Page 27 of My Boyfriend Bites

Should she cancel?

A mental flash of what she’d done in the jungle reminded that she’d slaughtered a half-dozen men because her wolfish nature wouldn’t let her flee. She’d done what she needed to survive. With that in mind, how could she judge a vampire who drained humans to feed? They both had instincts and needs that they couldn’t necessarily fight.

Accepting his diet, though, still left her with the bigger question of, would he try and suck on her as his Valentine’s Day special? He’d be in for a surprise if he tried.

Assuming she was correct. After all, she’d not scented Dante’s distinctive cologne around that curtained cabana. Could it be someone else? The ship held a few thousand people. How could she find out?

What about flicking Dante with holy water—which she didn’t have. Showing him a cross—acquirable but with no belief behind it. Perhaps there was a simpler test, like say, accidentally cutting herself in front of him and seeing how he’d react. If he attacked or began licking his lips in hunger, she’d know.

Which led her to the conundrum, if he were a blood sucker, what would she do about it?

Have sex. Because it suddenly occurred to her, why not lose her cherry, and control, with someone expendable?

How cold. Too cold for the usually sweet-natured Selene. She sighed as she returned to her room. Conflicted by her thoughts, roiling with emotions, and—despite what she suspected Dante might be—still much too attracted to the handsome man across the hall.

Chapter 8

FrighteningTitillating visionsof myjourneyevening.

As Dante returnedto his room—his nocturnal jaunt down to the crew section of the ship less than fruitful since the three traitors he’d located claimed under his mesmerizing spell they knew nothing of the attack date—he found himself deep in thought.

Not about the task he’d set himself to stop pirates, but Selene. How she’d come into his life unexpectedly and completely blown him away. He’d never been one to believe in love at first sight or that bullshit about there being a perfect someone just waiting for him. With his secret, he didn’t dare trust. His mother had, and it almost killed her.

But with Selene, someone with her own big secret, he might have found the one person who could handle his proclivity. Speaking of whom, as he exited the elevator, he noticed her in the hall, about to enter her cabin.

“Out partying?” he stated as he strode in her direction.

She startled and whirled, her body tensing. “Actually, just enjoying some night air while stretching my legs.”

“I would have thought you’d be sleeping after the day you had,” he replied as he stopped a pace from her.

“You’d think so, but it left me wound up. I needed to release some stress. And you? Were you downstairs dancing?”

He grimaced. “Perish the thought. I don’t enjoy that techno stuff they like to play.”

“Ditto. I prefer a melody that isn’t all bass and some actual lyrics.”

His lips quirked. “I thought we’d have to be older before we complained about music.”

“I’d say we have good taste. So what were you doing?”

“Visiting the engine room.” He offered a partial truth. He had gone down to that noisy and smelly place but only to question the crewman in cahoots with the soon-to-be-boarding thieves.

“Guess that explains the grease mark.” She reached out to brush her fingers against the dark spot on his jacket.

“Rennie is going to murder me,” he joked.

“He does your laundry?”

“No, this is his coat. I only brought one and was saving it for our dinner.”

“Speaking of dinner, you do realize tomorrow is Valentine’s Day?”

“And?” he asked, leaning against the hallway wall.

“Thought I should mention it since dinner will most likely be some kind of overdone feast of hearts and other kitschy things.”

“Not a fan of commercialized holidays?”

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