Page 36 of Blood Match

“I can’t!” Darick snaps, his own frustration evident. “I don’t know why this is happening any more than you do. But I swear to you, I had nothing to do with the attack on your coven. I was there to stop it.”

I scoff, but he continues, his voice growing more insistent. “Think about it. If I had planned the attack, why would I have fought against my own kind? Why would I be here now, trying to figure this out with you?”

“Fought against your own kind?” I frown.

“My men and I were there to put an end to it.” His jaw sets.

I’m silent for a moment. I’m suddenly thinking of the mutilated vampires we’d found; the ones not killed with magic.

Was it him? Could it have been—?

No! I refuse to believe it. The only good vampire is a dead vampire.

“Why?” I stick my jaw out. There’s nothing he could say to change my mind about his species.

“Because I…I…” He trails off, his wide torso heaving as he exhales deeply. “It’s complicated.”

“Surprise, surprise.” I cross my arms over my chest. Maybe to show him that I mean business. And maybe to block out the strange effect he’s having on my heart rate. “You’re not going to tell me because it would all be lies.”

“Look, it’s not important.” He straightens, towering over me. My God, his shoulders are insanely broad. “What is important is finding a solution to this problem we share.”

I nod in response because whatever else might be going on, this much is true. “So what are you going to do about it?”

“For fuck’s sake, woman! Have you not been listening to me?” He heaves an exasperated breath. “I know as little as you do.”

“Then why did you even suggest that we meet?” I sound surly, but I can’t help myself.

“Because we had to start somewhere. And because I was curious about—” He stops suddenly.

“Curious about?”

“You.”

I freeze, caught off guard by his admission. Curious about me? Why would a powerful vampire be curious about a witch who can barely cast a spell without turning someone blue?

But as I look up at him, I’m struck by the intensity in his chilling eyes, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. There’s something magnetic about his gaze, drawing me in despite every instinct screaming at me to run.

Darick takes a step closer, and I find myself rooted to the spot. The air between us feels charged, electric. I should move away, put some distance between us, but I can’t seem to make my body obey.

“What is it about you?” he murmurs, his voice low and husky. His words are completely unexpected, and they send a shiver over my skin that has nothing to do with fear.

I swallow hard, trying to find my voice. “About me? I… I don’t know what you mean,” I stammer, hating how breathless I sound.

He reaches out, his hand hovering just inches from my face. I can feel the coolness radiating from his skin, and part of me wants to lean into it.

What is wrong with you?

“There’s something about you,” Darick says, his eyes never leaving mine. “I can’t quite put my finger on it, but…”

I’m acutely aware of how close we are now. If I took just one small step forward, we’d be touching. The thought sends a jolt of electricity through me, and I see Darick’s nostrils flare slightly, as if he can sense it too.

We stand there, frozen in this moment of unexpected suspense. I can hear my heart thundering in my ears, and I wonder if he can hear it too. His gaze flickers to my lips for just a second, and my breath catches in my throat.

And then, it happens. One moment we’re silent, tension crackling between us, and the next, Darick’s mouth is on mine, kissing me as if he’s been holding back and can’t contain himself any longer. His lips are firm…warmer than I’d imagined…although why would I have been imagining how his lips felt?

You didn’t! You never thought about his lips, or kissing him, or any of this.

So then, why am I so lost in it? My mind screams at me to push him away, to run, but my body has other ideas. Suddenly, I find myself responding, my arms wrapping around his neck as I press closer to him. His skin is cool compared to the heat building inside me. I cling to him as I return the kiss with equal fervor. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before – electric, intoxicating, and utterly wrong. But I can’t bring myself to care about right or wrong right now.

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