Page 25 of Hot Blooded
“She’s fine. Chill out, Reign.” Alastair straightens his rumpled suit and makes a hasty exit, which is a good thing, I decide, because Reign looks like he’s ready to murder someone. I’m shivering—maybe from the adrenaline—or maybe from fear. And gripping my thumb tightly in my fist.
I’ve never seen Reign look so angry, but he doesn’t speak to me. He turns for the backdoor and leaves, slamming it behind him.
My stomach twists itself into a painful knot. Oh God, what have I done?
***
Later, once my thumb has been bandaged by Mrs. Potts—who was thankfully non-judgmental—I’m curled up on a sofa in the living room. I have a clear view to the foyer in case Reign comes home.
I wonder if Mrs. Potts is aware of the commotion in the kitchen—of the fight I caused between Reign and Alastair. Little seems to escape her notice, but she didn’t comment on a thing when I told her I cut my thumb today. She just quietly cleaned the wound, wrapped it in gauze and then taped it up. I hold it upto inspect it. My thumb looks twice the size as it normally does because of the fluffy gauze.
I pull out my phone and decide to text Reign. He’s been gone at least an hour.
I’m sorry. I made everything worse. It was my fault. Please come home.
A moment later, my phone rings. It’s Reign. My heart jumps.
I answer it.
“Tressa.”
“I’m sorry,” are the first words out of my mouth.
I hear Reign release a slow, halting breath, but he doesn’t reply—doesn’t ease my worries by telling me everything is okay. Maybe because it’s not okay.
“I really am—sorry. Come back.” My voice comes out in a breathless rush.
“I can’t.” His voice sounds pained.
For a moment, I’m unable to speak, and there’s a heavy silence between us. A weight settles in my chest and my brain scrambles for something to say. Is he going to fire me? Send me away? What will I do then?
“Why would you let him feed from you, Tressa?Why?”
Something inside me breaks apart. That moment had been so confusing. I’d cut myself and there was a flash of pain. Alastair was there so quickly, dipping his lips to my hand andthen… “It wasn’t intentional. I sliced my finger while trimming roses.”
Reign doesn’t say anything else. I wonder if he’s remembering the time in the garden when I was pricked by a thorn. I can’t forget his reaction—the way he told me to go inside while he stood there like a statue, like he was afraid to come near me. Like he was scared of what might happen if he did. Alastair hadn’t been afraid. Quite the opposite. He’s been overcome, but his expression was one of pleasure. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way he looked in that moment.
“When will you come home?” I ask, my voice small.
“When it’s safe for you.”
“What does that mean?”
Rather than answering, Reign exhales slowly. “How is your finger?”
“It’s fine now.” I can barely feel it.
“Good. You’ll need to be more careful around Alastair from now on.”
My gaze floats to the window to where Alastair’s car was parked this afternoon. A flash of regret zips through me. “I will. Are you mad at me?”
“I’m not mad. But this just complicated everything ten times more.”
I’m not sure what he means, but unease squirms inside of me. The last thing I need ismorecomplications in my life. I’m already falling hard and fast for a man who is my boss. A man who isn’t a man at all, but a one hundred-and fifty-year-old vampire. And now his brother has a taste for my blood.Awesome.
Seriously, how do I find myself in these kinds of situations?
Chapter 13
