No.
“Sure, sounds great.”
He grinned, grabbed my hand, and led me out of Bash. Once we were out in the cool fall Colorado air, he looked down at me and asked, “What are you in the mood for?”
Blood.
“I’m easy, you choose.”
He stared deep into my eyes, not saying anything, and honestly, making me both gooey and nervous. “Okay, an all-night diner it is. I know one down on Thirty-First Street.”
“Can’t wait,” I replied, not letting go of his hand and letting him lead me to wherever he wanted. Without a care in the world.
What was wrong with me?
6
Judson
The diner was actually one of those metal Air-Stream trailers. It was supposed to be eclectic or something. I just thought it was cool and had good pancakes.
I had tried to get her on the back of my bike, but she’d refused, saying she’d just follow me. I again questioned her need for an SUV as I’d chanced a glance behind me on our way to the diner, but vowed I’d ask her about it later. She’d said she didn’t have kids, but she seemed to be a mostly closed book, honestly. But I was damned and determined to crack open her pages and find out what made Daniela, Daniela,
Look at me, getting all feely over a vampire. The hell is wrong with me?
Chastising myself for having some kind of attraction to the gorgeous brunette, I told myself to keep it business as usual. Get just close enough where she trusts me to tell me she’s a vamp and get info about Audrey’s killer, then dump her like yesterday’s trash. These creatures shouldn’t exist. Keep telling yourself that.
After we were seated in the diner, it was no surprise she ordered a bloody mary and nothing else. Claiming she wasn’t hungry. I was willing to bet on our next “date”—if there was one—she’d claim some kind of food allergy. My ass had done extensive research on these things and those two excuses reigned supreme to justify their lack of public food consumption. Although I hadn’t figured out why they never ate. Sure, they needed blood, but weren’t they once human? I’d admit I didn’t know much about their physical anatomy. Maybe blood was all they needed. I tried to hide the shudder that engulfed my body at the thought.
“You gotta try these pancakes. They’re the best in the whole frickin’ city.” I held out a forkful of dripping, syrupy amazingness to her across the table.
She wrinkled her nose and recoiled. “Nah. I’m good with my bloody mary.”
One I noticed she hadn’t eaten the olive or celery stick of.
“Oh, come on, just a bite. Who doesn’t love pancakes?” I baited.
She glanced at the fork, then into my eyes. “Uh, I’m watching my carbs.”
I bit back a smile then shrugged. “Okay, how about some sausage?” I dredged it in syrup and held it out to her.
She shook her head. “No, I’m good. You enjoy that. Honestly, Judson, I’m just not hungry.”
Liar. I could see the way she was looking at me—like cartoon characters look at pigs and cows like they’re big slabs of meat.
I lifted a shoulder and let it fall. “Your loss, but you really should come here for breakfast one time. It’s the best in the city.”
She took a long pull from the straw of her drink and then wiped the red dribble from the corner of her mouth. “So I’ve heard.”
“I get it,” I said, poking another sausage with my fork. “You’re one of those chicks who doesn’t like to eat in front of guys. It’s okay, though. I’ll get you to eat.”
I could see the frustration storming in her eyes before she plastered on a fake smile. “I guess it’s something like that.”
Hah! I had frustrated her. I would get to her somehow. Talking about food got under her skin, I noted. Let’s see what else would make a vampire squirm.
After swallowing down the bite of sausage, I rubbed my neck, concentrating on putting my fingers over my jugular. “Man, my neck bands have been killing me. I think it’s the strain of the guitar strap. I need a serious massage.”
I grinned in triumph as her eyes zoned in on my neck. They seemed to glaze over, the telltale silver vampire glint taking over her irises.
She caught me staring at her and cleared her throat. Her eyes quickly reverted to their light-brown color. “Yeah, better find a masseuse. I know quite a few here in town if you need one.”
“I do. Can you text me some names?” I asked, licking my lips before pulling my phone out.
I smirked as she watched the action with my tongue a little too closely. Even if she was human and not a vampire, I would have been turned on at the desire coloring her eyes. She wanted me, I could tell. Just as much as I fucking wanted her. I could tell she was rocking some serious curves under those clothes. Tits. Ass. Hips. I wanted all of it.
Once I was done with my meal, the server came over and delivered the bill. I paid it and then grabbed her hand once more as I led her out of there.
I ground my pelvis into her as I kissed her hard and passionate against the door of her SUV. I’d wanted to bring her back to my place again and fuck her hard but slow until she screamed out my name several times. But…she’d insisted she go home, which was no surprise. It was almost three a.m. and the sun would start coming up in a couple of hours and she couldn’t risk getting stuck at my place until the sun once again sank below the mountains.
“When can I see you again?” I asked breathlessly.
She gazed deep into my eyes and replied, “Text me anytime. I work nights, but other than that, I’m free.”
I grinned. “Good, I definitely want to see you again. You’re sexy as hell and
