Page 84 of Virgin Sacrifice

“Don’t look so proud of yourself. Your only competition is your evil twin and the nutjob leaving me body parts.”

Plus, whoever that guy was in the parking lot of the police station. He absolutely gave off psycho killer vibes. But whoever was behind the murders knew about Penelope, which meant they were linked to my past, and I would swear on my life that I had never seen him before.

Alister merely shrugged, still looking far too pleased, or as pleased as the typically stoic male could.

“Well, thank you for . . . that,” I said with a wave of my hand, “but I’ve got errands to run.”

Stepping away, I started to walk toward the drug store, only for him to follow behind me. I let out a frustrated sigh, Locke’s harsh warning still fresh in my mind. “Did I invite you to join me?” I snapped.

Alister shot his hand out in front of my chest, forcing me to a stop and irritating me further.

“Seriously?” I huffed, looking over my shoulder to give him a frosty glare.

The stony bastard simply arched a single brow at me.

“No, nope, that’s it. I’m done with you Blackwells. First, Nixon harassed me in front of my friends, and then your dickhole cousin had the audacity to accuse me of stalking you and your brother. There’s a killer running loose on campus and—‍”

Alister looped his warm gloved hand over my frigid bare one, dragging me away from the sidewalk and down the alley next to the drug store as I continued my tirade.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” I sputtered indignantly as he pulled me into the shadows with him. “You better not be about to murder me because you have had so many better opportunities—‍”

I didn’t get to finish my rant.

Before I could get another word in, Alister was spinning me around to wrap me in his arms, and I was pulled snug against his unbearably firm chest, the scent of rain and earth enveloping me as his lips descended on mine.

It was surprisingly tentative at first, like the first puff of wind on a cold day, the kind that had you drawing a bit nearer for warmth.

His lips skated across the surface of mine teasingly, and I found myself chasing after them for more. Steadily though, the intensity built as he captured my lips fully, gently but forcefully opening me up to him. Something wild grew between us, a feral need inside me that made me ache. I felt the sharp gnash of his teeth against my lips, and I whined as he snapped and nipped me with increasing ferocity like the winter wind howling around us.

A gasp escaped my throat, and Alister growled deeply against me with satisfaction. Deeper and deeper he took our kiss, stepping me slowly backward as I playfully retreated from his icy advances until I felt my back hit the rough wall behind us.

He pressed into me, capturing me firmly between him and the wall. My tongue fought back against his as if I could repel him at the very same time that I clawed against him for more. The copper tang of blood danced across my tongue as the lines blurred between us, and I couldn’t tell if it was his or mine.

“Petite diablesse,” he rumbled aggressively, catching a handful of my hair and yanking it firmly. Delight filled me, and I hummed against his mouth.

Of all the pet names I had been called, I had to admit that I liked his best. In one of my favorite languages, no less.

Little demoness.

Unfortunately, this demoness worked hard, and I didn’t have time to play with Alister.

Autumn would be looking for me soon if I didn’t turn up back at the post office, and I wasn’t sure how I would explain making out with one of the Blackwell twins in a dark alley to her. Especially when she had seen me stab his brother a couple of weeks ago.

I whimpered in protest at my own actions but planted my hands firmly on his chest and pushed myself back from him. “I have to go,” I attempted to say steadily, though the huskiness of my voice betrayed me.

“No,” Alister rasped, chasing after me again with his lips as I turned to give him my cheek, shoving uselessly against his chest.

“Yes,” I commanded more firmly this time. “Autumn will be looking for me soon, and if she finds me here with you, she’ll have me put in protective custody and you’ll never see me again.”

An exaggeration, although not a large one.

He scoffed. “There’s nowhere you could hide from me.”

“Hmmm.” I slipped out from between his arms like a cat. “You’d be surprised.”

He choked out a deep, ragged breath of discontent, and I half expected him to follow me back out onto the street, stalking my every step. Instead, he merely glowered at me from the shadows, hands fisted tightly at his side as he struggled to restrain himself.

Maybe I was finally getting into the holiday spirit, or maybe it was because death was nipping at my heels, again, but once I made my way to stand under the bright lights of the street, I couldn’t help myself, and I turned to look back at him over my shoulder.

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