Page 80 of The Hunter’s Affection

She wasn’t sure what she expected, but his tongue certainly wasn’t it. As if preparing her for what was to come, it flicked against her skin—

She flinched.

There was no pain, only a sudden pressure against her inner thigh . . . Charlotte lifted her head and watched in fascination as Torr’s lips moved against her flesh.

He moaned again. But it was different than before. More guttural, a baser sound that would have terrified her had she not trusted Torr completely.

She closed her eyes and sighed.

A moment later, Torr pulled away and her eyelids flew open as she watched him lick the glistening of her blood off his lips.

With his tongue.

Heaven help her.

“You okay?”

Charlotte dropped her hand back down to the pillow. She was more than okay.

“You will turn me, Torr Derrickson,” she murmured, not bothering to watch for his reaction. It didn’t matter. He was going to do it. She was determined.

“The hell I will,” she heard him say as she drifted off, too tired to argue. Too sated to do anything other than smile.

* * *

Torr watchedher sleep for a time, soaking in her presence, her goodness, and eventually left the way he’d come.

He needed time alone to think.

Could he do it?

He debated with himself the entire way to the Walsh house. Zach lived with his grandmother on the outskirts of town, just far enough to make it a long walk . . . for a human. He could have been there in an instant, of course, but he didn’t wish to risk running.

How many vampires had been caught that way? Thinking they were alone, giving just enough cause for suspicion for locals to start asking uncomfortable questions.

And once the Sect became involved—

The pit in his stomach had nothing to do with Charlotte now. This one was for his brother. And Toni. And even Alessandra.

Between Drake and Rowan knowing a Cheld lived here and Zach’s grandmother with enough knowledge to cause concern, it seemed unlikely Stone Haven would be safe for any of them in the long run. Toni thought to turn it into an open town. More likely they’d all have to leave.

His sister’s perfume led him to the back of the house, one that took up nearly a quarter of the entire block. On the opposite side of town from the Hutton mansions, Annabel Walsh and her grandson lived in the second-most well-to-do area of Stone Haven.

“What the hell?”

Laria had such a way with words.

“How did you even know where . . . oh, that’s right,” she said, moving over to make room for him between the bushes. “You’ve been here before.”

Torr had been the first person to question Zach. “I think another chat may be long overdue.”

“No way. Let him spill on his own.”

“We’re wasting precious time.”

“Torr. No.”

Exactly one person on earth could use that tone with him. And it was the woman sitting next to him on the cold, damp grass as they listened to—