DAMIEN

As her lips crashed against mine, a jolt of surprise shot through me, momentarily stunning my senses. Her desperation was palpable, her kiss frantic and fervent, but it wasn't the taste of her lips that overwhelmed me. It was the sudden rush of warmth, of life, that surged through me, drowning out the hunger that had threatened to consume me.

Swiftly, almost instinctively, I pushed her away, breaking the kiss with a forceful shove. As I pulled back, I felt a cold mask settle over my features, my gaze hardening as I met her eyes.

"Don't ever do that again," I warned, my voice cold and authoritative. "You have...