your body betrays you. You can’t stay warm, can you? It’s why you’re letting me hold you.”
I would have wrenched away, but he had an iron grip on me. I debated and discarded a half-dozen responses, then settled for just ignoring him.
“Fine, don’t answer. But I know the truth, and deep down, so do you. I will not force you, but if it comes down to a choice between risking your sanity or your fury…well, I’ll take your rage, and you will feed. Fin was right, I can more than spare the blood, and it’s old enough that it will sate you.”
“Confident, aren’t you?”
He chuckled. “Very.”
“Hmm. Are you done?”
“For the moment.”
Nodding, I closed my eyes and returned to my house building. I must have drifted off again because he woke me with a gentle shake, and I snapped my eyes open to find myself not just leaning against him, but curled up in his lap like a slutty cat absorbing all that heat.
Okay, I never said I wasn’t a slutty cat.
“Is it time?” I asked, and my voice came out a croak. The torches were out, but as with the night before, his eyes glowed.
“Nearly. Fin said five minutes and we move.”
Extracting myself from his lap, I nodded. He set me on my feet, bracing me as my head swam. Yeah. That wasn’t a good sign. Fuck, I did not want to drink his blood. Once I was out of here, I’d ditch them and go find some cheerful fucker and seduce him. Then I’d find that asshole vampire and rip his spleen out.
Maybe the so-called prince, too.
I was an equal opportunity bitch slapper.
Maddox said nothing as I made my way over to the sink. I splashed a little water on my face to chase away the sleep. I’d slept a good portion of the day. Then I drank down a couple of palmfuls to wet my throat.
“When we get out there,” Maddox said. “You’ll stick close to me.”
Ah, there he was, the autocratic jerk who issued orders. I’d started to worry he’d been replaced by a kinder, gentler Maddox. No one would want that.
“You will do it,” he continued. “Don’t make me have to drag you out of here kicking and screaming.”
I chuckled. “I already kicked, and you have to be really good to make me scream.”
The abrupt silence made me smile wider. Never play the game with me. Turning from the sink, I stared across the void toward the glowing eyes regarding me from their narrow slits.
“Kitten, are you going to cooperate?”
That question was pregnant with all kinds of possibilities.
Then again, so was my answer.
“What’s in it for me?”
“Your ticket out of here,” he promised. “And a long conversation, a real one, with communication on both sides. After that, you’re free to go wherever you like.”
Sounded too good to be true.
Probably was just a lure to get me to agree. Once we were out, he could focus on containing me. He also had allies waiting for him, the irascible Fin and the mysterious Rogue.
Not that I couldn’t handle multiple men, the more the merrier actually. Still…
“Neutral location for the conversation,” I said. “No secret fortress with security in place for my ‘protection.’”
“Done.”
“And if I say no,” I continued crossing toward him slowly. “I’ll mean ‘no.’”
“Understood. But you’ll listen to all of it,” he countered. “Not just the opening lines before you cut me off to go build your house.”
I could live with that.
“Then you have a deal.” I held out my hand. One conversation, and I was free? Yeah, I’d take that deal.
His rough palm glided against mine as he closed his fingers over mine. “Stay with me.” With a gentle tug, he pulled me to him then set my hand to his belt. “Grip back here, stay there. No matter what happens, do not get in front of me.”
“Even if someone is going to try and skewer you from behind?” I mean really, if he wanted to set explicit terms. “Because if they have to stab me to get to you, I’m probably going to move.”
Silence. “Fine. You may take out anyone who comes at us from behind.”
“Lover here, RDF, not fighter.”
“Now that,” he said slowly, his face suddenly close to mine. “Is the first true lie you’ve told me. I have faith in those claws, Kitten.”
A beat.
“It’s time. Save all debates, discussions, and arguments for once we’re out. Just remember, we have a deal.”
“Sir,” I purred. “Yes, sir.”
He shuddered, and I smiled. When everything has been