Page 54 of Mostly Shattered

All I can do is hold on as he fucks me. There are no soft, loving gazes or light caresses, only the powerful, primal need. It’s almost as if he’spunishing me, but I don’t care. I want him to. I cry out softly in surprise. Oh fuck, it feels good.

I can feel myself on the brink of climax. I want to come so badly. I need it. I need him to give it to me.

Intense pleasure rockets through me. I quiver and shake. I swear I feel him jerking his release, but he pulls my shoulder upward and brings himself against my back. His mouth clamps against my neck, and the sharp pierce of his fangs only adds a pleasure-pain to my release.

When he lets go, I fall to the floor. I can barely catch my breath. Nothing about this moment makes sense. I can’t fathom what I’ve done and with whom.

“We should go,” he says. I hear soft movements behind me, and I roll to the side to see him straightening his clothes. “As you said, the others will come looking for you soon.”

It’s not exactly champagne, roses, and love songs. But then, I don’t expect those things from a vampire. However, a few sweet words of reassurance would be nice.

My muscles are weak, but I force myself to stand. I ignore my discarded clothes on the floor as I pull fresh clothes out of the dresser.

He walks into my ensuite bathroom, and I hear water running. When he returns, he hands me a washcloth. “For your neck.”

I disappear into the bathroom, partly to hide from him while I check my neck. Blood smears my throat, and I wipe it off. The bite mark is unmistakable, but it already looks like it’s healing. I pull on the jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt before rejoining him.

His back is to me as he stares out the window. It’s almost as if he wants to pretend nothing happened. I put my phone in my back pocket and shove the book into my waistband. When I pick up the amulet pouch, a whisper of cold air snakes around my ankles, sending a chill up my spine. I shake off the unease, but a nagging suspicion remains. I fear that evil magic something behind that amulet is stirring, watching what I’m doing with a hungry impatience.

“Think you can get us out of here without getting caught?” I ask, nervously needing to fill the quiet as I force the amulet into my front pocket.

“As you wish,” he mutters.

It’s a strange response, and I wonder if he was even listening to my question.

Chapter

Thirteen

I weave on my feet, trying to get my bearings and regain my balance at the same time. My eyes fall on the stone angel with the chipped hand surrounded by the tombstones under her domain outside the nightwalker mausoleum. One second, I was in the bedroom pulling on my sneakers, and the next…

Dammit. Costin did it again. He mesmerized me.

The night air feels thick and oppressive, like the world is holding its breath. My reality shifts back to somewhat normal. I suppose I should be grateful that the vampire got me out of the penthouse undetected, but I wish he would have told me before putting me under his spell. After sex, the feeling of being drawn into the vortex of his emotions leaves me feeling vulnerable and connected to him.

I don’t want to be connected to a vampire. I want to have used him for sex and rebellion.

Costin is arrogant and condescending. He calls me a castoff for fuck’s sake. I’m not even sure I like him.

At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. I wait to see if he says anything about what happened in my bedroom. He doesn’t and so neither do I.

A strange chirping draws my attention to the shadows. A diminutive, gnarled creature with large ears jerks its head to tear at something it’s eating. It stops to peer in my direction with sharp teeth bared. Its round black eyes remain fixed on me as if the creature can vanish from my sight by remaining perfectly still.

“He won’t hurt you,” Costin assures me.

I slowly look away first, but I continue to listen to its noises.

Costin holds his arm out for me to take. “Shall we?”

I don’t accept the offer. Instead, I say, “You mesmerized me again, didn’t you?”

“You wanted out of the penthouse. It seemed the most convenient way to travel.” There is absolutely no apology in his tone. “Besides, I figured it would be best to come here before you talked yourself out of doing your duty.”

“So it was moreconvenient,” I repeat.

He arches a brow.

“I think it’s time we had a brief discussion about some ground rules for this whole saving the world prophecy business.” I put my hands on my hips, hoping that I look authoritative. “Rule number one: absolutely no mesmerizing me without my foreknowledge or permission. Do I make myself clear?”

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