Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(7)

I opened the drawer where I kept a change of clothes. Living in the country could be very inconvenient. I loved my house, but I had to spend time in the city, too. It probably would have made more sense if I had left my stuff at Dev’s, but nothing about this made sense. I had a drawer at Daniel’s, and he had the third bedroom at my house. We’d gotten him light-tight drapes, and I planned on putting shutters on the windows. He didn’t stay there most nights, but it was always there for him.

I eased into blue jeans and a dark T-shirt. I didn’t have any sneakers here. I would have to do this in the heels that Daniel hadn’t noticed yet. I opened the closet because Neil kept a few things here as well. Sure enough, I found a stylish blazer that was only a smidge too big for me. It was perfect to fit around the shoulder holster I put on. When wearing an armory, one really has to consider the fit of one’s clothes. Too small and said armory is easily discerned by bulges and wrinkles in the clothes. Too big and you might find yourself wading through layers of fabric to get your gun. If I’d had to wear something of Daniel’s, it would have devoured me.

When I shut the bedroom door behind me, I heard Daniel walking around in the kitchen. I listened to the opening and closing of the fridge. I stood in the doorway and watched as he squeezed blood from the bag into a mug. He carefully sealed the bag and placed the mug in the microwave. The whole time he was waiting for the microwave to finish, he watched that mug go round and round while his right hand shook slightly. I could only guess what he was thinking. He couldn’t wait to get that blood in his mouth, couldn’t wait to taste it, to feel it slide down his throat and start to work on his body.

The oven dinged, and Daniel poured the contents down his throat. It was over so quickly, and then Daniel used his index finger to scoop out the last bits. It shouldn’t have been that hard for him. Marcus promised me if Danny had a regular supply of blood, he wouldn’t be this way. He should be calmer, more in control.

“Do I need to give more?” I would give a lot to not have to see him so desperate.

“Nope,” he said firmly. I watched as he forced himself to put the mug down.

“Danny, you aren’t getting enough,” I replied. “It’s obvious. Please, I’ll just let the nurse know you need more. It’s not like it’ll kill me. I barely notice it now.” I’d been taking vitamins and a horse pill I was assured would keep my iron level up.

Daniel steadied himself against the counter. His hand tapped on the granite, and he dragged in a long breath. “I don’t need any more. I’m trying to get off the shit.”

“What? You can’t.” I walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the donation bag. This late in the week it should have been almost empty, but it was half full. Anger started to flood my system. What the hell was he doing? “I can’t believe this. I need you to be strong. Do you remember where we’re going?”

He turned on me and flashed his fangs. “Of course I do, Zoey. I know exactly what’s on the line, but you have no idea how hard this is. You don’t know what it’s like. I crave it. I’d do anything for it. I f*cking hate it. The first time it took years before I could stop thinking about it every minute of every day.”

“You didn’t hate it when we were together.” Even as I said the words, I regretted them because we were both thinking about what it had been like. I’d never been closer to a person in my life than when I shared blood with my Daniel. If only it hadn’t turned out to be a lie.

Daniel’s blue eyes were hot with the memory. “That was different. That was love and intimacy. It meant something. This is just an addiction. I have to be stronger.”

“You want to go back to what you were before?” He’d been cold and distant. I couldn’t stand the thought.

“I don’t think it will come to that.” He frowned, his mouth a stubborn line.

“But you can’t be sure.”

“Zoey, let it go,” Daniel warned, and if I had an ounce of sense I would have. Unfortunately, when it came to Daniel, I’d never been known for my sense.

“No, I’m not going to let it go. You need blood and I have it.”

“Then take off your clothes and meet me in bed,” Daniel said harshly. “Start being my wife, and I’ll take the blood. I’ll open a vein and let you suck me until we’re both high. You ready to do that, baby? I didn’t think so. So if you’re not my wife, stop bitching at me like you are.”

I felt my face flush with anger and no small amount of shame. I was his wife, but I didn’t act like it. I was openly having an affair with another man, and I knew Daniel thought I was just fine with that. He couldn’t understand how torn up I was about the whole mess. Sometimes I felt like my own stubborn rage had put me in a corner, and I had no idea how to get out of it.

Yelling at Daniel wasn’t going to solve anything. I leaned against the fridge and let the worst of my anger go. “I’m just worried about you, Danny.”

He shoved a hand through his hair and turned away from me. “Don’t. I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself. I’m not going to slide back into what I was. I just need other coping mechanisms. That’s what my shrink says. I spent too many years denying myself. I’ve started indulging certain other hungers, and I’ve found it helps.”