Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
His lips curve into a snarling smile. “So you do know me. And you’re Hannah Bates, firstborn daughter of William, the vampire king, and his human mate, Elisa Franklin.”
“I guess I don’t have to show you my ID then. How did you know I was lying?”
“Your pupils dilate slightly when you lie. It’s a common trait among vampires.”
I try to hide my surprise. “Since you know who I am, you also know I’m only half vamp.”
“Your pupils still reacted.”
Why didn’t my father warn me about the pupil dilating thing? Surely he knows. I shake my head. “Lucky me. My vamp side has always been dominant, unfortunately.”
“You’d rather it not be?”
“Not have to obey when my”—air quotes—“royal father calls? Yeah, I think I’d like that.” My body is still throbbing and hyper aware of Victor. “Can all weres see this pupil thing?”
He shakes his head. “Very few of us, actually. Wolf eyesight isn’t the best in general. I’m an anomaly.”
In more ways than one.
That explains why my father didn’t tell me about the eye thing. He probably doesn’t know.
“How did that come about?” I ask.
“Just lucky, I guess,” he growls.
He’s advancing toward me again. His eyes are two green flames. I can tell him I’m not interested, but he doesn’t need to be able to read my pupils to know I’d be lying.
This is what I’m here for. To seduce him. Except this isn’t a seduction. This is a pure and raw taking. Not that I mind, but I’m not going to get any information out of this man if I don’t make him wait for what he desires.
I hold up my hand. “Stop right there.”
He growls again. “Fucking cock tease.”
“I’m perfectly willing to fuck you, Rogan. I just need a few answers of my own, first.”
“You’ll get no answers from me.”
“Then you’ll get no honey from me,” I say with sweet sarcasm.
“Such a fucking liar,” he says. “Damn it! Why is this happening?”
“I just can’t—”
“No! That’s not what I mean. I mean this… This…need for you. This yearning. This damned ache. Why? It’s not…right.”
I scoff. “You sweet talker, you.”
“Easy, princess. I’m not in the mood.”
I eye the bulge in his crotch. “Seems like you are to me.”
“You know what I mean.” He stalks toward me once more. “If I can’t fuck you, I think I’ll go insane.”
My gums tingle, and this time I can’t stop my fangs. They erupt, shooting the blood lust through me like surging electricity.
His heartbeat… God, so loud! I inhale a whiff of his strong wolf scent.
Blood. Need blood.
“You have to leave,” I say. “Now.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yeah, you are.” The blood lust courses through me, and I open the door and push him into the hallway. I slam the door and lock the deadbolt.
My strength during the blood lust never ceases to surprise me. Victor is tall and muscled, and I pushed him out the door as if he were a waif.
If he only knew how much I wanted to sink my fangs into his flesh, draw on his wolf blood.
Instead, I take the small cooler out of my suitcase and extract a bag of O positive. Though I’m tempted to rip it open and feast, I restrain myself. Explaining a blood bath on my bed to housekeeping isn’t on my to do list. I take the bag to the bathroom, hold it over the sink, and open it. Then I pour it down my throat.
Smooth and thick, it quells the lust but not the hunger.
For I know only one thing will sate my hunger now.
Victor Rogan.
LATER, after cleaning every speck of blood from the bathroom, I lie in bed. Sleep doesn’t come, and it’s not because I’m nocturnal.
The blood didn’t satisfy my hunger.
I’ve never fed from a living being.
I don’t want to start now, but I’m desperate. Even alone in my room, the thumping hearts of the other guests invade my ears. Blood is all around. Fresh, warm blood.
Dare I?
I rise and dress in the clothes I wore earlier. Maybe if I take a walk, get some exercise, use up some of the pent-up energy I should have expended fucking Victor.
Damn, there’s a lot of it.
I wander to the elevators and down to the lobby. The crowds from earlier are gone, but the casino is still hopping at three a.m. Has my father considered moving headquarters here? Vegas is the perfect place for nocturnal people.
God, all the blood!
I have to get out of here. I whisk toward the revolving doorway and go outside. The night is balmy, and even a breeze doesn’t cool me off.
I need to get off the strip. Too many lights.
I crave darkness. Darkness, where I can do what I need to do.
A few blocks later I’m in an alleyway. A stray cat brushes my legs on his way to pounce on a mouse.