Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“Yes. Nothing less and nothing more. I’m certain you won’t encounter any problems.” My eyes search the room for anything amiss. Devin’s convinced they’re poisoning the blood somehow. My eyes narrow as they zero in on the boxes behind the door.
“Where do you get your equipment?” I ask.
“The Authority sets you up with everything you need to start. It’s cheaper than buying everything separately from the humans. And this way we avoid doing any more activity with them than we have to.”
“Well, that’s very convenient.” Veronica voices my own thoughts. If I had to guess, I’d say the blood bags used to collect donations are what’s poisoned; maybe they lace the plastic lining.
But what the hell do I know? We’re going to have to test the materials after we place an order.
“Do you drink it?” I can’t help but to ask if for no other reason than curiosity. A part of me feels complicit for knowing these vampires could be consuming drugs without knowing. It’s obvious that Veronica’s coven isn’t adhering to the law, but how many other covens are as lenient as hers?
His eyes dart between the two of us before he replies, “Of course I do. It’s law.”
Veronica laughs a sweet, low seductive sound while trailing her fingers down my neck and resting them in the dip of my collarbone. “I prefer sweeter tastes.”
“Wolves are sweeter?” His brows raise as he regards my wrists and neck curiously. The way his gaze lingers makes me think he must be hungry. Maybe they are only drinking what’s been donated. When his eyes reach my hard stare, he flinches.
“I think we’re good here,” I state bluntly. I don’t appreciate being looked at like I’m a fucking meal. Not by him anyway.
With a soft hum of agreement, Veronica laces her fingers between mine, peering up at me. The male vampire is quick to look away.
I lead Veronica out, loving that she holds on to my hand without hesitation.
Still, I can’t help feeling a twisting knot deep in my gut. I just don’t feel right. We haven’t been intimate since the offering. My wolf isn’t happy. My balls aren’t either. Every few hours I’m rock hard for her and I’m going to need a release soon. Preferably before I lose my damn mind.
As we walk down the narrow hall, the scents mingle and that unsettled feeling turns into something else. “Let me do a lap and try to catch the scent.”
Veronica pauses in the middle of the hall with me, the vampire to our backs. “Do you think you’ll find anything?”
I shrug and tell her, “Possibly. A vampire’s scent is much different from a human’s.”
“Oh,” she says and purses her lips, “and what is it that we smell like?”
“More metallic and salty.” That’s the best response I can come up with. It’s hard to describe their smell.
She huffs in distaste and says, “So you’re saying I smell like a rock.”
“No, you smell like honey and jasmine.” I lean in close to her ear, backing her body against the handrail, then tell her, “You taste like them too.” Heat dances between us instantly and she sucks in a breath, taken aback and very much weak for me. She lets her head fall back, which gives me a clear view of my mark on her. I bend down to kiss it, but she seems to realize my intention and pushes away from me. That twisting sickness in my stomach roils.
“Do a lap and see if you can smell anything.” She maneuvers her way out of my hold and it takes everything in me not to react. Not to hold her still, press her against the wall and take her lips with mine. I watch her walk away from me, staying as still as I can.
Taking one deep breath and then another, my tense muscles relax. At least she’s found her strength and is giving me orders again.
I follow her out of the blood bank walking a step or two behind. When she stops at the car and turns to face me, I step into her space. It fucking kills me when she stiffens as I cage her body in. Her eyes flash with fear, and then defiance as they narrow at me. She has no reason for either reaction.
I lean down and breathe in her sweet honey scent before kissing her neck. If I want to kiss my mark on her, I’m going to fucking kiss it. I leave an openmouthed kiss exactly where I want it and breathe into her neck, “My Mistress.”
As I pull back, she doesn’t react. There’s a sadness in her eyes, followed by nothing. In a blink, nothing. It guts me.
How have we taken such a huge step back in our relationship? It was so fucking easy, so damn good before. My fists clench as I leave her and head for the back of the building, the thin skin over my knuckles going taut and turning white. My jog turns into a sprint. How the hell did I mess this up so fucking bad?