I believe he made me suffer more of his blood as a punishment. After two swallows, my pain eased, but Ryker held us in place until I swallowed another five times. Ugh, each one was worse than the last, I swear. His blood was thick, like molasses, and the coppery taste clung to my tongue. I swear I could feel it moving through my body, which was uncomfortable. I felt invaded and defiled. To make it worse, it moved slow, like it was mocking me. However, after a few moments of his lava-like blood flowing through my body, I gasped because it wrapped around my spine.
You’d think that felt good, right? No. It was excruciating. I whimpered in pain when his blood forced itself into the hairline fractures of my spine. Tears poured down my cheeks, and I sunk my teeth in my bottom lip, but it still wasn’t enough to prevent the pained scream that tore from my throat. The pain built until I feared I would either hurl, pass out, or both. Then, suddenly, it stopped.
Panting, I jerked away from Ryker when he moved his arm to allow my escape. I shied away when he reached towards me, and he chuckled. “I’m sorry, little one, I did not realize it would hurt when it healed your spine. Although, I suppose it’s similar to the change, which is even more painful than what you experienced. Still, I understand your wariness since I failed to warn you. Nor would I believe my apology either, since I assured you it would not hurt. Shall we find you some food, bunny?” I shook my head, and he chuckled. I stepped back when he moved towards me again, although part of me feared his patience running out. “Still stubborn, I see,” Ryker chuckled, “I feared your tormentor would beat that out of you.”
He liked that I was stubborn? What? Was he touched in the head? Was that not the opposite of how someone who proclaimed you belong to them should feel? I was so confused. Was that the point? To keep me off balance? Or did he genuinely mean his words? And I thought the werewolves were complicated. Yeesh. Sighing, I defiantly raised my gaze to stare my captor in the eyes and would have gasped had my breath not already fled my body.
I thought Kyler was beautiful, but Ryker put that word to shame. He had a leaner build, albeit much more strength. Perhaps that was part of what made vampires so dangerous. They embodied the saying that looks could be deceiving. His face looked like it was carved from the most beautiful pale marble because of his hard planes and strong jaw. Yet he also, somehow, appeared delicate. Still, Ryker’s high cheekbones gave him an aristocratic air, and upon glancing at his chiseled lips, I wondered what a kiss I asked for would feel like. Mentally, I shook my head to banish the thought and focused more on the gorgeous predator standing a scant few feet away. Ryker smiled, revealing the dimples that gave him a boyish charm, which made me want to trust him, and his razor-sharp fangs. His smile reached his eyes, which were a beautiful cobalt blue. Shaking his head, he caused his bangs that were just long enough to reach his eyes to fall into them. Which gave him an even more boyish look, and I took a cautious step back. My fingers itched to move his midnight black hair so I could better see his angelic face, and I bit my lip while stamping down my desire to draw him.
“You’re beautiful,” I whispered past the lump in my throat while dropping my eyes. What disturbed me the most was that my back between my shoulders didn’t itch even though I met his gaze for several moments. He was as tall as Kyler, if not taller. Instead of the suit I imagined him to prefer, he was clad in black jeans and a gray sweater that clung to his muscular arms and chest. In the build department, I would swear Kyler looked stronger, but I feared Ryker could rip the teenager apart with ease. Wolves hunted in packs, whereas vampires preferred solitary searches for food judging by Liam’s solitary hunt for me. Because they were more possessive…? Or selfish, perhaps? Either way, I understood why most books said it took a pack of werewolves to take down a vampire.
“Thank you, Angel,” Ryker replied in a voice full of warmth. “Although you put me to shame, little bunny.” I scoffed in reply to his blatant lie, and he chuckled. “Disagree all you like, little one, it changes nothing. I perceive you as far more beautiful than me.” Shaking my head, I backed away another step even though he could reach me before I blinked. Still, the distance gave me a false sense of security, and he seemed willing to indulge me for the moment.
A tantalizing scent reached my nose, making my stomach growl its hungry state. I turned my head in the direction it came from to better appreciate the pleasant smell while trying to spot its source. A soft chuckle had me looking back towards Ryker only to flinch. While I was distracted, he moved, so he now stood before me. With an indulgent smile, he used long, delicate fingers that would make any musician weep in envy to lift my chin. Once our gazes met, he kissed my forehead, and I shuddered with a gasp. Chuckling, he smiled with satisfaction, which made me think he did something more than what I perceived.
A moment later, he pulled me into a gentle hug. I tensed, expecting the familiar twinge from my spine only to
