Warily, I sat in his normal wingback. “Talk about what?”
“Lysandro texted me that you two had a nice visit.”
My spine stiffened as my mind went on high alert. His innocuous statement felt like a trap, and I was the hunted. “We did. We talked about Dead Air.”
His mouth tilted up on one side in a half-grin. “That’s nice.” He leaned forward, dropping his clasped hands between his spread legs. “And now I’m here to talk about everything else. Enough is enough, Ego. It’s time.”
My confusion of the last few minutes fell away instantly, and I scowled. “Time for what?” I bit out.
He huffed in exasperation. “For you to stop being a baby and tell everyone that you’re home and what’s happened. This has gone on too long.”
“No. Lysandro said the other night that I needed more control first, remember?” And given the rushing of Scotty’s blood was sounding like a siren’s song that I had to fight to resist, I didn’t think he was wrong. “It’s hard enough just having you here. I can’t even imagine…” I licked my lips and turned away. “No. Final answer.”
“Sorry. That’s unacceptable.”
Fire blazed through me, and I whirled on him. “It’s not your decision.”
“No, it’s not,” he said calmly. “And you don’t need any more choices stolen from you, but this path you’re taking is wrong. It’s not good for you, and it’s not fair to Skylar. I’m sick of lying to my friend for you.”
I stalked toward him. It scared me, this intense anger I felt toward him. He should’ve been scared of me, but instead he stood there bravely, like I was nothing more than the mere mortal I’d been before. Another hunger flickered to life inside of me. Not of the hunger for blood I’d had earlier, but something hotter, something that felt a lot more like desire.
I pointed at him. “It’s your own fault you’re having to keep this secret. No one invited you here. You came on your own accord.” I jabbed the air in emphasis, controlling myself just enough not to pick him up and shake him like a ragdoll. “So why don’t you fuck off and mind your own business.”
Huffing, he stood up. Satisfaction crossed his face, confusing me. “You’re on a roll tonight.”
My eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He took a step toward me. “It means you’re wrong for the second time.” I took a step back, wanting to keep some space between us. What was he thinking? “Youaregoing to tell Skyyou’re here.” As he moved farther into my personal bubble, I tripped backward in my haste to keep him safe. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
“Ahh!” I roared in rage. What was this game he was playing at? I was the threat. “You need to listen to me.”
“No,” he said firmly. “I’m done just listening to you.”
“Scotty, stay away from me. You don’t understand.” I clutched desperately at the amulet around my neck. All of my senses were misfiring. The thump of his heart and the woosh of his blood, that smell of cedar, baked bread, and old books, the calm, confidence with which he approached me were all driving me mad. Waking my body up in a dangerous way.
“What? What don’t I understand? That you’re pissed about what was done to you. That you’re vulnerable and afraid. That you’re terrified of what your future will look like.” He took another step forward. “I get all of that, Ego. I do.”
I shook my head rapidly. “No. I don’t have any control. Lysandro told you to be wary around me. I…you can’t get in my space like this when I’m angry. It’s not safe.” But it wasn’t anger. It was a desire unlike any I’d ever felt before. So thick that I tasted it on my tongue. My dick, hard as nails, throbbed in my pants to the rhythm of Scotty’s heartbeat.
He smirked at me. “You don’t look angry. You look…” He raked his eyes down my body, and I saw the same telling bulge in the front of his dark gray sweats that I felt in my own. He licked his lips. “I think you’re hungry, Ego.”
Chapter 13
Ego
Fire flared in my belly,and I knew I needed to get out of here. I didn’t know my own strength yet, or what state sex would put me in. He was playing Russian roulette with his life, and I…I was the gun. I had to be confused. He couldn’t possibly want this—want me.
Before I could flee, he wrapped his hand around my throat, pushing me up against the wall before I could blur away again. My chest heaved like I was fighting for breath I didn’t need.
The warmth of his hand against my neck burned like a branding. I should shove him away, but I didn’t want to hurt him. And if I was honest with myself, the feel of skin against mine made me crave more.
“I’m not going to feed from you,” I ground out past my descending fangs, more for my benefit than his. I had a feeling that he’d enjoy the novelty of teeth in his neck, but I refused. I wouldn’t do that. Not ever.
“No,” he agreed quietly. “No blood. But aren’t you curious? Aren’t you curious what sex will feel like now? Lysandro said all his senses heightened as a vampire. Don’t you want to know if that’s true for you, too?”
“Why are you doing this?” I managed.
“Because I’m done coddling you, Ego. You may be a baby vamp, but you’re an adult. I know you wanted me before”—his eyes dropped to my mouth—“and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I want you now. So maybe…”
