Pretty When She Destroys (Pretty When She Dies #3)(21)

Amaliya unlocked the door and jerked it open. “See you later.”

“Benchley!” a male voice shouted. “We need you. Your sister made a bogus call.”

Alexia stood near a table clutching an open book to her chest. She looked as mad as the man glaring at her.

“Alexia knows that rulebook better than me, Jericho! What she says goes!” Benchley called back. To Amaliya he whispered, “I’m not stupid enough to override my sister.”

Waving to Alexia, Amaliya swiftly made her exit, ignoring the stares that followed her ass.

The hot, balmy Texas air buffeted her as she strode toward the dark sedan she had driven to the store. Jeff’s occult bookstore had lights on even though it was after hours. Samantha’s car was in the nearly empty parking lot. Amaliya was glad that Jeff and Samantha seemed to be doing well. Every once and awhile guilt nibbled on her when she considered how much she had screwed up the blonde’s life, but she rationalized it away by concentrating on the fact that Samantha was happy with Jeff.

“He lets you go out alone?”

The dark, rich voice vibrated through her eliciting an immediate response in her lady parts. Spinning about, she found herself face to face with the coyote.

“What’s up, Eduardo?”

It was unnerving how silently he could move. It also bothered her that she had let her guard down and let him get so close.

“Is the old man in the store still? Because there is no way his possessive ass would let you out of his sight,” Eduardo said, obviously teasing her.

Amaliya lifted one shoulder. “Maybe I snuck out.”

The coyote was dressed in very tight jeans and a white t-shirt that showed off his impressive muscles to full effect. The menace that oozed off of him only added to his sultry sex appeal. He was all bad boy and just the type of guy Amaliya had gone after during her college days. Despite his clean-cut appearance, she sensed the feral aspect of his nature just below the surface.

“So, he doesn’t totally control you.” Eduardo tilted his head, his eyes glinting with dangerous allure.

“No one controls me,” Amaliya answered, setting her hands on her hips. He was baiting her and she knew it, yet she couldn’t resist playing along just for a little bit.

Eduardo inched deeper into her personal space, sniffing the air. “You always smell of roses.”

“And you smell like...” Amaliya hesitated. His usual musky cologne was barely masking the scent of fresh blood.

The grin he flashed her was all sharp teeth.

“Did you eat a bunny rabbit or something?”

“I ate a *.” The grin widened.

The heavy fragrance of the blood filled her nostrils and her body responded hungrily. Animal blood held no attraction to her, which meant... “Human blood? What the f*ck did you do?”

“I told you I ate a *,” Eduardo licked one canine as his other teeth returned to a more human appearance.

Wincing, Amaliya took a sharp step back from him. “Oh, f*ckin’, gross!”

“Like you never had a period.” Eduardo guffawed.

“Not anymore. Thankfully.” Amaliya definitely liked that perk of her undead existence. She’d hated the cramps she used to suffer.

Eduardo leaned against her car door, his sexy body carefully posed for her viewing pleasure. “Like you vampires aren’t into sick shit. I bet you and Cian are a pretty bloody mess by the time you’re done screwing.”

Amaliya fished her keys out of her pocket. “My sex life is none of your business.”

“I’d like it to be. You and me could tear it up something good, don’t you think? I’ve never had sex with someone I didn’t have to worry about breaking. Or ripping.” Eduardo’s eyes were smoldering.

“Go find yourself another vampire,” Amaliya retorted, then shoved him out of her way.

Eduardo swiveled about, his body almost touching her back, his breath hot on her neck and shoulder. “I want you though. And I know you want me. So let’s do this. Or are you afraid Cian might get jealous?”

“I’ll admit that back in the day I would have f*cked your brains out. I’ll also admit that you’re a fine piece of ass, Eduardo.” Amaliya cocked her head so she could see his face. “But I’d never f*ck you because you just want to hurt the man I love.” She elbowed him as hard as she could in the stomach, sending him sprawling. “So f*ck off.”

Rolling to his feet with predatory agility, Eduardo smirked. “I can smell how much you’d love me to bend you over this car and f*ck you.”

“Gross, Eduardo.” Amaliya hated that to a certain extent he was right. Why did she always have to be attracted to the bad ones?

“It’s going to happen. You can’t deny it. You and me.”

“Fuck off.”

Amaliya slid into the car, slammed the door shut, and slid the key into the ignition. She hated the pulse of arousal between her thighs, and her insane desire to do something incredibly stupid with Eduardo. Though Cian and Amaliya were in a committed relationship that was steeped in love, they hadn’t agreed to be monogamous. Eduardo wanted Amaliya’s body. It was an alpha male thing. Cian loved the essence of who she was. It wasn’t too hard to decide how to handle the situation.

When she pulled out of the parking lot, she saw Eduardo slip into the shadows alongside the gaming store, then vanish from sight.