Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(30)

Gregory? Gregory Cethin? Why in the hell was the vamp circling him like a vulture? Luke ripped open the small door and wind whipped inside the plane.

“Luke?” Fear shook Gregory’s voice. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

Luke’s wings flapped. “I was going to ask you the same thing…”

***

“I need to shower off the blood.” They were in some no-tell motel, after having driven hell fast for hours. They’d made it to Florida, and taken refuge in the first quiet spot they’d found. Cass knew they wouldn’t have long to rest, and he was f*cking sick of having his own blood soaking his clothes. His body had healed completely, but the blood still stained his skin and garments. Trying to keep his voice soft, he said, “Why don’t you just rest a bit on the bed?”

Her lips quirked. “Sorry, but I think that bed is more than five feet from the shower.”

Shit. The magical link. “Amber…”

“I want to shower off, too,” she said, tilting back her head and the thick mass of her hair slid over her shoulders. “Think it will be big enough for two?”

He stopped. Just—stopped breathing. His heart stopped beating. Everything in him just stopped for a moment.

“Unless…that’s a problem for you?”

Fuck me. His heart raced in a double-time rhythm, his breath came too fast, and his cock shoved against the front of his jeans. “Not a problem.” Not at all. “I can wear the gloves. I can keep my hands off you—”

“Do I have to keep my hands off you?”

He took a step toward her, then caught himself. His control was razor thin. Razor. Did she have any idea…any clue how much he wanted her in that moment? “You know what I am…” His voice was too rough.

“I know who you are.”

Who, not what.

He frowned at her. “You…you want to touch me?”

“I want to touch every single inch of you.” She licked her lips. “You know I want you.”

He was going mad for her.

“So can I come into the shower with you? How many times does a lady have to ask?”

A lady had never asked him before. Didn’t she get that? Women—even those who’d come to his bed—had been afraid. They’d barely touched him at all. They’d just wanted the dark thrill of saying they’d f*cked Death.

Vampires had enjoyed that particular thrill. Vampire females could be fierce and demanding. Their desires so dark…

She isn’t like them. He still didn’t know just what kind of paranormal she was. And he… “I’ll be careful with you,” he promised her.

Her full lips curled. “I know.”

He lifted her into his arms. She seemed so light. She fit against him, or at least, she seemed to.

“You don’t have to carry me, you know. The bathroom is like ten feet away.”

He liked holding her. She didn’t understand just how starved he’d always been for physical contact. And when he touched her, Amber didn’t flinch away. She didn’t look at him as if he were a freak.

He put her down on the bathroom tile. He turned on the shower, making sure to get warm water pouring out for them. The shower was small, and it was going to be a tight fit—and he didn’t care.

Amber, naked in the shower, touching him?

Fuck, yes.

His hands reached for her shirt, but he caught himself and stopped.

“Cass?”

He cleared his throat. “Do you want me to…take off your clothes?”

“That depends…do I get to take off yours?”

He grabbed for the counter and held it so tightly he thought it might shatter. That razor thin control? Nearly gone. He wanted to rip her clothes away. Wanted to put his mouth all over her.

He wanted to see her face when she came for him. How much pleasure could she stand? He was ready to find out.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” She reached for him. Her fingers curled around the bottom of his shirt and she pushed it up. He grabbed for the fabric and nearly ripped it off as he jerked it over his head and dropped it to the floor. Her hands pressed to his abdomen and then her nails were raking down…down to the snap of his jeans.

Cass sucked in a sharp breath as she popped that button free. Then she slid down the zipper.

He grabbed her hands. “Sweets, you are about to drive me right over the edge.”

She rose onto her toes. She nipped his lower lip. “Good.”

Fuck…

He grabbed the hem of her shirt and she helped him to toss it aside. She’d already kicked off her shoes, so it was easy to get her jeans off and to throw those aside, too. When he saw her in her bra and panties, he just wanted to take a second to admire her, but his dick was aching and hard and he just had to touch her—

His shaking fingers slid under her bra strap. He still had on the gloves. He wouldn’t risk her, not ever. He hoped she understood that.

“You’re being so careful.” Her long lashes swept down to cover her eyes.

Yes, he was. He could show her that he wasn’t just some monster—

Amber licked her lips. Her lashes rose. “Don’t remember asking for that.” Then she unhooked her bra and tossed it at him. Her hands went to her panties, and she pushed them down her perfect legs.