Page 135 of The Vampire's Thirst
Chiara couldn’t help but stare. Dax was all man, the massive wall of his chest pushing against a fitted black tee, his bulky thighs straining his leather pants, his broad shoulders taking up most of the sofa. He raised one bulging arm to finger-comb his long hair back from his face.
She blinked, taking a stiff-backed, uncomfortable chair. Its advantage? It was far from the vampire’s tempting body. Chiara put ice in her voice when she asked, “Do you wanta drink? I have soda or water. I could make tea. I’m allout of O blood.”
“I deserved that. No thanks.”
His fingers tapped on the cushions where his arms rested. He was nervous. Strange for a man whose every move, just like his words, was all about economy. Cold. Planned.
“What can I do for you? It’s been a long day and I’m tired.” Chiara arched her brows,urging Dax to talk.
Silence. Awkward.
“I don’t know where to begin.” The sofa creaked under his shifting weight.
“The beginning’s a good place.”
Dax cleared his throat. “Humor. That’s one of the things I like about you.”
“Really? I could have sworn it irritated you.”
“Maybe sometimes. Mostly I like it. You set people at ease. I don’t.”
“No. You don’t.” Chiara glanced at her watch. “Get to the point or leave.”
“Gotcha.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “I’m not a good catch.”
“No. You’re not.” Chiara stared, tired, unsure where Dax was going. Uncertain she cared at the moment.
Dax flinched as if he had expected her to argue, but she was too tired to play games.
“Damn, female. You’re not making this easy.”
“Making what easy? I have no idea what you’re trying to say.”
“I didn’t fuck the O blud whore. I went to the den but lied about what happened. Actually, I went twice. The first time I sat in a chair a few secs and left. The second time I got as far as inside a room. Nothing happened on either occasion.”
He had her attention. Chiara inched forward in her seat, her weariness swept aside.
“Except for you, I have been celibate since the day in your woods.”
Her brain fizzled. He had not betrayed her. “Why did you tell me you had?” She took a deep breath, cautious of sinking into the black hole which was her go-to place with Dax. Truthor lie, he had intentionally hurt her. The result was the same.
“It’s a sad story.”
Chiara crossed her legs. “I’m listening.”
“The past is past.”
“Profound.” Chiara checked her watch again. “Goodbye.”
Dax jerked his brows down, lookingpuzzled. But then he opened his mouth and words flowed. “My father was a Firebrand. When he died on the job, my mother turned to O blud. That’s how she met a den owner. We moved in with the asshole after she got pregnant with Bounty. She flew straight for a while. But with my sister’s birth, Mom slipped,mainlining the stuff so males and females could enjoy a high from sampling her blood. Her fate was sealed. I probably could have helped more, but it was all I could do to watch out for Bounty. Since I feared what her asshole daddy would do with her, I made a deal with him. I traded myself for her. I failed there, too. Anyway, shit went down, and I beheaded him along with another asshole. It wasn’t enough. It will never be enough. I am still angry. But I am so tired of carrying that load.”
He fingered his neck where his fang necklace once hung. The ugly thing was missing.
“Then let it go, Dax. Or accept a little help carrying it. You still haven’t said anything to explain why you lied to me. I won’t be a doormat, even for you.”
“I don’t wanta doormat, but I lied to make you see me. The worst of me. The angry failure.” He crossed an ankle over his opposite knee, one arm thrown onto the sofa back.
“You’re not a failure. Look around. Bounty is a fabulous woman. You’re a fucking Firebrand. You kill bad guys for a living.”
