Page 52 of Fangs and Fudge

“Define parts…”

“The scent is strongest on your finger and mouth, but I can smell his lingering scent in other places.” His gaze swept over my front and I knew he wasn’t eyeing my boobs as much as he was silently indicating where he could smell Cross.

Damn that complicated vampire. I’d told him he was going to cause me trouble.

“I am more than willing to tell you. However, considering what happened with Sierra and Miles, I think you’re going to struggle with believing me when I tell you the truth.”

“And why is that?”

“Because you believe there’s no such thing as a good vampire.”

Shepard’s gaze softened, and in the next instant, I found myself wrapped in a warm hug.

“Oh, Everly,” he said softly. “Did they get to you, too? Tell me who the vampire is, and I’ll handle it.”

I could hear his sincere worry for me and hugged him back.

“No one has done anything bad to me,” I said. “And I promise, there were so many times that I thought bad things would happen. The shadow world isn’t exactly all rainbows and kittens. But I found an ally.”

He loosened his hold to grip my shoulders and look me in the eyes.

“Tell me what happened.”

“We accidentally met a vampire. Well, met is maybe a misrepresentation of what happened. We stole from him.”

The stunned disbelief in Shepard’s expression would have been hilarious if I wasn’t on the receiving end of it.

“However, he didn’t go on a murderous rampage like we’d been led to believe he would. He was definitely annoyed but allowed us the opportunity to explain the misunderstanding. All without a single drop of blood spilled. I promise.

“Since then, we’ve been helping him a little, and he’s been helping us a lot. Remember that little pickle Vena and I got in at Juicy? He saved us. He’s the reason everyone there is dead. If he hadn’t shown up when he did…” I let out a sigh. “It would have been bad. He’s a friend, Shepard.”

While I spoke, Shepard’s tightly clenched jaw started to tic faster and faster.

“Please don’t be mad,” I added.

“Mad?” he said. “Everly, I’m not angry; I’m terrified. You stole from a vampire, and somehow, he has you believing he’s a hero. Do you think he just happened to be there when you needed him? Juicy was a feeder nest unlike anything I’ve ever seen. That’s why MC and his people are here. D.C. has an infestation. That the vampires took one of my own and did what they did means they have no fear. The only reason they wouldn’t fear us is because their numbers are out of control.”

What he was saying made my stomach sink to my toes. Were there really that many of them? Here? In my hometown?

“And he’s one of them, Everly,” Shepard said, interrupting my thoughts. “He’s not your hero or your friend. He’s probably fed on you without you even realizing it. I want to take you to one of our females and have you checked for bite marks. Please.”

“What? No. Shepard, I’m not going to strip down for some stranger because you don’t believe me.”

“Then strip for me.”

“Whoa.” I retreated a step, which he shadowed, maintaining contact.

“I think you’re in danger, Everly. Please.”

“I knew you wouldn't believe me,” I said. “But Cross can help us. He can compel Sierra to talk. He already did–without biting her–when we were at her house.”

“He was the vampire we chased,” Shepard said, understanding.

“Yes.”

He shook his head, looking down for a moment.

“None of that explains why you still smell like him,” he said, lifting his gaze to meet mine again.

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