Colin disappeared into his apartment when we arrived at the Valentino compound, but I suspected he would have hung out longer if Vincent hadn't been in such a sulky mood. Even Bonnie and Clyde's enthusiastic greeting couldn't wipe the scowl off Vincent's face, and once treats were dispensed, he excused himself to his room and shut the door. I didn't know what I expected when we returned from the party, but it wasn't the cold shoulder. The guy was truly an island unto himself.

It wasn't until I stood in the kitchen chugging water and attempting to reach the ancient clasp on my dress that I realized I would be trapped in the infernal thing all night if I didn't enlist someone's help. I preferred to have Vincent do the honors, but I didn't want to disturb his quiet time, and I damned sure wasn't going to ask Colin. That would go over like a fart in church, as Mr. Pearlman would say. I grabbed my phone and texted Vincent my request, throwing in something about finding a helpful neighbor to unzip me. He could answer if he wanted to.

I had only counted to four when Vincent's bedroom door opened and he strode determinedly out of it, looking like a man on a mission. As soon as he made the journey around the breakfast bar and was standing in front of me, his demeanor had softened, and when I turned around to give him access to the clasp, he appeared to have forgotten what he was doing. I knew what he was doing, he was making me horny, towering over me like that, breathing against my scalp until chill bumps skittered across it. Was he still suppressing his desire? Had he escaped to his room to avoid temptation?

Vincent finally found the clasp, and while one hand was busy with that, the other caressed my shoulder. The goosebumps had to be obvious, and when I felt the clasp give way and the zipper lower, Vincent's hand slid from my shoulder down my arm, dragging the sleeve with it. This was where he paused. It was a long pause, which included a good amount of deep breathing on his part. Apparently, the struggle was real. A moment later, he tugged at the other sleeve until it fell loose. Now, only a tightly strung corset held my breasts at bay, but Vincent avoided that region. Instead, his fingers drifted up and around my neck where he fondled my braids.

"Your hair looks nice like this. It exposes your face and your lovely throat." He spoke just above a whisper as he brought his mouth to my ear to finish his sentiment. "Easy access."

"Vincent." I breathed his name but no other words came to me. I wanted to remind him what happened the last time he accessed my throat. My lips were a perfectly useful substitute, but he was standing behind me, away from my lips. His fingers started moving across my skin, gently caressing and traveling lower until they finally brushed the plump flesh of my breasts. A groan escaped his throat as he traced his index finger across the top of the corset, and he stepped closer so I could feel the bulge of his erection against my back. His hand slid beneath my chin, and he turned my head to claim my lips.

As we kissed, he spun me around to face him, and while his tongue dipped into my mouth, his fingers worked deftly on the ties of my corset. Oh, my. How far would he let himself go? Had he already gone too far? He was still kissing me when my breasts spilled out of their restraints, and Vincent caught one in his hand, prompting another groan, this one deeper and more carnal. He kneaded and stroked me, his fingers tormenting my nipple while I trembled. With his other hand, he tugged my dress further down my waist. I hadn't touched him yet, but the searing heat between us grew as he yanked the unforgiving fabric over my hips.

Once the red velvet and lace sat in a ruffled pile at my feet, all that separated me from total nudity was my ruched panties. This didn't bother me a bit. I wanted Vincent to see what I had to offer. I also knew this was a dangerous game, but my better judgment never heeded my vagina, so I was left with an ache between my thighs that was swiftly consuming me. Vincent's hands roamed my body as if he was searching me for weaponry, and his fingers dipped beneath the seam of my panties, gliding through my drenched cleft.

"Oh, Reese. I am so hungry for you." Vincent voiced his covetous motives against my lips as he touched me, coating his fingers with my arousal. His choice of words didn't exactly reassure me, but I was stunned by his passion and my own need. And when he pinned me to the refrigerator, I submitted under his powerful will.

My knees quaked as he lowered in front of me, dragging my panties down and kissing my sex with an open mouth. He swept his tongue over my slick flesh, moaning as he took his first taste, and my belly bobbed over a delicious wave, a prelude to what he had in store for me. Looking down at this masterpiece of a man, with his face buried between my legs, I was ready to come without further coaxing, but Vincent had no intention of letting up, and he prodded me with long, luxurious laps, fueling the intensity of my build-up. His tongue entered me reverently, and the warmth and softness of his mouth made my toes curl, but I definitely didn't want him losing control while he was down there. I needed to let him know where he was taking me.

"Vincent. If you keep that up, I'm going to come."

Vincent hesitated long enough to show me his mercurial eyes. They told me he was going to help me get there. I embraced the deep rumble inside my sex like thunder rolling in, and Vincent lifted my thigh and placed it on his shoulder, hoisting me up as he fed off me like a starving man. With the fridge at my back and his head in my hands, I ground into him as he took me to infinity and beyond, and I came fiercely and vocally against his mouth.

When I returned to earth, Vincent stood and unzipped his pants, taking my hand and guiding it down the front of his waistband. "Touch me. I need your hands on me."

His thick head had breached his underwear, sticky with precum, and I wrapped my fingers around it greedily, still ignoring my better judgment. His girth was startlingly impressive, and I tugged him free to get a better look.

"Damn, you're fucking amazing." I offered my appreciation as I stroked him, although what I really wanted to do was taste him. "I want you in my mouth. Please, Vincent."

"No." He slid his arm around my neck and yanked me closer until our bodies were smashed together with only my hand and his hard-on between us. I knew he was ready to blow, but he continued to deny himself. The next thing I knew, he was yelling at my ear.

"You need to go!"

"What? Go where?"

"To your room. Now! And lock the door behind you."

I hadn't released him, and he hadn't stopped pumping against me as he shouted his commands.

"But..."

"Do it!"

Vincent backed up and staggered into the counter, his eyes glowing like a pair of comets. I shook my head in frustration as I reached down and grabbed my dress. I should have been basking in the afterglow of an amazing climax, when here I was running away from the hot guy who had given it to me. Before I reached the door, Vincent was on my heels, cornering me at the doorframe. He grabbed my arm and hauled me around. Using his body to trap me against the wall.

"You need to be faster than that," he said as he forced his hand between my legs and pushed his finger inside me. "Don't let my mouth leave your lips." Vincent tackled my mouth, scorching me with the heat of his passion while I bucked against his finger. He circled my clit with his thumb, reigniting the spark of my ebbing climax, and I took his erection in my hand, rubbing his plush head across my bare belly.

"Hold my face, not my dick," he growled, although he seemed to be enjoying the attention I was giving him. I pressed my hands to either side of his face, feeling the strength of his jaw as he tongued me deeply and desperately. I groaned as pleasure tore through me, prompting me to reach for release once again, and he broke the seal on my mouth to speak into my ear. "Yes, baby. I can feel you trembling. Come for me, Reese."

While I desperately wanted to feel his hardness inside me, I got the impression that wouldn't be happening tonight, so I focused on the rhythmic movement of his fingers while engaging my imagination, and soon I was plummeting into a freefall. I cried out as I held onto the shiver. At the same time, Vincent released a hedonistic growl as his teeth clamped down on my neck. 

"You're biting me!" I yelled. "Stop!"

He didn't stop, and the pressure intensified as he drove his canines deeper. The pain was unbelievable, and I seriously thought I was going to black out. With no possibility of pushing Vincent off, I whistled at the top of my lungs as I beat on his back. This was bad. Very bad, and I pictured myself in the ER with vampire bites on my neck and no reasonable alibi for how they got there.

My peripheral vision started to cloud, and I knew this wouldn't be a quick heal. Vincent had lost control just like he said he would, and we were both going to pay the price. I barely heard the door slam before Colin flew into my line of sight. He hurled himself at Vincent and tackled him to the floor.

"Et receptum release!" Colin shouted the words, and a moment later the look of recognition dawned on Vincent's face. He rolled away from Colin, fastening his zipper as he crouched against the wall. He looked like a frightened animal, with his jaw clenched and his eyes alight with panic.

Colin wore a worried scowl as he leaned in to look at my injury. "Hold your hand over the wound. You need to put pressure on it."

If I hadn't been in shock, I would have already thought to do what he suggested, but I followed his instructions like an ignorant child, pressing my fingers into warm, sticky liquid. A lot of it. Colin picked up my dress and handed it to me. Then he hoisted me into his arms. I threw the dress over my naked body as he carried me out the door. Behind me, Vincent made his apology.

"Reese, I'm sorry."

Given that everyone was still at the party, Colin was my only ally, and he headed straight for his bathroom, setting me on the lid of the toilet. His face had paled even more than normal, and while I sat there bleeding, he stared at me with regret. as of he had been the one to attack me. I was still naked, so maybe he was checking me out. Finally, he crouched in front of a cabinet and started yanking out medical supplies. Once he'd set everything on the counter, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone, placing a call.

"Wren, you need to come home. Vincent lost it and attacked Reese."

Through the tiny speaker, I heard Wren yell something about Vincent knowing better, and Colin grimaced as he tossed his phone onto the lid of a hamper. He rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a washcloth as he turned on the tap, soaking it under the spray. All the while, he apologized.

"Vincent didn't mean to hurt you, Reese. I'm sure of it. It's just that... Well, I'm not going to lie, even I have difficulties around you. Not all the time, of course, but I feel the urge to do battle with you whenever your emotions are high... like now." Colin took a deep breath as he handed me the wet cloth, keeping enough distance from me to make his point.

I watched Colin carefully as I wiped my bloody fingers on the towel before pressing it to my neck wound. He walked to a linen closet and unfolded a bath towel, then he leaned over me and wrapped it around my shoulders, arranging it until my breasts were covered. I noticed my pulse had ramped up significantly, which may have happened when he admitted he wanted to play real life Warcraft with me.

"Should I be concerned for my safety right now, Colin?"

He shook his head, but his focus was on the gauze he was cutting. "I know this looks bad, but don't let Vincent's self-control issues taint your opinion of us. Hell, you're one of us, but with the mark of a demon. It's something we've never had to deal with before."

"Deal with, huh? That sounds reassuring." I stared at my feet as I tucked the dress deeper into my lap. "You spoke Latin to Vincent, something about release. What did you say?"

"Et receptum release. It translates to retreat and release. They're safe words. You've heard of safe words, haven't you?"

"Yes. I've read Fifty Shades."

"We use them during battle or when things heat up during sex. Gollums are very passionate beings."

"Passion that can kill. That sounds like a James Bond movie." I chuckled but there was nothing funny about this, and Colin looked grim as he focused on his task of cutting just the right length of gauze. This night was turning out to be one for the record books.

PLAYLIST SONG: Bloodstream by Transviolet