Page 46 of Auctioned for Her Blood
I reach up to my throat, and my hand comes away dry and I can’t feel any wound. I rub the area, trying to find evidence of his teeth, but it’s like I’ve already healed.
“Youbitme.” I wait for an explanation, because there must be one. I’ve never felt so stunned, so confused by what he did, and even more confused about my body’s reaction. I liked it. The bite, the sex, both have left me wanting Ryker even more than before.
“Here.” Ryker tosses me the fleece throw from the other end of the sofa and I wrap it around me as he buttons the fly of his pants.
The deep red blanket feels soft and warm, even though I’m not remotely cold, and I run my hands over its surface, as if I can sense every separate fiber in the fabric.
Wrapped up, I sit cross-legged at the end of the sofa as Ryker stands at its end, wearing only his leather pants and looking like he’s just witnessed a murder, or a gory scene in a horror movie. Even though it washewho bitme, I’m overwhelmed by the urge to comfort him.
I pat the cushion beside me. “Talk to me,” I say softly. “Please. Ryker. Tell me what’s going on.”
“You didn’t fall asleep.” He shakes his head as if in disbelief.
I tip my head to the side, fighting to comprehend this mysterious man I trusted enough to take my virginity, a man I still want to trust.
And even if I can’t trust him I want him to take me again.
Tofuckme again—right now. Because that was the best feeling of my life and I already want more.
“Do women usually fall asleep after sex?” I ask. “I mean, I’ve heard that men often do, and I did feel exhausted until…” I straighten my back. “Ryker, why did you bite me? Was that an accident? Did you get carried away?”
“You can say that again.” He pushes back his hair, raking his thick fingers through his gorgeous long waves.
“Will you talk to me about it?” He’s clearly upset, and I want to be understanding. I want to get past this before I invite him inside me again, something I want more than air at the moment.
“I’m not hurt.” I reach up to touch my throat, verifying that there’s no remaining wound, not even a trace. “In fact, I feel oddly fantastic.” I draw a deep breath, tracing the air’s passage through my body, noticing as it delivers its payload of oxygen to every part of me. I’ve never had such vivid awareness of my own body.
“There’s something I need to tell you.” Ryker looks down. “I meant to tell you before I, before we…”
“Tell me what?”
He clears his throat. “What Zuben told you. It’s true.”
“You’re a pirate?” I laugh.
“And a vampire.” He doesn’t look like he’s joking.
My back stiffens. “What?” I search his expression, scour his body language for proof that this is some kind of inappropriately timed prank.
He sits on the sofa beside me, and his weight shifts my body toward him, so I brace my hand on the back cushions to keep at least some distance between us.
“I’m a vampire. So is Zuben,” he adds quickly.
I shake my head. Up until now, tonight was perfect, beyond perfect, but now he’s ruining it. The sex was better than I could have ever expected, especially for my first time, but his ridiculous claim has soured my euphoria.
My eyes narrow. “Is this your way to get rid of me?” Hurt and anger invade. “Is this how you get rid of all your one night stands?” My voice breaks. “Wasthis a one night stand?”
“No.” He reaches to cup my face, but I pull back.
“No toallof that.” He shakes his head. “And it wasn’t thesexI thought would put you to sleep, it was my bite. Vampire venom does that.”
“Does what?”
“Vampire venom relaxes humans—”
“So they can kill them.” I frown.
“No.” His head shakes vehemently. “Vampire venom relaxes humans, takes away their pain—and their memories—so they wake with no knowledge that they provided…food for a vampire.”
