Page 22 of Blood Bought

“Then you should’ve just let me die,” I whispered, stepping closer again. “As a baby. Why’d you save me in the first place just for this to be how it all ended up?”

“I can’t see the future, Sweets. Only the past. I thought your life was worth saving, are you telling me it wasn’t? Are you telling me you didn’t do anything good in those twenty-one years that might have made it worth it?”

I didn’t have an answer to that. He was right, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it when it was being held up against the murder of my mother and my imprisonment. “I just don’t want anyone else to die for me, and that includes me. So if that means that I let you do what you want with me, then fine. You already made it clear that I’m not allowed to be with anyone else, so what’s the point of fighting you?”

“I’m not going to kill you. If I was, why would you be alive? If I wanted to force you into it, why haven’t I?”

Another question I didn’t have an answer to. Alaris was undoubtedly the most frustrating person I’d ever met, because every time I thought I had him figured out, he did something that surprised me. Unfortunately, it only served to confuse the shit out of me. “So what, now you don’t want me then?”

The snort he released didn’t fit his face. “I want you more than any human I’ve ever been around.” Suddenly I was against the wall with my hands above my head, his knee pressed between my legs as his teeth slid down my neck. “Do you know how hard it’s been to stay away?”

“Fuck!” My brain was shorting out — all of him, his power, his fangs, that position, his wrecked voice... for the first time, I actuallydidwant him. I couldn’t help it, I rolled my hips to rub my clit on his raised knee and hissed quietly, “Cheater.”

He growled, a low rumble that traveled down my skin to the tips of my toes, and then he backed away, squeezing himself through his jeans. “Not sweet enough yet. But you’re wet, Miss Silk. I’ll have a toy delivered for you.”

And then he was gone, leaving me standing there naked, shaking, and utterly confused.

Toys, vampires, or just sheer circumstances... I was fucked.

Chapter Ten:

No toy arrived, atleast not right away, and I slept uneasily that night as I imagined Alaris’ hands all over me. I did, however, receive a note when I opened my eyes telling me that enough was enough and I’d been shirking my duties — ones I hadn’t even realized I had.

Since I’d chosen bait, I was apparently supposed to help the bloodwhores and take Alaris all of his meals, not just the human kind, so I dressed quickly and rushed off to take him breakfast. He seemed busy enough that he didn’t even wave when I came in, and lunch was no different. As the chefs prepared dinner for all of the Sons, I finally made my way to the bloodwhores’ hostel to check on them and bring them water.

“How’s it going?” I asked, noting the strain on Nesrin’s face.

“Okay,” she said, chugging the water before actually looking me over. “You look good. They’re feeding you well?”

“Now they are, yeah.” I felt bad being there with no marks, but I was doing my job. “How are Janice and Isabel doing?”

“They’re handling it like naturals, though Janice is a little sad she hasn’t had Alaris yet. Do you want to go see her?”

I found myself feeling possessive of Alaris and shook my head a little bit. “No, I’m just glad she’s okay. I’m sure he’ll have her soon,” I said bitterly.“Right, Alaris?”

No answer came right away, but the second Nesrin started talking again he interrupted her.“Did you want to watch or something?”His tone was strained, yet playful, like he couldn’t stop himself from messing with me.“Otherwise, no.”

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