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I let Gabriel bite me. More than that, Ilikedit. Way too damn much.
And Lex…
“Oh my god,” I whisper to the empty room, prying my eyes open again. I… I can’t believe I allowed that to happen. Hell, that I asked for it. I wanted a distraction, and those guys sure knew how to deliver.
Reality crashes down on me like an emotional hangover, and I want nothing more than to pull the blankets over my face and pretend last night didn’t happen.
I need to find a way out of this stupid arrangement—preferably before my traitorous body tricks me into wanting to stay.
I pull myself out of bed and get in the shower, turning the dial until the heat of the water fills the room with steam. I wash my hair, then cover it in a generous amount of conditioner, leaving it in while I lather my body with a rose-scented scrub, flinching when some of the soap gets in the bite mark on my neck. I tip my head back to rinse it, then finish showering quickly before shutting off the water and stepping out into the warm haze. My toes wiggle against the plush bathmat as I grab a white terrycloth robe and pull it on.
Standing in front of the steam-covered mirror, I wipe my hand across it and lean in to inspect the small holes in my neck. I poke at them gently. The skin is tender, but it doesn’t look so bad. I figure attempting to cover it up with makeup will only amuse my new vampire roommates, so I elect to cover it with my hair instead. No need to put it on display. No doubt the entire house smelled my blood the moment Gabriel’s fangs pierced my skin.
I shiver at the memory, biting my lip as heat pools low in my belly and my clit pulses. I scowl at myself. I need to get my shit together.
Walking through the bathroom into the ridiculously massive closet, I stop short, and my brows pull together. Someone has filled the room with clothes. I pad across the marble floor, trailing my fingers along the muted, neutral colors. Everything is incredibly soft, and I bet stupid expensive.
They essentially bought you,a voice in the back of my mind says.Might as well let them buy you some nice clothes.
As much as I want to argue that, I can’t stop myself from pulling a beige turtleneck sweater off one of the gold hangers. I purse my lips at it before setting it on the cushion-top ottoman in the middle of the room.Too obvious.
I settle on a black tank top with a heavy knit beige cardigan overtop and gray leggings. After scowling at the copious amounts of lingerie, I pick a matching black lace bra and panty set and get changed before combing my fingers through my hair and walking downstairs, my nerves as jittery as if I’d had several cups of coffee.
The guys are all here. Lex and Atlas are sitting on the couch in the living room with some news station on the TV built into the wall next to the door leading to the garage, Kade is in the kitchen making coffee, and Gabriel is sitting at the dining table reading something on a tablet.
I pause in the doorway of the hallway, glancing around the room at each of them. Gabriel meets my gaze first, setting the tablet on the table in front of him.
Taking a deep breath, I step into the room and clear my throat. “I have something to say,” I announce.
Kade leans against the counter, wearing nothing but black joggers that sit dangerously low on his hips. His hair is damp and messy as if he haphazardly towel-dried it after a swim or shower. He takes a drink from his mug, while Lex turns down the volume on the TV and he and Atlas walk into the kitchen. Atlas is already dressed for the day in a black collared button-up and slacks, where Lex looks as if he’s ready for a workout in a white muscle shirt that shows off his tattoos and gray sweatpants that leave little to the imagination in the groin area.
Nope,I scold myself. I have to focus.
“What is it?” Gabriel speaks up, remaining at the table, though I have his full attention. He’s wearing a plain navy blue T-shirt, which has me assuming he isn’t going to work today, and considering it’s a Sunday, I suppose that makes sense.
I bite the inside of my cheek, panicking now that I have the opportunity to speak. Swallowing hard, I finally say, “My ancestors made a deal with the four of you a long time ago that decided the fate of my future before I was even born.” I leave the bitterness out of my tone, though it lives on in me, because I’d just be talking in circles forever about how unfair it is that a bunch of men chose what would happen to me and I never had a say. There’s no sense wasting my breath at this point.
I look from one vampire to the next until my gaze finally lands on Atlas. “I want to make a deal of my own.”
Atlas tilts his head, regarding me curiously.
“What kind of deal?” Kade asks.
I keep my eyes on Atlas. “I won’t try to kill you—again. I’ll stay here,” I swallow and force out, “willingly, for however long I’m obligated.”
“In return for what exactly?” Gabriel asks.
“We could easily make you do that regardless,” Lex adds with a quick wink.
I ignore him despite the fact that he’s right. “I want to finish school. It’s important to me. From there, I’m not sure, but I would like the option to renegotiate when the time comes.”
“Renegotiate,” Kade echoes, and I look at him this time before he continues, “what makes you think you have any leg to stand on to negotiate in the first place?”
My eyes narrow slightly. “The fact you haven’t killed me.”
“It’s been two days,” he says, a dangerous glint in his silver eyes. “Don’t rush me.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You won’t scare me into compliance, and I can’t imagine a glamoured human would make for much entertainment, so don’t bother with that threat again.” I don’t direct the second half to Kade, but to all of them.
