Page 40 of A Vampire Bewitched
“Don’t fret. Every window in this building was specially made. There’s a layer of gas between the thick panes. When the sun comes up, it activates the gas, which will then, in turn, block the rays enough to where they won’t hurt us, but allows us to enjoy the light. We also have these handy things.” Hitting a button by the light switch, narrow panels slid open along the walls, revealing dark curtains that traveled across the entire wall, blocking out any light. “Just in case of an emergency.”
“I can’t take his room. Really, I’ll be fine out on the couch.”
“Not up to me, love. I just follow orders.” Re-opening the curtains, Aiden paused in the doorway. “Nikulas will come around, Em. He’s just a little upside down right now.” With that cryptic remark, he tipped his imaginary hat to her and said goodnight, closing the door quietly behind him.
Well, what should I do now?As comfy as that bed looked, she didn’t know that she’d get any sleep in it, knowing who slept there every night. The tip of her tongue wet her bottom lip as she wondered if he slept in pajamas…or not. Or maybe he wore those loose, cotton pajama pants? And nothing else? That would be hot.
Stop it, Emma.Grabbing her small suitcase, she tossed it up on the bed and dug out a clean T-shirt to sleep in. Maybe a cold shower would cool down her libido.
Chapter 22
Nik stood in the kitchen alone, attempting to suck down a blood bag without gagging, watching the lights dance across the water. Aiden had gone to his room to pack and rest before they headed out this coming night.
He listened to Emma rustling around in his room and wondered what she was doing. He liked the thought of her in there. A lot. He wanted to go talk to her, but what the hell was he was going to say?Sorry about all that ‘I’d kill you’ shit. I was just messing around. Ha Ha.
TMI was becoming a major issue whenever he was anywhere in the near vicinity of that female. What the fuck had he been thinking, telling her about all that fated mate shit? She probably thought he was some psycho stalker now. That is, if she hadn’t already.
Although he felt like they’d always known each other, the truth of the matter was it had only been a day. One day. Barely a full 24 hours. It was crazy even to him. He could only imagine what Emma thought about it. She didn’t even have the weird vamp shit to help.
Nik rubbed the back of his neck. He just needed to get through the next few days. Afterward, he’d be busy with his brother, and she could go home with her sister, and they’d never have to see each other again. Things could go back to normal. Maybe take Aiden up on that harem idea he was always bugging him about, or something.
Pft.Yeah, right.The guys teased himnowfor living his life like a monk, he had a feeling it was only going to get worse once Emma was gone, if that was even possible.
Tossing the now empty blood bag, Nik grabbed a glass and poured himself a large shot of whiskey, not that it would do much good. Alcohol didn’t affect him anymore, which was great, or he’d be a goddamned alcoholic by now. He still liked to slug it down though, more for comfort than effect, and he quickly downed that glass and poured another. Tossing that one back as he had the first, he rinsed out his glass and gathered up the courage to go talk to his female. It was time to quit being a pussy and go in there and tell her how it was going to be, which was strictly business from here on out. She’d help them when they found Luukas, and then she’d be on her way back across the country, lost sister in tow. Fated mate shit be damned.
Mind made up, he headed to his room, not bothering to knock. But, Emma wasn’t there. Walking around the bed he checked the couch, which was empty. His heart gave a heavy thump in his chest. Where did she go? He’d been standing right there in the kitchen the entire time. She couldn’t have snuck past him.
Nik made himself stop, take a deep breath, and focus. She was in the room. He could feel her. Her stuff was still here, and the suitcase was open on the bed. His head whipped around as he noticed the bathroom door was cracked open, and the soft light above the sink was on.
He was standing in the open doorway before he was even aware he’d moved, a deep breath of relief filling his chest. Emma was there, in nothing but a towel, her hair pulled up to reveal her graceful neck. Holding the towel closed with one hand, she reached in with her other to turn on the water, holding it under the stream as she waited for the temperature to adjust. As he watched, she dropped the towel she’d been wrapped in and stuck her hand in for a final check.
Ahhh. Fucking. Hell.
As the graceful line of her spine and her hot little ass were revealed to him, his cock punched up so hard, he sent up a silent thank you for stretchy running clothes. Her body was lean and strong, yet still retained plenty of feminine curves. She was absolutely perfect.
Scrubbing a hand across his mouth, he nearly sliced it open on his aching fangs.
If there were anything left of a gentleman in him, he would leave and give her her privacy. Turn around right now, and walk right the fuck back into the kitchen. Yeah, he should do that. He could come back later for that talk. When she was fully clothed.
He was about to step back into the bedroom. Really, he was. But then she shifted slightly as she removed her hand from the water and pulled back the curtain to step under the water.
What the fuck?
The light was soft in here, as it was easier on his sensitive eyes, so he hadn’t noticed right away.
More scars, similar to the ones he’d already seen, ran across her hip and down her one leg. Ragged tears that had healed unevenly where they couldn’t be stitched closed. She looked like she’d been torn into by rabid dogs. How had she possibly survived wounds like that? And there was another one on the muscle between her neck and shoulder, and another on her side above the opposite hip, one of her calves, her arms, her legs…
“Stop!” he ordered. “Don’t. Move.”
Emma let out a small shriek,nearly jumping out of her skin as Nik’s voice boomed and echoed in the small room. Bending down to retrieve the towel she’d just dropped, she wrapped it back around herself before turning around to face him. “What the hell are you doing in here? Get out!”
Catching her first good look at him, she immediately took a step back, almost falling into the shower. He was totally vamped out again, and not just in an “I want to fuck you and/or drink you” kind of way. He was utterly enraged, and perfectly lethal.
“Nik? What’s wrong?” Looking around, she didn’t see any immediate danger lurking about. What was he so riled up about? It never crossed her mind she could be in danger from him.
He didn’t immediately answer. His glowing eyes raked over her, like he could see right through the towel she was clutching. “Take off the towel, Emma,” he ground out.
“What? No! I will not!” Pulling it tighter around her, she ordered sternly, “Nikulas. You need to leave.”
