Bleed For Me (Loved By Gods #1)(2)

The guy obviously wasn’t used to a woman telling him no. Hell, when you looked as good as he did, you probably didn’t get a lot of rejections. The guy was…gorgeous. No other word for him. He had the kind of strong, chiseled features that probably made women—me—quiver. Perfectly cut, square jaw. Sculpted cheekbones. Wide set, light blue eyes. Firm, sensuous lips. He even had thick, tousled blond hair. The kind of hair that she’d seen once on a shampoo commercial.

And his body. She swallowed. Talk about a perfect package. The guy was tall, with tight muscles and deeply tanned, golden skin. The lucky jerk probably got to spend hours in the sun each day.

Oh, yes. He was absolutely gorgeous. A feast for the eyes. But she’d never been the type to fall for pretty boys. Not while she was alive, and certainly not while she was…well, dead wasn’t the right word. Because she wasn’t technically dead.

But she was a vampire.

Her heart still beat. Her lungs still worked. She got tired, she got hungry—well, for blood, anyway. Her body was pretty much as it’d been before, except for the addition of the fangs.

No, she wasn’t dead. Not yet, anyway. But if she didn’t find something to drink soon, she might be.

Her gaze drifted around the bar. So many men. She’d need to find a weak link. A man she should be able to control. If things got rough, she’d need to be able to escape easily.

So many men. She could hear their heartbeats. Almost feel the rush of their blood and—

And he was touching her again.

Her head whipped to the left and her gaze immediately locked on Mr. Perfect’s. Then, slowly, helplessly, her stare dropped to his throat. She could see his pulse beating and could even hear the soft swoosh of his blood.

He wouldn’t be the kind of man that she could control.

“Looking for someone?” His voice was like a stroke over her flesh.

She managed to nod.

“Forget him.” He brought her hand to his lips. Pressed a kiss to her knuckles, and his tongue slid against her skin. “I can give you a night you’ll never forget.”

She’d give him that, too. It was hard to forget some nightmares.

Her heart raced like mad, and her knees trembled. Okay, he wasn’t weak prey, but maybe that would be a good thing. He was so big and strong that she shouldn’t have to worry about her bite hurting him too much. And a big guy like him…surely he’d be fine with losing a few pints of blood?

“Why don’t you come with me?” He leaned in close, and his fingers feathered down her cheek. My, he was warm. “I’ll take care of all your…needs.”

Her teeth began to ache. He was so close to her now. So close.

Oh, damn, if she didn’t drink soon, she was going to break down.The hard, driving hunger lanced through her. Her hands curled into fists, and her nails bit into her palms.

The hunk would have to do because she didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to hold it together. Terese turned and carefully fit her body against his. “I want you,” she whispered, deliberately pitching her voice low in what she hoped was a seductive tone. She didn’t know how to use compulsions, didn’t know how to do hardly any of the damn things that vampires were supposed to do. So she was just going to have to wing it and rely on her skills as a woman.

Apollo gazed down at her. “Do you?” He didn’t seem surprised. Cocky bastard. One golden brow lifted. “Well, what are we going to do about that?” He smiled again, his dimples flashing.

My turn. She lifted his hand, raised it to her lips, and licked his index finger.

His jaw clenched.

“Do you…know a place we can go…to be alone?” Hades was packed with people, filled with hazy smoke and blaring music. Now that she’d found her prey, she wanted to go someplace else, someplace quiet—someplace where no one would disturb them.

Where no one would hear him scream.

Just in case he was the screaming kind.

“Upstairs.” He turned on his heel pulled her behind him. “Come on.” The good-natured humor was gone from his voice. Only dark need remained.

The people around them parted as if by magic, and Apollo led her past the bar and its black counter top, to a heavy, metal door. He shoved open the door and ushered her inside.

“What—”

An old, twisting staircase led to the next floor. Apollo slammed the metal door behind her and instantly muted the thunderous music and the voices of the crowd.

Terese inched forward as hunger, anticipation, and ice-cold fear filled her. Would she be able to do it?

“Not changing your mind, are you?” he asked, voice rumbling.

She could feel his cock pressing against her. Apollo was definitely game up for the seduction, and honestly, so was she. It was what came after the seduction that scared her.

“I promise,” he told her, “you won’t regret going with me.”

No, but he might regret going with her.

His fingers slipped beneath the plunging neckline of her dress and eased down to fondle her breasts.

A moan trembled on her lips.

“Oh, that’s good.” His fingers stroked her, plucking the tender flesh, and teasing her nipples. “But I want you naked. I want to see you. Taste you.”

She definitely wanted to taste him.

His cock pulsed against her, and she wondered what it would feel like inside of her. Plunging into her.