Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“You don’t have to. Though, it takes practice to resist the urge to feed until you’re satiated once the blood fills your senses.” He snaps his fingers at me like I’m a dog. Asshole. “Enough of this. We have errands to run, and you’ll be getting hungry soon. Come here, Skye.”
There’s an answering tug inside me at his words. An urge to do what he said. It’s like an invisible, psychic thread linking us together.
“Look at me,” he orders, gazing into my eyes. “Come here, Skye.”
Once more, I feel the tug in the center of my chest. But, honestly, he can go to Hell. “I am not one of the undead, the whole idea is ridiculous. Because vampires wouldn’t have panic attacks, and I’m clearly having one now. My life. My friends and family and job and—”
“Come here now.” He doesn’t raise his voice, but I have to cover my ears to protect them against the wall of sound that hits me. It echoes around inside my skull, all sharp edges. The agony of it is still echoing inside me as I climb off the bed. Not doing as he asks has consequences, apparently.
“That hurt,” I whisper, massaging my temples. “Please don’t do it again.”
“So the sire bond does work on you, it just takes extra will on my part. That’s going to be annoying.”
“Sire bond?”
“I made you. Therefore, I’m your sire.” He pushes his thick, dark hair back from his face and stares down at me. I am average height, but barely reach his broad shoulder. “Your old life is over. The best way to keep your friends and family safe is to stay away from them.”
My go-fuck-yourself gaze says it all.
“You’re more difficult to kill now, but it’s not impossible.” He circles me like a shark before taking hold of my ponytail and wrapping it tightly around his fist. Then he tugs, pulling me back against his hard body. “And make no mistake, I will end you if you don’t start being useful and stop misbehaving. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He releases me with a warning look. “Who sent you here tonight? How did you get the house keys?”
“My boss gave them to me.”
“And who is your boss?”
“Are you going to hurt them if I tell you?”
He thinks it over for a second. “It’s highly doubtful. I’d be more concerned about my own skin if I were you. Now…don’t make me ask again.”
“Jennifer Manning,” I say reluctantly. “I work for a company called The Thorn Group.”
He smiles. “The Thorn Group? Is that so?”
I glare at him.
Not that he cares. “Let’s start there then. We have a lot of ground to cover before dawn.”
“Why me?” I ask as we drive through West Hollywood.
“I needed a tour guide to this century and there you were.”
“Great.” I’ve spent my entire life never being chosen for anything. Being average height, average weight, and bookish, I tend to blend. Neither the cool kids, nor the jocks wanted anything to do with me in school, and men like him have looked straight past me ever since. “That’s just great.”
“People have begged me for the gift I just gave you. Offered me riches beyond imagination. Yet all you do is whine.”
“Dude, you killed me. You actually killed me. Do you seriously expect me to thank you?”
“How long is it going to take for you to get past that?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “But when I do, we’re going to have a long conversation about consent.”
He shakes his head.
“When I was dying…you said something about me reminding you of someone?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Maybe I imagined it. My memories of the attack and him turning me are shadowy at best.
There are plenty of people out tonight, and so much traffic. He must have been awake sometime in the last century because he knows how to drive. And he drives my ten-year-old Prius so I don’t accidentally break it. Like how I cracked the wood banister as we were heading out. All I did was put my hand on it and bang. I obviously don’t know my own strength. Or speed, for that matter. Every move I make now needs to be slow and steady and careful. Given my general lack of patience, this is no easy feat.
The vehicle’s keyless start and automatic transition were new to him. I also had to talk him through the various electronics. For a while, he just sat and stared at the dashboard in a daze. Guess there are a lot of lights and information. Now I stare out the passenger-side window in a similar state. I think I’m in shock. I know this is happening, but it doesn’t seem real. Like I am watching it all from a distance.
“Women such as yourself used to be more accommodating,” he says. “Less sharp-tongued.”