Crap. “Out, Fin. Now. I mean it. And nix those bedroom eyes. We’re not going there.”
“Pity.” He gave me a sultry pout, then whooshed from the room.
I slumped against the tiled wall. I had a full plate of doom to deal with, and now I had a randy, ancient vampire in my bedroom. One who saw me naked. Fantastic. The idea of using him as a rebound flitted through my mind but I dismissed it when my chest tightened and images of Alexander flashed before my eyes. I could count the number of sexual experiences I’d had in my lifetime on one hand. Three. Mark and Adrian, my friends, and, most significant of all, Alexander. I wasn’t ready for new intimacy with a fourth person. Damn it all, I still wanted Alexander.
I grabbed the liquid soap and slathered my body, the gentle citrus scent doing nothing to calm my frazzled nerves. How could I have been so wrong about him? Until now, I’d trusted my instincts. They’d never failed me before, but now, in the face of Alexander’s clear betrayal…
I ducked under the shower, hissing as the spray stung the not quite healed wound on the back of my head. Water swirled down the drain, pink with my blood. The grapefruit scented shampoo burned the wound but I kept at it. Had to get every speck of Dixon off me. ASAP. Flush thoughts of Alexander down the drain too, along with that friend-napping bastard.
The water had turned cold when I finished up and wrapped my hair and body in big, fluffy black towels. I swiped at the fogged up bathroom mirror and caught my warped reflection in the streaked glass.
Cloud-white pale skin, hot chocolate eyes, cherry lips, espresso hair
… Alexander’s words whispered through me along with the memory of his lips pressed to mine, his talented piano player fingers trailing over my skin, sliding through my unruly waves of hair, twisting them around his hand, pulling me closer—
The pain from his rejection destroyed that happy memory. I tightened the towel on my head and looked around for my clothes.
Gone.
My forehead furrowed. Fin had taken my clothes? I yanked a short black silk robe from its hook on the bathroom door. Belt cinched tight, all private body parts adequately covered, I stomped into my bedroom.
Fin slouched on my comfy coral colored chair and matching ottoman by the fireplace, flicking through one of the
Vogue
magazines he must have picked up from the stash next to the chair. A fire burned in the fireplace, casting orange and red highlights on his dark hair. He’d ditched his coat, and unbuttoned and untucked his crisp black shirt, exposing too much of his pale, lean-muscled torso. I trailed my gaze over the ridges of his abs right down to the top of his form fitting black pants. Sheesh, he looked like a romance cover model, complete with the smoldering look he shot me as I stalked to him.
“You took my clothes,” I fumed.
He tossed the magazine to the ground and straightened. A seductive smile curled his lips. He slid his feet to the floor and patted the ottoman. “Sit.”
Sitting on the ottoman would put me between his legs. A nervous lump formed in my throat and yet, for some insane reason I didn’t bother to analyze, I sat right where he wanted me.
His cheek creased with a crooked smile. He fingered the sash at my waist. I didn’t move. Or breathe. What the hell was I doing?
He gave the belt one small tug then leaned back against his chair. “I do believe it’s time to come clean, so to speak, don’t you?”
My shoulders slumped in relief that he hadn’t pushed that weird and sexually charged moment. But this was worse—he wanted to know my Dixon secret. I’d avoided the subject all the way home. Could I keep up the pretense?
Faith and Kai will die if I don’t.
“I can’t tell you.” I gave him a hard look. “You can’t tell anyone what happened tonight. I mean it.”
He snorted. “Let me guess. He’s blackmailing you. Threatened to kill someone you love.”
I gaped at him. “How did you—”
He waved away my question. “It’s a classic. Never gets old. Especially with Dixon.”
Panic punched my gut. I curled my fingers around the hem of my robe, fisting the silky material. “You can’t tell Jonas, or Thomas. Or anyone. If Dixon finds out
you
know something, he’ll—” My throat closed, choking off my words.
“Trust me, Princess, Dixon won’t spend a second worrying about what I know or don’t know. Thomas or Jonas, on the other hand… Princess? Are you all right?”
My mouth opened and closed like a beached fish struggling to breathe. Images danced across my vision. Faith and Kai in Dixon’s lair, their injured necks on display for the camera. Faith and Kai dead on a cement floor, their bodies riddled with bite marks, discarded in a pool of blood, lifeless eyes staring at nothing. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Tony appeared in my vision. He attacked me, savaging my throat, feeding from me. My heart stuttered, sputtering to a stop…
“Princess.” Firm hands gripped my biceps and squeezed. “Rina.” The hands shook me. Hard. “Fuck.”
Soft lips landed on mine. Ripe cherries. Succulent strawberries. Fin. The taste of him filled my mouth, sweet and soothing. It was a chaste kiss, all things considered, but as he worked his magic on me, the horrifying images disappeared and my muscles loosened, my heart rate slowed, and the boulder on my chest disintegrated.
I kissed him back.
He pulled the towel from my head. My hair cascaded over us, a mess of damp curls. Fin released my lips and pressed his forehead to mine, his gesture a balm to my senses.
I told him everything.
Eyes closed, forehead to forehead, his hands cupping my head, I confessed it all.
He was quiet for a while, just holding me. When he hissed in a breath, I opened my eyes to find my nails had sharpened, my claws digging into his legs just above his knees.
I sat back, smoothing my hands along the silk covering not much of my thighs. “Sorry.”
He placed his hands over mine, halting my nervous gesture. “No harm done.” Understanding gleamed in his dark eyes.
For the first time in days, a moment of true relief rushed over me. Someone finally knew the truth.
I’m no longer alone in this battle
. “I don’t know what else to do. I’ve tried so hard to find some other way. But there isn’t one, so for now, I have to do what he wants. I have to keep up the pretense everything is fine. Otherwise he’ll—”
“You do realize the blood he is forcing on you will come with a steep price, yes?”
I nodded. “Of course, but—”
“I’ve known Dixon for centuries. Trust me when I say the blood is beyond dangerous for you. You should stop drinking it now before—”
It was my turn to interrupt him. “No. I can’t risk losing my friends. I just can’t.” I swallowed hard. “No matter the price.”
He stared at me for a long time, so long I started to worry he might be chatting with my family, telling them everything, but then he gave me a determined look. “Then let’s date.”
Date? He couldn’t be serious. “What? No. I—no.”
“Hear me out.” He smoothed his palms along the tops of my hands, his fingertips teasing the flesh of my exposed thighs, raising goose bumps on my skin. “Your beautiful face hides nothing. Everyone can see your pain. Sooner rather than later the others will figure it out.”
“I’ve managed fine this far.” Six of the longest damn days of my life.
“Because you’ve avoided them, am I correct?”
Yes, he was. I gave him a nod, finding comfort in the weight of his hands on my knees as he continued. “You know I’m right. If you spend any significant amount of time with Jonas, Thomas, Stella, or any of your closest friends, they’ll discover you’re hiding something big. You’ll be forced to tell them. Or one of the old ones will pull it from your mind.”
That would be tricky since I’d locked up my secret. Of course, if they really wanted to push inside, their formidable power could break my barrier, but it would hurt me. I shook my head. “They wouldn’t do that to me.”
Laughter rumbled in his chest. “You are so sweet in your naiveté.”
I frowned. “I am
not
innocent.”
“Date me. Give yourself an obvious excuse for avoiding the company of everyone else. I promise you this ruse will work. Plus I can assist in keeping them from delving into your pretty head.”
Well, when he put it that way… I huffed out an annoyed breath. I had nothing to lose by pretending to date Fin, and if this is what it took to guard my secret and save my friends, then so be it. “I see your point. Your idea is solid. Let’s do it.” There were worse ways to spend the next few days before I had to face off with Dixon and possibly die.
He cupped my cheek and leaned in close. “Ah, love. It will be my utmost pleasure to protect and serve my princess in this manner. Shall we seal our deal with another kiss?”
His lips pressed to mine, a tad more demanding this time, but still as sweet. I was tempted to yield, to give Fin more than a fake girlfriend but sadness and a deep sense of wrongness held me back. Fin was powerful, and cute, flirty fun, but he wasn’t mine. He wasn’t the love of my life. Why couldn’t this be Alexander holding me tenderly? Why couldn’t he be the one promising to help me defeat that rat bastard Dixon? Why did my fated mate have to go and break my fucking heart?
Fin snaked an arm around my waist. I slid my hands over his shoulders to push him away, but it didn’t matter.
The double doors to my deck blew open, and a furious tornado named Jonas whirled into the room.
Fin shot to his feet. Fear flickered through his eyes before he masked it with a saucy smirk. “Jonas, I—”
Jonas grabbed him by the throat and snapped his neck.
Shock cemented me to the ottoman as I gaped at Fin dangling from Jonas’s grasp like a lifeless puppet. “Oh my God, Jonas, what have you done?”
Jonas hissed his displeasure at me then tossed Fin across the room. His body crashed against the wall by my walk-in closet, cracking the plaster. He crumpled to the floor in a shower of white dust.
Footsteps thundered up the hallway then Mark and Ren ran in, guns drawn, Adrian hot on their heels. Stella flew through the open doors to my deck.
My heart pounded with adrenaline and anger, burning away my stunned immobility. I stood on trembling legs and adjusted my robe with equally shaky hands. I crossed my arms to prevent myself from striking Jonas and tilted my chin upward in defiance. “Great, gang’s all here. Why are you all here, exactly?”
I glared at Jonas and jabbed my finger at the heap of dead Fin on the floor. “And you. Do you plan on killing all of my dates? Because I’ll tell you right now, that doesn’t work for me.”
Jonas gave me the once-over, his expression darkening even further as he took in my scanty attire. His nostrils flared, and he growled, long fangs bared, black eyes glowing with his rage. My bravado faded. I swallowed and took a step back from my mentor. Adrian hurried over and stood between us. He didn’t say a word, but his appalled expression said it all.
“Date?” Mark and Ren both asked. They lowered their weapons and scowled at Fin’s body.
Stella blurred across the room. When she stood over Fin, she gave his body a swift kick in the gut with her booted foot.
“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled at her. “Jonas already killed him. Isn’t that enough for you people?”
She cocked her head. “He isn’t dead.”
Okay, good to know a snapped cervical spine couldn’t kill a vampire. But still, Jonas had no right to act like he was my father and I some naughty teenager hiding in my room with the bad boy I wasn’t allowed to date.
I jerked my head at the door. “Get out. All of you.”
Adrian raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Come on, babe. Let’s just sit down and talk about this. This—” he gestured at Fin. “This isn’t like you. Don’t let Alex—”
“No, Adrian. Don’t say another word about
him
.” I skirted Adrian and Jonas and joined Stella next to Fin. “Fin and I are dating. Get used to it, get over it, and get the hell out of my room.”
No one moved. Everyone stared.
I knelt on the floor and rolled Fin onto his back, cradling his head on my lap. He was so cold. Still out cold, too.
I surveyed my well meaning friends and family and tried a calmer approach. “Thank you for caring. Really. But I don’t need babysitters.” I stroked Fin’s hair, smoothing his bangs from his forehead. “Fin is all I need right now. I’ll see you guys tomorrow at the grand opening.” I gave each of them good eye contact. “Until then, Fin and I need to be alone.”
I pointed at the door. Mark and Ren stalked out, faces grim. Stella gave me a bemused grin and flew out the deck doors. I raised a brow at Adrian and Jonas. I should’ve expected them to be the hard sells in the crowd.
Adrian squatted next to me. “I really think you should talk to him.”
Traitor. “What, now you’re on Alexander’s side? You wanted to kill him the other night.”
“True.” He stood and straightened the lapels of his gray suit jacket. “But I’ve had time to think about it.”
“Bully for you.”
The disapproving look he shot me almost made me apologize for my snippy tone. “There has to be some explanation, babe. He’s not a player.”
“Sure looked like it to me.”
The stubborn set of his jaw told me he wasn’t finished with his argument. “You’re wrong, babe. I think you owe it to him to hear him out.”
I gaped. “You’re joking, right? Video doesn’t lie, Adrian. He’s dating a cougar. I don’t owe him anything. We’re done.” I looked down at Fin. “I’m…I’m moving on.”
Fin opened his eyes and winked at me, a playful smile curving his lips. I smiled back, hoping it fooled Jonas and Adrian and that it didn’t look as forced and painful as it felt.
When neither man spoke or made a move to leave us alone, I huffed in true annoyance—I was nearing the end of my ability to fake it for the moment. I had enough drama for one evening, and they needed to go. “Jesus, you guys, just give me this rebound, will you? Say goodbye now.”