Blood Magic (After Dark Book 7) by Sarah Bailey (ereader for android txt) 📗

else? We agreed we wouldn’t do this every time we see each other.”

He leant back, giving her the space she needed. She was right. And he hated it. Hated that even though sex was a part of their friendship, it was better for them not to give into temptation at every given moment. It would only inevitably lead to messy emotions and feelings. That was not allowed to happen. Dani was still a princess of the fae and he was still a vampire.

“Are you going to deny you’re turned on right now?”

“As if I’d be stupid enough to think I could hide that from you.”

Her eyes roamed across his face before she looked out towards the bar, fiddling with her martini. She picked it up, taking a large gulp.

“Who’s that woman staring at us?” she said.

Jamie was so intent on Dani, he hadn’t been paying attention to the rest of the bar. He turned his head sharply, stiffening when he saw who it was.

What the fuck?

“Stay here,” he said to Dani as he stood.

She put a hand on his arm, looking up at him. His eyes softened at her expression of confusion.

“Is everything okay?”

“It will be.”

She released his arm, sitting back with her drink. He strode away, making a beeline straight for the woman sitting at a high table a few feet away from them.

“What do you want?” he asked without preamble.

“That’s no way to greet an old friend.”

“We are not friends, Selene.”

“Why are you with one of the fae?”

He fought to keep a straight face, wishing Dani was anywhere but here.

“What do you want?”

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you since you returned to London.”

“Selene,” he all but growled.

She watched him for a moment.

“Fine. I need more.”

“Just give me the names.”

She tugged out a small sheet of paper from inside her jacket, handing it to him. Her red eyes blazed with emotions he didn’t want to see or be reminded of.

“You can stop all of this. Just say the word.”

“Have I ever once changed my mind in all these years?”

She chuckled, eyes flickering with heat.

“No, but there’s no harm in me asking on occasion.”

Her gaze gave him a sick feeling in his throat.

“Next time call me if you want me. Do not interfere in my personal life again. Boundaries, Selene. Don’t start crossing them now.”

She put her hands up.

“All right, Jamie, you’ve made your point. Let me know when you’ve retrieved what I need.”

She slid off the stool and slinked away into the crowd, swaying her hips. He tried not to gag at the sight of it. Selene made him feel wrong on so many levels. What she wanted from him, really wanted, would never happen.

I won’t be her little puppet or toy. I don’t care how much she desires me.

He didn’t look at the piece of paper she’d given him, merely tucked it into the back pocket of his jeans. He walked back over to the booth and sat down. Dani’s eyes were on him but he didn’t look at her.

“What was that about? She’s a demon, isn’t she?” she asked.

“It doesn’t matter.”

She leant over, putting a hand on his thigh. Her touch made him want to pull her into his lap, but thoughts of Selene still plagued his mind.

“Jamie, what’s wrong?”

His eyes snapped to hers.

“Don’t, Dani. Not about this.”

She flinched, snatching her hand back as if his words stung. It immediately made him regret his tone. Her blue eyes swirled with hurt. He moved, capturing her face in his hands.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered before pressing his mouth to hers, wanting to soothe her.

She was stiff and unyielding for the longest minute. When she relaxed into his kiss, her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. He took and she gave. It was wrong to kiss Dani in order to make her forgive him. Wrong to crave her submission. Yet, he couldn’t abide by her being upset with him.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” she whispered against his mouth.

“Some things are best left unsaid. My dealings with her is one of them.”

“What is she to you?”

“Nothing more than a business arrangement.”

Dani ran a hand down his chest. How is it one simple touch from her makes everything feel okay again? He breathed her in. She brushed her nose against his.

“Okay, I won’t ask any more.”

She kissed him. It was forceful and demanding. This time, he relented, groaning into her mouth. He became hyper aware of her heart hammering, her skin hot against his. No sex. Not tonight. Shit. I ache for her. Her hand dropped lower, dragging across his stomach over his shirt. He caught her hand before she could touch his cock.

“No,” he whispered, pulling away. “We agreed.”

“You kissed me first.”

She tried to pull her hand out of his grasp, but he didn’t let her.

“I shouldn’t have.”

“You can’t blow hot and cold on me.”

His eyes darkened.

“What do you want? For me to take you here? Shall I drag you in the toilets, force you on your knees and make you suck me?”

Her eyes flashed with yearning. This need to talk dirty to her had come out of nowhere. The primal part of him wanted to make her wet from just his words.

“Don’t forget, we’re to be honest with each other,” he said when she didn’t answer.

“Why do you always make it sound so provocative?”

“What I want to do to you isn’t sweet or innocent.” He closed the distance between them. “It’s dark, dirty and raw.”

The vein in her throat throbbed wildly. He kept hold of her hand but pried apart her thighs with his other one. Her underwear was drenched. She shifted, pressing against his