Page 15 of Your Coffin or Mine
She scoffs, the epitome of an offended female. “What’s obvious is you don’t like me, and, believe me, the feeling is entirely mutual, buddy. I didn’t ask you to take me anywhere, and I definitely didn’t ask to lose my luggage.”
Anger pours off her in waves and I bring the car to a stop, turning off the engine when I do. My blood pumps through my veins, and I hesitate for the barest second before unlocking my seatbelt. I reach out as if to touch her and she stiffens.
I draw back and put my arm across the back of the bench seat. “Who said I don’t like you?”
She crosses her arms over her chest and attempts to ignore me.
“I would sew you into a sack cloth if it would keep me from wanting to devour you,” I can’t resist biting out, unsure if it’s the truth or if I’m just saying it to get a rise out of her.
Her blue eyes widen in her reflection of the car window, before she snaps her head to me. “Excuse me?”
“Yourpajamas, as you call them, leave little to the imagination,” I say, and her breath catching in her lungs is music to my ears. “It makes me want to lay you across my bed, spread those pretty thighs of yours, and eat my fill.”
She gasps, and my hands move to bite into the soft leather of the steering wheel as I fight to keep them off her. I don’t know why I’m having such an intense reaction to her, but I’d like her clothed properly until I figure it out. I should want away from her, not to nip into her flesh to tease—rather than a taste of blood. Although that, too, as sweet as the smell is, could likely be the cause.
“So, unless you want me to rip your garments from you and show you the many reasons why you should cover yourself more adequately in front of me, get out of the car and let’s go shopping.”
Her breathing is ragged as I wait for her to decide. The smell of her arousal is a rising inferno, coming off her in waves, but no matter. My desire for her is most likely from being without a woman in my bed for years, one that smells so wonderful, and I will find one later who is less... troublesome.
She hesitates a moment and undoes her seatbelt, her fingers shaking. A predatory grin spreads across my lips and I get out of the car when she slowly reaches for the handle. Thankfully, the special vampire-proof sunscreen lathered on my skin stops me from burning in the sun—for once, I thank Frank’s ingenuity. Ihurry around and open the door for her, then help her from the car, resisting the growl in my throat that wants to escape.
I have to admit I admire her self-control. If she had chosen otherwise, I’m not sure I could have stopped myself from taking her right there in the car for all to see.
“Let us find you better clothing, shall we?”
Aubrey
He did not just saythat to me.
I should have kept my attitude in check. Normally I have no problem with going with the flow. Granted, I’m not sure how much more “with the flow” you can get than agreeing to let a stranger take you clothes shopping.
Why am I this turned on? Hell, I want toripmy clothes off for him even though I have only known him a day, and it’s pretty unsettling.
C’mon, Aubrey, get it together. He told you to put your tits away. Who does that?He also just said he wanted to devour me.
I shake my head as I follow him down the street, worried my favorite bunny slippers look like I’m a crazy person who just escaped an institute.
“Welcome to Bella. How can we help?” A tall, leggy blonde is eyeing Vlad like he invented Botox, but he’s not even looking at her—he’s looking at me.
He waves toward me. “Yes. As you can see, my... friend is in need of some clothes. Unfortunately, her luggage was lost during her flight.”
I smile at him, thankful he explained why I’m dressed like this, and he raises a brow.
The woman snaps her fingers. Suddenly heels click-clack on marble from all around, and it’s like something out of one of those wildlife movies. Multiple brunettes come out of nowhere and swarm around us, practically bending over themselves to serve him.
He’s only dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that’s plastered across his chest, but apparently they don’t mind the dressed-down look, if the drooling is any indication.
Not why you’re here, Aubrey.I pull out my phone to distract myself from the onslaught of thirsty women and groan.Crap, I am really going to have to look into a new cell provider when I get home.I snap a few pictures for some later content, noticing how the styles really aren’t that different from the more upscale places in Atlanta.
I hear a fake laugh and roll my eyes, moving toward the back of the boutique as annoyance coils in my stomach. Not that I have any claim on the asshole. If he’s interested, she can have him.He’s rude and obnoxious, anyway.
“Remove your hand from my person,” he growls out with that mean-ass tone he has.Oh shit.“Madam, it seems you are under some sort of misconception,” he says coldly, his voice echoing across the empty storefront. “I am not here to shop.Sheis.” Vlad’s sharp voice rings out like a shot, and I clap my hand over my mouth.
I watch as the woman slinks away, and my eyes widen when he turns to stare directly at me.
He unfolds his arms, moving toward me, and my heart leaps into my chest. I grab hold of the first black dress I see and hurry to the dressing rooms.
Of course, they’re locked.
