Page 10 of Ouch! My Vampire Doms Don't Sparkle
I wave over my shoulder, grateful for her reassurance, but pissing-my-pants terrified.
I abandon the clothes I’d chosen at a check-out counter, telling the cashier that I forgot my wallet and I’ll be right back.
I won’t be right back, though.I’m never leaving The Corbin again.
This was so foolish.Working in the dim lighting of Bartleby’s has spoiled me, made me feel safe now that Nicholas has backed off.
The three blocks I have to walk to The Corbin are torture.Everyone is looking at me, right?Everyone is watching.I can feel their gazes, searing my skin.Every single one of them is probably picking up their phone and dialing the Altera Police Department.
I’m going to wind up just like Marcus Patrick.Just like my mom.
I pound on the back door of The Corbin.“Please, Will.Please open up,” I whisper, pressing myself to the frame.“Please.I can’t stay out here.”
The door eases open.The smile on his face immediately morphs into concern.
“What happened?”he asks, ushering me inside.
“I—I think I was recognized.Close the door before they find me.”
“Did someone follow you?”
“I don’t know.I don’t know.”I can’t catch my breath.
He falls to his knees in front of me and grips my forearms.“Listen, love.This is a panic attack.You’re safe.Try to breathe, slowly.Breathe with me.”
He inhales, exhales.It’s so slow, I can’t do it.But his beautiful blue eyes are focused on me, and I feel myself falling into them, submitting to his control, to his wishes.My breaths even out and eventually slow down.
“There you go,” he whispers.“You’re doing so well.I’m proud of you.”
Tears form at the corners of my eyes.I blink them back.“I was so scared.I feel foolish now.The lady who saw me was really nice about it.”
“But it made you face your vulnerabilities,” he says, taking me across the hall to his office.
I nod.
“Wait here,” he says, helping me to one of the comfy chairs.“I’ll be back in twenty minutes.Focus on your breathing.Count in for four and out for eight.”
I don’t want him to leave, but of anywhere in the world, The Corbin’s basement is where I feel safest.I huddle in the chair and try to do as he says, focusing on my breath.In for four counts, out for eight.It’s surprisingly soothing, and my heartbeat no longer thunders in my ears.
By the time he returns, I’m feeling a thousand times better.
He’s carrying a bulging canvas tote.Giving me a grim smile, he says, “How do you feel about a disguise, love?”
“I thought I was disguised?”
“Your hair is the same, your eyes are the same.The glasses help, but you keep lifting them out of the way so you can focus better.I got you a few different colors of hair dye to choose from, plus a couple of other things.”
I get up and peer into the bag.There are a lot of options here, natural shades for the most part—red, blond, black.
“No hot pink?”I say, half-joking, although I’ve always wanted to play around with dyeing my hair—Dale would never permit it because he thought it had “bad optics.”
“If you want to get adventurous with your color,” Will says, “I suggest waiting until the attention dies down.”
There are also clothes, and some smaller boxes.I pick one of them up.
“A set of contacts,” Will explains.“They’ll make your eyes brown.”
I hold up another box.
