“And this is howyoudie, bloodsucker,” I said. “Well, how you get immobilized long enough for me to cut off your head. Now be a dear and holdrealstill while I decapitate you.”
I released him, allowing him to roll onto his back.
“Vicious,” he said, his eyes sparkling with pride. “I think you’re getting the hang of this, love.”
“Awesome.” I stood up and dusted off my hands.
Who was I kidding? As much as I would’ve loved to keep this up, I was spent. Unless I wanted to end up in the hospital, I needed a shower, some tea, and a good night’s rest before I signed up for any more beatings.
“By this time next week,” I said, “maybe I’ll be able to walk without a limp.”
“You’re doing really well, Gray.” Darius got to his feet, sliding his hand behind my neck and giving me an encouraging squeeze. “You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you, but you really impressed me.”
“Hmm. Say it again?”
“Anything for you, love. You really impressed me.” His teasing smile changed to concern. “Ah, you’re bleeding again. Allow me.” He dipped his head down and pressed his mouth to my shoulder, his tongue skating across my skin.
His lips closed over the wound, sucking gently. I couldn’t hold back my shiver.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled away, his lips red with blood.
Briefly, I wondered what it said about me that seeing him with my blood on his lips turned me on so much.
Briefly, I decided I didn’t care.
I met his eyes, but there was no threat there. No supercharged bloodlust.
Only the regular kind of lust. The kind that radiated from his hungry, honey-colored eyes and straight down to my aching core.
God, he’s fucking hot…
“Ooo-kay,” Emilio said with a laugh. I’d almost forgotten he was there, still watching us from the sidelines. “Well, it’s been a blast, but I can see you two have a few things to, ah, discuss. I’ll just… I’ll go. No worries. I need to check in at the station anyway. Don’t wait up.”
“We won’t,” Darius said, still not breaking eye contact with me.
“I, um, I’m going to take a shower,” I mumbled.
“You do that, Miss Desario.”
“Fine. I will.” I walked backward, stumbling and awkward, a stupid smile plastered on my face. I felt like I was in middle school again, giddy that the cute boy from my English class finally noticed me.
But unlike my innocent English class crush, the vampire watching me like he wanted to eat me wasn’t a cute boy at all. He was a man, impossibly strong, incredibly sexy, and the best part?
He was all mine.
And we were about to have the entire house to ourselves.
Seventeen
GRAY
I’d just ducked under the hot water when I felt him step into the shower behind me, his intoxicating whiskey-and-leather scent giving him away despite his efforts at stealth.
“Miss me already, vampire?”
“I thought you might need a little help reaching your back,” Darius said, stroking a hand down my spine and cupping my ass.
Laughing, I turned and looped my arms around his neck, pressing our wet bodies together. “Pretty sureyou’rethe one who needs help reaching my back, because that’s my ass.”
