Page 65 of Fanged Desire
I considered what she’d let on about Selene, that untold catastrophe that had doomed their relationship. If Hunter haddone to Selene what she’d just done to me, she considered it something unforgivable.
But it wasn’t the full picture. Beneath the sharp edges and the layers of guilt, I could see the Hunter who had risked everything to save me. The Hunter who had been at my side all along.
In the end, the choice was easy. It always had been.
“No.” I said it firmly, something both fierce and fragile taking root in my chest. “We don’t have time to mope. Drink my blood and we can talk about this later.”
Hunter lifted her head slowly, plain shock written on her features.
I took advantage of the moment, reaching for her hand and holding it firmly in mine. “If I have to choose between being someone’s test subject or being drained by a vampire I’ve come to care for, I’m choosing the vampire.”
Hunter’s fingers trembled in mine, her sharp features shadowed with disbelief. She stared at me, her jaw tight, her eyes flitting between my face and the wrist I slowly raised toward her. Her eyes were full of conflict, her hunger warring with her resolve.
“Addison, I don’t think you understand,” she whispered, her voice tinged with both warning and a flailing desperation. “I’ve gone too long without blood. I don’t know if I can stop.”
I ignored the plea, keeping my gaze locked on hers. “You’re starving, and we’re trapped in here. If we’re going to get out and find Penelope, I need you at your strongest. This is the only way.”
Her lips parted, but no words came. I could see her throat working as she swallowed hard, her fangs gleaming faintly in the light. But she didn’t move. She didn’t pull away, but she didn’t lean closer either.
“I trust you, Hunter.” I spoke quietly, offering her my wrist. “I know you won’t hurt me.”
“You’re insane,” she muttered, though the words held no bite. “You should be running as far away from me as you can.”
“Can’t,” I said simply. “We’re locked in, remember?”
The corner of her mouth twitched, almost like she wanted to smile despite herself. But then her expression darkened again and she whispered, “This isn’t fair to you.”
“Life’s not fair,” I countered. “But you’ve done nothing but protect me, Hunter. Let me do this for you.”
She exhaled shakily, her gaze dropping to my wrist. Her hand came up slowly, hesitating as though the mere act of touching me would break whatever fragile restraint she was clinging to. When her fingers finally brushed against my skin, I felt her shudder.
“Addison…” she murmured again, her voice trembling. “Please. Just pull away.”
I didn’t. I leaned closer instead, pressing my wrist gently to her lips. Her breath was cool against my skin and I felt her flinch, felt her fighting herself every step of the way.
“Do it,” I urged softly, somehow not even slightly surprised to find that my next words were entirely true. “I’m not scared.”
Hunter’s shoulders slumped and she let out a low, resigned sigh.
“You should be,” she muttered. But then, with infinite care, she tilted her head and pressed her lips to my wrist.
The first bite stung, a sharp, searing pain that made me gasp. My body instinctively tensed, but Hunter’s other hand came up to steady me. The initial pain ebbed quickly, replaced by a strange warmth that spread through me like liquid fire.
Hunter drank slowly, carefully, and as the moments passed, the tension in her body seemed to ease. Her hand slid up my arm, her touch growing gentler like she was afraid I might crumble under her fingertips.
I found myself relaxing despite the situation, my free hand lifting almost unconsciously to thread through her hair. It was soft beneath my fingers and I stroked it gently, losing myself to the moment – to her.
When Hunter finally pulled away her lips were stained crimson, her breathing heavy. Something in her expression demonstrated a quiet devastation. I reached up, cupping her cheek in my palm. Her skin was cool to the touch and I felt her lean into it slightly, searching for a comfort she didn’t know how to ask for.
“I trust you,” I said again, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
Her eyes searched mine, and finally she nodded, almost imperceptibly. “I’ll keep you safe. I swear it.”
I smiled faintly, letting my thumb brush over her cheekbone. “Good. Because I have a plan.”
Chapter 23
Hunter
