Page 40 of My Boyfriend Bites

One of the theories being floated suggested panicked people might have jumped into the ocean to escape the pirates. However, the discovery of the drained body made Dante wonder if the unaccounted for cruisers had fallen victim to a blood hungry vampire. It would be simple to hide the evidence as the killer could simply dump the bodies overboard.

Which led to him wondering if the vampire and pirates were working together, or did the vamp use the robbery as cover for their own actions?

Either way, he’d have to be even more careful since his kind, unless related, tended to be rather territorial. For example, Dante, and his mother and her father before him, had staked a claim on Tuscany, Italy. What that meant? Basically, no other vampires could move in and feed in their area. Not as easy to track these days, given population movement and the fact they couldn’t recognize each other short of igniting in the sun or by admission.

Another corpse lay across the threshold of the captain’s cabin, female and in ship uniform, but not the person he sought, given the smooth rounded cheeks. While he’d not met Captain Carlisle, he’d sought out some images after his meeting with Maurice. A stern woman in her fifties with a creased brow, crow’s feet, and marionette lines bracketing her mouth.

Upon entering the room, his nose wrinkled at the smell permeating the space. A scent he couldn’t place. His gaze passed over the messy room, clothes strewn on the floor, bed unmade. An ornate and rather large wooden box sat on a dresser, the only clear space in the room. Did housekeeping not take care of the captain’s quarters?

It didn’t take long to ascertain the absence of the captain—dead or alive. Where had she gone? The few people he’d passedon his route hadn’t been Captain Carlisle. Perhaps she’d taken a different route to the bridge? Or had she headed to the engine room?

As he emerged and retraced his steps to the passenger levels, he wondered where to look next. He had to do something, though, before more bodies began to crop up around the ship. Despite Dante not coming across any corpses in the public areas, panic began to spread as people instinctively understood they were in trouble. They barricaded themselves in their cabins—those who could gain entry. The passengers in the main dining rooms and the exclusive restaurants were trapped by gun-toting pirates. As for the crew? According to a very irate deckhand he encountered and questioned, a good chunk hid in the bridge and barred it from access.

Where to go?

Dante might have spent the night wandering if he’d not heard the most chilling thing.

The howl of a wolf.

Chapter 11

Of course,when Selene was about to finally have her cherry popped and experience the biggest O, pirates would attack.

Like seriously?! It was almost enough for her to wolf out and hunt/tear apart the pirates to ease her frustration.

It didn’t help that instead of Dante choosing to remain with her and give her reassurance—not that she needed any—he strode off like some hero for answers after giving her strict instructions to barricade herself.

She appreciated that he cared but, at the same time, would have preferred he stay. They could have locked the door, moved furniture in front of it to avoid interruption, and hunkered down—naked and in her bed—until the pirates left or help arrived.

But nope. She had a throbbing pussy, an irritated lycan rumbling to escape, and nothing to do but wait.

She threw herself onto the couch and prepared to read.

The lights went out. Everything actually powered off, leaving her in a stifling silence.

Unexpected, and most likely pirate related. She didn’t worry too much. The darkness didn’t bother her.

Technically, she could have kept reading. Her tablet didn’t need power or light so long as the battery had juice. However—surprise!—she found herself too distracted to concentrate on the words. The restlessness had her heading for her balcony, the fresh evening air pleasant but less enjoyable in light of those on other terraces freaking out. Complaints rose from passengers who’d escaped their cabin to the outdoors, with hints of panic threaded among the grumbles.

“I told you this boat was haunted.”

“Oh my god, we’re gonna die.”

“I’d better get a refund. This is bullshit.”

Selene probably should have been more concerned about the lack of power, but then again, what would worrying accomplish? She reassured herself with the fact the ship hadn’t struck anything and wouldn’t just sink. More than likely backup power would soon kick in.

Scratch.

Her head swiveled, and she peered through the sliding glass door back into her cabin. The lever to her door creaked as it turned. Had Dante returned? She hurried to the door, unblocked by furniture despite his instructions. She’d only put the chain lock across.

A peek at the eyehole showed nothing. Her eyesight was good but not good enough to view anything in the dark hall via the peeping glass.

“Who is it?” she called out.

“The captain. Can you let me in?” a woman stated.

Selene frowned. What did the captain want? “Why?” she asked.

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