She rolled her pelvis, increasing the contact with his dick, and opened her mouth. Tiny fangs—far smaller than his in wolf form—were visible. The visual should have sickened him but instead his balls went taut and his leathers became slippery when a trickle of pre-cum escaped the head of his cock.
“See what I mean?” She stopped moving, the enticing allure of her raspy voice gone, replaced with a haughty tone he didn’t care for. “Now, I suggest you get off me. Let’s part ways and forget tonight ever happened.”
“Forget?” He hated repeating the words, cursing the female in his arms for even considering them. “You think I can forget this?”
“Why not? I certainly will.” He couldn’t read her, was unable to determine if she meant what she said or if she was bluffing. “Don’t worry,” she continued, this time with an edge of panic, her words shaky. “After tonight, you’ll never see me again. You have my word.”
The thought of her leaving tore an open wound in his chest. He’d survived without her and nearly managed to forget her existence during his time away from New York. During that time he’d lost a part of himself he’d never hoped to get back. The grip he had on his humanity was quickly slipping from his fingers like fine grains of sand.
No more.
“Is that so?” he murmured and looked at her mouth, knowing he was eternally damned. She might be a blood drinker—a fucking leech—but damn if he gave a shit. “You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep, darlin’. You’re going to come back to me again and again, and we both know it.”
Her beautiful eyes changed color, going from ice-blue to an almost bluish-white when he lowered his head and kissed her hard. A few seconds passed and she relaxed, opening her lips, granting him entry. He wasn’t sure what he expected—perhaps the metallic burst of blood on his tongue since she drank from others to survive, or maybe some strange flavor that came from her being vampire—but it certainly wasn’t the sweetness he experienced when he slid his tongue past her lips, exploring the warm cavern of her mouth.
The tentative touch of her tongue against his nearly did him in. He released her arms, running his fingers down her torso, skimming his fingers over her ample breasts. More softness, the round mounds a perfect fit for his hands. He created circles with his tongue, a teasing game she struggled to follow while he squeezed and manipulated the nipples that hardened under his thumbs. It wasn’t until he felt a diminutive sting that he realized she’d slid her arms under his jacket and was digging her tiny claws into his shoulders.
He ripped his lips from hers, determined to know one thing before they started. “Your name. Tell me your name.”
“Sadie,” she responded without pause, her breathing shallow, her face flushed once more.
Sadie. It suited the sultry minx. Unique, lovely—her.
Lifting his head, he glanced at Diskant’s house. It took a few seconds to focus, his vision shoddy thanks to his friend Mr. Daniels.
Ain’t that some shit? Fuckedy, fuck, fuck.
He couldn’t take this female inside to a guest bedroom. The pack already thought he was mad, talking about his instability behind his back when they thought he wasn’t listening. Bringing a vampire into their midst would be like hammering a nail into his coffin. He’d wouldn’t just be shunned, he’d be cast from the pack entirely. They’d send him off with a sincere fuck you and never come back.
Take her somewhere else, dumbass. Somewhere you won’t be seen.
“I might not be able to claim her in front of the pack,” he mumbled to himself, unaware he was talking aloud, “but I sure as hell can fuck her in the privacy of my own goddamn home.”
He went to his knees, starting to wrap his arms around her back and legs, when a blow sent him back several yards. He landed on his ass, disoriented and confused, staring up at the sky. A form appeared, casting a shadow over him. Long blonde strands whipped around Sadie’s face—her very pissed-off face.
“I knew you wouldn’t be any better,” she said, sounding hollow, her words carrying on the windy winter air. “Goddess help you, Trey Veznor. I’d hoped…I thought…” She shook her head, her plush lower lip trembling. “In the end, you will stand alone. When it’s time to face your demons, I hope you’re strong enough to survive.”
He reached out for her, attempting to grab hold of her jacket, but it was too late. The only thing that greeted him was a handful of nothing. Staring at the space she once inhabited, he wondered if she was just a dream, something he’d created to make it out of bed each morning. Maybe he was sliding into insanity. Perhaps he’d finally lost his mind. He ran his tongue along his lips, finding one final taste of the woman as he did. Then he knew she wasn’t a figment of his imagination.
Sadie.
The wolf inside of him threatened to break free, clawing at his insides, heartbroken by what he’d just done. It snarled at him, furious at his behavior. If it were possible, he was certain his bestial half would have ripped his human form a new asshole. She was gone, just like before. There one second, gone the next. All because he was drunk, reckless and wanted to maintain his pride.
Pride, he thought angrily. What pride?
Any dignity he’d had was long gone. He was a lone wolf now. On the outside. An anomaly among his kind. But he didn’t have to be. Something—be it fate, luck or serendipity—had brought his female to him, and he’d treated her no better than a common one-night stand.
“After tonight, you’ll never see me again,” she had said. “You have my word.”
Her warning created an enduring firebrand in his mind, reminding him of what it felt like to truly fear something, to know that some things weren’t in his power to control. As he rose to his feet and headed toward the house, he knew it was time to get his shit straight. The last couple of months he’d basked in loss and had allowed it to consume him.
Those days were over.
“Sadie, darlin’, I warned you,” he whispered, striding toward his future with a newfound purpose and a bounce in his step. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
Chapter Five
If living with insane people had taught Mary anything, it was that a person carefully planned their escape. It wasn’t as simple as packing a bag and hitting the road. Every single decision had consequences, and some of them were more dangerous than others. More importantly, it was essential that the person running for her life didn’t hesitate. Once done, an action couldn’t be undone.
There were no second chances.
Minutes after Emory had left, she’d started thinking about what he’d told her. And every time she came up with a reason they could be together, she’d find another one to discredit the notion. He might think she was his mate but he had to be wrong. They were no longer living a bright and shiny lie while discussing their aspirations over coffee. She wasn’t a wide-eyed girl with hopes and dreams. Stark clarity was the only thing she had left keeping her feet planted firmly on the ground.
Shepherds had destroyed so many of his kind—had nearly destroyed him—and wouldn’t stop as long as they continued breeding more Shepherds. Their lifestyle was a disgustingly macabre form of tradition passed down from one generation to the next. Because of that she’d never be free. She would always be hunted or in danger. If she stayed, it would only bring Emory misery.
After she’d climbed from the bed and tiptoed around, she formulated a plan. The bedroom’s bathroom had an enormous clawed tub. Running water would drown out any noises she made when she scavenged through the dresser and closet. She wasn’t sure where she was going but she knew it would be cold. Everywhere was cold in November. Due to that she’d need to find clothing to protect her from the weather until she could get to a safe hotel. Then she could take the time to sort things out.