Page 89 of Undying Thirst

Bastien sat all the way in the back. Watchful and silent.

“While we were gone, I picked up your gifts, Catalina,” Tobias said, and he lifted two fingers. A thick card was nestled between them.

“Is that a credit card?” I frowned.

“Your credit card. Unlimited. For your ordering pleasure,” Asher purred in my ear. “You will be taken care of.”

I pushed my hands out like a barrier between us, shaking my head.

“Just take it,” Jaxon ordered, snatching the credit card. I just stared at the card, struggling to process.

“There are perks to being ours, Love,” Tobias said gently.

“I . . .” I coughed, eyeing the platinum card Jax waved out to me.

“Catalina, take the card.”

“Well, if you insist,” I muttered and took it.

Who was I kidding, I loved spending money. I loved things. If I hadn’t been so careful about making sure tuition was paid for Peter, then I’d be a menace. Also, they destroyed all my things.

I enjoyed this whole ‘being taken care of’ thing. I nuzzled close to Asher, ignoring Jax’s effort to hold me closer.

“I would have given you a black card a long time ago if I knew it made you this touchy,” Asher drawled.

ASHER

She finally mademy brother buckle. A feat none had done before, even Imogen. I smiled smugly. He’d never fucked anyone while facing them.

Catalina had him in the palm of her hand.

He hadn’t stopped caressing her arm. As for Catalina, she had much longer to go before she allowed him the gentleness she allowed the rest of us. She had not forgiven, and it was clear she held a grudge, but I had to give it to Jaxon, he continued caressing her despite her leaning away from his touch.

Jax did not know it now, but she would provide what we’d been missing for so long. What hebelievedhe had with Imogen.

Imogen had been cruel.

Vampires were known for their lack of morality, but the level she reached was needless, especially toward those that she claimed belonged to her.

One time he’d pissed her off, she’d tied him to a table facedown. He’d bowed his head to her. I tried to stop it, but he’d been angry at my attempt. Her reaction was worse. She’d taken a razor to his body and sliced little incisions all over his back, opening fresh wounds. Over and over again until a pool of blood lay under the table. She’d almost drained him like this. He had lost consciousness, and I’d had to be the one to clean him off.

She promised to do it again if I ever stepped out of line.

She’d known this was the very thing humans did to him before he’d become a vampire. He still bore scars from the event since he received them before he was turned, and she feasted on his weakness.

I watched him watch our human. Vehement yearning splashed on his face.

Catalina would offer him the soft touches and gentle kisses he desperately craved. Something he had never experienced. He needed it even if he did not know it.

A buzz filled the vehicle. Tobias fished the cell phone out.

“You know, for someone who hates electronics, you’ve been on the phone quite a lot.”

Tobias glared at me over his shoulder.

“You have been indisposed to do your part,” he said dryly and looked down at the screen. True, I was usually the one that took charge with anything having to do with relations to other Covens.

“The human is heading to the house.”