11. CATALINA

ELEVEN

catalina

The following afternoon I woke up after a restless night of sleep. I showered, worked on my computer for my scheduled hours, then spent the rest of the day slothing around, feeling guilty, scrolling my phone, and acting like I wasn’t peeking at the door every other hour. There was no way I anticipated seeing a vampire. None at all. It was pure madness.

Yet, the sex dream that had torn me out of sleep shouted otherwise. I rubbed my fist against my temple. Maybe I should just embrace my little vampire kink. That was all it was, some psychological reaction to the traumatizing time I’d spent in that disgusting cave. The fangs... I shivered.

The cat meowed on my lap, purring and rubbing his face into my boob. Soon after twilight came, the cat appeared and was inseparable from me. I had to draw the line when he followed me to the bathroom, though. Yeah, it was an animal, but I got skeeved out when he stared at me with his eerie blue gaze.

“It’s a good show, huh, Binx,” I mumbled, raising the volume. It wasn’t an original name, but eh, I liked it, especially since he seemed to hate it. His little nails were partially out, so he pricked my legs. My nose scrunched at the sting.

My phone dinged and I lifted it, hoping for . . . I didn’t even know what, but it was just an email about the debt. There. That was my reason for my anticipation—paying the money I owed.

“I suppose I should get ready to head over.” My neck rested against the back of the individual used couch I’d found and paid for with the last of my funds before I’d arrived at this God-forsaken town. It had taken a hell of a lot of effort to get it into my house, but at least the people who’d sold it had been willing to drop it off.

My alarm rang, notifying me I had about thirty minutes to get ready. I tapped the notification off and puffed out my cheeks, rubbing my face. Heat spread in my belly like a trigger and I groaned as the unbidden image of Asher came to my mind. The sexy smirk... the flirting touches . . . the ravenous touches like he wanted me more than anything. I shook my head, pressing on my temples with both hands.

It was just because I was touch-deprived and had a twisted vampire kink that should have remained in my fantasies.

I should get therapy to work through it not write about it, or else I’d end up dead and drained if I continued down the route I was on, but what would I tell a therapist? I was trapped in a cave by a vampire who feasted on me repeatedly for days and ended up developing a craving?

Nudging Binx to the side, I scooted off the couch. He wasn’t a fan of being picked up, he grumbled so much I was surprised he didn’t speak.

I donned a cute midi skirt with tights under and platform wedges. Yeah, it was chilly and gloomy outside, but looking cute mattered, especially if death could come at any point. Over my dead body would I die in some ratty outfit. Still, I’d selected a simple top in case it ended up torn or blood stained.

Shaking out my styled hair, I left the house, the door clicking shut behind me. I strode off the porch and slowed to a stop . . . my van sat in my driveway as if nothing had happened, as if it were always there. Which vampire had brought it back to my house? I’d heard absolutely no one drive up and that freaked me out more than anything. I rushed to the driver’s side and peered through the window to find my car keys sitting on the seat.

They’d given me a way to escape. I worried my lip. Were they testing me? I rubbed my bare arms.

Binx stared at me steadily from the porch, like he could look into my soul, his tail flicking behind him. I released a steady breath. I’d already made my choice.

A loose rock crunched under my heel as I took a sharp turn toward the manor. Asher was in there... My heart rate picked up, the thud deep and increasing. The way his hips ground on my core, rubbing and dominating me, was seared into my brain. I pressed my lips together and patted the inhaler I’d tucked into my skirt pocket. I was fine. Everything would be fine.

My pep talk didn’t stop my stomach from squeezing when I approached the manor. My fist raised but before it came down, the door swung open to Asher with his lips curved slyly. Brisk air caressed my cheek from the air conditioner.

He grinned down at me, his pearly white teeth flashing, and he gripped my arm, tugging me inside.

“Hey,” I squeaked, at the swift manhandling. His arm curved around my waist, and he pulled me to his lips while lifting me. I left the ground as he straightened, keeping me attached to him. My lips parted on a gasp and his tongue flicked into my mouth.

Every inch of me froze up. It was a crime for it to feel so shattering, but what was his deal? This was too quick to—he wasn’t human. Right.

On his second prodding flick, my shoulders relaxed like he’d put a spell on my body and I groaned into his mouth, giving into to the kiss.

This wasn’t so bad... it was good. So good. Teases were nothing to him. I could tell in the ease he touched me that flirting was second nature, but I couldn’t help the shivers he caused.

The hard prod of his cock dug into me and I whimpered, my legs automatically lifted to the sides of his hips, my reaction instinctive. His fingers dug into my thighs where my skirt had risen up as he clasped me tightly to him, bunching the sheer nylon tights.

Asher angled his head, licking my tongue. Warmth bloomed at the apex of my thighs, and I tipped my hips toward him as if my body had a mind of its own.

When his mouth detached from mine, my head tipped back, exposing my throat. Lips grazed along my chin and he pressed butterfly kisses to my neck.

Shivers coasted to my pussy and I ground against him harder.

“Oh,” I moaned.

“Is this the training you mentioned, Asher?” Tobias drawled crisply.

I yelped and shoved his shoulders. Asher released me and my arms windmilled without his secure grip. I squeezed my eyes tightly, waiting for my back to slam into the ground. Hard biceps slipped under my thighs and behind my neck. It wasn’t anywhere near as hard as it would have been had I fallen to the ground.

Panting, I gawked at Tobias as his grip loosened. I wiggled until I slipped off his lap and onto the ground. When he’d caught me, he’d dropped to his knees. That had been a close call to a sprained tail bone.

Asher crouched beside me.

“Must you be so careless,” Tobias snapped, and his chest vibrated against my back.

Asher ignored him and clasped my face within his palms. His blue eyes were wide and his eyebrows furrowed.

“It was your fault for being so abrupt,” Asher snapped. “Are you all right, Pet?” His thumb grazed my lower lip and the softened line of his mouth tightened my chest.

I sniffed exaggeratedly and brushed nonexistent dust off my knees. My movement pressed me more against Tobias and his breath halted.

Asher tilted his head questioningly.

“You’re lucky my skirt didn’t tear. It’s limited edition.” False bravado was all I had. Shooting to my feet, I avoided their grips as I straightened my shirt, blushing hard. I’d enjoyed being between them more than I wanted to admit. Tobias didn’t meet my eyes as he stood and strode down the hall without comment.

“Did the priest have a hard-on?” Asher’s shock seeped into my senses.

Licking my lips, I met his eyes and rage flashed to the surface so briefly I could have imagined it. He bounced to his feet and stepped up to me, forcing me back until I was corralled by his body.

“Good thing I caught you first.” His breath brushed across my lips. “Nothing has ever pulled an erection from Chastity Belt.”

I mouthed his last phrase, wrapping my head around them.

“Oh,” I whispered, the warmth that had bloomed spread at his words. I couldn’t tear my attention from his warm bowlike lips. They perpetually tipped up at the corners, the seductive smile exploding butterflies through my chest. I swayed back and flattened against the wall.

“I ordered some things for you that will arrive too late for the first location we must take you, but there are a few outfits upstairs that may fit you. I was pulling them out when I saw you making your way over.”

“Were you waiting for me?” I teased, but I slammed my mouth quickly shut. Where had that tone come from?

The line of his shoulders stiffened briefly as he became preternaturally still. Then his lips spread into a smirk, his scoff sounded forced and he waved an elegant hand in the air.

“As if I’d wait for anyone,” Asher said, turning on his heel, the loafers scuffing across the tile as he ascended the stairs. I wrinkled my nose at the swift retreat. “You can wait in the parlor.”

The swift steps widened as he rounded the staircase, and I shuffled foot to foot, a little lost at the reaction. Vampires were too confusing. Much more than I had anticipated. There were facets to them that weren’t simply evil. Tobias’s patience had shown me this. The one truth I had to admit was that they could have snapped my neck two times over.

I rolled my shoulders as the remaining tension leaked out of me and I slowly entered the living room. It was the same location I’d first been dragged into when Jax stole me away from my van.

The arm of the couch dug into my side as I leaned against it. I tapped my foot as I waited for Asher to return, a giddiness expanding my chest. His touches were electrifying. I hungered for the feel of his fingers grazing my neck, or his palm splayed on my thigh. I licked my lips and shook myself out of it as Asher rounded the corner of the entrance, hugging a pile of gray tulle to his chest. Oh no, the dress was going to be hideous.

Asher smiled at me over the fabric and the pressure in my body bloomed and heated. I blinked. I eyed Asher’s cutely upturned nose. Sexy and a vampire? I was asking for trouble.

“Put this on so I can get a look at you.”

Asher dropped the dress onto the couch and I stretched it out.

It was... gaudy. But I took the material and smoothed it down. The old fashioned fabric was raspy. The sort of thing that was all the rage in the eighteen hundreds.

I gripped the bottom of my shirt and paused, looking over at Asher with a frown.

“Turn around.”

His head tilted slightly to the side and his eyebrow raised. It was worth asking. Sighing, I lifted my shirt, trying to act as nonchalant as possible, like flames weren’t licking down to my chest. Lust blazed in his searching eyes and I nervously licked my lips. Asher’s fangs sprang out and his jaw bunched, but he didn’t make a move toward me as I set my wedges to the side. Holding eye contact, I slowly rolled my tights down to my feet.

My fingers prickled with excitement and my movements slowed. I craved the look in his eyes. His gaze lifted to my face. I’d never behaved so wantonly, but I didn’t care to stop.

Shuddering, he exhaled and turned his back. “If I keep looking at you, I will devour you and we won’t get what we need done.”

My heart skipped a beat as I finished undressing. I rubbed the goose bumps on my arm and swallowed hard. I was kind of addicted to this new heathen side of me. All the desires and needs I hadn’t been able to satisfy raged forward and it felt freeing. As train-wreck coded as it all was, I didn’t want to stop.

Pushing out my cheek with my tongue, I snapped out of my thoughts involving his body on mine and pulled the dress over my head. I sputtered when the rough fabric scraped my lip. Grr. Damn thing.

I ran my hands down the scrunched side of the dress. The back gaped and my breasts pushed over the lip of the dress.

I reached behind me and attempted to pull the buttons together... but it wouldn’t. I bit my lip and my boobs popped out farther with each breath. God dammit!

Who the hell did this belong to anyway, a damn toy?

I curled my toes. What to do? Okay, if I got it off and refused to put it on, he’d probably wonder why I was being difficult all of the sudden. But who cared...

Too late. Asher turned and met my gaze.

“Er, it doesn’t fit.” My face blistered with heat.

Asher was clocked in on my bra-covered breasts pressed together even more because of the tight fit. “Hm, what was that?” He blinked quickly and I crossed my forearms over my chest.

I gripped the top of the dress, jerking it up with little wiggles. His eyes flared and he was suddenly before me. I gasped, taking a step back, but his hand at my spine caged me.

“You delectable human.” His nose grazed across the column of my neck. “ Du ?r en o?vertr?ffad frestelse .”

“Asher?” I breathed and it sounded too close to a moan. I wasn’t sure if I was begging him to bite me or not. I didn’t have to wonder for long. His fangs speared my throat, and both of his arms lashed around me, holding me tightly to his chest. Moaning, I clawed my fingers into his sides, sinking them into the hard muscle. Pleasure zapped to my clit, flaring lust to a boiling point. Asher sucked my blood with a long, hard tug, his fingers spasming in my back. After another tingling drag, he shuddered, his grip nearing painful. He lashed his tongue across the punctures.

My arms fell back, limp as noodles. He loomed over me until my spine curved in his palm and all I could see was his chiseled features hovering over my face, overpowering my senses. My breasts moved up and down with quick pumps from my breathing. His blood-stained smile sent shivers down my spine—but not in a fearful way.

I was sick.

He grazed his nose down my neck until he hovered over the swell of my breast. I held my breath. Asher’s pupils dilated and he closed his eyes, breathing in an audible gust of air. In a burst of motion, he struck his elongated teeth into me. My skin easily submitted to the sharp incisors. They cut in like a knife to butter. The initial sting faded with the swell of ecstasy. I whimpered, my toes curled, and my head fell back. The tips of his shoulder length hair caressed my skin.

“Asher,” a bellow sounded from far off. I jerked against him, and he lifted his head, spitting curses in his language. His tongue smoothed over the leaking puncture wounds in my chest, the same way he’d done to my neck. I fascinatedly watched them heal.

He clicked his tongue in his mouth with irritation marring his face.

“I will return,” he responded tightly, reluctantly releasing me, and turned on his heels. The front of his slacks tented with his more-than-generous-sized dick.

He exited the living room and I watched him with my head tilted and a stupid smile on my lips. I needed to snap out of it. Straightening, I smoothed my palms on the skirt and shook my head. Honestly, I was glad the ugly thing didn’t fit. I reached for the back of the zipper to loosen the small bit I’d managed to get up so I could get it off the rest of the way. In the middle of a full body wiggle, a hiss floated to my ears.

Rounding toward the noise, I wilted at the rage-filled expression on Jax’s face. He stormed in my direction, his face molted red. I stumbled back a step and then straightened my spine. Jax leaned near my ear. The hair on my neck lifted and I hugged myself. He could lash out at me at any moment and end me easily. I tipped my chin and angled my head to the side.

“If you’re going to bite me, hurry up.” It was pure bravado since I trembled, but I was sick of fearing.

He stilled over me, his lips grazing my neck as his hand harshly grabbed my arm. There was nothing gentle about his grip, but it served to enflame my achiness. I licked my lips, squeezing my thighs together to assuage the need, and the tulle rustled with my movement.

At the brush of his nose, I sucked in a breath, withholding a moan.

“You’re perilously close to becoming a blood-whore.” The hissed words felt like a physical blow. He suddenly shoved me away from him and my legs tangled with fabric as I fell to the ground in a pile. Choking on my breath, my chest stung. I met his eyes with mine, my lip wobbling. I wish he couldn’t see how deeply he’d gotten to me. The evil prick likely felt good about it too.

I scooted back and reached my trembling hand into the pocket of my skirt hanging off the couch. Was that what was happening to me? He stated ‘blood-whore’ like it was a title. Breathing in from the lip of my inhaler, I looked up as soon as the pressure loosened. Why hadn’t he left yet?

His nostrils flared as he looked me in the eyes.

“I deposited the money into your account.” With those ominous words, he turned on his heels as Asher entered.

“H-how did you get my account information?” I rasped, but he ignored me.

“Jax, have you come to join us in preparing our little human?”

“Don’t put her in those clothes again.” Jax paused at the threshold. “They don’t belong on her.”

Asher’s jaw tightened and he shook his head at his brother’s retreating back. The rage-filled way Jax spat the words out held more fury than he’d ever directed at me, and I didn’t think he could hate me more than he already did.

“What did he mean, Asher?” I rasped, straightening on my feet. A dull throb pierced my ankle. “Whose clothing is this?”

“Nothing for you to worry about, Pet.” His smile was stiff as he ran his hands down my arms.

I frowned, studying his expression as I shimmied the dress down another inch. “I don’t think it’s too much of a hassle to get my questions answered since one of you will end up offing me.”

His eyebrows raised. “We never mentioned killing you.”

“You all think very little of human intelligence for creatures that used to be one.”

“I believe we’ve underestimated you.” His lips quirked. “You do not let your fear cloud you.”

“So please, give me the grace of answering my questions.” I had nothing left to lose in facing him like this, but the way he looked at me, aware and intrigued, gave me the impression that I surprised him.

He hummed. “A woman we used to share... She was the one that brought all of us together.”

My stomach soured and I squeezed the material.

This belonged to that person. It suddenly felt so wrong wearing it. I yanked the dress off my body before stepping out of it. Lifting it, I handed it to Asher with my arm pressed over my bra covered breasts.

They used to share someone?

“You used to share one woman?” I was simultaneously fascinated and envious.

“Yes.” His smile slipped and became blank. I had no idea what caused his shift but I had a damn good guess. Had he loved her? That uncomfortable tightening started up at my chest and I forced my attention to dressing myself.

“Where is she?” I tacked on, trying to be as nonchalant as possible.

“Dead, Pet.”

There was still tension in my throat, but I valiantly tried to shove it off.

“I-I’m sorry.” My apology tilted up at the end as if it were a question.

“It’s not a problem, for me at least.” His smile widened. I didn’t have time to nitpick at those words because he continued. “It looks like I can’t take you today, but I express-ordered you a few outfits. They should be here tomorrow.”

“Ah, okay.” My voice sounded pitifully small. Asher stared into the distance, his gaze unfocused. I rushed to finish dressing while he was distracted. “How did she die?”

The corners of his lips twitched, and he turned his attention fully on me.

“You fret too much about matters that don’t concern you, Pet.” Asher lifted a finger to my lips. The featuring touch fluttered through my chest and I swallowed hard.

The recollection of his teeth sinking into me shot flutters through my belly and I cleared my throat and dropped onto the couch.

My teeth clicked together. No more shaming myself.

“We’ll continue this another day, Pet.”

I couldn’t help but feel disappointment, it was because of the dead vampire—I was sure of it.

Tobias entered. “Already done?”

“Yes, tell her the plan.” He looked to the frowning English vamp.

Asher paused at the entrance as Tobias settled on the cushion beside me. His eyes flashed, but whatever was there quickly disappeared. Looked like I could clear a room quickly. I swallowed the bitterness growing in my throat.

I lifted my gaze to meet Tobias’s. The corner of his eyes wrinkled, and his throat bobbed. I frowned at the tension lining his face and he squeezed his eyes closed. He expelled a slow sigh.

The harsh set of his lips indicated pain. Ending up closer to him on the couch, I grazed my fingertips across his cheek. His eyes flashed open and he jerked away from my touch. I clenched my lifted hand and stared at it in astonishment. Touching them so openly and thoughtlessly wasn’t like me. A sickness bloomed inside me and caused me to behave this way. That could be the only explanation.

“Tobias.” His brow lifted questioningly. “What’s a blood-whore?”

“Well . . .”

“Please,” I choked out, almost desperate for an answer. Could it be why I behaved the way I had?

“A human that becomes addicted to vampire bites.”

My eyes rounded. I didn’t want to be a blood-whore, but was that what was wrong with me? I loved being bit. I ached for it, like a kink. I didn’t need it to survive, but would I eventually be there? My heart slammed against my ribcage.

“It’s an addiction stronger than any human drug you can think of. Obsession is a large mark of blood-whores. They’re willing to do anything just for a bite.”

My shoulders lowered. Fuck. This sounded just like me.

“I can’t do this anymore. I want out,” I croaked. The words came without thought and my lips felt numb.

Tobias stared at me.

“No, Catalina.” The steady way he looked at me held no hesitation. Even the vampire that other vampires believed had a moral code no longer made a show of acting like I had a say.

What had I gotten myself into?

“There are ways to combat becoming a blood-whore.” He straightened, angling his head back. I clenched my fingers so hard they dug into my palm. “Don’t allow the same vampire to feed for more than a fortnight.”

“So I can’t be a blood-whore right now?” Even as I said the words, I knew the question was useless.

“It is too soon.” My body drooped. Little did he know. The thought of losing myself to obsession soured my stomach. A mindless blood-whore at the whim of vampires was last on my list. Two weeks. They could only bite me for two weeks... but the Pale One had fed on me for much longer. If I had the potential to be a blood-whore, it would have already happened, so what’s to say that was not why my little ‘kink’ had manifested.

“Is there any other way to ‘combat it’?”

“If a vampire offers you their blood, but no vampire will willingly share blood with another. It creates a temporary bond with a slew of side effects.”

And . . . never mind.

“Oh.” The ground felt unsteady even though I was sitting. “I have to go.”

He caught my wrist. “Do not attempt to leave this city or we will have to lock you up here.”

“Why—” I blinked rapidly, wrapping my head around the situation I’d gotten myself in.

“We will know. You will be watched day and night.”

He almost seemed regretful uttering the threat. His thumb caressed the top of my hand. The little touches inflamed my need and I yanked away, shooting to my feet. I turned my back on his gray searching eyes and rushed out of there.