Page 14 of Blood Owed (Blood Mafia 1)
“I smell your arousal.”
I smack his chest, forgetting all about being compliant, and say, “Fuck you.”
When I lift my head from his neck, those stormy blue eyes are thoughtful. His lips twitch. “Your place or mine?”
“Bastard.”
He sighs, and his forehead wrinkles either in annoyance or disappointment. “I didn’t want to hurt you, remember that.”
“I’ll tell you what you can—”
Something smashes into the back of my head and my vision dims. I must have a concussion because as I start to fade, I swear I see regret flash across his face.
Chapter Four
Grayson
Fuck.
I tried to follow Mateo’s wishes but this woman wasn’t coming with me without a fight, and she’d already attacked me a few times. The little bite she gave me was cute until it started to turn me on. She’s obviously never been around vampires much if she thought a bite would make me stop.
Demi’s lucky I didn’t strip her right then and there and take her against the wall. Judging by the way she smells, she would have enjoyed it as much as she would have hated it.
She’s a confused little bird trapped in a cage. Demi knows well enough who the cat is lying in wait. I didn’t expect her to fight me so savagely and now I can’t stop staring at the woman who was crazy enough to bite a vampire.
The apartment she lives in is organized and covered in art. Some of it looks hand painted while others are clearly mass-produced printings. Demi’s light in my arms, like a tiny doll I might break if I squeeze too hard. She hides a lot of strength in her petite form, though. Mateo will be pleased to learn she’s not a screamer.
Well, at least not in this particular situation. I can think of plenty of ways—no, this is not the time to think about all the things I could do to make her scream. She’s passed out for fuck’s sake. I’m a vampire, but I’m not a creep.
Not entirely anyway.
I shift her a little higher in my arms, and her head lulls to rest against my chest. Her pounding heart is a siren’s call. Her blood smells delicious. So much so that I wonder if the little human is hiding some supernatural heritage. Human blood is sweet, but Demi’s has hints of spice.
Realizing I’ve been staring at her for far too long, I spin on my heel and carry her down to where Colt is waiting with the SUV.
“What took you so long?” Colt asks, scowling at the woman in my arms.
“You were right, she’s a fighter.”
“Why didn’t you just knock her out?”
I sigh and gently lay Demi across the backseat, buckling her in with the middle seatbelt. The safety contraption won’t do much for her in this position, but my hands have already pulled the belt and clicked it into place before I can think better of it.
“Mateo said to bring her in unharmed.”
“A concussion is hardly harmed.”
Colt’s a bit of a dick. He’s a good enforcer, one of the best actually. He’s Mateo’s number one man. I’m number two. I’m used to his harsh attitude, so I don’t bother arguing.
“She’s in the car, is she not? It’s more than you managed earlier.”
He grunts. “She caught me by surprise.” Colt slams the back door. “Let’s go.”
I chuckle at his anger and climb into the driver’s seat. When Colt is in the passenger seat, I quirk my brow at him.
“She’s under your skin.”
His gaze focuses on something outside, and he ignores me.
