Vicious In Love - D.D. Dass (book club suggestions txt) 📗

edge. But, as she kept going, she realized it didn’t matter that she’d entered Vampire territory, her stalker followed.

Breathing heavy, she caught sight of the forest camera’s, lights blinking green. So close. Abruptly, Beth froze, muscles locked in place. She willed herself to move, to go, but her legs refused to cooperate. Slowly, her head twisted to look over her shoulder and…she saw him

The other was tall, taller than her father, shoulders bulky, arms pale bands of muscle flexing at his sides. There was a ghost of a smile on his pale features, eyes swirling silver. Silver? She thought in disbelief. There was no way he was an other, their eyes remained a soulless black.

But he radiated a deep, darkness that she knew. Her thoughts blared runrunrun! Goddess, she thought suddenly, he was back for her…This time there was no escape.

Even so, her legs finally shuffled backwards, her shaky hands over her mouth. What a way to end her life. The other took a step forward in response.

It was there, in the dead of night, scared like never before, that her missing survival instincts shifted into gear and she broke into a dead run. She ran as fast as she possibly could without tripping, not risking a glance over her shoulder because his thudded footsteps were already closing in on her.

Please kill me quickly, she prayed to the Goddess.

When she reached the caves, she kept going blindly, already having memorized the route back. Splashing through the dark, murky waters, adrenaline made her quicker than ever.

She pushed her tiring muscles harder still, flinching at the low, evil chuckle close behind her. Just like that, she lost her footing and plummeted into the cool water. Trembling, she held her breath, listening to the deathly silence until she couldn’t take it any longer. She knew he was watched her, so why couldn’t he just get it over with already?

Blinking back tears, she tried to get back up, but a slice of pain went through her knee, which had taken most of her fall. She waited.

Beth never expected to get away, so when a heavy hand snagged her left ankle, she shut her eyes tight, resisting the urge to scream as the male began to drag her backwards. The material of her shirt bunched though and her skin caught the ruble, the further he went, the more it hurt, and she couldn’t stop her struggle.

An animal-esque growl ripped from the male before he released her, pouncing. Panicked, she rolled onto her raw skin, barely avoiding his body but still taking the impact of a slap to the face. Her head span, a new flash of pain going through her as the metallic taste of blood flooded her mouth.

“Do not make this harder than it has to be,” the voice was a harsh, dirty whisper in her ear. She cried out a little when he moved to straddle her, and with the last of her energy, she flung her legs forward.

She hit home. Everything went still, a hiss of pain being the only sound as she dug her shoes into the same spot, sprawling away as the other slumped. Then, she desperately kicked the figure, breaking into another run.

At the security doors, she fumbled for the security car, shaking badly as she ripped in from her pant pocket. The green light flashed, the sweetest sight of her life, and instantly she skidded through the metal door. There was a loud swear when the dead-bolts locked in place.

Needed distance between her and that door, she numbly trudged up the long staircase and into her bedroom, limping slightly, soaking went, she didn’t care who saw her. Far off, in the part of her brain that was properly functioning, she thanked the Goddess nobody did see; it would be her ruination.

The ramai would be absolutely scandalized.

Upstairs, in her bedroom, she locked the door behind her, willing herself to feel something –anything, but nothing came. Just the blank, stretching numbness as she trembled, going to the opposite side of her room so she could slide to the carpeted floor and gaze vacantly at the door.

Time passed by sluggishly. She sat there, no tears, no pain, just…alone. So finally when she stood it was because she didn’t really need a cold before her transition. Unzipping her brother’s sweater she let it falls off her shoulders and onto the ground, next she undid the tight bondage that held her small breasts (couldn’t take the risk of having any breasts, obviously), until that too fell to that carpet. Unbuckling her belt, she sighed as the large, baggy jeans dropped, letting her boy-shorts land on the pile so that she was completely bare.

A fresh towel in hand, she entered her bathroom, avoiding the mirror as she mechanically turned the faucet, not realizing how hot she was until the water smothered her. Too exhausted to do anything about it, Beth leaned on the shower wall, closing her eyes as the hot –turned to cold –waters spray soothed her slightly. With an easier sigh, she scrubbed her hair twice with her favorite citrus-scented shampoo, then scoured her skin with soap and body wash until her skin stung worse than before.

Outside, she slid into the warmest clothing she could find, which ended up being Hollister (when had she even shopped there?) sweats, a hideous dark green sweater, and thick, black knee-high socks. She made a point to cover her swollen knee and the red welts on her side, but she couldn’t hide whatever was going on with her face –because it hurt, a lot. Mustering the courage to look in the mirror, she cringed at the girl in the reflection.

Her skin was sickly pale, hollow circles underlining her puffy, blood-shot eyes. Her features were exactly the same, but her right cheek was bruising and her bottom lip was split. Her hands began to shake again and she looked down to find them clenched, knuckles bitten raw.

“Where’ve you been?” His voice was cool –calculating. She choked on her breath, shutting her eyes to be confronted by silver. She couldn’t help the frantic whimper that fell from her mouth as she clutched the counterpane.

Goddess, she couldn’t stop. It all came rushing back, leaving her dizzy. She was scared—terrified and everything hurt. The sound of a shrill pierced her ears, but she was too lost in her own horror. A large hand suddenly cupped her mouth, the distinct cologne enveloping her atmosphere and she let herself be weak for the time, leaning into the hard wall of his chest.

Biting into her top lip she forced herself to turn, her fear morphing into denial as she shoved him away, but her hands tangled in the collar of his shirt, unsure of whether to push him away or pull him closer. Goddess, she did not need him. She was fine. And now, apparently a liar.

“Elizabeth…” Her eyes fluttered open, meeting a glorious green, but she couldn’t handle the force of that gaze, instead she faced the mirror once more, gazing at herself.

She frowned, noticing how horrible she really looked. Right there, beside her, Ian looked like a God, brown hair in messy spikes, green eyes blazing with the lightest tinge of red she’d seen them, the white, sharp tips of his fangs revealed.

Gorgeous as ever while she looked like she’d been hit by a car. Or rather, an other.

“Christ,” he breathed. “What happened, Beth?” She didn’t see him move again, but suddenly, he was crowding her, long fingers tracing lightly at her cheek. She shied away from the panging sensation.

 Don’t be so weak, her conscious castigated with an anger Beth didn’t feel. His fingers fell away, and when her eyes rose again, he’d traced to the doorway. There, he loomed, looking furious as he grimaced. She looked down immediately to keep his hatred from burning her with unwanted feelings.

She just wanted to be furious as he looked.

“I’ll ask you once more,” he paused, eyes finding hers. “Where have you been?”

“Nowhere,” she breathed, leaning into the counter for support. A shiver ran down her spine, pain igniting over her entire body though it was the all-too-familiar transitional pain.

Purposefully, he pursued, arm snaking around her belly to pull her wobbly legs backwards until she was molded to him. Her shoulders at his chest, her butt just below his pelvis. She kept her gaze on the mirror, taking him in there, noticing for the first time that he was dressed for protocol slaying. His holster was packed with daggers, a handgun at his hip, leathers tight along the muscles of his thighs.

He bent, nose skimming a path down her neck as she shivered, her belly swooping with desire that sparked her blood. He stopped at the slop of her shoulder, and inhaled deeply through his nose before drawing back up until his lips brushed her ear.

“You smell of a male,” his voice was deeper, accusing. Beth cursed herself for forgetting he was a leader with heightened senses.

“Suppose I would,” she snapped breathily. “Since you’re accosting me.” His hand dragged from her stomach to her waist, fingers burrowing tighter than necessary. The feeling still had her stifling a moan, working to breathe evenly and slow her racing heart.

This was so…wrong.

“I’m not playing games tonight, female. Tell me where you went, otherwise, I will speak to Nick.” The threat in his voice was true and finally, anger coursed through her. For all the wrong reasons, she spun to face him. The proximity made her freeze as she stared up into the burning green sea, and for a second, she thought she saw something other than irritation, but it was gone before she could tell.

“My lord, perhaps I should be the one speaking with my father,” she tested, copying his cold tone. His eyes hardened with a challenge.

“What about?” She was livid. She couldn’t remember being so angry. Only this infuriating man would threaten her this way.

She wanted him to react to her. Tonight she held the strings, not him.

Beth leaned forward so that her breasts just barely hit the hard plains of his chest, fingertips curling lightly over his thick neck. His shoulders tensed almost immediately and she could feel how aware he was of her. His attention was focused solely on her fingertips, her breasts straining under her sweater. On her tiptoes she breathed, “Perhaps I should tell him how pretty you think my mouth it…” he inhaled sharply, but she didn’t give him the satisfaction of stopping her, instead she continued. “Or that you’ve been in my room…” her voice dropped an octave at the realization. He couldn’t have traced into her room without having been there before. “How many times have you been here Ian?”

His name was warm on her tongue as the air crackled, her heartbeat became erratic. She was pushing too far. And she didn’t care either. She wanted him to feel something for her other than that deep hatred.

“You go too far tonight,” he acquiesced her thoughts in a tight bark. In victory her eyes shut and she blew out a shaky breath because it felt wrong. Ian did not allow victories…and yet tonight he’d let her have the last word. She willed herself to step away, but his scent drifted over her, all male with a slight tinge of cologne that she wanted to roll around in until it settled over her very essence.

His thumbs began to draw slow circles at her waist and a gasp escaped her parted lips. She hadn’t known that could feel good, but at the feel everything below her sweats tingled, wetness seeping at the junction of her thighs. Oh. Her cheeks flamed as he leaned closer, skimming her throat, starting at the sensitive spot where her neck became her shoulder and following a path only he knew. On impulse, her hands gripped the muscles of his shoulders, needing the support as she tilted her head, giving better access.

His lips pressed tenderly at her frantic pulse, the warmth of his tongue following and she