Page 47 of Auctioned for Her Blood
“Bullshit.”
His eyes open wider, and I feel blush bloom on my cheeks. I don’t typically swear and even though we barely know each other, his reaction shows that he knows this about me already.
“It’s not bullshit.” He looks into my eyes. “It’s very true. Most information circulated amongst humans about vampires is false. And the hate crimes committed against us—”
“Hate crimes?”
He frowns. “What else do you call it when innocent vampires are staked on sight?”
“Innocent? The police stake vampires in self defense, for public safety, to protect us from vampires…” My mind is reeling; I can’t follow Ryker’s logic. I’m not sure I want to.
“No.” Turning toward me, Ryker rests his arm on the back of the sofa between us.
My body contracts in fear, but I take deep breaths and remind myself: this is the same man who took me to New York for dinner—in a helicopter—the same man I made love to not long ago. I should at least hear him out.
“Ryker, what you’re saying makes no sense. Vampires are monsters. They kill.” He is so not a vampire.
“Listen…” Ryker rakes back his hair again. “Do vampires ever kill humans? Sure. But humans kill each other too. Way more often than vampires do.” His eyes narrow. “When humans commit murder at least there’s a trial. Humans aren’t just slaughtered on sight for being who they are.” Closing his eyes, he draws a long breath, and his expression softens. “I didn’t mean to raise my voice, or get into politics.”
Looking into his eyes, I nod. His eyes haven’t changed, and they still reveal so much emotion and goodness. Can my instincts be so wrong? Does he have some kind of delusionary mental illness like my mom?
“Humans and vampires,” he continues, “our species coexisted in peace for millennia.” His eyes narrow. “Most humans thought us a myth. We’ve always been hunted by slayers, but for the past twenty years it’s been open season on my kind—wooden stakes through the heart left and right.”
My teeth scrape my lower lip as I consider his words. I still can’t believe what he’s saying is true. He’s making it sound likehumansare the predators, not vampires.
And even if what he’s saying is true, Ryker can’t be a vampire. And certainly not Zuben. The idea is laughable.
“But you’re alive,” I reason with him. “Not dead, or undead. You’re warm blooded. Very.” I touch his leg and his eyelids flutter. He’s as responsive to my touch as I am to his.
And I realize that my hips are swiveling, my rising arousal driving the motion beyond my conscious control.
My insides contract, and I suck in a ragged breath. Only minutes have passed since Ryker’s hardness was pumping inside me, but my body already wants him again.
And as crazy as his claim is, my need for him is not only overwhelmingly powerful, it’s more than just physical.
I want more sex, but I also wantRyker, I want to believe him and trust him, even if he needs psychological help or…
What if heisa vampire?
I close my eyes. I’m not thinking straight because I’m starting to believe him. And I’m more turned on now than before the sex. Did his venom, as he called it, also affect my libido?
“Have you put me….under your spell?” I ask softly.
“I hope so.” Smiling, his expression darkens with desire, but then he blinks and shakes his head. “No. Not a spell. Not in the way you mean. Vampires have no such powers.”
“But your venom… You said…”
“The venom makes feedings easier. It makes humans forget that it happened. But with you…” His shoulders rise as he inhales, and he slowly shakes his head.
“So…vampirescan’tcontrol minds, or make womenwantyou…” I’m too embarrassed, too unsure, to tell him how badly I crave him. “You can’t control minds or cast spells?”
He shakes his head. “Afraid not, my little dove. Magic remains the sole domain of witches.”
I suck in a sharp breath.
“What?” His hand falls to my shoulder, and I lean into its warmth. “What did I say?” His eyes are full of worry and curiosity.
I shake my head. “Nothing. It’s just…this night…it’s been so confusing.” My hips circle, pressing my clit down against the sofa with each pass, my need rising so high now, I’m close to another orgasm. “Tonight’s been confusing—and wonderful—but your mention of magic and witches…” I draw a long breath. “It brought back childhood memories.”
