A wave of disappointment crashed over himwhen she moved farther away. He would give anything to be able totake her into his arms and chase away the anguish haunting hereyes.
It would take time, but she would learn totrust him enough to allow him to hold her. He’d make sure of it.She was already talking to him more now.
Mia lifted her eyes to take in David. Atleast six feet tall, he had a good nine inches on her five-threeheight. She had to tip her head back in order to take in thechiseled angles of his cheeks and square jaw. There were manygood-looking vamps residing in the house, and some who weren’t sohandsome, but she found him to be the most striking one of themall.
Most likely broken when he’d still beenhuman, his nose crooked slightly to the side, giving him a ruggedair that went perfectly with his tall, athletic build and freshoutdoor scent. He had the long, agile body of a skier.
A body that her fingers itched to touch asdesire slid through her belly. It had been a couple years sinceshe’d desired a man, and never so acutely as this. It took all shehad not to step closer and press herself against him until no spaceseparated them.
She had no idea where the whim came from.However, once there, it formed an image in her mind that had herfighting against doing exactly that. If she touched him sointimately, she’d probably freeze up or have a panic attack. Bothof which would be completely mortifying. He’d already seen her weakand broken in the warehouse, already knew she was a freak whocringed away from any contact with another. She couldn’t humiliateherself by giving in to her urge to get closer to him only to turninto a mess.
A strand of his pale blond hair fell to thecorner of one of his electric blue eyes. Her gaze dropped to hislips, the upper one stiff while the bottom was fuller.Biteable, she decided as she imagined running her tongueover it before drawing it into her mouth and nipping at it.
It wasn’t the first time she’d imaginedkissing him, and she suspected it wouldn’t be the last. She didn’tknow how much longer she would be able to resist doing it. Histouch didn’t bother her as much as some of the others, but shestill wasn’t about to jump into bed with him.
Why does it have to be an all-or-nothingscenario?
Because she knew a kiss wouldn’t be enough,not with him. A tremor racked her, and she took another step awayin order to put some distance between them. She wasn’t so jadedthat she didn’t recognize David had a good heart, and was a goodman, but the idea of getting close to anyone made her want to runscreaming for the hills.
“Will you come with me to my home?” Davidtried to keep his voice level, but he couldn’t keep the hope fromit.
“What about all the children there? And yourfriends? Aren’t you afraid you’d be putting them in danger byhaving me there?” Mia inquired.
David didn’t know her well—she’d made sureof that—but he did know she wasn’t evil. She’d been abused andendured more than she should have in her short life, but she didn’tkill humans. The other purebred vampires who had met her would havesmelled it on her if she were a killer. Starvation had driven Vickyto accidentally kill a human while she was being held with Mia, butMia hadn’t been pushed to that limit.
“Do you plan to hurt them?” he asked.
“Of course not!” she blurted.
“Then why would they be in danger if youwere there?”
“In case you forgot, I was chained to awarehouse wall when you encountered me.”
“That’s something I could never forget,Mia.”
The clench of his jaw, the sheen of red inhis blue eyes, and the lethal tone of his voice gave him an air ofdanger. He’d been nothing but kind to her, but right then she knewhe would kill any who threatened her.
She swallowed and tore her attention fromhim to once again focus on the window. “There might be vamps outthere still hunting for purebreds. Forme. They know what Ilook like. Taking me to your home could put your family indanger.”
“There are thirteen purebred vampires at myhome right now. If there are vampires still trying to capturepurebreds and feed from them, it won’t be just you who brings themto that property. I’d like to see anyone try to hurt someone livingthere. They’d never survive to regret it.”
“Many of the vampires there are young,” shesaid. “Vulnerable.”
“Nothing is getting past any of the adultsthere, trust me on this. If you feel safer staying here, Iunderstand, but you don’t seem happy here.”
She didn’t think she’d ever be happyanywhere again, but she kept that to herself. Pessimism was asattractive as snot. Besides, what did she know of what her futureheld? She’d certainly never envisioned being locked up and gorgedon by vampires three months ago.
“I think you would like my home,” Davidadded.
“There are so many vampires there,” shewhispered.
“Despite that, it is peaceful.” He restedtwo fingers on her arm, drawing her eyes to him. “And all of thosevampires will protect you. I will also make sure they leave you beand keep their distance from you, if you prefer.”
“Just what everyone wants, the antisocialhouse guest,” she said with a small laugh.
He smiled at her and slid his fingers aroundher arm until he held it loosely within his grasp. The silkiness ofher skin beneath his hand caused his pulse to spike. His breathcaught as a bolt of lust hit him. Gritting his teeth, he shoved itaside. Now was not the time, and if she knew how aroused she madehim, she might shut him out.
Vicky said she hadn’t endured any sexualabuse during her imprisonment in the warehouse, but that didn’tmean Mia had been as fortunate. The thought caused his fangs toprick with the nearly overwhelming drive to kill any who hadmistreated her.
