Page 48 of Claiming Her Vampire

I laugh. “She is so bitter and angry all the time. I was never encouraged or praised for getting good grades. It was just expected. I thought if I did everything right, I might deserve her love. But it didn’t matter how many good grades or chores I did. She was still mad. I joined the cheerleading team too. It wasn’t dancing, but it was similar. She told me to go on a diet so I wouldn’t look fat in the uniform. She never came to a game.

“I never got the sex talk or the period talk. When I got my period, I thought I was dying. My teacher had to explain to me what was going on. Isn’t that what a mom is for? Dating was horrible. There was this boy I had a crush on before Tom; he was so cute. We flirted for weeks, at least what I thought was flirting. He finally asked me to go to the movies with a bunch of friends. I was so excited. I got home to tell my mom about it, hoping she would help me pick out an outfit. She stared at me through my rambling explanation with a blank look on her face. When I was done, her face was cold. She told me to keep my legs closed, that a girl with lips like mine gave men ideas. I didn’t know what she meant. I chewed on my lips the whole night with a boy I thought I cared about. I thought there was something wrong with them.”

My hurt reaches out to Ryker. He sits beside me and takes my hand, his eyes filled with black. “I was wrong—about everything. My mom is having an affair with the man she works for. I caught her on the phone with him. That was the only time I have ever heard her laugh.”

“What about your dad?” Ryker wipes the tears leaking from my eyes.

I snort. “He’s too deep in the bottle to care much about anything. At times, I think he tried to be a dad. I just don’t think he has it in him. He’s weak and sad. I’m sure he knows that his wife is sleeping with her boss. That’s got to be difficult, but he stays. He allows her to use him and me. In the early days, he would try to stand up for me. She would ridicule him for it, and he would give up,” I say sadly. “No wonder I found Tom. He gave me the attention and love I needed for so long. It was great at first. He took advantage of my sad heart, overwhelming me with all the love I longed for. When it started to go bad, I thought, at least he loves me and tells me. Who cares if it’s after he hits me?

“My mom is not a good mother, but I have to believe she wouldn’t physically hurt me. She has to control everything in her world. I am not under her control anymore, so she wants to be a pest and remind me of all her sacrifices. Dad is probably at home, drunk, with no clue where she is.”

Ryker studies me intently, cradling my face gently. “Your mother is a bitch. She doesn’t deserve you. The shit you had to go through makes me want to kill her. I have no experience with having a mom, but I see how loving and attentive the women at the club are to their children. You got a raw deal. Your dad is a piece-of-shit man with no balls. He should have stepped up, left her, and taken you,” he says harshly. “You are a warrior. You were before, too. There are many ways to be one. Now, you have the power to back yourself up. You were meant to be with me. You were meant to be a vampire. Us, together? No one can fuck with us. I will help you deal with your interfering mother and your lazy ass father in whatever way you choose. I hope Tom is gone for good. If not, we’ll deal with him. This time though, I won’t be so nice.”

“Okay,” I sigh. “Should I call her?”

“No, If she is so determined, we will find her at our door soon enough.” He kisses me softly.

“So what now?”

“How does a night at the club sound?”

“You said I couldn’t handle it?” I ask with wide eyes.

“What do I know? It will be fun, finding ways to distract you from killing everyone. What’s a little blood loss in the grand scheme of things?” he says, grinning.

Crap, this could go very wrong. But the demon inside me grins along with him.

Chapter Sixteen

Ryker

Serenity is adorable when she sulks. She was not happy that we didn’t have sex. I’m not thrilled about it either, but it wasn't the right time after her trip down memory lane. When we do, I don’t want to have any distractions and or feel rushed for time. Instead, I insisted she take a nap, a few blood bags, and a long bath.

I had her clothes picked out and laid out on her bed when she was done in the bath. Her frown made me laugh. Her confusion was understandable, and I usually wouldn’t willingly allow her out of the house in what I picked out. But I have a plan for our night.

I searched through her clothes and decided on a short red skirt and a black, silky, sleeveless button-down shirt. She looks sexy as hell. She added thigh-high black boots. I wanted to fuck her in nothing but those boots.

I open the passenger side door for her. She gives me another questioning look I don’t respond to. I wait until she has her seatbelt on before starting the car and turning to her.

“Take off your panties,” I say, my voice deep.

“What?” she asks, shocked. Her wide eyes searched my face.

“No questions. You do what I say tonight. Trust me,” I urge and wait for her to do what I said.

She pauses a second more and then slowly reaches under her skirt. She wiggles and holds up her panties.

I pocket them and reverse the car. I start down the road, making her wonder and wait. I turn on the radio, check my mirrors, and casually lay one hand on the wheel.

“Unbutton your shirt,” I order, and her head snaps over.

“Ryker?” she whispers.

“What did I say?” I ask brusquely. The sound of her heartbeat and the heady smell of her arousal filled the car.

Her hands tremble as she struggles with the buttons.

“Now, unclasp your bra,” I tell her. Her eyes darted to the window. “No one can see. Do you think I would allow anyone else to see your beautiful body?”

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