The Duke's Passion

IntheHeart’sKingdom,akingdomwherevampiresreignandhumanswerenothingbutlivestock,Lilou,apeasant,foundherselfbeingpreyeduponbytheworstmaniacalvampireofhiskind.However,asterrifyingaswhatheaddressedherashis‘reservedmeal’,thisvampirealsocalledherhisbride!Except:Myeyesbroodwithfear,gazingatthestill-beatingheartinhishand.“MyLord,pardonmebut…isthisthebloodyproofyoupromisedtoshowme?”Iasked,myvoiceshookasIgulpeddownwhilststrugglingmytremblingkneesfromgivingaway.“Mhm…doyounowbelieveI’mgoodatcapturinghearts?”Thesilver-hairedman,bearingthosemenacingpairofdeepcrimsoneyesstaredproudlyatmeafteranod.Igaspedwhenheclenchedhishandandsqueezedthefreshhearttosmithereen.“Yes,milord.You’regoodatit,literally.”I’mmortified,watchingthepiecesoftheheartfallasheapproached.Hiseverystepmademetakeastepbackuntilmybackreachedasolidpillar.“Huh,”Samaelchuckledbriefly,stoppinginfrontofme.Hislong,pointynailsthatwerecoveredwithbloodtracedmyelbowdowntomyhand.Gently,heclippedmyforefingerinbetweenhis,guidingitbeforehislips.“DidIpassyourtest,though?”Heasked,thesharptipofhisnailplayedoverthetipofmyfinger.IstaredathispenetratinggazeasIreluctantlyanswered,“Barely.”Hesmirked,noddinginsatisfactionbeforehepressedhisnailonthetipofmyforefingerthatwasquicktoproduceadropofblood.“Suchsweetaroma.”Hewhispered,placingmybleedingfingerinhismouthandlickeditwithpassion.Hismenacinggazeneverleftmineasheconsumedabitofmyblood.“Doesthatmeanyou’reacceptingmyinvitation?”Keepingmyfingerinbetweenhisfangs,Samaelinquired.Ibitmylowerlipunconsciously,myheartwithinmychestdrummedasmybackbrokeintosweats.“But…I’mjust…”Ipaused,hopingmyanswerwouldputanendtothis.“…I’mjustahuman.”Samaelclickedhistongue,displeasedatmyresponseasheletmyfingergo.“No,”Hewhispered.Myentirebodystiffenedwhenhebentover,caressingmyshoulderuptomyneckbytheapexofhisnose,ashishotbreathsprickledmyskin.“You'renotjustamerehuman...youaremyhuman.”HestressedbeforeIsensedhislipspartandthetipofhisfangsagainstmyskin.