Page 6 of First Bite
“Fine. I just need some air.”
I watched Braden slip outside and disappear into the woods, which was another mysterious thing all the guys had been doing since we got to this place. They’d been ignoring me and taking trips in the woods alone. I was standing at the tree line when Braden came back about twenty minutes later.
For the first time, I noticed the dullness in his eyes.
“What were you doing?”
“Getting some air,” he answered.
“I’m not stupid. It’s been two weeks. You need blood to survive, right?”
Braden pursed his lips and shoved his hands into his pockets. I walked up to the gorgeous vampire and ran my fingers along the black circles under his eyes, “You need blood. My blood.”
He let out a ragged breath, “We are getting blood.”
“From where? Each other?”
Braden laughed. “Uh, no, even worse…animals. The best way to explain how desirable that is would be to compare it to eating roadkill for dinner.”
I shook my head, “Why won’t you guys feed on me? Zac did really good, and obviously, it gave him the strength to take down those shifter guys.”
“Baby,” his eyes pleaded with mine, “We can’t trust ourselves with you right now. You have to believe me on that. And not to worry, we’ll have our share of human blood soon enough.”
Braden ran a hand through his hair.
“I don’t think Cole is ever going to get on board with that idea. Please tell me there’s another way.”
Braden’s expression was blank, “Right now, there’s no other option, but it’s pretty damn obvious we’re not acting on the idea just yet. A lot of going back and forth with Lucas has the human-vamp army plan on hold. None of us like the idea.”
“You’re starving.” I went back to studying his eyes. “Braden, you have to trust you can drink from me and be okay. Swear to God, if Zac could control himself, you can too.”
“I don’t know what the hell I can control at this point, Ellie.” His eyes were searching mine. Maybe I could finally get somewhere with the strongest vamp on the team. “It’s taking everything I’ve got to resist you while we try to focus on this shit.”
“Stay with me tonight,” I said sincerely. I reached up and ran my hand along the stubble on his cheek, “You have no idea how lonely I’ve been. I can’t keep up with all your vampire attack shit, and I miss you guys.”
“My cat is just as much as a companion as I would be.”
“Trying to get out of it?” I shot him a daring look.
“You are pressing your luck,” he winked.
Ha.I was finally breaking down his guard. I had to help him and the rest of them. I had to do something. My gut told me they needed to feed on me, but the overprotective assholes shot me down every time I tried to offer them that solution. Braden, as badass as he was, was a softy when it came to me.
Braden’s stare made my heart pound. I ignored it and linked my arm with his, “The strong-willed and unbending Braden Banner has a weak spot suddenly.”
“If you’re insinuating that you’re my weak spot,” his lips turned up on one side, “you’re right.”
“And the rest of them? They won’t drink from me, even though they already have. You guys are avoiding me like the plague, and I don’t fucking get it. It’s not fair. And Cole?” my voice rose, “He’s acting like the biggest asshole ever. So much for hisI love Elleshit. I don’t know what the hell is going on with all of you. Especially Cole.”
“Cole will come around. Cole is all business. Always has been, always will be.”
“From what I can tell, he definitely fills the work-a-holic role.”
“You’re right about that.” Braden smiled. “Give him time, and whatever you do, don’t worry about him. You have three other vampires you’ll have to concern yourself with when the time comes.”
I tried to suppress the desire that was beginning to bubble up at the thought of that. If only I could convince one of my guys to drink from me, maybe that would curb this pain of needing them so badly.
I should have kept my thoughts at bay because when I spied three shirtless vampires throwing a football around the front yard, all my female parts responded feverishly.
I had to find a way to get them to start looking to me as their answer, as their way of getting nourishment. The fact they were drinking animal blood because ‘we can’t trust ourselves with you’pissed me off. That was probably Cole’s fucking idea too.
They could battle plan all they wanted, but I would eventually have a say in it. Even if I had to convince them one-by-one, they were going to see it my way.
