The Way You Bite(58)

Color drained from Trace’s face. His mouth worked, but no words came out.

Blay said, “You were used, Trace. She was a bitch whose sole focus was power. And to hurt Lexan.” Blay shrugged as if over the matter.

“It is in the past.” Lexan’s grip on her hand hurt. She stretched her fingers inside his clasp. He loosened and shot her a quick apologetic gaze.

“Why haven’t you come after me before?” Trace asked in a whisper. “Is that why I’m here?”

Lexan’s gaze met Blay’s. “As Blay said, she used you. Your future is your choice. Bless her dead soul; she’d get a thrill out of males fighting over her. I stopped caring about her antics long before you two became involved.”

Lexan’s expression softened when it met hers. He whispered in her ear, “The time to run under the moon draws close. I sense your fear, but it’ll be okay. Do you trust me?”

Did she trust him? She thought so.

Trace’s thoughts blasted into her skull. “Snap out of it. He’s doing his mesmerizing thing again. I’m going to get us both out of here.”

Blay stared at her with concern. “Is it time?”

“Soon.” Lexan pulled her out of the room.

Her head swirled as they stepped into the hallway. “I might need something before running. Food…or something else.”

“No something else from me until after we run, but food can be had.” He led her into a vacant kitchen. “Sit.” He walked to the windows and closed the blinds where waning sunlight filtered in. From the refrigerator he removed orange juice and held up the container.

She nodded as she took a barstool at the island counter, although she wasn’t sure the juice’s acidity would agree with her stomach. “You wolves sure do have a thing for OJ.”

He shrugged and slid a glass of juice across the counter, watching as she drank a few sips. His gaze remained fixed on her lips.

“Maybe this?” He slid a thermos across the counter. “And this?” He handed her a Hershey bar.

She ripped open the outer wrap and bit into the chocolate. Its sweetness flooded her taste buds…oh, sweet heaven. “That’s good.” Two more bites happened before remembering he was watching her. Her face scorched.

He chuckled.

“Thank you.” She nodded at the thermos. “What’s in it?”

“I thought you might be thirsty. It’s not my vintage, but…”

She unscrewed and sniffed. “Type O. How’d you get this?”

“There are ways. Drink.” He crossed his arms.

“You’re ordering me again.” She sniffed. “But I’m thirsty.” She drank until the container was empty and then drained the rest of the juice. “Anything else in there?” She sauntered to the refrigerator under his intense scrutiny. Her heart beat hard enough to jump out of her chest. Sensing him behind her she turned. He put his hands up, caging her against the refrigerator door.

“There’s nothing in there that will take care of your hunger.” His eyes lifted from her mouth.

Her gaze dropped to the pulsating vessel in his neck. She lifted her hands, which were trembling, and placed them against his broad chest. Everything about him was sexy, even the aura of danger that clung to him like a dark shadow.

“I want…” she whispered.

He brushed his lips over hers. She could taste the orange juice she’d just had.

“This doesn’t mean I’ll let you have a drink of what you want before we run.” His fingers slid down her cheek, then slipped over the curve of her neck.

“I didn’t say a drink, although I want that, too. I meant you.”

He nibbled over her jugular vein.

She swallowed and knew he felt the small movement.

Lexan laughed. The sound sent a shiver through her. He bent his head. His mouth replaced his hand on her neck. He kissed her lightly, teasing…suggestive. Her canines ached to taste him. Then she felt the rasp of his tongue against her throat.

Vee’s fingers dug into his shoulders. “This doesn’t mean I’m agreeing to anything longer term. This is about right now only.”

“Step into my world, Vee.” The edge of his teeth scored her skin. “You may never want to leave.”





Chapter Twenty-Two


She could try to push him away with words, but this had everything to do with now, tomorrow, and forever. He’d prove to her this would work while getting her somewhere safe. Life was precarious and had almost been snatched away from them. He wanted her relocated to somewhere no one could find her, not even Blay.

But right now…

He enjoyed every nuance of Vee’s reaction from the small sounds she made to the tiniest shiver of her body. He liked the angles of her face and her curves.

The moral move would be to pull back from his driving need and be patient. She should run first, and learn how to shift. That was high stress for anyone. She should drink from him and get stronger. He was old enough to know how to find patience, if he put forth even a 20 percent effort. Yet, when nothing at his age was new, the novelty of her and what she made him feel was an addiction he couldn’t deny. He savored the consuming need and the new sensations swirling through his body. Hell, he enjoyed this mental debate because this was real give-a-shit concern. Every moment he was with her he felt more alive.