Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“It’s late,” Callie blurts. “For me at least. And I’ve had a long, trying day. Thank you again for taking me home. We have no debt.”
“We never did,” I tell her, smirking.
“What?”
“You think I don’t know when blood is spilled in my own place of business? I could smell it the second he sunk his teeth into her neck.”
“You lied to me?” Her eyebrows hike up and her heart spikes. The anger on her face makes her all the more attractive.
“Of course, I did. I told you, you’re a curious thing to me. I wanted to see more. And now that I have…” My tongue darts out, wetting my lips. Even though she looks like she raided a ninety-year-old woman’s closet, she’s still ridiculously sexy.
“Get out.”
Her cheeks redden with anger. She can channel that anger into fucking me. “Leaving, my lady.”
“Don’t fucking call me that.”
I start toward the door. “For a witch, I’d think you’d know to rescind my invitation.”
“Oh, I do know all about that. Just like I know the only way to kill you is with a silver-tipped wooden stake. And I’ve got a dozen stakes upstairs. Though really, I have enough protection spells put on this place I’d love to see you try to come in here again once my circle is cast. We’ll see how cocky you are when your flesh has been burned down to the bone.”
This time I know she’s right. I’ve seen first-hand what happens to vampires when they cross a witches line of protection. He didn’t die, but it wasn’t pretty. “Well, then, my lady, I bid you goodnight.”
“You better fucking bring me my car!” she yells as I speed toward my car. She slams the door behind me. She’s pissed, but at least she’ll be thinking about me all night.
Just like I’ll be thinking about her.
It’s nearing three AM when I get back to Chicago. The bar usually closes around two, but we stay open if the bar is busy. And judging by how crowded it was when I left, tonight is going to be one of the later nights.
The closest parking spot is a block away, and there are anti-vampire protesters on the street corner. Vampires have minimal legal protection, but it’s not like I need the law to keep me safe.
There are five men holding signs and I could kill them all before they even knew what was happening. I won’t tonight, partly because I just bought the shirt I’m wearing, and partly because I just don’t give a fuck.
“Finally,” Eliza huffs when I get back to the bar. She’s in the office counting money, having just shut down for the night. “I take it you fucked that witch and that’s what took so long.”
“No,” I tell her, and the words even surprise me. “I took her home.”
“And that’s it? You didn’t feed from her?”
“No.”
“And you didn’t fuck her?”
I round on Eliza. “I said no.”
The usual smug look on Eliza’s face melts into concern. “Did she do something to you?”
I draw my fangs. “I would have killed her if she tried.”
Eliza sets a stack of dollar bills down and leans in, studying me from behind the desk. “I don’t think so. I saw the way you looked at her, and I’ve never seen you look at a human like that before.”
“She interests me.”
“She’s a witch,” Eliza deadpans.
“That’s part of what I find interesting.”
Eliza rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Just go fuck her out of your system and get it over with.”
I laugh. “I plan to. But first,” I turn my head, hearing the sounds of the protesters drawing closer. “Let’s have some fun.”
Eliza smiles, fangs sliding down. “What changed your mind?”
“I’m hungry after all.” I hold out my hand for her to take. We lock the office behind us and go back into the bar.
“Go home,” I tell Brian, one of my human employees. “We’ll take it from here. It’s late.”
“You sure?” Brian asks, looking up from the bar he’s wiping down. “I can stay.”
“We can close up faster,” I say with a smile.
Brian laughs. “Very true, and thanks. My girlfriend’s been texting me. Says she can’t sleep without me.” He laughs and shakes his head. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Have a good night.”
We wait until he heads toward the back to get his stuff and leaves through the rear employee door.
“Shall we?” I take Eliza’s arms and she smiles. The protesters, knowing this is a vampire-owned business set up outside our doors a few times a year. Legally, they’re allowed to protest, and feeding off unwilling humans has recently been made illegal. The law can pose a threat to younger vampires who can’t hold humans spellbound, though it’s only illegal if you get caught.
I burst through the front doors moving with vampire speed. The little group gasps and jumps back but holds up their signs.