Page 94 of Viper

He stilled. “I’ll have to do it tomorrow at the latest.”

She scratched the back of her head, pulling a face.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

Her arm flopped to her side. “I don’t like the thought of you feeding from other people.”

“I told you, I don’t fuck them, Ella. I make it quick and clinical.”

“I still don’t like it.”

“I get it. In your shoes, I wouldn’t like it either. But it’s that or bloodlust.”

“Or … ” She trailed off and rolled her shoulders. “Or you could feed from me.”

He stiffened in surprise, his throat burning with thirst at the suggestion alone. His entity smirked once more. “Be careful what offers you throw around, Ella. You need to be damn sure of what you’re saying. You offer your blood to me, I’ll take it. And if you regret it afterwards, it’ll be a punch to the gut for me.”

Her tongue slipped out to nervously touch her bottom lip. “You bit me once. Well, it wasn’t so much a bite, but you cut my lip when we kissed.”

“Not on purpose.”

“You scrape your teeth on my neck a lot.”

“Teasing myself with what I can’t have, hoping that might one day change.” He slid his palm from the side of her neck to hernape. “But we’re not gonna discuss it any more tonight. You’re going to take time to think about it. Really, really think about it. I want you to be sure all the fucking way.”

“All right.”

“Good.” Tugging her closer with the hand gripping her nape, he looped his free arm around her.

“This club … you opened it to reel in possible prey.”

He couldn’t help but smile. “Clever girl. It’s better this way. We confine our feeding to the one place. Innocents don’t come here. Only those who are drawn to darkness and sin.”

“I’mnot.”

“Sure you are. You’re drawn to me, aren’t you?”

She inclined her head, her lips curving. “Point well made.”

“It is. Now kiss me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Slumping into a chair in the clubhouse’s meeting room the following day, Prophet glanced from Viper to Dice. There was no nervousness there. No sheepishness. No remorse.

Viper’s entity narrowed its eyes. Either the angel didn’t grasp the gravity of his behavior last night—which seemed highly unlikely—or he felt he’d done nothing wrong.

At the head of the table, Viper swiveled his chair slightly toward him. “I’m sure you can guess what this is about.”

Prophet gave a nod. “I messed up, I know. But I apologized.”

“Yeah, you did,” said Dice from the chair opposite Prophet, his expression hard. “Our problem is that we’re not sure you meant it.”

Prophet frowned. “What?”

“Nor are we sure it was an accident on your part,” Dice added.

“What?”

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