Addict (Hunter #2)(60)

“We need to move, Vorenus.” Gray helped Liv out. “The police are coming.”

“I can handle them,” my boyfriend promised.

Up ahead, Casey stumbled toward Gray’s massive truck. Gray carried Liv while Marcus held me securely in his arms.

“Let’s make sure we don’t have to,” Gray said, hustling toward the still running vehicle. “I don’t want all this caught on someone’s phone and posted on YouTube. I’m supposed to be undercover.”

“I apologize if saving Kelsey blows your cover.” Marcus got into the cab of the truck. He pulled me up into his lap, arranging me into a semi-comfortable position.

Casey and Liv climbed into the back.

Gray’s mouth was a stubborn line as he put the truck in drive. “That wasn’t what I meant. I would give my life for her and you know it. I got us here as fast as I could.”

“Stop fighting.” My words were slurring slightly. Light-headed was a soft term for what I felt. The world was threatening to spin out of control.

“She hit her head.” Casey leaned forward to look into the front of the cab. “She hit it a couple of times, and when we crashed, she wasn’t wearing a seat belt.”

“You mean when you crashed, Mr. Lane,” Marcus accused the young vampire. “You were driving the vehicle. You crashed and my mistress paid the price.”

“Don’t.” I was too tired to listen to recriminations. “Don’t blame Casey. He did a good job. He didn’t f*ck up. I did. It was my fault.”

I was so tired. I let my head rest against Marcus’s shoulder. There was a fuzziness to everything. My head seemed as snowy as the world outside.

“Don’t you fall asleep, Kelsey!” Gray barked the order, bringing me out of my twilight. “Vorenus, are you going to yell at the newbie or save your precious mistress? Cause from where I’m sitting, she’s in a bad way.”

Marcus forced my head up. “Kelsey, look at me.”

My eyes weren’t capable of obeying the command. They wanted to close and rest. I sighed and let them shut. If only all the people would stop talking, I could sleep. Sleep seemed like such a nice thing to do. I could rest my eyes for a few moments…

“Darling, wake up.” Marcus shook me gently. “Bella, you must stay awake.” He seemed far away. Sleep beckoned much more urgently.

The world began to go dark, but even that seemed nice after the ultra-bright of the snowy day.

“You open your eyes, Kelsey Jean Atwood!”

I couldn’t ignore that sharp bark. My head came off Marcus’s shoulder, and I was caught by seriously blue eyes. Gray had one hand on the steering wheel and one locked in my hair.

“You fight, Kelsey,” Gray ordered. “You take that blood and you live, you understand me?”

He knew how to get my attention.

“Fuck you, Sloane.” I said it out of habit and because I didn’t like having my naps interrupted. He was right. Something was seriously wrong with me.

“Spit all the shit at me you want, but you take that blood and you take it now,” he ordered.

I forced my head to move, to shift toward my boyfriend. Marcus popped sharp claws in his right hand and tore open a hole close to his neck. I needed that blood. My head kind of fell forward and I managed to get my mouth where it needed to go. I felt Marcus’s arms tighten around me, holding me in place.

“That’s right, cara mia. Drink.” His breath was warm against my ear. I felt his anxiety as though he couldn’t quite contain it, and I caught the edge of it. I must look pretty bad if Marcus was so worried I could feel it.

Rich, velvety blood filled my mouth. My head started to clear.

“Keep drinking.” Marcus held my head to his flesh when I tried to pull away.

I gamely continued, but after another minute I couldn’t take any more. I pulled away and sat up, so much better than I was before. My vision was clear, my thoughts lucid.

“Oh, my god.” Liv moaned from the backseat.

I glanced over Marcus’s shoulder and saw that my best friend was taking one for the team. She had her arms wrapped around Casey’s shoulders. His fangs were firmly in her neck. Casey’s hands were around her back, and Liv’s head was thrown back in what looked like complete ecstasy. Her whole body stiffened and then she relaxed. I knew that feeling. Heaven. After a moment, Casey released the vein. Liv slumped against him, completely exhausted.

I couldn’t help but stare, shocked at the sight of my proper BFF looking languid and sexy in the arms of a vampire. Her head rested against his chest, her whole body relaxed as he held her.

Casey shrugged. “If I didn’t pull her in, it would hurt.”

“Be ready for her to kick your ass later.” Liv was going to be completely embarrassed that she’d had an orgasm in front of Marcus and Gray.

“I get the feeling she’ll have to stand in line,” Casey muttered.

I noticed he didn’t shove Liv off his lap. He cuddled her close. Vampires are especially affectionate creatures after a feed. Casey wasn’t attempting to fight that part of his nature. Liv’s face pressed into his neck and he rubbed his cheek against hers thoughtfully.

“Is she better?” Gray ignored what was going on in the backseat. His attention was divided between me and the road. He didn’t seem to have any trouble driving in the awful conditions.