Page 24 of Blood

“I know you’re on your mating-moon—”

“Violet, what part of ‘my pussy’s in a pumpkin’s mouth right now’ did you not understand?” she asks with an exasperated sigh. “Was it the word pussy? Pumpkin? Mouth?”

“You’re not even connected to the pussy!” I hiss back. The words are just loud enough to garner Alex’s attention. He turns toward me, one of his eyebrows quirked, but I simply wave away the unspoken question I can see brewing in his eyes.

“You’re not connected to your brain,” Cynthia huffs back.

“Real mature.”

“Ugh. Sorry. I promise it’s not you. It’s just...” Cynthia lowers her voice into a whisper, as if she fears being overheard by her mate. “Do you ever get tired of all the deep dicking? Don’t get me wrong—I love my mate. But there’s only so many times I can have his head between my thighs before I get...I don’t know...bored? I swear I’ve been picking out pumpkin seeds for days now.”

“Um...”

“And don’t get me started on all of the sex.” She blows out a raspberry. “If I’m tired, he’ll literally just remove my tits and pussy and begin to fuck them beside me. I swear the man is insatiable! Do you have to deal with this?”

“I can promise you that I never get tired of having sex with my mates,” I assure her, deadpan.

Alex, once again, whips his head in my direction. Our eyes meet and clash, his russet-black ones hooded. But the connection lasts for only a second before he turns away with that customary scowl of his stamped firmly on his face.

“Honestly, if this favor gets me away from my mate’s dick for even a second, I’ll take it. What do you need?”

“Well...” I nibble anxiously on my lower lip. “You remember Vanessa Van Helsing, right?”

“Yes?” Her voice quivers, turning the answer into a tentative question. “You’re not mated to her, are you?”

“No!” I rush to say. “But it’s just, um, well... I may have tied her up in a safe house and left her there for days. And she may be under a spell that makes her a vampire-hating lunatic.” My words begin to rush together toward the end, making them nearly indecipherable.

But I can tell Cynthia understands them when silence settles between us. All I can hear is her breathing on the phone, the only indication she hasn’t hung up on me.

Finally, she drawls out, “Let me guess? You want me to go to this safe house, rescue Vanessa, and then come meet you?”

“That would be awesome,” I agree readily. “And maybe feed her? Clean her up a little bit? Allow her to go to the bathroom?”

“Jesus, Violet,” Alex murmurs, proving that he’s been listening in on my entire conversation, despite the distance between us. “She’s a person, not a pet.”

“I think I know my designated best friend’s needs better than you do,” I snap, instinctively sticking my tongue out at him.

Like before, Alex’s eyes turn molten, burning like volcanic rocks. They home in on my tongue like two heat-seeking missiles.

“Keep sticking your tongue out at me, Violet baby, and I’ll find you something to use it on,” he all but growls.

Liquid heat surges through my veins, lighting a fire in my lower belly.

“Who the fuck is that?” Cynthia’s voice yet again pulls me back to the topic at hand. “I don’t recognize him. Is that a new harem member?”

“I don’t have a harem!” I protest automatically.

“I think the definition is one female and three-plus partners,” Cynthia singsongs. “How many scrumptious men do you have in your bed now?”

“Ohhh, I have to go. My, um, butt is calling me.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I facepalm myself. My butt is calling me? Really?

But Cynthia takes it in stride. “Do you have a retractable ass too? Dude, I swear my booty has a life of its own sometimes. I once dropped it onto the bed, and then it butt dialed me for hours afterward.”

“Um, yes, that’s what happened. Definitely.” I begin to nod excessively, remember she can’t see me, and attempt nonchalance. But nonchalance is like a preteen boy trying to be cool after seeing a pair of tits for the first time—that shit just ain’t happening.

Where are sunglasses when you need them? Cool people wear sunglasses.

And cowboy hats.

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