited her on the bed, then dried the sweat covering her face with a towel. “Everything will be all right.” He had never made a promise since Aurelia had died and couldn’t believe the words had left his mouth.
    Diana took his hand and moved it over her still beating heart. “Tell me it’s true. Tell me you believe so.”
    “I do.” He lowered his head to her chest and brushed the hollow of her breasts, then lay by her side, one hand over her waist. “Now dream for