Deciding I’ve spent too long waiting to get what I want, I take a deep breath and face him. “So, wanna make out?”
Nine by Night: A Multi-Author Urban Fantasy Bundle of Kickass Heroines, Adventure, Magic
Chapter Six
Asa
I give a strangled laugh, knowing she’s trying to smooth over an awkward situation. My body shakes, struggling to process the past few minutes. Those kisses were fucking incredible. Whether I’m able to ever bite her or not, there’s no denying I want her with every fiber of my being.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath I don’t need, silently willing my erection to pass. Visually blocking out Lisa while she recovers from the experience doesn’t help—all I picture is the blatant desire I saw in her bright blue eyes.
It’ll never work, you fool. A vampire lover you can’t bite? What’s the point?
Maybe it’s not about feeding from everyone, okay? Maybe it’s about the closeness and sense of peace associated from simply being with someone. Someone who cares.
Do you hear yourself? You’ll slip one day and bite her, bringing her the most agonizing pain she’ll ever experience in her life. Did you learn nothing in New York?
Shut up! There’s always bagged blood. I could do this, I could resist biting her.
And if you’re wrong? She’ll look at you with fear and revulsion. Just like Katie did. And Leslie. And even the bartender, Ray—that one night when you were hurt in a bar fight against three werewolves. Should I go on? Or would you prefer to kill her like those “accidents” in Afghanistan?
I grind my teeth in frustration, wishing I could snap off my fangs in the process.
Lisa’s hesitant voice draws me out of my self-flagellation. “Asa, are you okay?”
My eyes snap open, zeroing in on the blond temptress with the unsure smile on her face. I made her doubt herself by pulling back after she reaped Ivan. I’ve hurt her and all we’ve done is shared a kiss.
Okay, well, maybe dozens of steamy, toe-curling kisses I’d like nothing better than to repeat, but still. Above all, I don’t want to bring more pain to someone who’s lost her husband.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” I scan the reading parlor and move down the hall toward her room, not wanting to meet her sharp gaze. “Or, I will be. That was way more intense than I bargained for. Will all supernaturals be that difficult to reap?”
“Difficult to reap?” She follows me, a confused note in her voice. Probably hoped I’d talk about our kissing. Yeah, I’m going to avoid that topic like the plague. “Uh…honestly? I have no idea. Have I mentioned I’m not very experienced at reaping yet?”
I resist smiling and nod. Maybe reminding her of what I am will douse her interest in me. “I need to eat. We should go to the dining room and plan the rest of your reaping.”
“Eat?” she squeaks as we cross the threshold into her suite.
Good job, bastard. There’s the fear again.
“Yeah. Don’t worry, it won’t be you. I drink bagged blood.” A sardonic grimace forms on my mouth. “We’re very civilized here in the north.”
Her shoulders slump and she looks exhausted. “Okay, look. I’m not sure what just happened here, but I’m bushed. Can you wait a few more minutes and we talk up here? I’m really not inclined to go wandering around this place unsure of whom I’ll run into, if you know what I mean.”
There were only three gold coins in that carved-out book. She’s got a point. We’ll need to get more. I nod, still not trusting myself to speak when I want to rush over and kiss her again.
“And holy cow, are you guys that hard to kill in real life? Both vamp spirits were stronger than anything I’ve felt.” She flops down in her chair and I move to settle into mine. “Not that I have much to compare it too, but still. I need to call my partner.”
“Partner? You mentioned one before. Why were you sent up here alone if you have a partner?”
A calculating look enters her eyes. “That’s exactly what I intend to find out later.” She glances at her watch. “It’s after ten. I’ll call him tomorrow morning. When do you want to get started with the rest, and how many are there?”
“At least six more I know of. And two are werewolves.”
She bolts upright in her comfy chair. “Holy crap, I forgot about them. I wonder if they’ll be as resistant as the vampires.”
I school my features, feeling a smile coming at her reaction. Need to focus on the job, not how cute she is. “I don’t know but we’ll find out.”