Page 22 of Love Bites

After being on the receiving end of Damian’s dickishness, I didn’t want to put anyone else through that.

I let out a slow breath.

Hale.

His name was Hale.

I needed to accept that he wasn’t the guy from the club, and move on. Moving on would make it much easier to wrap my mind around the new, unique situation I’d landed myself in.

Because there was no getting out. I was good and trapped. My other option was Curtis, the bastard who would send me back toHaleinpieces.

Shudder.

So, my situation was the best of the two options.

At least my sisters were safe and happy.

And I was… well, going to enjoy the most gorgeous pool I’d probably ever see.

So hey, there weretwoperks.

I strode back to the edge of the pool and peeled the oversized t-shirt I used as a swimsuit coverup over my head. It fell to the floor as I dove in.

The water engulfed me, and I inhaled deeply.

Heaven.

I was in heaven.

…even if it smelled and tasted like chlorine.

six

DAMIAN

I paced my office,shoving a hand through my hair. The gel had dried it in weird shapes because of the repetitive motion, but I didn’t give a damn.

It was taking everything I had not to track my female down.

She was hungry—I’d heard as much from two different sources.

My little siren hadn’t taken enough from me.

And my bloodlust was already starting to set in again. I should’ve fed on her longer, but I’d been afraid to hurt her.

She couldn’t make that excuse.

That said, I knew I was on thin ice with her.

Hell, I was onbrokenice with her.

I’d been afraid to lose her, and I’d been a fucking moron because of it. Threatening her clearly wasn’t the way to go. Not only because she’d looked at me like I was a monster afterward, but because of the way it made me feel like one.

Typically, I could do whatever I needed to without feeling a thing. I had to be able to compartmentalize that way, considering how many vampires I had relying on me.

But with her, I couldn’t do it.

Trying had been a mistake.

---