Page 8 of Bloody Nights (La Vega Vampire Showstoppers 2)

“That’s a good girl. I knew you weren’t shy.” Cooper flashes his fangs and totally checks me out, flicking his gaze down to my boobs and then the rest of me.

Shivering under his scrutiny, I redirect my attention from the wall. I don’t know where I summon the bravado, probably from my annoyance and adrenaline, but I drop my gaze down to his cock and lift an eyebrow. He’s not the only one who can look without permission.

“What do you think? Do you like what you see?” This fucking asshole. I can’t believe he calls me out.

His words cause me to avert my eyes as a blush burns up my cheeks. My first instinct is to tell him how attractive his body is, because that’s how I’ve been trained to respond to someone seeking compliments, but all I do is ignore him. He gets a rise out of trying to get a reaction out of me.

“I’m probably average. Maybe a little above, at least here. I’ve seen a lot of fucking cock, so I know.” Cooper stares at the side of my face, his gaze burning into my temple as if he can read my mind. “Not by choice, if I must add. Lawrence is a real son-of-a-twat. Mass showers. Guest entertainment. Erotic Fright Fights for special events.”

“You don’t have to explain.” I shrug my shoulders and turn around, tipping my head back to wet my hair. “Doesn’t matter to me either way.”

Because it doesn’t. It’s none of my business.

“I just thought you’d be curious, is all, my showgirl. I’m sure the personal donors of Alexander are a bit like me. Doing what we have to do to survive.” Cooper smacks his hand to a soap dispenser hooked to the wall and rubs his hands together to lather up. “Not all vampires have it easy. Around here, the donors are above vampires like me, who are put into the herd to keep the blood flowing.”

I don’t respond to his words. It’s a lot to take in, listening to him describe to me something I had never in my life considered to be possible. I mean, a vampire being used as a donor for donors? It’s insane. It would never go over well in La Vega. Maybe there are too many of them. I don’t know. I have so many questions, but I know better than to ask.

“Do you think that’s going to make me feel bad for you?” I follow his lead and soap up my body and hair, quickly rinsing off as the water turns from hot to warm.

“No. Because I don’t feel bad for you either. The only thing you make me feel right now is hungry.” He steps out of the stream and shuts off the water, leaving me staring at the ceiling.

I shriek as the shower suddenly turns ice cold and jump from the water and right into the open towel Cooper holds out for me.

“Is that why you’re acting so nice? You want to feed on me? That’s why I showered?” I shift on my feet and tighten the towel around my body.

Cooper runs his fingers through his wet hair, still standing naked before me, dripping wet and glistening.

My eyes betray me. I look at his body again, staring at the tattoos traveling along his chest and pecs and over his shoulders, working their way down his back like his body is a piece of artwork. It’s mesmerizing yet disconcerting because I know that the ink is special for vampires and according to the Bella Crew, it stings.

“Are you offering?” Cooper smirks at me, his now clean face showing exactly how handsome he is. Scruff peppers his cheeks, but it doesn’t look unkempt. He trims it just as he grooms the rest of his body.

I scrunch my face with a sneer. “No.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. Especially because you’re going to leave me with a soaked towel. Wish you could give me something for hogging it.” Cooper motions to the fact that he is dripping wet and naked. “You’re not exactly helping my average size. It’s cold.”

I laugh in exasperation and throw the towel at him. He lets it hit him in the face, and I swear he sucks in a breath as if he’s smelling my scent on the fabric.

“Where are some clothes? I’m not putting on those nasty dirty ones. You promised that we’d get dressed up.” I move my weight from foot to foot, feeling incredibly exposed but trying not to show it. I could cover up with my hands the best I can. A part of me wants to, yet there’s a bigger part of me that wants to act blasé and as if none of this bothers me. It wouldn’t bother Ruby Vixen.

Unfortunately, she’s no longer me.

Maybe Violent Violet will be the badass instead of the good little doll of Alexander Aris. She can help me kick ass and remain unfazed to all this bullshit. I just have to convince myself that I can be her and live up to those standards. Right now, all I feel is weak.

“I did, didn’t I?” Cooper hands me back the wet towel, but I don’t take it from his fingers.

I let it drop to the floor. “You have five seconds.”

“Or what? You’ll bite me? Beat me up? Try to spank my perky ass?” Cooper grins wider with his words. He loves teasing me. I kind of hate how cute he looks when he smiles. He’s my enemy. He’s my supposed trainer. I shouldn’t feel anything but fear and anger towards him.

Ignoring him, I strut to the pile of dirty clothes and pick them up. “I’ll force you to put these on.”

He feigns being afraid, dropping his mouth open with fake shock. “Oh no. I’m shaking. Dirty clothes. Yuck. I just showered.”

I can’t stop the laugh from escaping my mouth at his dramatics. Chucking the T-shirt at him, I nearly get him in the face, but this time he moves out of the way. He vanishes from the spot in front of me at a speed far too quick for my eyes to follow only to return with a slinky navy-blue dress draped over his arm.

He swings it back-and-forth in front of me. “Will this work for you, my showgirl? I know it doesn’t sparkle, but we’re trying to blend in.”

I snatch the dress from his fingers and shrug it over my head, the tight silhouette showing off all my curves and not leaving much to the imagination with a low-cut bodice and skimpy hemline. If I were to bend over, I’m sure my ass would show. It’s probably the point, though.

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