Page 96 of The Vampire's Thirst
“He touched you.” When his eyes shifted away from his prey, he ran a knuckle down her cheek.
Chiara sighed, melting into the caress, but Dax tensed as if he caught himself doing something bad. He jerked back his hand.
“Did you see me playing pool? Pretty sorry, huh?”
“Yeah. The worst.” Dax resumed his unconcerned lean.
“You want to play a game with me when Sig and I are done?”
“No.”
“Just no? Is there anything you want to do with me?”
Lightning fast, he snagged her wrist, his grip painful, his fingers marking her skin. “Don’t ask for something you can’t handle.”
Chiara bristled, a chill breeze whipping around her bare feet.
“Shit.” Dax flinched, dropping his grip. When he examined the blistered flesh on his palm, a bitter laugh tumbled out of his mouth. “Good one, witch.”
“I’d think twice about hurting me, vampire. I’ve got game.”
He pushed off from the doorjamb, growling as he stormed out of the room.
Rubbing where Dax had squeezed, Chiara glanced around to see if anyone had noticed. But everybody was busy doing their own thing. Bade watched Sig rack balls for a new game. Jace chatted with Ram and Denim. Fin and Thorn argued over some rule about darts until he circled her waist to pull her in for a steaming hot kiss. End of argument when she melted against his body.
One person noticed. Braelyn parked herself beside Chiara. “Men. Well, at least, vampires. They’re moody and temperamental on their best days. Are you sure he’s what you want?”
Chiara toyed with her braid. “He can barely stand me. Why would I want someone who snarls at me all the time?”
Braelyn tapped her chin, appearing to consider the question. She pointed at Rein across the room. “See my vampire? Hot bod. Great sex. Loyal. A friend. My greatest love. But he buries his affection so deep it’s sometimes hard to find. But it’s there. And it’s for me only and forever.” The Blood Coven descendant wandered off, leaving Chiara alone with her desires.
She wanted the same. But her vampire, the man she had dreamed of all her life, couldn’t care less about her. She had healed him when he was injured, fed him blood when he needed it, and given him the biggie. Her virginity. What was his problem?
Thorn whistled, catching the attention of the gathered guests. He announced he would be moving into the stronghold with Fin.
Sig found Chiara. “Your turn, witch. Don’t make me look bad.”
Chiara blinked to rid her eyes of moisture as she watched her new family. Denim ran fingers through Ram’s hair, and Chay slung an arm over Margo’s shoulders. Skyler perched on Kole’s lap while she chatted with Jace, whose hand rested on Tyr’s thigh. In a shadowy corner, Sabine and Nico danced, arms around each other’s neck, feet shuffling. That’s what love looked like. It didn’t snarl and stomp off. Hot bod and great sex aside, Dax wasn’t hers. Face facts. Move on.
Picking up her pool cue, she didn’t push Sig away when he stepped forward to help her perfect her form. But she still wished for a vampire to press close, to wrap his arms around her and show her how to sink a striped ball into the corner pocket.
Chapter Twenty-One
Dax flashed from the stronghold to the O blud den, punching a fist to the door to slam into the waiting area.
A blonde slumped in a threadbare chair, her legs crossed, a short kimono flapping open. Her hair wasn’t long, dark, and curly. Her skin wasn’t kissed by the sun. She was perfect. Especially since she wasn’t Chiara.
She’d wipe the little witch out of his system. Enough stalling. O blud along with a rough fuck would do the trick. He wouldn’t back out this time.
Dax snapped his fingers, grabbing her hand to race for the stairs. “You’ll do. Let’s go.”
She followed him, her feet stuttering to keep pace. He took the steps two to her one.
He led them to his favorite room. It had no bed. No chair. A free-standing bar, like a ballerina might use, was the only furniture. He chuckled. The blonde was no dancer. He hadn’t seen a single female in the place who could do aplié. No. This bar had one purpose. Bend over and take it.
Once inside, she was naked in an instant. All she had to do was untie the sash of her skimpy robe and let it fall to the floor. She fingered herself as if that would make her more desirable to the vampire. The only thing he cared about was the high. The numb. The escape. She could stop with the finger motion.
With her other hand, she flipped her hair over her shoulder, running her fingers along the pulse in her neck.
