Page 72 of Blood Taken (Blood Mafia 2)
“And I junk punched you,” I add, smirking at the words. I’m rather proud of that moment.
His eyes narrow slightly. “Give me a good reason. Why are you still mad?”
I scowl. “You’re playing games, Mateo. You are so set on trying to beat me. To possess me. Colt and Grayson aren’t manipulating me. They’re making an effort, not trying to press my buttons.”
He lowers his face so our lips are inches apart. “Would it be so bad?”
I scrunch my eyebrows together. “What?”
Mateo’s thumb caresses the base of my throat. My pulse jumps in response.
“To be possessed.”
In the way he means in this moment, no. It wouldn’t be so bad. In every other way he’s tried? Yes.
“Stop playing games, Mateo.”
“Then what?” he asks, face lined with contemplation.
“Then you can have whatever you want.” I twist the knob open and run away from the gym.
Mateo doesn’t follow.
I slam my bedroom door closed, cursing at myself.
Whatever he wants?
What the hell compelled me to promise that?
* * *
Later that nightAlissa and Evelyn show up to watch movies. Evelyn insisted we have a girl’s night, so here we are, piled on the couch watching Hannibal.
Maybe the movie isn’t what most women would pick, but they seemed to sense my need for blood and gore over sappy love stories.
Alissa snorts when Buffalo Bill dances around in his flesh-cape. “God this is disgusting.”
I give her a look. “Says the woman who drinks blood for sustenance.”
She smacks my arm. “Shut up. At least I don’t skin people and make outfits.”
“They don’t hold up as well as the movies make them out to. Flesh is rather delicate.”
Alissa pauses the movie and looks at Evelyn.
The vampire sighs and stretches. Then she notices how we’re staring at her. “What?” she asks.
“Seriously?”
She looks at the T.V. “Oh,” she says and cackles. “I was joking.”
I relax into the cushions. For a second there I thought I was going to have nightmares about Evelyn prancing around in a flesh-pantsuit.
“Human skin is much tougher than cow skin. It doesn’t make for a very comfortable leather.”
“Ugh, Evie, you’re disgusting.” Alissa whacks her with a pillow.
Evelyn snorts.
