“Leave.” Vincent releases his hold on me to usher Ian out.
“When did you eat last?” Ian asks him. My ears perk up, and I follow after them.
“I’m fine,” he responds, not actually answering the question as he opens the door and all but shoves Ian out. “I’ll keep her safe.”
“You better or it’s your life too,” Ian warns before Vincent slams the door in his face. It didn’t actually sound as though Ian was threatening him.
I’m honestly shocked that Ian left without a fight. Does he somehow trust Vincent? Seems unlikely. Or maybe this has something to do with the things he’s going to ‘check’ on?
Vincent flicks the lock before he turns back around to face me.
“You better not be sucking on other girls' necks after you’ve been sniffing all over me.” Wow, I sound really possessive. I ball my hands into fists. What is wrong with me?
In a flash, he’s on me. “Don’t be jealous, my little poppet. It’s only you that I want,” he says before he lifts me off my feet and kisses me.
It takes everything in me not to bite him again. The urge is there, but I manage to resist.
I'm starting to wonder if it’s Vincent we should worry about after all.
7
Vincent
I have to let her go, even though the last thing I want to do is stop kissing her. After all, I’m a creature of need and instinct. Right now, my instincts are screaming for me to pin this woman to the floor and shove my cock and my fangs deep inside her.
She takes in a deep breath when I finally tear my lips from hers. “I want more.”
I carry her to the kitchen and set her on the counter. “Do you care about Ian?”
She cocks her head to the side. “What, like as a friend?”
I nod.
“Yes.” She seems to shake off the lust haze. “He’s the only friend I have, the only one who hasn’t left me.”
“People leave you?” I stroke her soft cheek.
She stares into my eyes, trust and warmth in her gaze. “Always.”
“Why do you say that?”
She shrugs. “It’s just part of my life, I guess. Part of growing up in the foster system. After my parents were killed—”
“Killed?”
When she looks away, I grab her chin lightly and pull her face back around. “What happened, poppet?”
She takes a deep breath that shakes right at the end. “It was a long time ago. I don’t remember much of anything. We were at home. Sleeping. There was a scream. It was my mom. And then it ...” She pauses and blinks, as if trying to stop herself from tearing up. “And then it stopped.”
“Your father?”
“He was dead the moment they came through the door.”
“They?” I ask.
“The vampires.”
I don’t know what to think of that. “Vampires slaughtered your parents?”
“Yes.” Her jaw tenses. “Your kind did.”
“It wasn’t me, Everly.” I take her hand in mine. “I swear to you.”
“I know, but it doesn’t change the fact that vampires have been terrorizing me from the start. First taking my parents from me, then when I was attacked—”
“Who attacked you?” I will dismember them, no questions asked.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Another vampire. It’s like I’m a magnet for them. For you. It’s the only reason you’re attracted to me.”
“No. I don’t believe that for a second. My heart never beat until I found you. There’s something between us. A connection. You feel it, too. I know you do.”
“Maybe there is, but there has to be a reason vampires killed my parents, and why they keep trying to kill me. It’s why I’m working with Ian. I have to be able to protect myself from you.” She pulls her hand away.
“I won’t hurt you, poppet. I swear to you.” I don’t want to hurt her, and I don’t think I could even if I tried. It would pain me too much. For some reason, this woman is the most precious thing I’ve ever found, and I’ll never let her come to harm. I may not understand it, but I know it’s true, as if her name is written in the marrow of my bones.
“Tell me about the attack. When was this?”
“About a year a—Hey!” She yelps as her cat jumps onto the counter beside her. “Buffy, how did you get here?”
“She hopped through the kitchen window about five minutes ago.” I stare down at the cat. “Sneaky little thing.”
“What? It’s miles and miles from the warehouse to here.” Everly scoops up the cat and hugs her to her chest. “Are you okay, Buffy?”
The cat purrs lightly and rubs her face against Everly’s chin.
“There’s something odd about that cat.” I peer at it.
Buffy peers right back, then flashes the claws on her front paw.
“She’s not odd. She’s precious.” Everly kisses her on the head, then sets her on the counter. “Are you hungry?”