Page 73 of Never Say Die
Shay nosed at the base of his neck. “Here?”
“Higher,” he said, struggling to keep his voice even. Anticipation filled him like a first crush. Shay dragged his lips upward and Aiden said, “Yeah, that’s?—”
Fangs sank into his throat. Aiden gasped and squeezed his eyes shut, halting a stream of hot, salty tears. Shay wrapped around him, one hand splayed on Aiden’s chest, the other gripping his thigh, and groaned against the new wound, clamping his mouth down harder.
“Easy, cariño,” Aiden whispered.
He dislodged his teeth. Sealed his lips around the mark and tongued at each puncture, drawing blood into his mouth in slow, hungry pulls. Aiden breathed deeply, resisting the urge to presshis thighs together and chase the heat stirring in his groin. So, maybe being bittenwasa sex thing. With Shay groping over his clothes and lapping eagerly at his throat, how could it not be? He kept his composure. Inhaled, exhaled. Braved a touch to Shay’s hand, clutching his thigh, and made a soft, surprised noise when Shay squeezed, constricting like a snake around his body.
Eons passed, but when Shay released him, Aiden almost asked to be bitten again. He opened his eyes and counted Shay’s breaths, his chest rising and falling against Aiden’s back. When Aiden found the courage to turn around, black eyes looked back at him. Spindly veins scrawled Shay’s cheekbones, and his red mouth parted for a purring growl.
Aiden slid his thighs around Shay’s lap. Traced the black lines jolting from his lashes; touched the bloodstained bow of his top lip.
“I wasn’t very gentle,” Shay said, apologetically. His voice belonged to him and others—cobras hissing, tigers calling, waves crashing.
“You were gentle enough.” Aiden searched for blood on Shay’s gums and deep in his mouth. Shay startled at first, as if being kissed hadn’t occurred to him, but Aiden craved him, right then, like that, with his secret on display and his tongue slicked red.
“We should shower,” Shay said, resting his lips on Aiden’s chin. “And take out your stitches before we meet with Kelly.”
“We should, yeah.” Aiden kissed him again, prying at his juicy mouth. “In a minute.”
“In a minute,” Shay echoed. Black slowly drained toward his pupil.
Kelly Angelica Crawford lovingly draped her shawl over the back of her chair. Burlap twined around the bottom of her braid and faceted crystal jewelry hung at different lengths over her satin romper. She tapped coffin-shaped fingernails on a chilled Lemon Drop, glancing between Aiden and Shay.
“So,” she said, arching an eyebrow, “this morning was quite a shit show.”
Aiden chewed on his cheek. “Why is she here?”
“We don’t know it’s her,” Shay said, hope ringing in his voice.
“Oh, it’s her.” Kelly tipped her chin, eyeing Shay. “Laura Rose Noble. Well, I don’t think it’s necessarilyher, but whatever has taken hold of her body. It’s complicated. More complicated than I care to understand, especially since I’m not proficient in the language necessary to explain it.”
“Can you askspiritto explain it then?” Aiden asked.
“Coyness doesn’t suit you, Mister Moore. Frankly, I’d prefer if you got to the point. Why are we here?”
He inhaled a shaky breath and opened his hand in the center of the table. “I felt like I was drowning last night—this morning, actually. Probably sometime around three. I saw Shay covered in blood, like he’d been ripped apart.” He glanced from Kelly to his palm and curled his fingers, beckoning her. “Earlier today, I saw her in a mirror, like. . . like she was me. I think I experienced what she did,feltwhat she did, and I need you to tell me if I’m going batshit crazy or not.”
Shay gripped his knee under the table, expression wiltingfrom stoicism to sadness. He stayed quiet, though. Holding Aiden, watching Kelly.
The psychic pursed her lips, studying Aiden’s outstretched hand. She drew in a breath and laid her fingertips in the dip of his palm. Her eyes curtained, lips moving around silent words. The room seemed to empty and go silent. Time paused and the air closed, shrinking toward them. Suddenly, she gasped, spreading her fingers like a spider. Her brows pulled together. Glittery pink lips folded into an unpleasant snarl. Aiden tried to pin-point the tickle of Kelly’s presence in his mind, but she was silent and stealthy, and he found no trace of her. She withdrew, cradling her hand.
“This is out of my depths,” she said. She searched the table, the packed bar and bustling lobby, and drank her martini. “You’re not crazy, I can tell you that. But youarea damn fool.” When Aiden tried to speak, she continued. “Don’t bother asking, because I don’t know what she’s after. She’s certainly tied to you, though. Tethered, I’d say. Attracted to the blood that gave her—it—access to a corporeal form. Now close your mouth and listen, boy. I value my comfortable, blessed life, and I’d like to see it through to its natural end.” She gave Shay a steady, careful look. “You’ve got something powerful looking after you, keeping you out of trouble despite your inability to stayawayfrom trouble. I’m not stupid, I know when it’s best to tuck tail and run. Unfortunately…” She exhaled an irritated breath, scented like citrus and vodka. “I doubt you’ll allow us to peacefully part ways.”
“Your instincts aren’t wrong,” Shay said.
“They rarely are. That being said, I have a professional friend—not your sister, relax—who might be able to help you. She’s interesting, to say the least. You’ll be respectful or you’ll regret more than you already do. Understood?”
“Interesting?” Aiden asked. He rested his hands in his lap,pulling at his knuckles and the webbing between his fingers. What else had she seen? Confessing his love in that dingy Roswell motel? Shay stitching the gash on his throat with a sewing needle? Licking blood from Shay’s teeth an hour ago? Invasion sat heavy in his gut.
“To say theleast. She’s nothing like that poor little pretend-witch you desecrated in the desert. She’s eager to connect, so stay tuned,” she said.
“Eager?” Aiden asked.
Kelly nodded. “That’s a good thing.”
“Thank you,” Shay said, and lifted a glass to his mouth.
