Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(77)

My nails lengthened into claws, sharp points that poked into the flesh of his wrists. He stared up at me with a look of strange wonder, as if he were seeing something or someone else. I felt no hesitance. No second thought or regret. The sensual high was teasing, an indication of what came next. My succubus nature fanned the flames of his lust. Releasing my hold on him, I let him reach for my br**sts. He wasn’t going to live long enough to try anything else. My patience was thinning.

“Your eyes are fascinating,” he said dazedly. “Has anyone ever told you that? It’s like there’s something weird there. Something…”

He trailed off, shaking his head slightly, unable to find the word. I brought his hand to my lips, turning it over to expose his wrist. Placing my lips to the pulse there, I breathed deeply of the scent of blood so close to the surface. Just a prick of fangs away.

“Inhuman,” I supplied. I dragged my tongue over his skin, eliciting another rush of arousal to feast upon. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”

Unable to hold back, I closed my eyes and bit into his wrist. The blood flowed and I sighed. A light flashed behind my eyes, and I felt myself fall into Arys’s head. For a startling moment, my actions were exposed to him. I opened my eyes and found my victim grabbing hungrily for me. He either didn’t know what I’d just done, or he didn’t care. He was entirely under my thrall. All mine.

I knew Arys saw what I saw and felt what I felt. His presence was heavy in my head but quiet, watchful. I considered shoving him out, but the dark side of me entertained a naughty thought: What the hell, let him watch.

Dropping the john’s arm, I rose up over him and pushed his head to the side. Exposing his neck brought a groan from me. I ran a claw over the pumping artery there. He would bleed out fast if I went for the carotid. Going for the jugular might give me a bit more time. I let the question echo in my mind. Arys’s preference came in the form of a feeling rather than a clear thought. He wanted me to tear the guy apart.

The john tried to pull me in for a kiss. I teasingly shook my head and gave a coy smile. I wasn’t sure if prostitutes really had a no kiss on the lips rule, but I didn’t intend to let him touch me more than necessary. My head already spun with his lust, but that was the tip of the iceberg. I needed more. Blood and death.

The hand on my breast grew aggressive. He strained against me, demanding what he thought we’d come here for. Arys’s tension permeated my thoughts. Again, I thought about shutting him out, but it was too late for that.

“Let’s have a look at what you’re hiding here.” The john fumbled to get my bra off.

I grabbed his arms and roughly pinned him. “I know you’re used to having your way with girls that should be home with their families. That ends here. So, try to enjoy what happens next.”

I forced him to look directly in my eyes as I pulled him deeper under with my heady vampiric influence. Having him kicking and screaming would have been the icing on this madhouse cake. As easily as I’d pulled him under, I could set him free. He would fight and shriek. A thrill of excitement rocked me at the thought. Of course, having him beg for more while I killed him sounded pretty damn good, too.

‘Decisions, decisions.’ Arys’s voice echoed in my head.

I ignored him, refusing to allow him to sway my choice. If I acknowledged his presence, the emotion bound within me might break free. I was here to escape that emotion, to find freedom from the torment. I would find that freedom in only one way.

I unleashed the short rein I had on my control. In a violent attack, I sunk fangs deep into the john’s neck. He grunted, and his arms went around me. His blood spurted into my mouth, and I devoured it. The abyss of dark pleasure rose up to swallow me, and I leapt in head first.

I lost myself. Everything that happened next was a blur. I saw nothing but crimson, tasted nothing but ecstasy. I tore into the pervert beneath me, and he enjoyed every minute. Only when death approached did he snap out of my spell and begin to fight, far too late.

Arys’s wicked satisfaction lingered inside. It fed my vicious hunger. When I finally came back to myself, I was sitting on the floor beside the bed, wiping blood from my mouth and trying to focus on the room around me.

A euphoric cloud lifted me, and I floated along it with a lazy grin plastered on my face. Then, I pushed Arys away. I closed my mind to him so as not to let him bring me down sooner than I’d like. I was going to ride out this high for all it was worth. Tonight, I would embrace the darkness, for tomorrow I would need to be the light. Somehow.

I washed the blood from my face and hands in the dingy bathroom. The tap only produced cold water, which was fine with me. It was refreshing.

Returning to the bedroom, I got dressed and surveyed the scene. The john’s throat was a mess of punctures and tears. The bed beneath him was soaked in blood, filling the room with a sticky sweet aroma. Not so long ago, I’d gazed upon Zoey’s prone form much like this. The meaning of this moment sank in deep. With a bitter string of expletives, I grabbed my bag and turned to go.

I smacked right into Shya who suddenly stood there looking both amused and quizzical.

“For f**k’s sake, Shya,” I cursed. “I know you like the element of surprise, but this is getting ridiculous.”

His red eyes took in the motel room. “You called. I’m merely responding to your message. Did I catch you at a bad time?”