Page 38 of Prey

“Oh, no,” she laughed. “I can’t. I’m horrible at—”

“You have to dance,” Marie cut in. “Not now, but at some point tonight. This is a party,” she laughed. “You can always dance with me if you feel uncomfortable with anyone else.” She glanced to Tessa’s neck and I saw her lust as clear as day. What was Marie planning? Was it just to destroy me in the eyes of our community or was there something more going on that I couldn’t quite comprehend?

“Maybe later,” Tessa said, shyly.

“We have all night. No rush.”

Boyd shrugged. “And I’m always down to dance, too. Just nod or call out to me if you decide.”

“Thank you.” Tessa’s hands locked in front of her, clasping tightly as he walked away. The uncomfortable sensations prickled my skin and all I wanted to do was sweep her in my arms and take her back to my room. The underground club wasn’t far from there. Two tunnels, our main door…and we’d be isolated. Alone.

A new song started and a large part of the party group cheered, pulling at each other as they made their way to the dance floor. They were all high on something or another. Mostly speed, X, or some other substance ingested through their slaves. Once it was in the blood, it was a quick fix for the vampires. A taste of the forbidden for someone not worried about overdose. Not that the effects would last long or even be that strong.

Tessa glanced around, taking in the bar area. Marie stepped in closer, coming up from behind. What she whispered, I wasn’t sure. It sent Marie’s hand up and one of her men came forward. The order was made and he walked to the bar, waiting as one of the four bartenders listened.

“You’re going to love this drink,” Marie said, wrapping her arms around Tessa from behind. “They call it The Shaker. It’s the closest to what you need. It’s going to make all that pain just…disappear.” Marie’s lids closed and she moved in closer to Tessa’s neck, inhaling deeply. Heat balled in the center of my stomach as my eyes narrowed. I didn’t wait. I projected my warning along the vampire’s skin with just enough brutality to let her know I was serious. Marie’s eyes snapped open as she jumped at the shock. Her other three men pushed to her side, having felt what their Mistress did. Her head moving back and forth stopped them from coming toward me.

Tessa shrugged out of the hold, turning and grinning. “Maybe just one drink. Then I should really be going. I feel bad for leaving Hunter alone.”

“Hunter is doing fine. He’s a big boy.” Marie glanced down, only to look back up, questioningly. “I have to ask. Hunter’s a very attractive man. Have the two of you ever considered…you know.”

Tessa’s lips pursed and I could tell she didn’t want to talk about it. “We’re best friends. That’s where it ends.”

“But aren’t you at least a little tempted? I mean, a woman has needs.”

“My needs don’t revolve around Hunter that way.”

A slow nod was all Marie gave while her eyes scanned over her men. “Do any of mine attract you? I don’t mind sharing.”

Rage exploded within and I held to Julius’ order for stability. God, I’d kill Marie if she tried to push Tessa on one of her slaves. There wouldn’t be enough people able to get me off all of them if the time came.

“I don’t think…” The words were rushed out when Marie’s finger settled over Tessa’s lips.

“You don’t understand our ways. I see that now. I apologize if that came out crass. You see, we’re all very open sexually. I think you’ll soon find that out. Nudity is not something we gape at or feel uncomfortable around. Sex is just passion. Here, we embrace it. Live it to the fullest.” Her shoulder came in closer to her face as she gave a half shrug. “I have four men, what does that tell you?”

Even in the dim atmosphere, I could see Tessa blush.

“Sweetie, you’re one of us now. You can be or do whatever it is you want. No one will stop you or judge your actions. Embrace your new life. You have vampire blood within you. We’re like sisters now.”

It was the stupidest thing I’d ever heard, but it made sense to Tessa. I could feel it. She suddenly wanted this. Wanted this…life. Fuck, what had my blood done to her? It was warping her thoughts. Had changed who she was. There was no going back. This was the new Tessa. In truth, she was part of our community now. Could be for good, if I accepted her as mine. Even if it was just as my blood slave and not my concubine.

Tessa’s head shook as she started to say something, only to stop when she reached for the glass handed to her.

“I’m sorry, Marie. Nothing against your men. They’re all very attractive, I just don’t think I can.”

“No worries. Drink. When the pain fades, we’ll have this conversation again.”

Tessa was already sipping from the straw and I watched as the red liquid rose to her lips. The slow, deep sucking didn’t go unnoticed by my cock. God, how it looked like blood. It could be my blood if I wanted.

My eyes closed as I tried to erase it from my mind. I had to stop watching. If I didn’t, I was going to do something I regretted and I couldn’t ruin her life that way.

Boyd was back in his group. Back to talking to the human females who were turning into nothing but groupies for our kind. Although he appeared to listen, he only had eyes for my Tessa. And not even in a threatening way. More curiosity. Maybe he was wondering the same thing I was. What was it about her that called to our dark desires? Was it her beauty? She wasn’t overly beautiful, but attractive, none the less. Was it her blood? Her scent?

A sigh escaped me. I knew it was, but what was so gripping about it? She was pure human. There was nothing else within her that lurked in the shadows. It just had a distinct attraction that appealed to us. There was no other way to explain it. She just smelled good. Like a juicy steak to a starving man. And we were all starving for her. Especially me.

“What’s in this? It’s really good.”

I didn’t even have to be next to them to hear her voice. I was so in tune with my prey, everything she felt, every sound she made. We were one.

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