Forget About Midnight (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #9)(57)

Because I didn’t know where else to go to appease the blood hunger, I went to The Wicked Kiss. Losing it and killing someone in my own club was not what I wanted, but it was the only place where, if it happened, it could be easily contained from the general public and the FPA.

I was only mildly surprised to find Arys waiting for me. He knew me too well. I hadn’t planned to see him again so soon. The emotions were too overwhelming and made a mess of my head. I had planned to avoid as much emotional upheaval as I could until after I’d dealt with the FPA.

The roiling vampire essence rooted in my core recognized him before I spied his car in the parking lot. No Kale though. I had to remind myself that was a good thing.

Arys was in the lobby chatting with Justin. Leaning against the wall with arms crossed, he eyed each person passing through. In a black t-shirt that showed off his muscular arms and with his ebony hair messed just right, he looked like sex on legs, as he always did. I groaned. Why did he have to make this so difficult?

“Don’t kick my ass,” Arys said with a grin, holding up both hands. “And don’t argue. I’m here because you need me here whether you want to accept it or not.”

My gaze slid over to Justin who pretended not to listen by asking the girl behind me for I.D. With a finger I gestured for Arys to follow as I swept by him into the nightclub.

“Jenner told you, didn’t he?” I asked. “About how I almost killed a willing victim.” That better have been all Jenner told him.

“He did.”

My gaze strayed to the bar where my hopes soared and crashed. No Willow tonight either.

“I’m heading out on a hunt tonight. Human. But there’s a young girl involved so I need to take the edge off.” I had a hard time meeting Arys’s gaze. I didn’t want to do this with him but didn’t see much choice in the matter.

“Care to elaborate?” He walked at my side, careful not to touch me, as if he knew I would come undone.

I told him about Brinley as I scanned the crowd for someone to sink my teeth into. In no time Arys had women throwing themselves at him. He cast a questioning glance my way when the third sidled up with a drink in hand and a flirty smile.

With an eye roll and a sigh, I shrugged and turned to lead the way to the back. Being back in Harley’s room so soon felt all kinds of wrong. I was nervous about doing this with Arys. Already it felt way too good to be ok.

By the time the door closed, our victim had already fallen under his spell. She perched on the edge of the bed, watching us both with apprehensive excitement. I took the drink from her hand and set it on the table, keeping my distance as Arys sat beside her.

He leaned in close to whisper something naughty in her ear. She laughed and blushed. I wanted to be annoyed, but I was drawn closer. Arys’s thrall was powerful, affecting me too.

His lips moved over her ear, down her neck. She visibly swooned, leaning into him with closed eyes and a soft sigh. She clutched at him, her fingers leaving indents on his arm. The atmosphere sang with her arousal. I itched to sink my fangs into her.

Arys held out a hand to me, and I moved toward him without thinking. I could feel him inside me and all around. Inescapable. Only he could strip away my defenses with just a gesture.

I wanted to resist. The frightened woman inside me wanted to flee down the hall and out of the building, holding tight to my many broken pieces. But without a word Arys promised to put them back together, and I found myself reaching for him.

I would never escape this man. I could run to the ends of the earth, and he would still be there within me. That realization both warmed and terrified me.

Words were not needed. Together we made this quaking human ours. He encouraged her lusty energy, and I swam in it. I sat beside her so she was between us. She held on to both of us, gripping my hand so hard it hurt. Arys barely touched her, and she was a mess of desire.

It was nothing like it had been with either Kale or Jenner. My control was tested no doubt. I wanted the kill, but in Arys’s presence, I found a strength I’d never had with the others. This inner control kept me focused on only taking what I’d come for.

Sliding a hand into her long, brown hair, I leaned in close, breathing in her delicious human scent. I felt it like a punch in the stomach, demanding that I taste the precious nectar that pumped through her.

I ran my tongue along her neck, feeling the beat of her pulse. Arys watched me, the intensity of his stare drawing my gaze to his. His eagerness taunted my hunger. He wanted to watch, and something about that excited me.

It wasn’t the first time I’d shared a victim with Arys. However, it was the first time since I’d turned. My hesitation at doing this had fled. Something about it felt natural. Comfortable.

Arys kissed his way down her arm, tracing the vein in the curve of her elbow with his tongue. He never took his eyes from me. Her arousal grew with every touch. She wasn’t the only one affected by him. Heat crept up my cheeks and between my legs. He was so damn good.

Closing my eyes, I pressed my mouth against her neck and sought out the pulse beating there. It throbbed against my lips, racing with her desire. I bared the small but deadly sharp vampire fangs I was still struggling to adjust to and bit deep.

With the slightest resistance, my fangs pierced her flesh. Then the blood hit my tongue. Combined with the heady rush of sensual energy, it was exhilarating, sweeping me away on a mental cloud of bliss.