Chapter 88

We kissed with dropped teeth, bleeding each other and ignoring the stings. I wrapped my arms and then my legs around him. He supported me with a gasp and then lowered us to the floor.

"Oh, Alexis, I missed you. I missed you so much!"

He pulled back to look at me. "My love, my beautiful, beautiful love."

He kissed me and stroked my tongue with his until I thought I'd faint. Alexis, who had not touched another human for four hundred years until me, was now running his fingers up my arms. His touch caused me to shiver uncontrollably. He was allowing himself to warm up, and I could feel the heat radiating off his fingertips.

He made his heart beat, and I could feel his breath hot against my lips. I felt his tongue again, this time gentler as it teased my lips and healed the little scrapes.

I reached up and ran my fingers through his silky curls.

"I missed you," he whispered. "I love you."

My eyes stung.

"It's not your fault," he whispered. "I see that you feel guilty because you