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Her breathing slows, and she remains looking at me, but her focus lingers elsewhere. Knox continues to whisper, and I offer her a smile.
“Beautiful, Hayley. This is what I’m talking about. I want you to breathe deep and concentrate on two things you smell. Hopefully Knox showered for you or I’ll smack him.” I chuckle, listening to Knox grumble.
Hayley’s jaw unclenches with her smile, her eyes shining. “He smells so good.”
My heart nearly explodes at hearing her voice and the lightness of her words.
“So do you,” she adds, playing with the strands of my hair curling around my ears.
I grin. “Fucking perfect, Hayley. I’m proud of you. I know this was hard as fuck. I know I failed you after I made you a blood promise. And I’m sorry. I hope you’ll do one more thing for me, okay? This one is important.” I bite my wrist and let my blood pool for a second. “I want you to taste my blood. Let it coat your tongue and fill you up. Let me heal you, okay?”
Parting her lips, she slackens her jaw and quietly waits for me to press my bleeding bite mark to her lips. Her mouth molds over my skin, sending tingles buzzing over my body. The sensation gives me a damn boner as she sucks softly at first and then latches on and moans with a long drag of my blood.
“Damn, my turn. She’s going to drain you,” Knox murmurs, running his fingers over Hayley’s back and silently checking her injuries.
“I’d be happy to let her.” I smile, my fangs protruding from beneath my top lip.
Hayley hums under her breath and eases away, only to have Knox silently offer her his bite mark next. He lies next to Hayley and rolls her on top, so they face each other and she can stare into his eyes, enjoying their closeness.
I suppress my sudden jealousy, knowing that they have a connection on a more intimate level, but I know she’s not ready for me. I’m not even sure if I’m ready for her. I want to prove myself worthy of her attention, and so far? I haven’t.
“Hayley?” I ask, drawing my fingers over her sticky shoulder, still coated in blood from the performance. “Can I clean you off a bit to make sure you’re healing? If not, maybe you’ll let Knox?”
Hayley eases her mouth away from Knox’s arm and cranes her neck, resting her ear to his chest. Her vibrant blue eyes flick over my face in consideration. “I’m feeling so much better. Can I just take a shower?”
“Of course. I’ll get it running and find something else for you to wear.” I hold out my hand and help her ease off the bed. “I’ll have Govan bring some food or something.”
Hayley tests the strength of her legs, rolling and moving her ankle. Relief escapes her with her sigh, and she puts weight down on her sprained ankle, hurt from her fall. I didn’t want to have Monroe drop her from the height he had, but we needed the distraction, and I knew we could heal her. It was one of the hardest choices, and I hope she’ll forgive us when I’m brave enough to admit as much. But right now? I just want to take care of her on the level she needs.
I guide her to the small bathroom with a standing shower and turn on the water for her. Steam fills the air, and I hesitate, nervous to leave her but wanting to give her privacy. Her gaze flicks toward the mirror, and I wish I could cover it. She reaches for the short strands of her hair, her mouth trembling as she takes in her appearance.
“It’s okay. It’s just hair,” she whispers to herself so softly. She doesn’t realize I can hear her, and I don’t want to comment and agree with her. Because while she’s right about it just being hair, it doesn’t diminish the abuse Aris put her through. “It could’ve been worse.”
I steel myself. It takes everything in me not to react and engulf her in my arms. She’s more guarded than before, and I’ll wait for her to show me she wants my affection without forcing it on her.
“I’ll be right outside, okay? Just call if you need anything,” I say, unfolding a towel to hang on the glass of the shower.
She turns and throws her arms around me, hugging me tightly, and I puff a breath and kiss her, thanking the universe that she gives me another chance to make up for my failures. I wait until she’s ready to let me go, kissing her softly on the top of her head. She pulls away and drops her top without waiting for me to disappear, and I have to force myself to leave her and shut the door.
Even covered in blood, with red-rimmed eyes, a pouty mouth, and getting her hair hacked off, she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I rest my back to the door, tensing at the sound of Hayley bursting into sobs. But she doesn’t call out to me to come back.
Monroe punches the wall of the suite, leaving a fist-sized crater. His fangs extend, his eyes silver with his anger. Knox flexes his muscles, his body rippling with the same deadly desire I have.
“Where is he?” I ask, my chest puffing as I try to keep in control. I don’t want Hayley to hear us.
“The coward left with that asshole from the show—Baker.” Monroe spins around and slams his fist into the wall again. “Opal has security searching the hotel for Hayley. She cornered me and asked if I knew what happened. She’s freaking out.”
“I don’t want to send her back out there,” I say, hunching over and resting my palms on the desk. “Aris is up to something. I heard him demand Hayley to find out what we’re doing. If she doesn’t, he’s going to fucking rent her out to the entire Strip.”
Knox roars, his voice echoing through the room. He punches the wall mirror, shattering it to pieces. “I’m calling Walcott. We need to arrange another attack here. Full force this time. I want this hotel fucking down.”
I stare at the two of them, my thoughts at war as I try to figure out what to do. The two of them will cut my dick off if I disagree with them, but I don’t know if we’re ready for that kind of blood feud. But right now? I fucking need to cut a dick on Hayley’s behalf. If I don’t maim or kill some asshole soon, I’ll explode. I’ll try to take on every damn bastard who works for Aris myself.
“We can call in the other Strip crews. See if we can get a couple who want to make some fucking noise,” Knox adds, scrubbing his hand to the back of his neck.
I nod my head. “Something. We can work this bullshit in. Maybe they can do it for us, and we can still move forward.”
