Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Her expression was shell-shocked, but she wasn’t looking at me with fear or trying to get away. So I hurried on to explain the difference between the two races of vampires. I skipped over the part about consorts. That would be a conversation to be had all on its own, once I knew she’d accepted the reality of the supernatural.
When I was done, I searched her eyes, trying to gauge her reaction. She still appeared stunned, but it was more awe than disbelief.
“Why are you telling me this?” she inquired curiously. “If humans don’t know…”
“For two reasons,” I answered. “First, I think you deserve to know the truth about what was going to happen to you tonight if you hadn’t run.” I moved my hands from her face and cupped her hips, lifting her into my lap. She wiggled a little to get comfortable, and I groaned when her firm, little ass brushed over my hard cock.
Amazingly, in my concern for her, my need had backed off. Since I’d never experienced desire or arousal, I hadn’t considered the state of my dick when I put her in my lap.
Thana froze and glanced up at me in surprise as her cheeks bloomed with dark crimson. I knew the proper thing to do was apologize and put her back where she’d been sitting. Hell, in the days of my youth, courtship was practically non-existent. Considering my parents' rank and wealth, it was likely that if I’d been born human, my marriage would have been arranged while I was in the cradle.
But that was a long fucking time ago, and I’d never been known for manners or patience. In fact, I could be a ruthless son of a bitch if I wanted something. And I wanted Thana.
While I was attempting to ease her into her new life, I was not the least hesitant in letting her know how much I desired her. So, when she blushed like the pure little virgin I knew she was, I smiled wickedly and settled her more firmly over my engorged shaft.
“We’ll talk about that too, baby,” I practically purred. The flush of her skin spread down her neck into the top of her dress. I nearly tore it away to follow the trail of pink. Fortunately, common sense hit me on the head and reminded me that ravishing my sexy, little consort would have to wait a bit longer.
“I don’t know how much your aunt was aware of, but by handing you over to Jonathan, she’d essentially sentenced you to death.”
“What do you mean?”
The lack of surprise in her eyes was disturbing, and it pushed her aunt’s fate a little closer to Jonathan’s.
“I’m not sure when it happened, but Jonathan—”
A loud banging on my front door cut me off, and I cursed when Thana jumped before shrinking into herself, the terror returning to her blue orbs. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, baby,” I vowed again. “Trust me.”
Thana nodded, and when the pounding started up again, she still looked terrified, but this time, she clung to me.
I had a pretty good idea who was at the door, and while I didn’t want my woman anywhere near that motherfucker, neither did I want her out of my sight.
“Open the fucking door, Bancroft,” Jonathan growled. “I want my fiancée.”
I was only able to hear him due to my enhanced senses, which I appreciated because it meant Thana hadn’t heard his demand. It took all my strength just to keep from roaring in outrage at him referring to Thana as his fiancée. The last thing I needed was for her to be even more frightened.
Taking a deep breath and pulling her cinnamon scent into my lungs, I placed a quick, hard kiss on her lips. “Stay here, baby. I need to take care of this.”
Her hands fisted in my shirt when I tried to set her away from me. I covered them with my own and squeezed gently, giving her a smile when she unclenched from the material. “Be careful,” she whispered. “I...I don’t want to lose...just, be careful.”
Warmth seeped into my cold heart, and I tenderly kissed her one more time. “I will never leave you, baby,” I promised as I ran my fingers through her long, silky tresses. Then I clenched them tight and forced her head back a little. My voice was pure steel when I added, “And no one will ever take you from me. No one.”
5
Thana
My head was spinning as I tried to come to terms with Kieran telling me he was a vampire—but the good kind. A daywalker who protected others from the evil nightwalkers who should never have been turned. Most women probably would have run from him the same way I had from Jonathan earlier, thinking he was either a liar, delusional, or about to drain all their blood. But I believed he was being honest—vampires were real, and Kieran would never hurt me.