Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
But I’m not too tired to think about sex, apparently.
We’re no longer crusted with salt. The bed may be small, but it’s clean and comfortable enough. Tonight, there’s nothing standing between us and the possibility of more.
I want Lizzie. I can admit that to myself now, even if it makes me slightly uncomfortable. My heart still aches from the loss of Bronagh, from his betrayal, but Lizzie is safe in her own way. She’s not going to ask me for more than I’m capable of giving. She doesn’t even like me that much, though I have no doubt that she wants me just as much as I want her. It’s there in the way she watches me when she thinks I’m not looking—and sometimes when I am looking. Maybe she needs the escape just as much as I do.
The dress Ralph provided fits me perfectly. Lizzie has returned from her walk, and she does seem more relaxed, her agitation smoothed out. Though every time she sneezes, she glares out the window as if she can track down the tree personally responsible and rip it out of the ground by its roots. She’s wearing a loose set of pants and a tight shirt that shows off the lines of muscle in her arms and shoulders. I have the intense urge to take a bite out of her.
“We need to get you food.” She turns for the door, not leaving me any room to argue.
Or at least that’s obviously her aim, to use momentum to maintain the upper hand. I cross my arms over my chest and wait for her to notice that I’m not following her. It doesn’t take long. She barely has the door cracked when she stops.
She turns back to me, exasperation written across her gorgeous features. It’s almost enough to make me smile. “Yes, Maeve? You obviously have something to say.”
“What about you?” Although I’ve been watching Lizzie closely even while on the Audacity, she never seemed to show up for mealtimes. I’m not certain if her brand of vampire needs nourishment other than blood, but even if they don’t, it’s been three days since she ate last. Surely it’s nearly time for another bite?
“I had thought to have my meal after dinner. This place is plenty large enough that there’s bound to be a sailor I can coerce into volunteering.” She motions for me to precede her, but I don’t obey. Lizzie curses. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“I want you to bite me again.” The words come out in a rush, tumbling over themselves in their effort to be brought to voice. “Not someone else. Me.”
She eases the door shut and leans against it. She blocks the only exit from the room, but I don’t feel even the least bit in danger. Lizzie crosses her arms over her chest, mirroring my body language. “Explain.”
I have half a dozen excuses ready to go. We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves, and vampires are rare enough in Threshold that people will take note if she claims a victim here. Even if the “victim” lives to see dawn and has several orgasms in the process. People notice her. Lizzie has taken no vows; the last thing we need is for the Cŵn Annwn to turn their bloody eyes our way. At least when we sailed with Nox, there was some measure of protection. Lizzie could dress in crimson, pretend that she was actually part of the crew, and no one would think to question it.
Out on her own with only me as company? It’s an entirely different situation. One wrong word will mark her as someone not native to Threshold, someone to be hunted by the Cŵn Annwn for dodging their laws.
But while all those things are true, they’re not the reason I want her to bite me and only me. It still takes more courage than I could have anticipated to draw myself up and speak the truth. “We’re stuck together until we see this thing through and reclaim the things stolen from us.”
“Yes,” she says slowly.
The next part is harder to get out. “I’m not imagining the mutual attraction between us.”
Her eyes flare crimson for a heartbeat before returning to their normal color. “No, you’re not imagining it.”
Again, my skin betrays me. I can feel the blush spreading in response to her easy agreement. I gather my courage once more. “There’s no reason we can’t enjoy each other for the duration of our time together.”
“Enjoy each other.” Lizzie pushes off the door and prowls toward me, each slow, intense step closing the distance between us. “I’m sure you have a firm idea of what it is you’re asking for, Maeve. Let’s hear it.”
The way she says my name. A promise and a warning, all wrapped up in seduction. Allowing myself to voice my desire is a mistake. We need to be focused, both on our surroundings and on any potential enemies that we may come across. We could miss clues if we’re too busy thinking about fucking each other.