Page 39 of Blood and Magic
Things came to a raging halt the following Thursday night. My headaches had been getting worse, and the chills wouldn’t quit. Admittedly, I thought I was pregnant, but that was impossible when I hadn’t slept with anyone in months. My energy was abnormally high, and I didn’t have a fever. I blamed it on allergies because I didn’t know what else it could be.
“The guys are leaving for the cattle drive the day after tomorrow,” Mill said from across the table, biting into his steak. “We need to be on high alert. We’ll be less protected.”
“Got it,” I said. “So no late-afternoon cliff dives.”
He smiled, heat passing behind his gaze for only a moment before he shut it down. “And no early-morning rides, unfortunately.”
That sucked, but I understood. I hadn’t gotten any more unsettling text messages, but that didn’t mean Marx had gone away. According to Guin and Mill, he was biding his time, waiting for the moment when we were weakest. I had to stay vigilant.
“I’d like you to start coming with me to the barn,” he said. “I can’t protect you via text message.”
My migraine pounded harder between my eyes, but I ignored it. “And here I thought you liked my selfies?” I sighed dramatically. “So demanding. Fine, Vermillion. I’ll start sending you nudes. You only had to ask.”
“Maeve, I’m serious,” he said with an uncharacteristic blush spotting across his skin.
“Me too,” I said. “We’re close enough now. It’s not unreasonable to ask for such things. I mean, I licked your cum off my?—”
“Maeve—”
“Fine,” I said. “But I demand topless shower pics in return. No, I won’t explain why. Fair is fair.”
“Maeve, listen to me,” he said in that commanding no-nonsense tone. I was certain he hadn’t meant it to be a turn-on, but heat sparked between my legs, and I clutched the tablecloth, remembering when he used the same voice to tell me to drop to my knees and open my mouth.
Stop that, stupid girl. That was a one-time thing, never to be repeated. A momentary lapse of judgment.
“Marx is not someone to let this slide. He will come for you, and he won’t stop until he gets you.” Mill ran his stern gaze over me. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” I nodded and held his demanding stare with a timid one of my own. Of course, this was hardly the time or place for me to reignite filthy notions between us, but God. I had thought about him like that so many times, and the real thing had been infinitely better. And he had imagined it, too. He told me he did. How many times had he dreamt about going down on me? Did he want more? How much more?
Silence stretched between us as we both realized what I’d said.
Yes, sir.
He leaned forward, rested his elbows on the table, and softened his gaze.
“If you send me naked pictures of yourself, Maeve, I can assure you, sending you topless shower pics will be the least of what I’d do to you in response.”
My blood ran hot as I sucked in a cool breath, my eyes widening in realization. This bordered too close to the line we’d drawn between us after that mistake on the river. But if he was game, so was I.
“Oh, yeah?” I bit my bottom lip. “And what would you do? Chase me through the woods? Tie me down to your bed and…how did you phrase it? Fuck me after you’ve feasted on me as long as you want?”
His gaze turned hungry, something dark dancing behind his irises.
“Don’t tease me, sweetheart,” he said in a low grumble.
“Why?” I licked my lips, and he dropped his focus to the movement before returning to my eyes. “Don’t you like to be teased?”
My pulse pounded as I waited for his response, picking up a steady rhythm that thundered through my veins. And then I let the taunting drop as another wave of agony sliced through my head and down my spine. I clutched my chest as my heart banged against my ribs like doldrums, like it was trying to hammer out of my chest.
“I have to lie down.”
Vermillion abruptly stood and walked around the table, coming to my side. “What’s wrong? Here, I’ll help you.”
“Yeah, I just… I don’t know what’s going on.” I pushed upright and dug my palms into my eyes as I headed toward the stairs.
Vermillion rushed toward me and grabbed one of my elbows, steadying me while I walked. I wanted to tell him I didn’t need his help, I didn’t need anyone’s help, but having his hands on me again felt nice. It felt safe, like no one or nothing would ever hurt me.
Bring it on, you Bloody Scorpion fuckers. Vermillion will protect me.
