Page 30 of Forever Touched

Not knowing what else to do, I grabbed his head and dragged it down to mine, then kissed him. Full on the mouth. With all of the determination and strength I possessed.

He ripped his mouth from mine with a growl. Jerking back, he released my mask, including me. I brought my stilettos down and caught myself, reaching up to pull my mask back into place.

We stared at each other for a long moment, the tension between us palpable. He was furious.Furiousthat I’d kissed him. But it had been the only way. The only way to protect my real identity.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” he said through clenched teeth. He glared at me a moment longer, then stormed from the shower. In a flash, he grabbed his clothes and was gone.

9

ADALYN

Rocky trailed me closely as I exited the back door and crossed the empty parking lot.

As far as vampire’s went, the quiet club bouncer was a pretty decent guy. I didn’t know if Rocky was his real name, considering how everyone at Dreamscape liked to conceal their identities, but helookedlike a Rocky. Big and burly with a shock of curly black hair.

He was a Feltore, though, so he hurried me along, needing to get home himself before the sun rose. As much as I loathed his species, I didn’t have anything against him personally and had no desire to see him burn to ash. So I picked up the pace, knowing how late it was—or early, depending on how you looked at it.

After the prince had stormed out of my room, I’d been forced to entertain three more clients. None of them were new, so at least they’d been easier to control. I’d worked extra hard on them, needing to focus on anything but Everett.

There was just something about him. Something I wanted more of. Which was twisted, considering who he was. I’d been smart to kiss him. To push him away. Hopefully that was the last I saw of him. He’d already caused too many problems for me, and I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Towantsomething that could never be mine.

I really was sick in the head. The only thing I should want from the vampire prince was his heart on a silver platter. He’d used me forsex. He’d killed hundreds of my kind. He might even be myfather’skiller.

So why didn’t I hate him as much as I should?

Mistress had already left for home, but she would definitely give me the third degree when I got back. I’d managed to secure a new client, only tolosehim again. She was going to be suspicious and would no doubt use thrall to pry answers from me. I didn’t know if I could keep his identity from her a second time, but did it even matter now?

He said he wasn’t coming back, and I believed him. That kiss had stolen any desire he might have had to return. I’d seen it in his eyes.

Suddenly more than a little tired, I approached the Aston Martin on autopilot. Hopefully this weird dejected feeling would go away with a few hours of sleep. My sole focus needed to be on securing as many clients as I could and paying off my indenture. A vampire prince didn’t fit into that equation, no matter how good he made me feel.

Reaching the car, I turned to bid Rocky goodnight. I was no longer wearing stilettos and a mask, but I didn’t need to. I wasn’t Star anymore. I was Adalyn. Rocky was one of the few vampires entrusted to keep my real identity a secret. He’d seen my face hundreds of times.

“Goodni—” I started, then froze when I saw something blur toward him from behind. Before I could warn him, a pair of hands grabbed his head and savagely twisted. As a sickeningcrackslapped the air, I stumbled back against the car.

Rocky collapsed like a bag of bricks, hitting the asphalt with a meaty thud. I stared in horror at his oddly bent neck, then forced my gaze up to the man who’d broken it.

“Hello, Star,” he purred, darkly grinning at me. “Recognize me?”

At the blank look I gave him, he reached up and fitted a goldmask over his face.

“How about now?”

My blood turned to ice. It was the vampire who’d tried to shove his dick inside me in front of everyone. The one Everett had attacked. Benjamin Osborne.

Fear shivered up my spine.

Despite how dark the parking lot was, I knew he could clearly see my face. Pushing the fear down, I straightened and said, “You must have me mistaken for someone else. My name isn’t Star.”

He tossed the gold mask aside, his grin widening. “I don’t carewhatyour name is, sweetheart. I’ve memorized your scent, and it led me here. So how about you stop playing games and give me what I came for. I’ve beenmorethan patient.”

I swallowed carefully, willing my voice not to tremble. “It doesn’t work that way. You have to pay first, and then—”

He pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and tossed it at me. I jumped as the bills exploded in the air like confetti. That split second of distraction was all it took. He rushed me in a blur, sweeping me clean off my feet. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, leaving me stunned as he carried me into the woods behind the club parking lot.

When I finally had enough air in my lungs again, I opened my mouth to scream. Before I could, he abruptly let go of me, and I hit the ground. My head took the brunt of the fall. It bounced off the hard-packed earth, and the world went dark.

As I came to again, the first thing I saw was the sadistic grin on Benjamin’s face. I blinked, forcing myself not to pass out once more.

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