Page 20 of The Kill

With a loud bang, the door flies open, ricocheting off the wall and leaving a dent in the plaster. The clang of metal hitting the floor suggests it’s going to need a new handle. Tyson stands framed in the doorway, arms by his side, fire in his eyes, radiating darkness. Pressing my back against the cool tiles, I repeat over and over again to myself that he’s my mate, he won’t hurt me.

The other vampire lies in a crumpled heap in the hallway, staring on, obviously concerned about what’s about to happen. His horrified expression as Tyson steps inside, kicking the door closed behind him, isn’t helping me stay calm.

“Tyson?” I say once more, praying my voice will snap him out of this trance. “Don’t do this. You’re scaring me.”

“Shh,” he says gently, reaching out for my arm and turning my elbow carefully so he can see the cut. I freeze as he leans down and inhales deeply, breathing in the scent of my blood. He visibly shudders as the smell hits his senses and his possessive growl has my insides coiling tight. When his tongue darts out from between full lips to lick the tiny gash, I whisper his name. Then he presses his lips over the wound and gives a gentle suck, nothing more, but it’s enough to make my insides quiver.

As my blood hits his tongue, he moans, eyes sliding closed, a look of ecstasy written over his handsome features. It’s a sound so low and ragged it gives me a good idea how he sounds when he comes, and my own body betrays me with a needy whimper and a flood of arousal between my thighs.

“Is that good?” I’ve never seen a look of wonder like it as he savours my taste. “Would you like more?”

Tyson’s eyes lift to mine, and we both stare at each other, panting, in a mixture of fear and excitement. From the corridor, the sound of the other vampire climbing to his feet and brushing off his clothes distracts us from the fire threatening to consume us. I feel our bond, like a physical cord. Pulling me closer to him, making me inch nearer to his big body, until I’m pressed up against him. His hard length is stiff against my soft stomach. Strong hand finds my back, keeping me in place, knowing I can feel how turned on he is.

It feels so right.

We fit together like two pieces of a puzzle.

A knock on the door and a bark from outside break the spell and we ease apart an inch or two, chests still heaving and eyes still locked on one another. Momentarily forgetting all the reasons that rushing in is a bad idea. Until there’s another bark outside and a knock on the door.

“Mandy, are you okay? Do you need me to come in?”

12

TYSON

“Are you alright?” I ask, still caging Mandy against the back of the small bathroom but unable to make myself give her space.

Mandy blinks those big brown eyes up at me but stays quiet. Shell-shocked, I think, is probably the right phrase. “Mandy, are you alright?” I repeat, guilt consuming me as she stares at me, wide-eyed and stunned.

“I’m fine, honestly,” she lies, her back still to the wall.

Eventually, I force my feet to take a step back and it’s like a kick in the gut when she exhales slowly, her relief palpable. Belatedly, I realise I’m still gripping her arm, the one I licked, the one I sucked blood from without asking her. My first taste of her, while indescribably amazing, was not offered freely. My stomach churns and I fight to stay calm, anger at my lack of self-control taking over.

I don’t want to scare her again, so I back away. Mandy cautiously watches me retreat. My little mate is uncharacteristically quiet.

“I’m sorry.” The raspy words seem so hollow and weak considering what I’ve just done. Her reluctance to get to know me, the very reason she slept on the floor and barricaded her door, was for fear of the monster I just proved myself to be. I lost control and took it from her. It’s unforgivable.

“You were right, Lucian. I need to feed.” Torn up with regret, I can’t look Mandy in the eye as I leave the bathroom. With my back to her, I halt in the doorway. “As you can see, you’re safer with Lucian than with anyone else. I won’t be back until morning. You can sleep soundly in your bed tonight.”

I ignore my wolf clawing at my insides, telling me to go back and grovel.

Even though my skin sizzles in the bright, direct sunlight, I march straight out the front door and into the woods beyond, needing distance immediately. Since I found Mandy, the idea of taking blood from anyone but my mate makes me want to gag, but I’ll do it tonight if it keeps my cravings and my thirst for her at bay.

Lack of sleep and food has me exhausted and on edge. I'm not sure how I thought this was going to be the winning formula for charming my mate and convincing her I’m worth taking the chance.

Hours later, after taking a circuitous route to avoid leading anyone to Mandy, I’m running on empty by the time I get to Anya’s. The nondescript black door at the rear of an old red brick building gives no hints as to what lies inside. When I knock, it takes a minute for someone to come, cracking open the door an inch to check out who’s appeared well before peak feeding time.

“Long time no see.” The tall bear shifter that opens the door doesn’t smile, but his lack of scowl is like a welcoming hug compared to the way he greets most people. He doesn’t expect an answer so I don’t offer one; instead, I slip into the cool, dark corridor while he slams the door shut behind me, blocking out prying eyes and curious passersby. He escorts me down the narrow hall to the cloakroom and twirls his finger in the universal gesture to get on with it.

“I don’t carry weapons, Warren. I am the weapon.” I say the same thing every time, and every time he rolls his eyes and frisks me anyway.

“Anya’s rules,” he grunts.

Anya trusts nobody, and she’s right not to. It’s the reason her establishment has been so successful. Vampires are strong and fast, but far from invincible. If a wolf or bear was to get one in its grasp, the shifter would win nearly every time. When speed and keeping out of reach are your greatest weapons, letting your guard down in an enclosed space can be hard. In a venue like this, with wards to prevent shifting and strict security to prevent stakes being brought inside, vampires can feed and gather in relative peace.

And there’s no arguing with Anya. I wouldn’t even try. The respected vampire has powerful friends, people no one messes with, and so patrons of her establishment shut-up or put-up.

Pushing through the heavy drapes into the main bar, magic brushes up against my skin, and I feel it swirling around me. The wards do their work, and my wolf whimpers, temporarily caged and uncomfortable with the restriction of his powers. We won’t be here for long, and I’m not in the mood for socialising.

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