Free 3#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Thorn) by Charlene Hartnady

that?”
    “I
don’t get it.” She shook her head, feeling like an idiot.
    “You
will scream, princess.” Xavier whispered into her ear. “But it won’t be in
pain, that much I can promise you.”
    Esral
swallowed hard catching York’s knowing smirk.
    “We
need a safe word.” Xavier growled, causing her nipples to pebble. Esral folded
her arms across her chest.
    “How
about I just say stop if I’ve had enough?”
    “Nah.”
York shook his head. “You might yell stop but you won’t really mean it. Trust
me. I’ve stopped dozens of times and every damn time the female got mad at me.”
    “You
could shout the word fire ,” Xavier said. “If you even whisper the word
fire I’ll stop. If I don’t…” His intense eyes held hers. “Say it again and York
and Lazarus will save you.” His eyes moved to York. “No hesitation…get your
asses in here and knock me the fuck out if you have to. I don’t like it.” He
growled as an afterthought.
    “It’s
better that we do this now.” She put a hand to his chest. “I don’t know about
you but I don’t want anyone around when we mate.” She felt her cheeks heat. “I
know that it is vampire culture to drink during the mating. If we get through
this today then we’ll know that I’ll be safe with you when we do finally”—she
felt her cheeks heat—“you know.”
    Xavier’s
nostrils flared and his eyes glowed looking like moonlight on water. “Damn
straight. Cock and fang.” He growled, causing parts of her to tingle with
anticipation.
    “Fire.
Got it,” York growled. The door opened and closed as he left.
    “Drink
from me. I can take it. York and Lazarus are right outside.”
    Xavier
looked unsure. The crease lines between his eyes were back. “I would never
forgive myself if I hurt you.”
    Esral
punched him on the arm. “I’m way tougher then you think. Just drink already. I
don’t mind.”
    Xavier
nodded, his eyes flashing to her neck for the briefest moment before returning
to her gaze. “Put your back here,” he commanded, tapping his chest. Esral did
as he said. She could feel the heat radiating off of him. Could feel his heart
drumming against her back, hard and fast.
    Esral
tipped her head to the side. “I will heal quickly so don’t worry about leaving
marks.”
    His
hot breath was on her neck as he crouched forward. It sounded like he sucked on
his finger before putting his hands around her waist where he held her in
place.
    “If
it’s too much for you…”
    “Yeah,
yeah I’ll yell fire.” She said, feeling her heart pound with anticipation.
    Xavier
chuckled and she felt the rumble against her back. “I was going to say that you
should open your legs and I’ll ease you.”
    “Oh.”
Her voice came out sounding really high pitched.
    “Don’t
be ashamed or embarrassed. Just open up and I’ll take the pain away.”
    “It’s
going to hurt?” She tried not to sound worried and failed.
    She
could feel him nodding against her. “Yeah, but not in the way you think. Just
do as I say okay, princess?”
    She
swallowed thickly. “Okay.”
    “You
don’t sound so sure about this anymore. I don’t have to do this you know?”
    “I
want you to.” At least it came out sounding confident. When the truth was, she
was more than a little afraid.
    “You’ll
feel a small pinch and then it should feel really good.”
    “I
thought you said it would hurt.”
    He
chuckled softly. “It’s hard to explain.”
    “Just
do it already.” She said, gasping as he bent down.
    She
felt his fangs pierce her skin with a sharp jab that made her gasp even louder
this time. His hot breath fanned her for a second before his lips closed over
her skin.
    Xavier
made a sound of utter rapture as he sucked. Esral felt her blood course through
her veins. It was as if she could suddenly feel each and every cell, each and
every nerve ending. When he sucked a second time, the hard pull caused her
nipples to pebble to the point of actual pain. Her flower