Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“My father would tell you that the Gods don’t make mistakes.”
“You have a father?”
“Why wouldn’t I have a father?”
“What about a mom?”
I stared at her. “Really?”
“Mom, too, huh?” She nodded. “Okay.”
We stood there for a long moment, neither of us sure what to say. Our bodies didn’t have any problem connecting, though. Her hands had slid under my t-shirt to press against the skin of my stomach, and mine were wrapped around the sides of her neck. I didn’t even remember putting them there.
“You’re hungry,” I said, finally.
“I’m fine.”
“You said you were.”
“I mean, I could eat, yeah.” She hedged.
“Come on. Let’s go get some food.”
Now that we were connected again, I had a hard time stepping away. My hand never lost contact as I lowered it from her neck and slid it down her arm.
“You’re a hand holder,” she said as I tugged her toward the door. “Interesting.”
We only paused long enough for her to pull a small wallet and set of keys out of the backpack she’d worn that morning. I was relieved to see that she did, in fact, have enough common sense to lock her door.
“What kind of food do you like?” she asked as the cold air slapped me in the face.
“Do you need a jacket?” I asked. It was cold outside for anyone, but she didn’t have a whole lot of insulation on her petite frame.
“Nah, this sweater is plenty.”
I nodded as we headed toward the car. I wasn’t even surprised when her fingers slid between mine again, just relieved that I hadn’t had to reach for her first.
It was a complete mindfuck.
“Reese,” the long-haired man from before called, standing at the bottom of the steps. “Who’s your friend? He’s pretty.”
I jolted with surprise. Somehow, I hadn’t even noticed him.
“None of your beeswax, Kenny,” Reese answered as we reached him. “But he’s gonna kick your ass if my hairdryer isn’t in front of my door by the time we get back.”
Kenny lifted his hands in surrender and took a couple of steps backward. “On it.”
“I mean it, Kenny,” Reese said, looking over her shoulder as she pulled me along. “Give it back.”
“What was that?” I asked as we crossed the parking lot.
“Nothing,” she replied, waving me off. “He borrows shit and never gives it back. I swear, you’d think I’d learn.”
“You really want me to rough him up?”
Reese shot me a look. “Of course not.”
“All right.”
“Wait,” she said, putting her hand over mine as I reached to open her door. “That’s it? You’d just beat him up because I asked you to?”
“Where do you want to eat?” I asked, ignoring the question. Would I beat up Kenny if she asked? Probably. Mating bonds didn’t exactly make Vampires rational when it came to their other half.
“I’m good with whatever,” Reese replied slowly as I opened her door. “I’m like a raccoon. I’ll eat anything.”
“Great.” I closed the door and rounded the hood, ignoring both the feel of her eyes on me and the anxiety that pulsed while I wasn’t touching her.
I didn’t even like her.
It felt as if I was going insane.
Reese was quiet as I pulled out of the parking lot, and I had no idea what to say to her. My hand had already found the hole in the thigh of her jeans, and my fingers rested there, the feel of her skin like a balm to my nervous system.
“You know, I usually make the guy buy me dinner first,” she said a few minutes later. “Especially if I know he’s good for it—which you clearly are.” She waved her hand toward the dash.
I fought the snarl that took me by surprise and barely glanced at her.
“I don’t need to know about the men you’ve been with before.”
“It’s not like there’s been a lot,” she mused. “I mean, I don’t think my number is super high or anything, but I obviously have experience. I mean, I’m twenty-seven years old, and I’ve only had one relationship that lasted longer than three months, so obviously, I’ve been with more people than, say, someone who got married at twenty-two.”
“Reese—”
“You’re probably much older than I am, so I’m going to assume that your number is way higher, too.” I refused to meet her eyes even though I could feel her staring. “I hope you were a gentleman and bought them dinner first since we’ve already established that Vampires do eat food. How many long relationships have you had? And how does that work exactly with your super long life? Doesn’t the woman get older while you stay, you know, like this?”
“Stop speaking,” I snapped.
My heart was pounding. Her words hit a little too close to home.
“I’m just trying to get to know you,” she shot back. “You don’t have to be a dick.”
She shoved my hand off her thigh with a huff and crossed her arms over her chest.