“Uh-huh…” She nodded, her wide-eyed gaze locked on to his.
Yup, she’s definitely going to pass out. Damn it.
The need to comfort her gnawed at him. “Are you going to be all right?”
“Sure, just give me a minute to process. It’s not every day you find out the guy you went out on a date with is a vampire.”
“I’m sure it isn’t.” He controlled his expression, trying not to frighten her further. It was strange but he didn’t sense fear.
“Well, it explains a lot.”
“You’re not afraid?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not gonna lie, it does freak me out a bit when I think about it.”
“It should give you pause. We’re dangerous.” He wanted her to accept him but it was time to kick his own ass and do what needed to be done. The stark reality was that she should fear him.
“Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” he sighed.
“Is that the reason why you kept pulling away from me last night?”
“I had to when it got too intense between us, before I did something we’d both regret.”
“What were you tempted to do to me?” She bit her lip.
How should he explain this without stating the obvious? “You have a life, Jenny, and I would never take that from you.”
“Why, were you going to bite me?” Her eyes flashed with a twinge of fear.
“I can’t lose control around you or it’s possible I might, yes.” He drew in another sharp inhale at the bleak acknowledgment of what he was capable of doing to her.
“But you won’t, right?” Her innocent expression made him flinch internally.
“I’m trying not to. It’s difficult to control my instincts when we…never mind.” He went over to the window and glanced outside.
“Oh, you mean when we have sex.”
“It makes it harder, yes.” His dick throbbed and he frowned.
“So if you bit me, I’d become like you?”
Fucked up, that’s what this is.
“You mean if I didn’t kill you in the process? No, not right away, but eventually,” he said harshly. Holy shit, she was tempting. His mind started chanting
mine, mine, mine
. A shiver of desire shot through him. He wanted the human even more than before.
“It’s still hard for me to believe all this. I mean I’ve seen plenty of vampire movies and it never occurred to me that you guys were real.” She paused. “Do you drink blood from people?”
“No, never.” His lips curled in disgust. “I’ve never bitten anyone.”
“Really? But you said it was hard to resist when you’re with me. So if you don’t bite people, how, um, do you, you know, feed?” she asked.
“I own several blood banks.” He eyed her warily.
“Well, that’s good at least. I’m sure that’s a much better option than hurting someone. Thank god for technology, right,” she said softly. “How did you survive before blood banks existed?”
“I drank animal blood.”
“How was that?” She crinkled her nose. That cooled his desire.
“It tempered the thirst.” He shrugged, trying to keep his answers short since he really didn’t like discussing the topic.
“I can’t believe we are having this conversation,” she said.
That makes two of us.
“If it makes you uncomfortable, then why do you ask?”
“I assumed you were someone else before all of this. Shocked wouldn’t be the strongest word to express what’s going through my mind at the moment.”
“Who did you think I was?” His heart squeezed painfully. He wanted to be human for her but knew it was impossible. She had no idea how much he still wanted his life back, coveted it now more than anything.
“Human. Not some mythical creature.”
“We’re not a myth.” He smirked at her.
“That’s true. Hey, for what it’s worth, thank you for saving my life again.”
“You’re thanking me? That’s generous of you, considering I’m the reason you’re in this mess in the first place.” He didn’t want pity or a thank you. What he wanted he couldn’t have.
“You didn’t make those things attack me.”
“Sure, keep telling yourself that. But I know better.” He had to find a place to hide her from his enemies. The question was, would she go with him?
“I didn’t even know you the night I got attacked so I think you’re reading into this way too much.”
Did she not give a shit about her own life? “I’m a Hunter, Jenny. I belong to a special sect of vampires called the Order of the Dragon. We protect humans from those who refuse to conform. There are many Rogues out there that prefer to drink fresh blood from a victim. These vampires will not adapt and they hate Hunters. They’ve targeted my company and the employees who work for me. You’re right. You were in the wrong place at the right time. But I made the situation worse when I didn’t follow my normal patterns. Instead, I took you from the garage and left one of them alive. Now they assume you must be very important for me to make a mistake like that.”
“What are we going to do?”
“I’m going to take you someplace safe.” Caring for anyone made you weak and caused you to make stupid decisions. Now he had to figure out a way to fix it. Hopefully, she wouldn’t put up a fight. He’d take her kicking and screaming if he had to.
“You mean we’re not safe here?”
“I wish I didn’t have to do this but it’s better if I take you someplace where I know they won’t be able to find you.”
“Wait a minute—where? I can’t leave. What about my job?” she huffed.
“I own the company you work for, remember? And yes, you can leave if you want to live.” He didn’t relish the idea of forcing her but he would if he had to.
“And what if I say no?”
“I didn’t mention giving you a choice in the matter.”
“Oh gee, thanks.” She rolled her eyes. “So when are we leaving?” She climbed off the bed and walked over to him. Irritation flared inside him. He was trying to protect her. But what—did he expect for her to be happy about it?
“Now, if you’re ready,” he replied, trying not to let his anger get the best of him.
“I still could’ve been a target regardless of how it played out.”
“Yeah, well I upped the ante with my response to the situation.” He felt her arms slide around his waist and he was too stunned to move.
“The danger part I can do without but believe it or not I’m still glad we met.” She smiled.
“You shouldn’t make light of this, Jenny, it’s not funny.” He ached to capture those lips with his again.
“I didn’t say it was funny.” She licked her lips. Damn, he should’ve retreated right there and then. But he didn’t.
“Why are you acting so calm? You should be scared of what I am.”
“Part of me is but so far you’ve been the good guy.” She shrugged.
“I’m still a vampire. I’m not a worthy guy.” He’d found a way to live with what he was but he never saw himself in that context.
“You judge yourself rather harshly. If you were evil, you wouldn’t have tried to save me.” She reached up and touched his cheek and he inhaled harshly.
“Don’t,” he growled.
“I’m not afraid to be with you.” She lifted up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips to his. He traced to the other side of the room to put some distance between them.
“You have no idea what you are saying. It’s not safe to get too close to me. I normally never interact with humans.”
“If I recall, we got as close as two people can get last night.”
“Yeah and I almost bit you.” His mood darkened.
“What about the people who work with you?”
“Some are human. But most of my interactions with those employees are limited.”
“I had heard you were a private person. I guess it makes sense now.” She glanced at him with longing in her eyes.
Shit, this is not good.
He needed her to be scared of him, anything to ease the lust brewing inside him. “It’s safer that way for all involved.”
“You said you didn’t drink from humans, so what’s the problem?”
“Just because I don’t bite humans, doesn’t mean it isn’t tempting.”
“Makes sense, I guess. But then why did you interact with me?”
“It was different with you.”
Shit, I shouldn’t have said that.
“That’s really selfish, to toy with someone’s emotions. I have feelings, you know.”
“You could’ve said no.” He didn’t know what else to say. She was right.
“That’s such a typical male response.” She crossed her arms.
He breathed in her scent and a fiery need consumed him. God, he was such an ass. “You’re right. It was wrong of me to pursue you like I did. But I can’t change it now. All I can offer you is an apology for my actions.”
“It wasn’t so dangerous yesterday when you were pursuing me. What’s changed now?” She placed her hands on her hips.
“I haven’t felt my body stir in almost three centuries. You brought that part of me back to life again. The only problem is I can’t truly be with you unless I make you what I am, and I’m not willing to do that to you.”
“If you’ve resisted the temptation to bite someone all this time, what’s so special about me that you can’t resist biting me?” Her bravery in the face of danger was noble but stupid.
“You’re my blooded mate. I can’t resist the siren call of your blood when we have sex, because the desire to claim you is too strong, that’s why.”
A warm shiver passed through her but it wasn’t from fear. The idea of her belonging to him made her want him all the more. She wasn’t sure about the vampire part but the other she was very sure of. “Does blooded mate mean we’re connected in some way? Like fate?” Jenny’s mind reeled from this new bit of information.
“I’m drawn to you in a primal way that goes beyond anything you would understand. The more we connect, the harder it is to resist you. At first I assumed I could handle it but now I know I can’t. If you were like me it would be different between us. I could be with you without the fear of hurting you.”
“So that means we can’t be together again?” She frowned. Not sure she liked that idea. She was really attracted to him.
“Didn’t you hear what I said? I’m dangerous. If I bite you, I could kill you.”
“But I don’t want you to never touch me again. Maybe we can figure this out.” She tried to come up with a solution. They could work this out. She wasn’t opposed to trying at least.
“There’s nothing to figure out. You’re too much of a temptation for me,” he said in a sharp tone.
“Can we at least try?” She frowned.
“You need to change. We have to leave,” he growled at her.
“What would you like me to change into? All my clothes are back at the apartment.”
“I have something for you to wear. Wait here.” A few minutes later he returned with a pair of black sweats and a long-sleeved turtleneck. “These might be kind of big but it’s going to have to do for now.”
“Thanks.” She bristled.
I’ll give you some privacy while you change.” He turned around.
“Why am I not surprised you’d say that.” She was a jumble of mixed emotions. Part of her liked the danger while the other recoiled from it. How bad could it be if she was like him?
Damn, I hate even the sight of blood though, let alone having to drink it.
That would be a tough one to get used to.
“I’m ready to go,” she whispered. His eyes glowed in the moonlight, scorching her. She stood there, painfully aware of her growing need to be with this man, vampire, whatever he was.
Perhaps I
could
learn to like blood.
“What’s wrong?” His eyes narrowed.
“You don’t want me. It makes me sad because part of me wants you.”
He traced to where she stood and swiftly pinned her against the wall. She sucked in air at his close proximity, feeling his arousal, thick and hard, against her belly. “Never doubt that I want you, Jenny. I’m trying to protect you and that is the only reason I am staying away,” he said huskily.
She traced the hard planes of his chest with the tips of her fingers. His muscles tensed. “Shouldn’t it be my choice to make?”
“You don’t know what you’re asking. We have to go.” He drew back and reached for her wrist, tracing with her.
She stumbled forward, dizzy. “Can you please tell me when you’re going to do that to me again?” She groaned, about ready to hurl.
“I’m sorry. I’ll warn you the next time.” He let go of her and went over to a fireplace to light a fire. He got it going and stood up. “I’m going outside to find the control panel that powers the cabin. I’ll be back.” He stalked toward the door and disappeared.
Jenny shivered.
Shit, it’s freezing in here.
She stood up and made her way over to the fireplace to get warm. When the lights came on, she studied her surroundings. The cabin was nicely furnished. A big bear rug, rustic furniture, a cozy couch placed right in front of the fireplace.
Man cave…
It was a little dusty. She brushed the dirt off the back of her pants.
No one’s been here in a while.
There were cobwebs everywhere. It wasn’t as opulent as his penthouse in Manhattan but it was still pretty snazzy.