Page 23 of Deadly Cravings

“Then we have an agreement,” Asher announced, stepping away from me and clasping his hands in front of him. “I’ll order her some suitable clothing and shoes since the places she’s checking out have requirements.” He crossed his arms, rubbing his lower lip with his thumb.

“Jax, we’ll need you in a few days, she seems the most scared of you. I’ll introduce her to my bite today.”

I sucked in a breath. “Now? You want to get started this second?”

“Come around in a few hours, I favorhuntingduring the witching hour.” A shiver coasted down my spine. Asher clapped once, a grin on his lips. “I’ll start planning our fun.”

His palm pressed into my back and he nudged me. I mechanically left the kitchen and my movements almost hurt with how stiff they were.

Tobias followed me to the door. The hollow thump of my steps echoed with each beat of my heart.

“Are you sure about this?” There seemed to be genuine concern inflecting his tone.

“No.” But I didn’t have much of a choice.

As I climbed the steps,I side-eyed the crow perched a-top a windowsill. Everything about this place screamed spooky. I rubbed my arms. This was it, there was no turning back. I’d wallowed in bed, wracking my brain for the couple of hours before coming back, but no matter what way I tried to think of it, I was in this, so I’d dressed in a simple green sundress exposing my neck. Hopefully, with a willing participant, he’d be a clean eater because getting blood out of clothes was close to impossible. My stomach lurched and I pressed my hand over the bulge of my inhaler in my dress pocket. The door swung open as soon as I stepped forward.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Pet.”

A chill swept over my arms, lifting goose bumps as I stepped inside, my dress fluttering around my ankles. Itfeltempty in here. It was odd.

“Is anyone else here?”

Asher hooked his arm around my waist and the door creaked shut.

“They went to fetch blood and talk to someone that may have information on Ren.” Again, mention of Ren. They seemed especially concerned by his absence. I tapped my fingers against my thigh in a quick rhythm.

“So what are we doing?” I slipped out of his grip, moving toward the black leather couch. I hoisted myself onto the cushion and plopped down.

My feet hung from the couch and I frowned down at the space between my flat ballerina shoes and the floor. They must have been custom made to fit these vampire giants.

Asher’s gaze weighed heavily on my face, and I sank my teeth into my lower lip. His blue eyes swirled, heat in their depths.

“Do you have your inhaler?” I dropped my chin. “Be sure you have quick access to it.”

Okay, that put me on edge. Whatgameswere going down today? “You’re making me nervous.” His teeth flashed with a grin. God, this was not going to be good.

“I thought we could start out with a little round of hide and seek.” His lips tipped up. “I want to see how much you can stifle that fear of yours. If you keep your fear in line, I won’t be able to find you. But if I sense you.” His fingers grazed my throat. I flinched and his smile widened. “I get a treat.”

“I-I don’t know if this is the smartest course of action.” I cleared my throat. So, he would basically hunt me down, and I had to go hide somewhere and try not to fear him finding me? Yeah, it sounded impossible. A game he expected, no,wantedme to fail.

“Would you like to back out?” He tilted his head, and I wet my lips.

“Don’t act like I have a choice,” I croaked.

Asher grinned again and placed his hands at his knees as he bent near my face. His nose hovered over mine and his sweet scent wafted to me. I cleared my throat again and wiggled into the couch. He shouldn’t smell so good.

“Your fear makes my mouth water.” I sucked in a breath, spine straightening. I backed up, cringing into the couch, but he followed, pressing the tip of his upturned nose into mine. “Vampires sense things in many ways.” His nose caressed my cheek. “The quickening of your heart rate is a dead giveaway.”

“Y-you can hear my heart race?”

The corner of his lips twitched. “More like I see it pounding in your throat . . . we are very attuned to blood, and the scentracing through your veins emphasizes with your racing heart . . . with your fright.”

He dropped to his knees and was still taller than me in this position.

“Human bodies have an immediate reaction to fear, and oftentimes, many can’t distinguish the difference with other urges. Like when you’re wet and needy.” He purred and the low pulse of my clit throbbed in answer. I squeezed my legs together, not wanting him to sensethat. His eyes widened, drawing his head back in a jerk. Asher’s eyes slitted and he breathed in deep, hands flexing into the cushion of the couch, corralling me with his arms. A groan slipped free from his lips.

My face must be as red as a fire engine. I wanted to plead and beg that he wasn’t sensing my lust toward him, but I very much doubted he’d believe a word I said. Part of my brain railed at me, telling me how wrong it was for me to be excited, but the other part didn’t give two shits. He was hot, no, he was damn sexy. Every flirtatious touch, smirk, and expression was meant for seduction.

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