His head snapped to look at me. It was a long time before he set his glass on the coffee table without looking and stared at my face. I almost visibly saw him become the predatory creature he was. The air left my lungs and goosebumps emerged to cover the skin of my arms. I retreated into the recesses of the couch, glass clutched tightly in my hand.
"Liam? What are you, uh, doing?"
He touched his tongue to his lengthened canines as his eyes became completely dark. We were sitting about a foot away from each other on the couch, but in less than a second, he was close. Extremely close. Felt-his-breath-on-my-neck close. Liam did this way too often.
I squirmed. I was fairly certain Liam wouldn't hurt me, but I couldn't help feeling scared. "I've got a loaded gun, you know?" I said breathlessly.
In the span of a moment, Liam's left hand reached around me and pulled my Firestar from the waistband of my jeans. He dropped it on the carpeted floor, the resulting muted clink making me jump. "Not anymore," he smiled.
Okay. Plan B. "Have you forgotten that I'm a scary monster thing?"
"No," he replied, leaning on me with more of his weight. His long cold fingers trailed up my back to brush the nape of my neck. I shivered.
"Watch the hands, buddy," I said.
A smile twisted onto his face. He lowered his head to the bite mark Damian had left on my neck and inhaled my length of my neck. My breathing quickened, my stomach clenching in fear and panic.
"You smell so tasty," he said in my ear. "So tempting." His lips brushed my ear. "So, so tempting."
I pushed at his shoulder, hard. He didn't move. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Answering your question," he replied as he touched his mouth to the bite scar, and then whispered, "Showing you how the Letalis Flora power works."
There was a rush of fear, and then something else. The familiar tingling in my veins started and I gasped in surprise at the almost electric shock. Liam quickly retreated, standing up and watching me from a distance. I tried to catch my breath, rubbing my neck, and attempted to calm the Letalis Flora power within me. I didn't want to hurt anyone. Well, looking at Liam and his vaguely smug smile, I could have lived with hurting him a bit.
"That was stupid, Liam," I said sharply, voice hoarse.
"But did you learn something from it?" he countered, folding his arms. He was watching me from across the coffee table, all dark and angular.
I put down the glass that was glued to my hand and let my head fall into my hands. The eerie feeling of power was beginning to subside. "Yeah."
"And what did you learn?"
Lifting my head, I replied, "That you are really creepy."
He smiled with closed lips and waited for another answer.
"That if I'm scared enough, it comes," I said.
"Hmm," he murmured.
"I could've really hurt you."
He waited a moment, then stalked back to sit next to me. "And I you," he answered with a grin.
I rolled my eyes at the nickname and poured some more scotch into our glasses. Liam took his and downed it in a single gulp. I watched him curiously. I don't know when it happened, but I think I considered him a friend. A scary, bordering-on-being-an-Elvis-impersonator, vampiric friend, but one that had saved my ass more times than I liked to count. I knew that there was more behind the façade that he put on, but I suppose that was true with all of us.
As I touched the rim of the glass to my lips, the door opened. I lowered my glass. Callum walked in, and my heart thumped to greet him. He looked tired and worn.
His eyes swept over Liam and I. Liam set down his glass quickly and said, "Mr. Knightley, she's trying to get me drunk."
I opened my mouth. "What—"
"It was her idea to open your bottle of scotch, master." It was Callum's bottle of scotch? Liam stood up and looked down at me. "I think she's an alcoholic."
My eyes narrowed. "Oh, you little—" I started to say, but not before being cut off by Liam.
He patted my shoulder. "You should probably get some help, sunshine."
I pursed my lips and glowered at Liam as he made his way over to Callum. Callum gave him a cool look, said something short and fast, and flicked his eyes to mine. A smile grew on my lips, and I saw his dimple appear.
"Yes, master," Liam said before giving me a salute and walking out of the room.
When the door clicked shut, Callum came to sit next to me. I held the glass in both hands, resting it in my lap. He cupped my face between his hands, tilted his head, and touched his cold lips to my own, pulling away before I had a chance to react.
I looked at him with wide eyes. "I'm not an alcoholic," I blurted.
Callum laughed softly, and shivers ran up and down my skin. He dropped his hands from my face and said, "I believe you."
"I didn't know it was your scotch," I said, looking down at the glass. "I'm sorry. I hope you don't mind."
Callum wrapped his hand around the glass and took it from me, drinking it all. He smiled at me and said, "I don't mind at all. Someone needed to open it."
I turned to face him. "So, what's happening with Lester?"
He ran a hand through his hair and went still. "We did a transfusion to get the poison out of his blood." He paused. "Not the kind of transfusion that humans do, though."
"Oh," was all I had to say.
"We all took his blood and gave some of our own in return."
"Like some sort of bite fest?" I asked, wincing after I realized how ridiculous it sounded.
He cracked a smile. "Quite like a 'bite fest', yes. You have the most colourful way of expressing things."
My fingers plucked at the soft material of the couch. "Lester's going to be okay, right?"
"He is going to recover, but it is not going to be an enjoyable experience."
I felt a wash of relief and guilt. I was relieved that he was going to live. Well, whatever vampires did. And guilty that I had been the reason for his pain.
Callum looked paler than usual. The transfusion process and whatever it entailed had drained him. I longed to touch him, to run my hands through his hair, to feel that smooth, smooth skin, to be close to him.
Something in my chest tightened as I came to a sudden realization. "It wasn't meant for Lester, was it?" I asked.
Callum met my eyes. "No."
"The poison was for you."
Dropping his eyes and pouring another glass of brandy, he said, "Lilynn infected the blood source I normally use. I have no doubt that it was meant for me. But I have been away more often and Lester needed more blood than usual to recover from his injuries at Thanatos' house."
By "blood source", he meant "human blood donor". Lilynn had infected the human that Callum usually drank blood from.
"How are they? The 'blood source'?" I inquired. If Lester was in such bad shape, how would a human manage to survive?
He gave me a dark look and took a drink, then set the glass on the table. "She is in the hospital."
"She's going to live?" I asked apprehensively.
"She is expected to."
I shifted my position on the couch. "What's her name?" I asked, dropping my eyes.
"Dahlia," Callum's voice warned, "why are you pressing this?"
"I just want to know if an innocent girl is going to be okay," I answered with a hint of anger. "Is that so bad?" He was acting like her life didn't matter. The girl was poisoned for something that she wasn't even involved in.
Callum inhaled deeply and said in a low voice, "Her name is Amelia. And she's not an innocent girl. But I think it is nice that you care."
"Okay."
I left it at that. But he didn't.
"I am sorry I said that humans were pathetic, inferior creatures. I was angry. And I suppose that I have been around my own kind for too long." He leaned back into the couch. "I know that you think I am heartless. I am not human, though, Dahlia. And I admit that I don't care about every single human being."
"I—"
"But know
that I am not heartless when it comes to the things that matter." He gave me a pointed look.
Wanting to say something but not managing to find the words, I said nothing. I was touched, a bit shocked, and on the verge of blushing. I reached out and gently laid my hand over his. "Heartless is not the word I'd use to describe you."
He froze a moment, then moved his hand to hold mine. "No?" A playful smile spread across his face like a breath of fresh air. "Then what word would you use?"
I laughed, sinking backwards into the couch to stretch my legs out on the table. "Oh, I don't know," I said, grinning myself. I turned my head and gave him a mock evaluating look. "How about…cute?"
His eyebrows rose. "Cute?" he repeated. "Cute?"
I gave him my sweetest smile.
"I was thinking more along the lines of 'exceedingly-handsome-vampire-gentleman'." He squeezed my hand lightly and shrugged with those perfect lips curved upwards. "Or something like that."
I laughed again. "I'll settle for 'cute-and-toothy', but that's as far as I'll go."
His chuckle warmed me to the toes. He reached out and tucked a piece of hair that had escaped from my messy ponytail behind my ear. His hand brushed my cheek and trailed down my jaw. I closed my eyes as I sucked in a breath, stomach all aflutter. Oh, he was cute, all right. Definitely, definitely cute.
Cold lips kissed the tip of my nose. My eyes opened again and I found myself looking straight into Callum's bright green ones. Before I knew it, his arm was around me, drawing me close to his body. I let my head rest in the curve between his shoulder and his neck. It was the most comfortable thing in the world.
"You smell like Liam," he murmured, one hand idly stroking the nape of my neck.
Wincing, I said, "Yeah, well, Liam-the-Genius wanted to try an experiment on me."
He chuckled softly. "What kind of experiment?"
"Something to show me how the Letalis Flora power works." I drew my knees underneath me and curled into Callum's side. "All he did was try to scare me."
Callum's arm tightened around my shoulders. "And did it work?"
I nodded into his shoulder. He smelled so good. So familiar. So safe. It wasn't like me to trust someone so completely. But if I thought about it, it wasn't like me to let myself go and admit that I loved someone either. I hadn't had too many people I could say I trusted and loved in my life. The shield that I had pulled over myself was designed to keep me from getting hurt. Will once told me that everyone has a shield, but mine is five times thicker than the rest of the world's.
The thought of Will, lying in that hospital bed with bruises and cuts, made my fist clench and my jaw set.
"Dahlia," Callum rumbled. That voice calmed my nerves. My fist loosening, I lifted my head and glanced up at him. We stared at each other until he said, "I want to you stay here. At least until Lilynn's threat is dealt with."
"Callum," I said slowly. "I appreciate it. Really, I do. But I can't impose myself on you for God knows how long. I'll stay tonight, but I'm leaving in the morning."
His eyes burned into mine. "No, you're not."
I sat up. I could just tell that he was going to go into protective mode. "I can protect myself against a human woman, Callum. I know she's not thinking rationally and that she's a bit of a loony, but I can handle her. I don't want to stay cooped up here. I mean, I love this house, but if I start to feel useless...well, it's not pretty."
A cold, dark expression took over his face. If I didn't know him, I would have been wary. Instead, I stared straight into his eyes, defiant. Tomorrow, I needed to visit Will, go to my apartment to get some more ammo for my gun, and pick up a dress for Callum's birthday celebration. He didn't have to like it.
"You are stubborn," he told me gruffly.
He was so damn adorable when he was unhappy. I couldn't help but put a hand on the side of his face and kiss his cheek. "Yes, I am," I smiled.
I lowered my hand and leaned back, but he grabbed my wrist. I looked up at him, heart skipping a beat. I could just tell my eyes were wide and my cheeks were flushing bright pink. He pulled me closer and I swallowed. He leaned down, mouth hovering over mine. I inhaled sharply, closing my eyes, waiting.
Waiting.
I opened my eyes halfway to see Callum two inches from my face.
"I can't think properly if I think you might be in danger, Dahlia," he said quietly. I blinked, taken aback. He sighed softly. "Don't do anything stupid or reckless. Just promise me that you won't."
My mouth opened and closed. It was a reasonable promise to make. But he was so close to me and it was always impossible to think clearly when I was within touching distance. He was like—
"Promise me."
"Wha—"
"Dahlia—"
"Fine," I said, attempting to sound annoyed but it came out shaky instead. "Now, would you just kiss—"
He touched his lips to mine. I froze for a moment, mind not processing at the right speed, then kissed him back.
It was a slow kiss, each movement deliberate. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. My right hand came up to tangle itself in his hair. My breathing became erratic. Callum's hands slid up my arms.
I broke apart with a gasp. "You can't do that every time you want something from me, you know?" I managed. "It won't work."
He smiled, eyes bright. "Do what?" he asked innocently enough.
"You know…" I waved a hand, "…taunt me. Tease me. Whatever you want to call it. It's mean and manipulative and I don't like it."
"Oh," he said, eyes dipping down to my lips. He smiled wider. "I think you like it."
My jaw dropped a bit before I hit his shoulder, laughing. Callum's eyes were filled with that look men get when they are thinking some very naughty things. My laughter subsided into bated breath. I looked at him and swallowed.
A distant noise sounded in the house and it jerked me out of the moment, making me realize that Callum and I were in an unlocked room. I exhaled sharply and hastily stood up, awkwardly wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans. I reached for the bottle of scotch, pouring some into the glass on the table and drinking it fast. I winced as it burned down my throat. Callum remained seated and I could feel his eyes on my back.
Turning to him, I smiled and said, "Well, I don't want to keep you if you have things to do. I'm sure I'll be able to find something to keep myself occupied. Do you mind if I explore the house a bit?"
His eyebrows rose, that look still in his eye. "No, of course not," he replied lightly.
Setting down the glass, I gave him a nod and a tight smile. I felt the alcohol in my stomach, its slow burn reaching my face. "Thanks. I'll just – just—" I gestured at the door and began walking over to it, "—head this way, then," I mumbled.
Callum stood up and followed me to the door. "Oh, by the way –" he began, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
I turned around. "Hmm?"
He took one step towards me, reaching a hand around my head to grab a fistful of my hair. My breath was knocked out of me as he pushed me against the door. His body pressed into mine and he grinned at me before his lips came down on mine. My mind caught up and I kissed him back, turning it into something hard and feverish. I was so warm and his cool skin was a relief. My hands entangled themselves in his hair and I pressed even closer to him. He trailed his hands over my shoulders, down to my hips, carefully avoiding my stab wound, and then suddenly lifted me up, pinning me against the hard wooden door. I wrapped my legs around his waist. Cool hands snaked up my tee-shirt, gripping my waist. I deepened the kiss and brushed his fangs with my tongue.
Callum's lips broke from mine and they kissed their way down my neck, sending goosebumps down my arms. I tilted my head to the side as a sound escaped my mouth. Ignoring the faint throb of pain from Damien's bite, I grabbed his shoulders, fingers digging into them. Heart pounding, I licked my lips and tasted blood. I must have nicked them on his fangs. I didn't care. Momentarily, I thought of the possibility of being found. Callum bit my neck gently and his
hands slid up my back, lifting my shirt. Oh, I really didn't care.
He pulled my shirt over my head and I had a second to regret my unsexy choice of a bra before Callum took my chin in one hand and kissed me until I had to pull away to gasp for a breath. Placing both hands on the door near my head, he leaned close, our noses brushing against each other. I felt his tongue lick the small cut on my bottom lip. His hands moved to my shoulders, running them down my arms, past my hips, down my thighs. I arched my back, coming off the door. The anticipation was killing me.
Lips on my collarbone, Callum carried me to the couch and dropped me onto it. I kicked my shoes off and he ran his hands up my legs. My hand trembled as I reached for the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head. His skin was smooth and white and goddamn it if he didn't have some nice abs.
He brushed a thumb over my lips. I exhaled and closed my eyes. A sweat broke out along my spine. I felt cool fingers trace the edges of my bra, teasing. I bit my bottom lip. His hand went to the buttons of my jeans and I lifted my hips to let him pull them off. I opened my eyes and went for the button on his pants, fumbling a bit. He helped me, a wicked little smile on his lips. Was he a boxers or briefs sort of man, I wondered. I looked down. He wasn't wearing any at all.
"Oh," I whispered. Oh. Oh, God.
Callum held himself above me, his hair tickling my face. He dropped a kiss on my shoulder, and then began kissing his way down my chest, my stomach, my hips, his eyes flashing black. With one hand, he pulled off my underwear. I gripped the edge of the couch hard, letting out a quiet gasp.
There was a deep-throated chuckle and I felt his breath on the inside of my thigh.
Oh, boy. I was a goner.
Chapter 24
* * *
I do not wake up pretty.
I woke up with my hair plastered to my face and pillow creases on my right cheek. Thank God Callum wasn't here to see me wake up. As I sat up and fixed my ponytail, I squinted at the dark room. I was in the guest bedroom Callum had showed me when I had arrived. The sheets on the bed were tangled and cool against my legs.
Death of Night Page 36