Page 22 of Top Secret Vampire

“Donating like through a needle or do they let you suck the blood directly from their necks?”

“Many enjoy the latter, but I buy my meals in a bag from a supplier who deals in this for us. I’ll reach out and have some delivered. They’re fast. As for all the other, supposedly titillating vampire details, I’m sure you’d find me quite boring.”

She bumped off the wall and advanced over to me, her light, floral scent overwhelming my senses. Without a thought, my fangs extended. I’d kill for even one taste.

Her fingertip trailed down my shirt buttons. “I find you quite fascinating, Wolfie.” With that, she raced from the room, laughing as I gave chase.

It would be easy to catch her. To materialize directly in her path. To wrap my arms around her. I’d press her against the wall and—

Why not now?

Chapter 9

Reese

My mouth was going to get me into trouble, but I didn’t care one bit as long as I could continue to tease Wolf. Thankfully, he seemed to adore it as much as I did.

I barely made it back down to the foyer before he caught me, his arms going around me in a way that made me feel safe. Cherished. And overheated. This vampire was going to be my downfall, and I suspected I’d meet him more than halfway with my arms wide open.

With a growl, he spun me around to face him. “Wolfie.”

“It’s such a cute nickname. Don’t you agree?” I chirped.

He leaned toward me and—

Someone knocked on the front door behind me.

“I’m not finished with you,” Wolf said, his lips curling up on one side.

Damn, this guy made my heart flip around in my chest. “I look forward to your retribution.” With a snicker, I spun and unlocked the door, cracking it only wide enough to see who was there.

It had been a while, but I recognized him from . . . what happened. He was a year older than me, but we’d been casualfriends since elementary school. After what happened, I’d avoided him as much as I could.

“Wilber Blight.” I braced my foot on the inside of the door to keep him from shoving it open and coming inside. This man had . . . A shudder ripped through me. “Um, well. It’s . . . interesting to see you again.” Why was he here?

“Reese? What areyoudoing here?” His face blanched, though he’d never had a lot of color to begin with. Something about hating sunlight. Whatever the reason, he’d had a note from his mom saying he couldn’t take phys ed class outside. He’d remain inside and walk laps around the gym.

That was when he . . .

“I bought this house.” It was all I could do to speak in a civil manner. But we’d grown up since then. He must’ve changed. “I fixed it up. You should’ve seen it when I bought it.” The words sputtered out of me. Anything to avoid silence and him possibly bringing up our past. “The woman who owned it went into a nursing home, and it was vacant for some time. Her family sold it, but she hadn’t done any work on it for years. I freshened it up, and I’m happy with the results.”

“Do you mind if I come inside?” He cocked his head, glaring at the late-day sunlight, though it was currently setting over the bay and creating shadows on my porch. “Please. I promise. I . . . Well, the past is the past, right?” He said the last in a false, bright voice.

“I’m not alone,” I ground out.

“Is there a problem?” Wolf asked in a deadly voice. He tugged me away from the door and widened it, stepping between us. “Would you like me to send someone on his way by any means within my disposal?”

“No, it’s okay.” Not really, but I could make nice. The pastwasin the past. I stepped back and flicked my hand, urging Wilber to enter.

Wolf remained between us, watching with a carefully fierce expression. “One word . . .” he whispered to me, following it up with the clenching of his fists at his sides.

I loved that he was here, that he was eager to protect me, but I wasn’t fourteen any longer.

“Wilber,” I said in a stoic tone. I’d get this over with, and then I wouldn’t need to see him again. “This is my friend, Wolfram Zegrath. Wolfram? This is Wilber Blight.”

The teenage bully who groped me inside the gym when I was fourteen to his fifteen. I’d kicked him in the balls and run while he clutched his package and groaned. When I told the principal, the incident was dismissed as boys being boys and maybe I should smile at him every now and then.

There was nothing worse than not being taken seriously.

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