Love at First Bite by Susan Squires

you," he murmured. Then he kissed her throat.
    She forced her shoulders to relax. She stretched her head back, waiting. But he continued to kiss her so softly, so tenderly, that she began to feel the wet between her legs. She remembered yesterday, making love through the sunlight hours, sweet pleasure rolling through her again and again at Davie's touch. And when the twin points of pain finally came, they were all mixed up for her in lovemaking. Davie filled all her senses, even pain. She moaned as he clasped her to his body and sucked rhythmically.
    "Ahhh, Davie, Davie," she murmured, and held his head against her throat. The pain was over. All that remained was the sensation of being one with him, possessed. The throb of her heart was meant to push her blood into his mouth. The great artery in her throat was meant to be opened by him. Her hips began to move of their own accord as they rocked together. And then there came a feeling of… distance, as if she were floating away on the tide of their passionate exchange. She relaxed into his arms.
    The moment she went limp, he wrenched away with a cry. "Emma, Emma, did I take too much? God, what have I done?"
    She looked up at him, sleepy. "No. That was… exciting." She noticed that the wound on his cheek was closed. That brought her up sharply. She shook off her lethargy and examined him, as he hung over her. If she didn't bestir herself it would be too late.
    But no, the wound on his shoulder was still open and seeping. She raised herself on one elbow and pushed him firmly onto his back. He looked surprised. Then she bent her head, pulled back his tattered shirt, and, taking only one breath for courage, licked his wound.
    The taste of his blood was copper, thick. Not unpleasant. She licked again, just to make sure she got enough. The wound closed under her lips.
    He gripped her shoulders, his glare fierce. "What have you done?" he cried.
    She looked at him calmly, more calmly than her thumping heart might indicate. "I have fulfilled a vow. For better or for worse."
    "You don't know!" He sat up. With the strength lent by her blood, his wounds were disappearing quickly. "You'll die without the immunity of a vampire's blood…"
    "How lucky that I know a vampire. You won't let the Rules stand in the way of my immunity, will you, Davie?"
    "Emma." His eyes filled. "I will likely die tonight, Emma. We can't hold them. Forty we killed tonight and still they come and come. You'll be left alone to die horribly."
    "We both could die tonight, Davie. Or any other night. One just can't know the future."
    "You don't know what you're in for. You can't."
    "Probably neither of us do." She smiled ruefully. "But we'll face it together."
    He grabbed her, shook her until she thought her teeth would rattle, and then took her in a fierce embrace. She could hear him trying to suppress the sobs in his chest. There. That was better. "I wanted to protect you."
    "Do your best, Davie. I permit you to protect me from anything but you."
    "I never wanted this for you."
    "And what I want, does that not count? We are a partnership." It was her turn to disengage herself and hold him away from her.
    "An equal partnership."
    "Woman!" he half-laughed, though his cheeks were wet.
    "See?" She smiled. "You didn't know what you were getting into with me, either." She sobered as a flaming sensation coursed along her veins. "Mr. Rufford may not be happy over what I've done. And you must wait to give me immunity. You can't be weakened with the odds so great." Suddenly things she hadn't anticipated came rushing in. She felt her eyes go big. Now was not the time for her to become ill and be a burden on him.
    He rose and handed her up off the flour sacks, his mouth a grim line. "Just let Rufford try to hinder us. Let us see how he and Fedeyah go on. They didn't have blood tonight."
    She followed him, dousing the candle. "They did have blood. I collected a bowlful from that man in the lobby, the one who wasn't vampire. Or