“Careful,” Allister rumbled against me, the vibrations of it going straight through me. My nipples hardened, and I was in dire need of a new pair of panties. Jeez, it was ridiculous what these vamps could do with a few words and a bit of supernatural charm. Or maybe that was just their natural charm, and I was a simpering fool in desperate need of a good lay.
“Thanks,” I murmured and withdrew myself from his arms and penetrating gaze, a bit reluctantly, I might add. Smoothing my hands down my shirt and pants, mostly to wipe my sweaty hands off, I peered between the two of them.
They really were almost identical. They both had dark hair that curled along the edges of their ears and those eyes, a swirling combination of blue and green with just a hint of golden flecks. Any girl would get lost in them. I had gotten lost in them. Well, Drake's but that was more of getting lost in his naked body and vampire tricks than his eyes. Now, that he was clothed... okay, who was I kidding? I still wanted to lick every inch of them, not that I'd tell that asshole as much. Drake, I mean, not Allister. The latter twin had yet to do anything to earn my ire.
“So, you want to know more about us, huh?” Drake snatched the book off the shelf where I just put it back. He flipped through a few pages and then pointed at a page, turning it around to face me. “This is a list of things that can kill us.”
I squinted at the page, but it was all gibberish to me. Fat lot of good that list did when I couldn't read it. To the watching twins, I hummed. “Interesting.”
Allister's lips quirked up, but he didn't comment. Drake smirked and flipped a few more pages. “And this page tells you how to become one of us if you were so inclined.”
I cocked my head to the side and then up to his watchful eyes. “I'm not. However, I would like to know what I'm up against. Besides, your...” I waved my hand around in front of my face. “... you know, mind trick stuff, what else can you do? Are you really fast?” A memory came to my mind, and I held up my hand. “Wait, never mind. I know that one.”
The twins exchanged a look but didn't pry further.
“Are you sure you have a reflection?” I tapped my chin. “I don't think I've ever seen any of you look in the mirror.”
Allister sighed. “We're immortal, not invisible.”
“What he said.” Drake wrinkled his nose. “Some of the rumors really are a bit ridiculous, like the garlic bit. One person has an allergic reaction, and suddenly, it means all of us are.” He dragged a hand through his hair, tousling it a bit before giving me a boyish grin. “Not that I would ever eat garlic. It puts a damper on the mood.”
I didn't bother to ask what he meant by that, knowing I was just asking for trouble. Instead, I turned my next question to Allister. “So, you eat? Other things besides blood anyway.”
Lifting a shoulder, Allister rolled his head making his bones crack. “We can, if we want to.”
I remembered the cookie Rayne had eaten. “So, if you can eat regular food, why drink blood at all?”
“Because it tastes good,” Drake cooed, moving around his brother to lean against the bookshelf. He was much closer now, close enough I could smell the heady musk coming off him. It made my knees weak and brought flashbacks of the time I had almost let him take me in his room, right up against his bedroom door. His vortex of color eyes seemed to swirl on their own as they trailed up and down my body, making my skin hot and needy. “I bet you taste oh so good.”
Swallowing thickly, I jerked my eyes away from Drake to his twin, who watched with a curious frown. Did Allister not find me attractive? “What about you?”
Allister's eyes widened slightly as if not expecting me to pay any attention to him while his brother was making a move. “What about me?”
“Do you think I would taste good?” I cocked my head to the side, really wanting to know what he was thinking, especially since my question made Drake frown and back off a bit. “Or am I not your preferred flavor?”
Apparently, vampires could get embarrassed because Allister's face flushed a bright red, and his eyes ducked down to the hardwood floors. Scratching the back of his ear, he mumbled, “I'm not gay, if that's what you mean.”
Drake threw his head back and laughed at his brother's discomfort. “Fuck, Al. Look at you. All bent out of shape because of one little maid.” Drake's eyes darted over to me. “One really hot maid, but still, I haven't seen him this embarrassed since Ray asked if our dicks were identical too.” I opened my mouth to ask, but Drake beat me to it. “And no, they're not.”
I flushed and clipped my lips closed, lacing my fingers in front of me, my shoulders almost to my ears. “I had to ask.”
“They all do,” Drake drawled and then held the book out to me. “If you want to know anything, just ask. We'll be happy to help... for a price.” The way his eyes lingered on my breasts told me exactly how he expected to be paid.
Allister didn't encourage or dissuade him, so I wasn't quite sure what his opinion was on the whole trading sex for information bit. Not that I could really say I wasn't tempted. Each of them alone was every woman's wet dream, but at the same time? I didn't think I had enough batteries to take care of that fantasy.
“I'll keep that in mind.” I ducked my head, clutching the book to my chest as if it would hide how aroused I was at the prospect. I should just give up already. They knew everything about how I was feeling and, from Rayne's own mouth, my pitiful lifestyle. If I were a bolder woman, I would just embrace it but punching a vampire was as brave as I got, and look where that landed me!