Cloak of Deceit: An Alex Moore Novel by Gwen Mitchell

be in so deep already?
    He swallowed and nodded.
    “I haven’t looked that up yet,” I whispered.
    Julian leaned into my hand as I cupped the side of his face, his stubble scratching against my palm. “It’s a blood ritual, a bond shared between two Undead. It would keep you safe, initiate you into our ranks officially. The Cloak couldn’t touch you unless you broke the Code.”
    Was it always about my safety? Could that be the only reason he cared? Maybe he just had a soft spot for helpless, innocent girls. She doesn’t have anyone else . He’d said that to Derek. It was true — I didn’t. And if Julian would stay with me, I might not need anyone else. I was getting way too far ahead of myself. But just looking at him made my thoughts thin and wispy.
    “Being a psychic doesn’t qualify as breaking the Code?” I resituated myself so that I straddled his legs. It brought our faces — and other parts of our bodies — closer together.
    His arms loosened their hold to give me room. He hissed in a breath as I nestled closer. “I don’t think so.”
    I didn’t know if it was my new instincts kicking in, or simply that I felt so vulnerable, but I wanted to wrap Julian around me and let him be a protective barrier from all the bad things I knew were out there, right now, hunting me. He wanted to protect me, and I wanted to let him.
    His sweet leathery smell, the rich timbre of his voice, his strong muscles underneath my hands all felt as if they were all made to keep me safe. I ran my fingers across his handsome features, thinking about how comfortable he made me feel, even before I knew him. I could imagine getting to know him better, and wondered if maybe, there might actually be a future for us.
    If we could just get past this little hurdle of everyone wanting to kill me.
    “I’ll have to check the Code to be sure.” He kept talking, even as my thumb traced his lower lip. “But—”
    “Jules.”
    He froze, mid-word.
    “Just kiss me.”
    He smiled and leaned in, slanting his mouth under mine. He buried his hands in my hair and pulled me closer. I ground into him, a demanding pressure with my body and mouth. My tongue teased past his lips, eager to taste more of him. Honey and spice. I sighed into his mouth, my neck breaking out in a sweat, overtaken by his intoxicating flavor.
    Julian slid his hands behind me, gripping my ass as he hoisted me higher and lowered me slowly so I rubbed against the bulge in his jeans. I repeated the motion and felt the familiar tingling at the back of my skull start to trickle down my spine and pool between my hips. Either Julian or being an Undead put my body into sexual overdrive, and it felt good . I felt alive. Even though I technically wasn’t.
    He made a gruff sound as he invaded my mouth, his hands snaking up my shirt to knead my sides and skirt over my ribs. I moaned softly and felt my surroundings slip away in a haze of steamy breath. Julian nibbled at my lips and licked his way down my jaw. I rocked my hips against him and bunched his shirt in my fists. Caramelized sugar and leather filled the air, making my mouth water. His fingertips brushed over the sensitive flesh of my breasts. I gasped. My head spun, my skin suddenly burning for his touch. I leaned forward to kiss him again and paused, my breath hitching.
    “Is it always like this?”
    “Better.” The whispered word nearly singed my neck. He rolled one nipple between his thumb and forefinger. I reached down to rub a hand between us, palming the rigid mass underneath me. “And more.”
    “Definitely more.” I kissed along the column of his neck. Just the thought of tasting his blood made me light-headed. It was a new instinct, but one I didn’t question. He lifted his hips to press against me as he pulled his hands away and gripped my arms. He took in a deep breath and clenched his jaw, eyes closed. “But we can’t do this now.”
    His gaze burned with promise as he stared up at me, but he held me firmly