Page 81 of Bite Marks & Broken Hearts

Flynn

Ice crackled beneath my feet as I trudged through the inky blackness, each step more laboured than the last. An impossibly deep chill seeped into my bones, and I shivered violently. The darkness pressed in from all sides, suffocating and oppressive, broken only by eerie flashes of blue light. I clutched my arms tightly, trying to stave off the bitter cold, fear creeping up my spine as something malevolent stirred in the shadows…

I woke with a start to a pitch-black room, my hand flying to my chest.Another weird dream.And now, since yesterday’s most recent attack, there was a permanent cold spot across my ribs. I hadn’t told Seb about the attack. I hadn’t wanted to worry him when we’d been rather… occupied with other activities.

Speaking of Seb…

I reached across the mattress, finding empty space where his solid form should have been. I prepared for the punch to the gut that would follow.

“I’m right here.” Amusement coloured Seb’s voice.

Lamplight flooded the room, and I squinted to find him perched on the arm of the chair that held my pile of clothes, already dressed in a pristine navy waistcoat, curls perfectly styled. How did he look so put together at—I glanced at my phone—6:47 a.m.?

“What are you doing over there?”

“Your pyjama bottoms magically wiggled themselves off in the night.” He raised an eyebrow, his gaze sliding meaningfully to where they lay crumpled on the floor.

Heat assaulted my cheeks as I became acutely aware of my nudity. Thank god for the thick bedding—at least it hid my morning predicament, still present despite the nightmare.

“Come back to bed.” The words slipped out before I could stop them, rough with sleep and something more. I still couldn’t believe he’d actually come to my room, spent the night in my bed. Let me cuddle him like a teddy bear.

Even if I died a virgin—how many people could say they’d had hot-as-fuck phone sex with a devastatingly gorgeous Spanish vampire?

“I need to start work. I was just waiting until you woke up so you couldn’t accuse me of ‘ghosting’ you.”

A small smile played across his lips, and I wanted nothing more than to jump up and kiss him. Like that same wild freedom of jumping off the pier. No hesitation, just the breathless rush of taking the plunge.

Seb shot to his feet. His gaze darted between me and the door as if caught in some invisible tug of war. The air crackled with tension, thick enough to choke on. His fingers twitched at his sides.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Was this it? Would he leave and then we’d pretend none of last night had happened?

But then he moved. One step. Two. Three deliberate strides towards the bed.

I forgot how to breathe.

He leaned down, and his lips pressed against my hair—soft, careful, reverent. The touch lasted barely a heartbeat, yet I felt it down to my bones. His breath stirred my messy bed head, and the familiar scent of him wrapped around me like a blanket.

Without a word, without meeting my eyes, he straightened and crossed to the door. His footsteps were silent on the carpet. The door opened, then clicked shut with finality.

I released the breath I’d been holding with a greatwhoosh.

“Holy fucking shit.” The words came out as a whisper. I flopped back onto the pillows, pressing my hands to my burning cheeks. “Holyfuckingshit.”

A giddy laugh bubbled up from my chest. Sebastián Salazar—ancient vampire, feared leader of Killigrew Street—had just kissed me.

Okay, on the head. But still.

I couldn’t stop myself from grabbing my phone, desperate to tell someone. I automatically scrolled to Katie’s number—but the sister I hadn’t spoken to didn’t know who Sebastián was. And Emma still thought he was a crazy gun-wielding stalker.

So I opened Seb’s message thread, my eyes widening at the daring photos I’d taken yesterday before I typed:

I just wanted to say thanks for last night. LOL x

The message became marked as read instantly. He must have had our chat open. Doing what? Looking at the photographs again? The thought left me feeling dizzy.

He began to type, and I held very still as those three little dots tormented me.

Sebastián

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