“Draven?”
“What?”
“Look at me.”
He did as she asked. Instead of the anger he expected, Draven saw something else in her gaze, something close to sorrow.
“I’m not unaffected, you know.”
Sitting back in the chair, he crossed his legs at the ankles. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t—”
“It’s okay.” She smiled, her cheeks reddening. “Don’t think I didn’t wonder what you would’ve looked like without that towel wrapping your waist.”
He groaned. “Don’t do this, Brea. I’m so fucking attracted to you. I’m not sure how much more restraint I have. Knowing you’re interested, makes me want you more.”
She drew her lower lip between her teeth, her gaze never leaving his. Finally, she said, “Am I bad person?”
His brows drew together. “What in the hell would make you think that?”
“Joseph hasn’t been gone long. Yet, all I can think of is my desire to know you more.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
She nodded, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, whitening her knuckles.
Knowing vampires were sexual beings, he couldn’t help his curiosity. “You mentioned that you hadn’t had sex with Joseph for a month before his death. Why?”
She took in a shuddering breath before looking into the distance. “I loved Joseph. Deeply. We had been together for a long time. He gave me my immortality. I begged him to make me his mate. He treated me like a princess most times.”
“Most times?”
Brea looked back at him, the sorrow still written in her gaze. “In the beginning, everything was great. But toward the end, I think he regretted saddling himself with me. He’d go to the Rave, hang with the guys more often. When he’d come home, he wouldn’t even talk to me. I brushed it off as moodiness. One day, he brought home a couple of donors. It wasn’t anything new because he made sure I was fed, taken care of. It was important to keep me hidden from the Sons because of my godfather, as you know.”
Draven nodded. He had seen Joseph leave quite often with a donor on each arm.
“A little over a month ago was no different. He brought home two donors. One was very pretty …gorgeous, in fact. Long, dark brown hair. The exact opposite of me. I tried not to be jealous as he sank his fangs into her neck. I did the same to my donor.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. “When we finished feeding, usually he would send them both on their way. Not this time. He fucked his donor right in front of me. Fucked her while I watched, Draven. He died a little over a month later. We never talked after what he did, nor did I make love to him again.”
Chapter 7
Well, that certainly changed things.
If Joseph hadn’t respected Brea in the end, then Draven didn’t feel the need to honor the fact they had been mated. Brea obviously mourned her mate’s loss. After all, she had said she loved Joseph. Her feelings for him hadn’t shut off because he had become a first class ass. Out of reverence for her, he’d give her time to come to terms with the loss. Draven wasn’t a complete, unfeeling fuck. But the gloves were off and it was only a matter of time before he would give in to the desire running rampant through him. His dick twitched at the prospect. Damn thing would have to acknowledge his change of heart.
“What the hell?” Draven rubbed his jaw, still stunned by her admission. “I don’t even know what to say, other than apologize for him since he’s too dead to do it himself. What an ass-wipe. He didn’t deserve you, Brea.”
Using her palms, she wiped the wetness from her cheeks. A nervous chuckle escaped her. “I spent the last few years trying to convince myself that I deserved Kinky. His last cruel act was not like him at all. I think that’s why I was so blindsided by what he did. I was left wondering what I had done. But since he wasn’t talking to me, I couldn’t even ask.”
Draven had to know. “Had you led him to believe that there was someone else?”
“Are you serious?” Her blue gaze heated. “I would never have harmed Kinky in any way. That is such a guy thing to say.”
“I am a guy.” He chuckled. “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact Kinky fucked a donor right in front of you. He cared about you enough to send you my way should something happen. To me, that shows he wanted you protected. So why the hell would he be so callous?”
She worried her lower lip. “I guess we’ll never know now.”
He resisted the urge to pull her onto his lap and hold her, even if his intentions were nothing more than comfort. Taking advantage of the situation wasn’t his style, and he didn’t want Brea thinking it was.
“So what’s our plan from here?” Draven asked, looking for a change in subjects. They had dwelled enough on Joseph’s infidelity. “As much as I’d like to lie low here for a while, it’s only a matter of time before Raúl’s men find us.”
“You’re probably right. We need to keep you safe.”
Draven shook his head. He really hated being the weak one in the relationship. “I’d like to argue my case, but I know it’s a moot point. They come gunning for us, I’m the one who has to fear getting his ass shot off and joining Kinky… Jesus, that was insensitive.”
He couldn’t stay off the topic even when he tried. The fact anyone could not remain faithful to this woman blew him away. If he couldn’t do it, then he wasn’t the right man for her either. She deserved better than being someone’s fuck buddy.
“Don’t worry about it, Draven. It is what it is. I can’t stay mad at the dead forever. Kinky deserves forgiveness as much as anyone else. I may not have understood it, but I forgave him.”
She licked her lips, drawing his attention to them again. “As far as where we go from here, I say we head straight for Ensenada. It’s about a little over an hour from here by motorcycle. I say we hang here for a few more days, give them a reason to spread out among the countryside, leaving few behind with Raúl. Better for us. We go marching in there with all his men present and neither of us stands a chance.”
“I still think you’re crazy. It’s a suicide mission.”
“Promise me, Draven, if things get hairy—leave me.”
He took in a deep breath, then sighed heavily. Not happening. “Like hell, I will. What kind of a man do you take me for?”
“A live one.” Brea placed her hand on his knee, then quickly removed it as if stung from the contact. “I don’t want your death on me too. It’s bad enough I feel responsible for Kinky.”
“Even if you’re correct, and Raúl put the hit out on him, you’re not to be blamed for that. The man is a psycho. He’s responsible for thousands of deaths in Mexico alone. Kinky was just another number for him.”
“And I won’t allow you to be a number. This isn’t up for discussion. You either promise to get the hell out of there if things get dicey, or I’ll leave your ass behind now.”
“Why do you care what happens to me? You don’t really know me.”
“Kinky did. And he thought enough of you to put me in your care.”
“A lot of good I would do,” he grumbled.
“Exactly.” She turned in her chair to face him, tucking her legs beneath her. “Promise me you will leave me if I tell you to.”
No way in hell could he give her his word. Instead, he lied. “I’ll do what you ask.”
Her blue gaze studied him a moment before answering. “Good. We’ll leave in a few days.”
All Draven could think of was a few long days of nothing to do to pass the time. Oh, he knew what his dick wanted to do. Again, not happening. Draven was going to have to get creative at staying busy, or start taking some very long hikes. With his luck, he’d wind up lost and Brea would be forced to come rescue his ass. Draven was not going to come out of this thing with his dignity intact. He might as well hand over that man card now.
Chapter 8
Twenty-four hours had passed since her conversation with Draven. Following their chat, he had avoided her and barely
spoke to her in passing. Brea couldn’t help but wonder what she might’ve done to be on the receiving end of his cold shoulder. Before she had divulged the story about Joseph and the donor, Draven hadn’t been shy about his desire. Now she might as well have the plague. Honestly, she didn’t think her ego could take another blow.
What the hell was wrong with her DNA?
She sighed. Other than the family she had been born into.
Or maybe, with Draven, it was her vampire side he was warring against.
It was certainly possible that Draven regretted following her, offering her protection he was ill equipped for. The odds of surviving gunfire aimed in their direction was definitely in her favor. She stood on the porch and glanced at the motorcycle hidden in the brush, just off the beaten path and barely visible. A little over seventy miles stood between her and Ensenada. Raúl had to know she was still in the area, maybe even suspected she headed his way. Never a coward, he’d wait for her confrontation, not that he’d feel guilty over Joseph’s death. No, Raúl more than likely felt justified if he was the guilty party. He always did.
Brea wanted her answers, one way or the other, no matter the tactics. She didn’t fear her godfather. Regardless if he was guilty of Joseph’s death, he still thought of her as family. He would justify his actions out of love for her. Joseph would’ve never been good enough for her, neither would Draven.
Which was why, after sunset and Draven had fallen asleep, Brea was going to get on the back of the bike and leave him behind. She couldn’t allow him to continue on this fool’s mission with her. He had been correct about one thing, for him it would be a suicide mission. Raúl might not harm her, but he had no such loyalty to Draven. If he continued to accompany her, he wouldn’t make it out alive. Brea cared too much for the barkeep to allow any harm to come to him.
She couldn’t repay his kindness by pitting him against a cold-hearted kingpin.
Decision made, she made to enter the cabin. The screen door swung out, startling her, and Draven walked through as though her thoughts had conjured him up. He looked good enough to…What? Most definitely drink from. The familiar ache began in her gums. Feeding before she headed out was a must. She couldn’t go up against her godfather weak from the lack of nourishment. The problem was that she wasn’t so sure Draven would be of the giving mind.
“What?” he asked, eyeing her skeptically.
“Nothing.” Brea clasped her hands behind her and rocked back on her heels.
“Then why are you looking at me that way?”
She ran her tongue over lips, hoping to sooth away the impending lengthening of her fangs. “I was just about to go inside.”
“And look for me?”
“Why would I do that? You’ve hardly talked to me.”
Draven rubbed his neck. “Look, I’ve been unfair.”
“For the life of me, Draven, I can’t figure out what I’ve done to piss you off.”
His gaze widened. “Is that what you think?”
“What else am I to think? We’re stuck in this small cabin, and we can’t help be in each other’s company, yet you seem to be doing your damnedest to avoid being anywhere near me.”
He gripped her shoulders, pulling her within inches of him. She could smell his woodsy scent, intoxicating her. Her eyes heated as their black vampire state threatened to take over. This close, she had one hell of a time denying her desire, or her hunger.
“God, Brea, I’m avoiding you because I want to fuck the shit out of you.”
Her breath hitched and her fangs punched from her gums. Damn her weak hide.
“I feel like a walking erection around you and there isn’t a damn thing I’m willing to do about it.”
“Why?” she whispered. “Why won’t you take what I would willingly offer?”
He let go of her, stepped back, and took a deep steadying breath. “You came to me not that long ago, devastated when you found out what had happened to Kinky.”
“Because I loved him.”
“Exactly. I’m not about to sully that love by being your pity fuck.”
“Is that what you think?”
Draven jammed a hand through his hair. “Not only that, but I find out Kinky wasn’t even deserving of that love.”
A fat tear slipped from her lash and rolled down her cheek. “But he was. He took me in… He gave me immortality because I begged him to. Don’t you get it, Draven? I forced myself onto him. Not the other way around. I took away his choice. I was the reason he found himself mated. He didn’t choose me. How could I be mad when I decided for him?”
“You’re cutting yourself short.”
“Maybe. But how would you feel if you suddenly found yourself stuck with me?”
Draven opened his mouth to speak, then just as quickly closed it. Exactly. What man would want to find themselves in an instant relationship with no out? Marriages had divorce. Mating was for life.
Brea wiped away the wetness from her cheek. “You don’t know my and Kinky’s relationship. You don’t know what he had to endure because of me. I was the selfish one. Not him. I took what I wanted.”
One of Draven’s brows arched up. “Are you telling me you took Kinky’s blood, that he didn’t offer it to you?”
She shook her head, looking at her bare feet. She ran her toes along one of the boards. “I would’ve never taken that without his permission.”
“Then you weren’t in that relationship solely because you were selfish. Kinky agreed to it. He may have later regretted his hasty decision—”
“He was fucking me, Draven.” She choked on a sob. “I waited until he was deep inside me for the first time. I waited until he was so far gone in lust that he would have done anything I asked. That’s when I begged him.”
“And did he hesitate?”
“Yes.” More tears slipped from her lashes. “Goddamn it, yes. He stilled inside of me, holding himself back. And when I said, ‘If you ever cared about me, then you would protect me with your blood.’ Don’t you get it? Yes, I loved Kinky. But even more than that, I wanted the strength he had. I never wanted to be a victim or to be afraid of my godfather. I used his desire against him to get what I wanted. He presented me with an opportunity to be much stronger than Raúl Trevino Caballero or any of his henchmen. I was the last of my family and I knew it was only a matter of time before he tried to claim me.”
She glanced back up. “I thought if I was already taken, then Raúl would give up and leave me be.”
“What exactly did Raúl want from you?” He drew the words out slowly.
“He wants me for his own, Draven. It’s why he’s so adamant in getting me back. He wants me for his bride.”
Chapter 9
Speechless. What the hell was he supposed to say to that?
Draven was pretty sure Raúl Trevino Caballero was used to getting what he wanted. Right now, apparently that was Brea. The old pervert had to be at least twice her age. He rubbed his jaw, watching the vampire part of her retreat. Her rising desire, hunger, or whatever had her about to unleash her vampy DNA, had quickly receded with the confession of her godfather wanting her in the biblical sense.
Okay, just nasty.
Regardless of the fact that he’s a short, fat troll … he’s a fucking monster.
Draven would’ve gladly offered up his own single status if he thought marrying her might be the answer. But the only thing he’d accomplish by getting hitched to Brea would be him following Joseph to an early grave. Hell, he wasn’t too sure he wouldn’t wind up six-feet under anyway. Raúl’s goons had already tried their damnedest to put a bullet in him.
“Say something, Draven.”
“What the hell am I supposed to say to that? It might’ve been helpful to know that from the start, Brea.”
Her head jerked as if he had physically slapped her. It had been a low blow, even coming from his smart ass. Had he the prior knowledge, he still wouldn’t have allowed her to go on the fool’s mission alone. Like it or not, they
were stuck with each other, seeing this objective through to the end. Draven prayed he’d be alive long enough to see Brea exact her revenge. If he were to die, then he wanted to make damn sure he took Raúl with him. If anyone deserved a quick trip to hell, it was her godfather.
“You can leave anytime you want, Draven.” Her gaze narrowed. Yep, he had pissed her off. “No one is stopping you. As a matter of fact, I’d prefer you leave. You’d just get in my way anyway. If you go with me, then I have to worry about saving your sorry ass.”
“Jesus! Chill the hell out, Brea.” He scrubbed his hand down his slightly whiskered jaw. “I didn’t mean I wouldn’t be here for you. I’m sorry, but Raúl wanting you for his wife took me a bit by surprise.”
“Well, that makes two of us.” Her breath shuttered out of her. “Let me tell you, that will never happen. I’ll see him dead first. Out of respect for who Raúl was to me, I thought mating with Joseph was the best option. I did love Joseph, so it seemed like the perfect solution. I had no idea Raúl would kill him. I can’t be responsible for your death too. I was serious when I said I preferred that you leave. It’s the only way I can protect you.”
He stepped forward, framing her face with his palms. “What kind of man would I be if I left you to face that monster alone?”
“A live one.”
His gaze dropped to her bow-shaped lips. Kissing her was a bad idea. A really, really bad idea. And yet, he couldn’t stop the flash flood of emotion running through his veins. He wanted to taste her, feel her soft lips against his. He slid the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. Her eyes darkened to endless, black pools. Draven’s own desire reflected back at him from the mirror-like surface. Her shoulders squared, telling him she warred with denying him the caress. No matter how hard she tried, her vampire DNA still emerged, telling him she wanted the same thing.
Draven took a tentative step forward, giving her time to formulate the word “no” if she chose. Brea’s lips parted. Slipping one hand around her neck and up the back of her skull, he tilted her face. Still, she remained silent. Her pink tongue darted out, wetting the seal of her mouth.
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