Bitten (Blood Bonded Book 1)

by Chloe Grey

  He had asked me this before, so it was easy to answer, though it caught me off guard. “No,“ I said, then before I could stop myself, my lips moved on their own. “Do you?”

  Dave stayed silent for a long while, looking at something far in the distance to his right, which got me more riled up for his answer.

  He had asked me the question maybe twice, three times now, but for some reason I had never asked him back. Was Dave religious? It seemed ludicrous to imagine him on his knees, praying.

  He finally turned back towards me. “I wish I could.”

  Before I could ask what he meant by that, he answered first. “An almighty, all powerful, just being. Someone who watches over all of us. Someone who protects the innocent.” He gestured to the hundreds of gravestones around us sarcastically, then looked back down at his mom’s. He didn't need to say more. I understood.

  “It’s nice to imagine that she is here, listening. That I could flood her with my problems, and she would reply the way she always did, comforting me, telling me to be strong. I’m not strong, Cass. I never was.”

  “You’re strong, Dave.”

  I was telling the truth, sort of. He looked strong. With his shoulders back and chest up, he looked impossibly powerful. Nobody would have noticed any sign of weakness in David Ward. But I could see it. It was all in his eyes.

  He looked past me. “Do you want to know what happened?”

  I froze, then quickly recollected myself. “If you want me to.”

  “I want you to,” he said softly, his hand coming up to cup my nape. “No more secrets between us, remember?”

  I nodded.

  Dave sighed. “Mom had cancer. It was bad.”

  “We tried everything. Medicine, chemo, I had her on a strict diet that was said to help cancer, everything.”

  It was then the tears came. Just a single trickle down his right eye.

  I hugged him, brushing away the tear like he had done for me hours before. “I’m sorry.”

  “But nothing seemed to work. She was dying, going to die. She was growing weaker every day. Couldn’t even sleep, eat. She—”

  “I’m sorry,” I said, pulling him closer. His tears dripped down, becoming salt on my skin. ‘I’m so sorry.”

  “But we didn’t try everything. There was a solution,” he continued, his voice so pained that it hurt to listen. “Vampires are immune to human diseases. Those who took his blood became cured.”

  I looked at him, gripping my rose tighter. I knew where this was going. “No.”

  “It was the only choice, Cass. What was I going to do? Let her die without trying everything?”

  He continued, his words choking, and tears still dripping. “We—we took his blood. I had to too, because that was part of the deal. I don't know why. And Mom... Mom... she—”

  Dave broke down, his knees collapsing, and I had to hold him up, my hands wrapped around him to steady him. “She didn’t make it, Cass. Didn’t even last a day. And I fucking survived. I survived while she died. It’s my fault.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “It is. I made her take the blood. I promised her that it would be okay, that everything would be okay, that she would be fine. She believed me, Cass. She believed me, and now she’s dead. Because of me.”

  “Dave, listen to me.” I caught his chin and brought him to my gaze. “It’s not your fault. You tried everything you could. You did everything a good son would. It’s not your fault.”

  He didn't say anything, leaning his entire weight on me.

  I hugged him as tightly as I could. “I will always be here. Whenever you need me.”

  “Thank you, love. I should have told you earlier. I’m sorry... for everything.”

  “I forgive you.”

  A long pause. “I also want to tell you why I am so hesitant to have sex.”

  I leaned back, studying his face, heartbroken at the story he had just told me, the loss he had endured, but also grateful that he was finally opening up. I had never felt so close with someone before. “You can tell me anything.”

  He paused, then sighed, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, the tears were gone, and his gaze was clear. “Have you ever seen a child vampire?”

  I thought about it for a while, then was surprised to recall that I had never seen one. “No.”

  “That’s because their bodies aren’t strong enough to take his blood. They tried, forcing kids and babies to take his blood. No one survived.”

  I covered my mouth. “Oh my god.”

  “Vampires are infertile. Blood a child, they will die. Blood a pregnant woman, the baby dies. Sometimes both, but the unborn child will always die. Vampire’s blood is poisonous, Cass. Not everyone can survive the transition.”

  My head spinning. “But why? Why bother? He can just keep giving his blood. There are still millions willing to take it. Why blood children?”

  “He’s already blooded thousands. And if you realised, there are no newly blooded vampires in recent months. Bond slaves can’t convert anyone. Only the originals—the humans that took his blood—can. And his blood has run out. He can’t regenerate anymore.”

  I opened my mouth. “The Vampire King is dying.”

  “Yes.”

  Hope surged through me. “Then we can win.” But that feeling died down just as quickly as it had started. “But there are too strong, and so many of them. Wouldn’t they keep biting humans so they will never die out?”

  “Yes, but they are impatient. That’s why the vampire that bit Laura sent her on a suicide mission. He was only a D rank and so he could only control a single bond slave. He got bored of her and wanted a fresh one.”

  “There is no hope, is there?”

  “There is.”

  I looked up. “How?”

  “Vampires are not immortal. They live long, yes, but they don’t live forever. Sooner or later, the original vampires will die out, and if humanity can hold out till then...”

  “...we could win.”

  “Yes.”

  I frowned. “I don’t understand. Why are we talking about thi—”

  Then it hit me. I dropped the rose.

  Dave saw it in my eyes. “Yeah. You know in books and movies, there is always a lucky chosen one?”

  He looked at the fallen rose then leveled his gaze back at me. “And just my fucking luck, I’m that damned chosen one.” His eyes sparkled dangerously. “I’m fertile, Cass. I’m the only vampire that is.”

  Chapter 14

  -David-

  Silence.

  Silence.

  Silence.

  Say something. Say something, say—

  “How do you know?”

  I studied her. I wanted to read her mind so badly. Her neutral expression showed... nothing.

  “He told me.”

  “Do you believe him?”

  “Yes.”

  A pause.

  “I’m on the pill.”

  I laughed. It wasn’t my first time laughing at my mother’s grave, but this was the first genuine one.

  Cass looked shocked at my sudden outburst, but she forced a smile and took my hand.

  I looked at her, still smiling. “Why aren’t you running?”

  “Why would I?”

  “Because—”

  She placed a finger on my lips. “What did I promised you this morning?”

  “You still mean that?” I mumbled against her finger.

  She pushed up onto her toes, replacing her finger with sweet lips. “Yes.”

  “You’re not scared?”

  “Of you? Hell no.”

  “Even after what I told you?”

  “No.”

  “I don’t deserve you.”

  “No,” she repeated, deepening the kiss. “You don’t.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Mhmm.”

  I let myself go. All that mattered now was this woman in front of me, holding me tight like I mattered a damn. Her lips, so sweet a
nd delicious, were flooding my senses and making me feel something.

  All I had felt the past few months was numbness, and feeling warmth radiating from her body, darting through me like wildfire. It felt good. Addicting. And when I felt sex just radiating through her body, taunting me, it was a whip to my self-control, a restraint I had kept ever since meeting her. I knew I wouldn’t last long now. I had to give in.

  With my eyes closed, I focused my senses on the way her tongue stroked against mine, her breasts pressing against my chest, her nipples hard, her sex wet. Then around us, amongst the eerie silence of the cemetery, a faint whistling on the wind, the rustle of leaves, the thumping of boots, the smell of warm cinder...

  I broke our moment. Cass frowned. “What is it?”

  “Logan. He’s here.”

  Her green eyes went wide, and I had to mentally remind myself to focus on the situation, not on them. “Logan? Where?”

  “Six o'clock. He’s still a distance away. We can escape.”

  Cass looked at the direction behind me, her features a mixture of emotions I couldn’t figure out. I felt a stab of jealousy. Did she still have feelings for him? She paused, then looked back at me. “No. We meet him here, together.”

  “He has an automatic rifle and two pistols.”

  She searched my eyes. “Will that matter?”

  “No.”

  Cass gave me one final urgent peck, and a quick squeeze of my hand before reluctantly dropping her arms and pulling back, flashing me a ‘we-got-this smile’ that took my breath away. She looked like an angel then—so beautiful and stunning in that black dress, her pink highlights glowing radiantly. She was right, I didn’t deserve her.

  “I guess that settles it then.”

  CASS STOOD IN FRONT of me when Logan emerged, his body crouched low and his gun trained on me.

  “Cassandra, move!”

  I wasn’t too worried. His bullets shouldn’t fatally injure Cass since she had inherited some of my regenerative abilities, and I was certain she was about a C rank, possibly higher. But I still wasn't going to take the chance.

  My senses were alert, and all my muscles tensed. If he started applying pressure on the trigger, I’d put an end to it, quick.

  Cass stepped forward, her palms raised. “Logan, stop. We’re not your enemies. Put down the gun and we will explain everything.”

  Of course Logan didn’t put down the gun, but his grip trembled. “Cassandra, please. Don’t make me do this.”

  “Logan...”

  “Fight it, babe. Fight his control. You’re strong. You can do it.”

  I gritted my teeth at the mention of the word ‘babe’. I hated it every time he calls her that, and it didn’t help that he does it way too often.

  “Logan, listen,” Cass said, her tone steady and calm. She took a cautious step forward, but Logan snapped the rifle back up, making her halt.

  “I’m sorry,” Logan said. Then he fired.

  Or he tried to. His fingers never applied enough pressure because I was already on him.

  I knocked the gun out of his hand and shoved a knee into his stomach—not hard enough to instantly kill him, but enough to make him drop to his knees, gasping as the wind was knocked out of him.

  Before I could do much more, Cass was pushing me away. “Stop! Don’t hurt him!”

  I reluctantly backed off, and Cass dropped to her knees in front of her ex-lover. “Logan, Logan!”

  He was still struggling to catch his breath, and Cass whirled her head back to glare daggers at me. “You didn’t have to hit him like that.”

  “No,” I agreed.

  Logan finally spoke up, his voice all clipped and dry. “Cassandra...”

  She was all over him again, her hands cupping his cheeks, her body so damn close to him. “Logan, are you okay?”

  “Yeah...”

  “Your stomach...” Her fingers went to his front, curling delicately, and he groaned at the contact. “I’m sorry.”

  “Babe...”

  That got me. If I had heard that word coming out from his lips one more time, I might have done something stupid. So I chose the smartest decision and left.

  Chapter 15

  -Cassandra-

  I went after Dave, screaming at him to stop.

  Being the thick-headed, stubborn moron that he was, he didn’t, stomping off like a child having a tantrum.

  I looked back at Logan. He was struggling to get up to his feet, but failing miserably. Why did Dave have to hit him so hard?

  He would be alright. I was sure of it. So I turned on my heels and tried to catch up to my moronic boyfriend.

  “What the fuck has gotten into you?” I said, scowling as I caught up to him.

  He arched a brow but didn’t stop walking. “You followed.”

  “Yes, I fucking followed,” I spat. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “You were touching him,” he said simply, as if that explained everything.

  “You kicked him!”

  “I did.”

  “Why did you do that?”

  He didn’t answer, leaving me scowling at his back.

  Dave hailed a taxi and I stopped beside him, daring him to challenge my gaze.

  He didn’t. He ignored me like I wasn’t there, until the taxi came and he opened the door for me.

  “Moron,” I said, getting in.

  The ride back to the hotel was uncomfortably silent. Dave seemed to be in his own world. He was staring out the window and muttering short replies every time the cab driver tried to make conversation. Eventually he gave up, though his overjoyed mood instantly came back when Dave tipped him twenty dollars.

  When we got back to our luxury room, I quickly strode ahead of Dave and blocked the doorway, my arms crossed.

  He frowned slightly. “Move.”

  “Explain.”

  He tried to stare me down, but I didn’t blink.

  “Move.”

  “Not until you stop being an asshole and explain.”

  “I know I’m being an asshole.”

  “Good.”

  “This is not the time, Cass. I’m so pissed and have half a mind to take you here, right now.”

  My core throbbed at that, but this wasn’t the time. I puffed up my chest, trying to look intimidating. I doubt it worked. “You’re going to explain to me why you’re being such a baby, and then you’re going to apo—”

  His lips crashed onto mine before I could say more, knocking my back against the door. I tried to push him away, but he was quicker, catching my hands, and pinning them above my head.

  “This is what’s going to happen,” he growled into my ear, making me shiver automatically, like I was trained to instantly get wet at the sound of his voice. “I’m going to eat you out again. Then, I’m going to lick that delicious cunt of yours until your knees give out and then...” His lips came back, his tongue stroking long and deep. “...you are going to thank me and suck me off.”

  I tried to wiggle my hands free, but it was no use—he had my wrists clasped tightly. Instead of retorting and snarling something nasty, my instincts kicked in and I kissed him back, stroking my tongue with his, grinding against his very obvious arousal, then teasing him with a seductive whisper. “You’re not going to fuck me?”

  He withdrew, and I instantly became chilly, my body already mourning the loss of his warmth. He stared hard at me, his blue eyes wild. “Do you want me to?”

  I tried to play it cool, but the word came tumbling out as a gasp, my mind a whirl. “Yes.”

  Dave didn’t react at first, his gaze searching mine. Then without warning, his hands left my wrists, one going down to my right leg, lifting it up to his hips.

  I squealed in surprise, almost losing my balance. He didn’t even try to steady me. His other hand was fumbling on his jeans.

  “What are you doing?”

  He didn’t stop, and his jeans fell to his knees “What do you think?”

  I didn’t have time to admir
e the massive bulge. “Somebody will see!”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Dave!” I struggled to regain my captured leg and was almost shocked to actually succeed. I looked around at the thankfully empty hallway. “Holy shit. Are you crazy? Let’s take this inside.”

  “Oh? You are finally going to let me in?”

  I slid in the keycard in and pushed the door open with my heel. “Asshole.”

  His hands were on me again the moment we were inside. Trailing down my neck, cupping my breasts, sliding down my sides, then wrapping around, fondling my ass, then going up for my dress zipper.

  Anticipation had my stomach churning, my heart hammering in my throat and my skin burning up. I was so angry at him, but my hormones had control over me. I could berate Dave later, all I wanted right now was his thick cock inside of me. Urgently.

  My dress fell in a pool around my legs, giving him unrestricted view of my body. And god, did he take full advantage of it. The next thing I knew, I was being lifted up, my feet wrapping around his back, then my back was slammed into a hard wall for the second time in the same minute.

  “You’re still not naked,” I mumbled, as he trailed feather soft kisses down my exposed neck. I rolled my shoulder, trying to rid of the tingles that were spreading all over.

  “No.”

  “You can’t fuck me without your cock out, you know that right?”

  “I’m still debating whether I want to fuck you or not.”

  I started to say something but he quickly added, “I am just weighing the risk.”

  “So use a condom. I’m sure the hotel has some. I’m on the pill too, remember?”

  He looked up at me, and I had to fight back not to melt from those blues. I didn’t know why I was still resisting. “Are you not scared? If you get pregnant...”

  “I won’t,” I said with such confidence that I surprised myself too.

  He gave me a ghost of a smile and licked my right nipple. “I wish I can believe that too. I googled the chances and—”

  “Dave.” I waited for him to look at me. “I won’t get pregnant.”

  “I’m scared, love,” he replied, and he really did look like it.

  No matter how immature and asshole-ish, he was, I was extremely grateful that he was actually letting me in now. Something he had not allowed anyone else to do, and especially, no woman. First, at the graveyard, being confident enough that I wouldn’t leave him after breaking down and telling me the hard truth, and now here, showing fear for the first time since I’d known him.