Page 49 of First Bite
Cole arched a brow at me. “That’s exactly what worries me. You accepted all this shit so quickly, and now you’re trying to lure me in seductively at every turn. It’s almost hypnotic. I don’t trust it, and I don’t trust the way it’s making you feel toward me or me toward you.”
“I’m out of here then. Let me know when you figure out who my asshole dad was and if the guys finally get answers.”
“Like I tell you every day: I promise I’ll keep you updated.”
Damn Cole and damn this gene that was controlling me in ways I couldn’t help. Was he right to be worried, though? Was this happening because we were cursed? I couldn’t understand that skepticism. Sure, I was trying to seduce him at every turn, but it felt biological. There was an intensity to it that was pure, not sinister.
I walked outside, slumped onto a lounge chair, and let the sun’s rays warm my skin. Too bad there wasn’t a Life Blood therapist because this shit was driving me insane. I was sick of being turned on to the point of aching for Cole whenever I was around him. I was tired of dreaming of what it would be like to have him feed on me and fuck me.
Cole’s self-control was definitely some crazy vampire-level shit because while I wanted to crawl out of my skin, he was cool, calm, and collected. I closed my eyes and tried to stop thinking about all of it. Hopefully, when the guys called, Cole would get answers, and we could finally move forward.
I spentthe remainder of the day on the beach once again. I swam a little, but nothing was curbing my appetite for Cole. It was torture. Every part of my body but my blood burning under my skin was calling to him, and it was miserable. I spent as much time away from the house as I could before I knew I had to surrender and go inside to shower and eat dinner.
“Any word from the guys?” I asked, playing with the food on my table without any appetite at all.
“They’re in with that group. I’ll hear more when they get away from them.” He pulled up from the table. “Listen, I gotta go talk with the vamps out here. If you go out, try not to go anywhere but that club. It’s close to the house, and I can sense you from where the nest is if I need to.”
“I know. You say that every time you take off.” I picked up my plate of food, fighting off the urge to have a meltdown on him, and dumped the plate in the sink.
“You hardly ate tonight,” he said with concern.
“Not that hungry. Just go,” I said, feeling a lump form in my throat.
Do NOT cry! Are you serious, Elle!?
Cole exhaled. “I won’t be too long. Maybe I’ll take you out tonight, and we’ll have a little fun. Things are looking promising. I just need to make sure this nest is ready for the guys when they get back.”
“Got it.”
Cole was gone in a gust of wind that I felt breeze over my face. I stood there, staring into the stainless-steel sink and figured I’d just go out tonight myself. What would it hurt to actually have a little fun?
Cole was cool with me going, so what the hell. We’d been to this nightclub twice together, so I was comfortable with it. The bartender was cool, and so maybe giving myself a night out would be good. Cole could always join me later if he felt the need to babysit.
I slipped on a strapless mini dress, put on my sandals, and felt the energy in the air once I reached the bar. I walked through the thick crowd of people on the dance floor and straight up to the bar.
“The usual?” Scott asked.
I slid onto the high stool in front of the bar. “Make it something stronger. No mixers.”
He raised an eyebrow at me, and his brown eyes glistened under the blue lighting of the bar. “Ah?” he glanced around the dance floor behind me that was lit with the strobe lights flicking to the loud music. “Where’s Cole tonight?” he smirked as he long-poured vodka over ice.
“Work.” I smiled, squeezed some lime into my drink, and took a sip. “He’ll catch up with me when he’s done,” I said as I shook off the shiver that the booze sent through me.
“Sounds good,” Scott answered.
I took a shot with a couple on their honeymoon, and that was my first mistake, but they were friendly and fun, and it was nice to finally socialize with people my age and fill the void of my vampires being away. Part of me enjoyed living life a little, something I’d never done back home, but it wasn’t filling this nagging need to want Cole with me. So I did what a natural human would when they felt like the love of their life just dumped them…I did another shot with the happy couple.
Feeling energized, I excused myself from the newlyweds, and I headed to the dance floor. The music was loud and euphoric. The buzz hit me stronger, and I felt happy and carefree. It was amazing. I felt hands on my hips as I danced to the beat. I carelessly leaned back into the chest of whoever was grinding against me, and I pressed my ass into him. His hand pressed into my abdomen, and his chin rested on my shoulder.
“You out alone tonight?” he said.
Fuck. Not Cole.
“What’s your name?” I shouted over the music as the beat changed and it slowed a bit. I glanced around, trying to find my way out of the handsome dude’s arms. He was handsome and seemed harmless, but he had nothing on my guys. My heart, body, and soul belonged to the Banners whether or not Cole wanted to take all of it.
“Brian,” he said, pulling me closer. “You from around here?”
“Sort of,” I answered. “You?”
