Page 52 of Hot Blooded
“Makes sense,” I let myself chuckle, even if I am as tense as a spring.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
Physically? Yes. Emotionally? Not really. “Uh,” I lie.
Alastair looks thoughtfully at me, his usual smile replaced by a tight line. “Come on, let’s clean you up in the potting shed. There’s a sink out there, right?”
I nod. “Yes, but I can take care of that. Why don’t you head inside and check on Reign.” I’m so worried for him. I’m sure he’s beating himself up over this.
Alastair agrees and leaves me to it.
After I clean up my cuts and dry off, I pull out my phone from my back pocket and text Reign.
Tressa:It’s not your fault that I’m delicious… plus this is my fault.
Reign:It’s my fault. I’ve been trying to find a new male donor. I was being too picky though. I put you at risk.
Tressa:My pettiness started it. You bring out the possessive side in me.
Reign:Well, if that isn’t the most relatable statement in the world, I don’t know what is…More importantly, are you okay?
Tressa:I’m fine. A couple of scrapes, that’s all.
Reign:Tressa….
Tressa:I promise. I’m okay.
Reign:Okay.Alastair’s going to go with me to feed, that will take the edge off. Mrs. Potts is helping me organize a surprise for you this afternoon.
I type the words,I wish I could kiss you before you leave,because it’s true. But I delete them. I think it will only make him feel worse. Instead, I simply thank him, waiting in the potting shed until I hear Alastair’s car speeding away down the driveway, and I know it’s safe to walk back into the house.
Grabbing a shower to wash away the rest of the sweat and dirt, I come out to a text from Lena telling me she’ll be here in ten minutes to pick me up for my surprise. Reign is so sweet to do this, whatever it is. And it’s a good call. I could use some time away to decompress after today. Plus, I haven’t seen Lena since the blow-job incident. It’s time to patch things up.
When her horn beeps in the driveway I run down and hop in the passenger seat.
“Hey babe!” she bubbles at me. “You have an awesome vampire boyfriend.”
“I agree. Thanks for being available at the last minute for… whatever it is we’re doing,” I stammer.
Lena’s so easy to talk to, I’ve forgotten how much I’ve missed her. She drives us into town and parks at a mall. “Shopping day?” I guess.
She giggles. “The works, girl. He must have done something really bad, or maybe you did something really good.” Lena waggles her eyebrows, making rather lude blow-job gestures as we walk through the door to what is apparently a rather upscale cluster of stores. The adorable doorman at the front entrance gives Lena a wink.
“Maybe a bit of both,” I say under my breath as she signs us in.
We wander the aisles of the store, admiring cashmere sweater sets and patterned scarves. “Does your boyfriend have a brother?” Lena jokes.
I’m not sure I should answer, so I give a hearty, “Har-har,” in reply as we gather up our items and head into the changing room.
Lena slides into my room, but they’re so large, that I don’t complain. I undress and work on a tunic over my head.
“You’re all cut up,” she says, gazing down at my legs.
“Yeah, I fell on a stack of pots this morning. Gardening is a deadly sport. Not for the faint of heart.”
Lena gives me a look of sympathy, but I wave her off. “I’m fine. Promise.”
While I try on a pair of jeans, Lena falls silent, and I let my mind wander to thoughts of Reign.
