Dark Sonata Read online

  “Kiss me.”

  His dark eyes narrowed dangerously on her, his thick fringe of lashes lowered.

  “Prove you feel nothing then,” she whispered and shrugged.

  Mmm, her common sense just died from shock.

  After a long pause, Ezra smiled like a big bad wolf and took a step closer her. “Ah she wants a kiss she says,” he whispered, “but what she doesn’t know is that a single kiss from me demands a very high price.”

  The air between them thickened.

  She was out of breath, unable to catch it. “I’m … willing to pay.” She bit her lip, not believing how bold she was behaving. God, she was almost begging him to seduce her. Why?!

  It was because of her book, she had once loved him and if it held any ounce of truth she wanted to know. Tori desperately needed to know if he still loved her. Or if he ever did.

  “Are you willing to pay in blood then?” He asked, his low tone sending warning signals off in her head. He was now staring at her like she was his meal. The dim flicker in his black gaze was like a fire coming to life, an ember waiting to be stoked. The slightest breath could send it into a bonfire.

  Blood? That depended on how much … blood. “Blood?” she asked quietly, trying to hide her fear.

  “Victoria, do not forget who I am,” he warned, as if he was trying to keep his sanity in check. He looked like he was holding himself back, like all he wanted to do was go in for the kill. The deep circles under his eyes bespoke of what little restraint he probably had. But he said he felt nothing. So what was she seeing? Wrath, anger, rage? Surely not … desire.

  But, the way he said her name.

  It wasn’t the fact that this was the first time he had said it, it was how he said it. She wanted to close her eyes and tell him to say it again; he has the most seductive voice. A voice that was hypnotic, calculating and oh so dangerous. Tori was playing with fire and knew she could get burned. Taking a light step back she looked up into his eerily beautiful face. A face of a tormented underworld god, to be sure. “It is only a kiss, nothing more.”

  Nothing more.

  He took her off guard when he gave her a searing look that made her tummy somersault and caused heart palpitations. His perfect mouth hung open like he wanted to lick his lips. “Pity,” he breathed.

  Tori swallowed, her courage dissolving by the second. He was contradicting himself and she was getting the feeling he was not be honest with her. “A kiss will tell me everything I need to know.”

  “Oh?”

  She blushed, not wanting to enlighten him. “Just kiss me.”

  He laughed making her skin tingle again. “How and where do you want me to kiss you, love? Just want to make sure we are on the same page,” he murmured with a look that made her mouth water.

  Was that a trick question?

  Tori bit her lip. He knew how to ruffle her feathers. She had to look away to think with clarity, her body was humming and her ears felt hot. “A kiss on the lips … if you can manage that.”

  “If I can manage that?” his loud laugh startled her again.

  Looking up at him she wondered if it was possible to die from embarrassment. “Yes, that is what I said.”

  “As you wish,” he continued as he moved forward, “I am still going to need to search your body for your father’s mark.” He tilted his head at her, like he was waiting for an adverse reaction.

  She didn’t say anything, just stared. Her mouth wouldn’t form clever words, not wanting to stutter to a point of madness.

  “Or I can bite you.”

  Tori shivered. “Bite m-me?” Her eyes widened as he walked up to her and pushed her back on the bed making her gasp. “Wait!” She hit the soft velvet comforter and would have gotten up if he was not on top of her. Both of his hands were on either side of her, pinning Tori in place. Panic hit her. Heart pounding with indecision she waited, taking a gamble that he wasn’t going to hurt her.

  Ezra took a second as his eyes roamed over her features. “I can bite you, getting a taste of your blood. One can learn so much from one bite for you cannot ever fake what is coursing through your body. I will learn who you are by doing so,” he said so quietly. “Not to mention I will highly enjoy it.” His gaze traveled down the length of her.

  The air was definitely charged now.

  Mercy, the way he was looking at her he could strip search her too if he wanted. He was so close to her, his face mere inches from hers. “I have read gothic books. Will you drain me of my blood if you … lose control?” It was an obvious concern; she didn’t want him to drain the life out of her like a vampire.

  “Maybe if I was young and inexperienced which I am far from,” he murmured as his eyes fastened on her lips making her pulse jump. “All I need is a little taste, nothing more.”

  He used her same words from before.

  She was starting to tremble, having no control over her nerves or emotions. Just being this close to him was making her senses operate on overdrive. “A-alright,” she managed to get out. “Just as long as you—”

  “Shhh,” he barely said as he lowered his head to hers.

  This … this is actually happening …

  Tori closed her eyes as she felt his lips softly graze hers, his tongue licking her bottom lip sending a delicious shiver radiating across her face. This was electric. His gentle caress shocked her for she would not expect someone like him to possess this amount of finesse. This … gentleness? His earlier claim of not being a romantic seemed to be shot out of the water.

  Ezra’s hot breath scorched her lips as he spoke, “Are you going to kiss me back, love?” He looked amused, like he found her lack of response comical.

  Kiss him back? Heat crept up her neck coloring her cheeks. She didn’t realize she was lying like a limp fish, too scared to move her mouth. Raising her head to his she locked her lips, molding them with his. His lips were perfect, sinful. Tori felt him smile as he took over the light kiss with force, deepening the impact, stealing her breath clean out of her lungs. One arm went around her back, jerking her up a bit so he had more leverage. It was entirely too drugging for this man knew how to kiss a woman, demanding she’d kiss him back with the same heated fervor. Her body was igniting from within making her breath come in short pants as his lips masterfully moved over hers. His tongue forcefully pushed through her mouth making her open up to his assault. Ezra groaned into her as he continued to stroke her with his tongue, making her to go wild with wanting him. He tasted of something untamed mixed with the intoxicating flavor of life, passion. Time seemed to stop altogether as their mouths moved together, their rushed breathing escalating with each swipe of their tongues. His arm around her ribcage was tight, crushing her breasts to his chest. Nothing existed anymore but them …

  He suddenly broke the kiss and lifted his head to stare down at her with a piercing look, his dark gaze boring into her as if could see her soul.

  Tori, after regaining her breath gazed up into his desire-filled eyes. These were not the eyes of someone who felt nothing. This was not a kiss of someone who felt nothing. God no. Something was different about him in this moment, his expression was strange. So expressive when earlier he seemed so dead of all emotion.

  “A kiss was all you wanted?” he asked hoarsely and gazed down at her. His mouth formed a dark grin making her tingle all over.

  When he smiled it was lethal.

  Tori shivered again, noting that the grin was probably a warning for he didn’t look completely … sane. He was clearly baiting her with that reckless grin of his. Was she brave enough to say, No that wasn’t all she wanted? Because it was the truth. If she was ever in doubt about him being attracted to her, she most definitely was not now. The smoldering look he was giving her was making Tori have hot flashes. So he lied to her. Why?

  He frowned. “Can you breathe?”

  No. Absolutely not, she felt like she was hyperventilating.

  His hand was on her stomach, smoothing its way up her rib cage. It wa
s a simple touch but the effect was anything but. The man was creating fire with his hands without even trying. “If I can remember correctly, corsets do not allow women to breath properly,” he murmured as his hand played havoc on her abdomen. He looked down at her and exhaled a long breath while his other hand ripped the fabric in two, as if it were made of flimsy paper. It happened so fast that she had no time to react before his mouth was crushed upon hers.

  He took her by storm.

  Before he was slow and calculating and now it was like she was the air he breathed. He was reckless. As if he swam up from the depths of the sea gasping, fighting to take in that first deep breath. The passion created as his mouth moved over hers was powerful and severe. A complete force of its own. She could tell he was losing control as his mouth frantically moved over her lips; the way his tongue combated hers left her wanting some air. She didn’t know where he began and she ended.

  His mouth scorched a trail of fire down the line of her throat, his tongue swirled and sucked over her flushed skin repeatedly. Was it possible to die from heat exhaustion, from kissing?! Tori’s body felt like an inferno, becoming hotter and hotter as seconds past. What he was doing with his mouth, the way his tongue danced over her skin seemed like the best kind of sorcery.

  Ezra spoke into her neck, “You feel and taste so different,” he continued while he dragged his lips over her bare shoulder. “You do not taste like a Liorian.”

  “What d-do I taste like then,” she barely mouthed, surprised she was able to talk through this heat wave.

  He looked up at her and grinned. “Patience.” His hands cupped her breasts making her gasp, her eyes shooting open from the shock, forgetting that she was bare. Ezra leaned into her ear, “Though, you look like a Liorian goddess, baffling me. You have no equal, I have checked.” His tone almost sounded angry but she couldn’t be sure through the haze of her brain.

  Tori went to say something back but only moaned when his hands continued their assault, molding her breasts into his skilled palms. She should stop him … this was getting to a point of no return. Tori couldn’t think as his lips replaced his hands, shattering her thoughts completely. His tongue swirled and sucked her nipples while he whispered into her skin. Ezra’s hot breath heightened her senses making her want more, needing something that she couldn’t explain. She wasn’t prepared for this.

  This was not fair.

  He jerked her up suddenly and fiercely locked lips with hers, hungrily drinking her up. She felt his hand rip her flimsy slip like the garment was poisonous, casting it to the side like it was nothing. Her mind faintly saw through the thick haze of lust, knowing full and well what he was doing. What she was allowing him to do.

  The most shocking part? She wanted it. Badly.

  Ezra, it seemed, was sex incarnate.

  His hands slid up her legs and she was practically begging him to hurry like a common whore, moaning shamelessly. What was he doing to her?! She needed to be dunked in water for her mind could not think straight through all this … heat. His lips seemed to be everywhere at once. Her neck, ear, shoulder, breasts and even her arms were under his attack. It was like he didn’t want to miss anything on her, which secretly thrilled her. Tori didn’t know someone could possess this amount of fervor, this unbridled passion.

  It was like he actually felt something for her besides lust. Which was ridiculous. The thought seemed far-fetched but he was worshiping her body like she was dear to him, someone more than just a body. Was a demon even capable of that? She didn’t think so.

  His hushed voice was in her ear. “I see no birthmark on you.”

  Tori opened her eyes still in the haze of passion to find herself completely nude. Her body was on display as his dark eyes drank her up from head to toe. Fear was her first reaction and went to grab something to cover up but he grabbed her arm, stopping her. Something was so erotic about her being completely exposed and Ezra being fully clothed. She was vulnerable, yes, but somehow she trusted him fully.

  He stared down at her in question as if he were trying to see her soul through her eyes. She didn’t know what that meant, nor did she have a mind on her while she was naked in his presence.

  So she didn’t have a birthmark, maybe not all Liorians did?

  “That only leaves one option,” his hands smoothed up her body, “I will have to bite you, my dear. You either have the world’s smallest birthmark or something is very wrong here. Either way I’m going to find out and I don’t give a fuck what Michael says.” He lowered his mouth to her calf and started to kiss his way up her leg making her body start to tremble. Tori held her breath as she watched him, awed by his dark beauty. She just wished Ezra was as naked as she; now that would be a sight to behold.

  He looked up at her while his tongue swirled her inner thigh, getting dangerously high. He barely lifted his head as he spoke, “I have envisioned you like this every … single … night. Your memory has haunted me, driving me mad,” he harshly whispered into her. “When I saw you I thought I was hallucinating once again.”

  Tori found her voice, realizing what he was admitting to.

  Your memory has haunted me.

  It almost seemed like he didn’t realize what he was saying for he was completely contradicting himself once again. “Wait. You said … that you … you do not recall our intimate encounters.”

  He looked up at her oddly, probably realizing he said too much. “You talk too much,” he harshly whispered then silenced her with a demanding kiss as his right hand found her womanhood making her gasp into his mouth.

  Ezra’s fingers were inside of her, doing things that made her forget even her own name. Tori expelled a harsh breath as his hand continued to plunge within her most secret spot, creating this pressure that she could not even begin to describe. Heat rushed over her making her beg for more, needing him desperately. She was not sure if she was begging or just thought she was in the haze of her mind. Everything swirled together with every rapid movement of his hand. His mouth was on hers again drinking up her cries like a starved man.

  He broke the kiss and whispered into her ear, his hot breath scorching her skin. “You are mine, always will be.” He continued as his tongue licked her lobe. “You asked me what you tasted like.”

  Ezra was there, and then he was gone.

  She didn’t realize where he went until she felt his mouth on her there, replacing his hand. Mercy. Her eyes widened at first, embarrassed, but then just let the sensation he was creating happen. Yes, nothing mattered anymore. As his tongue swirled and moved over her, she felt like her body was getting ready for lift-off. She could barely breathe or think. Oh, the things he could do with his tongue baffled her! He seemed to know exactly where to lick or how much pressure to induce to make her go wild, completely wanton. Tori tossed and turned while he held her firmly, intent on not stopping or letting her go.

  Tori moaned deep in her throat, feeling her mouth go dry from her harsh breathing. Her mind was in a thousand different places.

  He raised his head and his hand replaced his mouth never missing a tormenting beat. She felt his stare, his dark eyes watching her squirm, moan, curse, legs kicking. His mouth was suddenly by her ear, his breath hot as he spoke. “The longer I torment you the better your climax, love.”

  Her eyes focused on his and could hardly find her voice to talk. “Ezra, you are a cruel man.” She was certain a normal human man could never create sensations to this degree as he was doing now. But was she surprised? He had been living for hundreds of years!

  “What are you begging for? Do you even know?” he asked, his breath rough as he gazed down at her.

  Before she could respond he lifted her hip and his fingers plunged deep inside causing her to shout in pleasure. Her abdomen was swirling with sensation, something she had a hard time identifying with. Oh my, as his fingers were hitting a spot inside of her that made her vision swim and the sensations came overflowing, crashing down on her.

  Ezra suddenly pulled his finger
s from her stopping whatever amazing thing that was about to happen.

  “Ezra!” she screamed in angry frustration, perspiration dotting her body.

  “Patience, love,” he whispered with a dark smile as his hands found her breasts, molding them into his large hands once again. He pinched her nipple and she almost bucked off the bed, the pleasure shooting through her body like lightning. He grinned at that, like he loved watched her scream and thrash around at his doing. His hands moved quickly, grabbing her legs and throwing them over his shoulders making her gasp.

  Oh yes.

  His mouth was on her again, down there and she was out of her mind, letting the sensations gain force by the second. Ezra plunged his tongue inside of her and her being shattered. This intense pleasure washed over her and all she could do was grab onto Ezra for dear life and scream.

  Time stopped for what seemed like an eternity.

  Her mind hummed and her body tingled. She forced her eyes open to stare up at Ezra, who was in the process of unbuttoning his shirt. The look he was giving her told her he was far from done with her. Her pulse thundered in her ears. The sight of his muscled chest sent her adrenalin pounding at full speed.

  Ezra looked like a superhero, or perhaps the villain. His body was covered in ancient looking tattoos on top of muscle that appeared to be made out of stone. Intimidating is one word to describe him. Tori swallowed as she watched him start to undo his pants, thinking that this man would most likely complete any woman’s fantasy.

  He tilted his head at her. “Don’t look so scared.”

  Tori swallowed. “Then … don’t look so hungry.”

  He laughed.

  “Did you bite me?” She could not remember anything except the intense pleasure she felt.

  He stopped what he was doing to stare down at her with those eerie black eyes. “Not yet.”

  Tori wanted to curse her damn question to hell because he stopped undoing his pants to stare at her. She wanted to tell him to not stop what he was thinking but no words came from her mouth as she watched him. Ezra stared down at her intensely, like he was having some inner battle.