Ascend (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #4) Read Online Free

kiss would never end...nor did I want it to.  Teeth nibbled at lips, tongues twisted together in a sensual symphony.  The need and want between us almost spiraled out of control, even Stefan's kisses seemed different once the tentativeness and hesitation melted away. His lips, while tender, were much more demanding than they’d ever been.  We’d been separated much too long.
    He had been holding back on me.   The realization washed over me, my stomach clenching in the most delicious of ways, a warm, primal need settling over me.  If his kisses were so wild and untamed, what else would be?
    I’d already forgotten about the worried group assembled in the next room, lost in him.  He reluctantly pulled away and rested his forehead against mine.  "I am not ready to let you go and as much as this pains me to say, your brother is waiting.  As is Anna and Lukas.  They have been worried as well."
    Oh .  Each of their faces fluttered though my mind, the images fuzzy and hard to focus on.  It was as if I was looking through my human memories with a Vaseline covered lens, glimpsing at out of focus, hazy pictures.   I ruffled his soft hair between my index and middle fingers as my mind refocused.  "Right.  My mind..."
    "Is jumbled and confused."  Stefan finished knowingly.  His sea blue eyes glittered in understanding.  “I promise, it will get easier to balance what you are feeling.  It will not always be so overwhelming."
    Blinking at his words, I couldn’t help but wonder if I wanted to discover a balance?  How easy would it be to let my primal instincts take over and only worry about Stefan?  We could just forget everything else for the next century.  No sooner had the thought began to unfurl alluringly in my mind, I realized how cruel and selfish that would be to the others standing by, waiting for me to emerge.  We were a family, regardless how dysfunctional.  We’d be together for an eternity.
    "Promises, promises," I whispered.  I dropped a kiss on the end if his nose and reluctantly rose from his embrace.  Stretching my arms above my head, I took silent inventory of my body.  I felt stronger; any small aches or pains I'd had disappeared, my muscles strong and powerful. "The sooner we do this sooner I have you to myself, right?"
    A sexy smile twisted his lips and a blond eyebrow cocked arrogantly.  He knew where my mind…and libido was currently hovering.  It was somewhere between sizzle and inferno.  "That would be the plan.  Are you ready for this?  How is your thirst?"  Stefan questioned.  His mind probed mine even as he asked.  I could feel his worry and concern.
    Swallowing, I considered my thirst and bloodlust.  Honestly, my throat simply felt dry.  I felt no insane, all consuming need for blood.  I was anxiously waiting to see my ‘family’.
    "It's fine.  C'mon," I urged, pulling Stefan to the door.  I reached for the doorknob when I remembered that Nikolaus was still partly human and I spun to face Stefan with fearful eyes. "Wait!  Shit…what if…"
    Stefan stared down at me with a look of understanding on his handsome face.  He knew that my biggest fear would be that once I smelled my brother’s sweet blood coursing through his veins, hear the enchanting wet thump of his heart I’d lose control.
    He knew me better than myself.  Beautiful bastard.
    “Anna easily controlled herself around Nikolaus from the very beginning.  You are his sister.  Any desire you might feel for blood will be tempered by the knowledge you would be killing your sibling, yes?”  Stefan reminded me, brushing the backs of his fingers down my jaw and lingering across my throat.  “You can do this, Josephine.  If there is anyone that can overcome desire for blood, it will be you.  I know this.  If I doubted you, I would not let you see a human to tempt you, vackra.  I would not be so cruel to hurt you like that.”
    Taking in a deep breath of courage, I gave him a sharp nod and let him