Wicked Love - Michelle Dare Page 0,48

been about four days since I’d had any blood. I’d wanted to bite Judson so badly last night but knew I couldn’t blow my cover yet. I only needed to feed about twice a week so picked up my phone and texted one of my donors. Our bite caused a bit of a euphoric high, so we had plenty of donors who gave willingly.

Me: You busy? I’m hungry.

Lucy: I’ll be right over.

Me: See you soon :)

I put the phone down and began to get ready for the evening.

Lucy arrived about twenty minutes later. Thankfully, Angie hadn’t come home yet so we sat on the couch. I brought her a glass of milk and a cheese sandwich (her request, yuck). As she ate, I lifted her wrist to my lips, waited for my fangs to descend, and gently pierced them into the big blue vein there. I took a few long pulls and drew her blood into my mouth. Lucy groaned between bites and let out a little shudder. After a few sips, I removed my fangs, licked her wound closed, and wiped my mouth.

“All done?” she asked, smiling.

I nodded. “Yes, thank you.” I looked at her thin frame and gaunt cheeks. “Please, finish your food.”

“I’m not too hungry.” She smiled.

“I insist.”

I felt bad enough feeding, even though she was more than willing. I just couldn’t stand to drink the medical blood bags. I mean, I used them when necessary, but straight from the tap was always best.

Lucy took a few more bites of her sandwich, a long drink from the milk, and then stood up.

“See you soon. Call me if get hungry again.”

I thanked her and she left. Feeling re-energized and in a good mood, I picked up my phone to see a text from Judson: You busy tonight?

I grinned.

Me: Nope, you playing again at Bash?

Judson: No, have the night off. Wanna do something fun?

Me: Sure, what time?

Judson: Meet me at 7 at the Mile High Flea Market

What the…

Me: Why?

Judson: Just meet me. You’ll see. Unless you want me to pick you up?

Me: No, I’ll be there.

Flea Market? What were we doing, shopping? Don’t those things only go on during the day? Since I figured we’d be outdoors, I chose a sweater, jeans, and boots. I put my hair into a high ponytail and put on less makeup than usual.

I couldn’t believe I was actually going on dates with this guy. What kind of dating rabbit hole had I fallen down?

I pulled up to the dirt parking lot of the flea market and quickly realized it wasn’t a flea market at all right now.

It was a haunted house-slash-maze. Awesome. I was 12 years old all over again.

Judson pulled his motorcycle up next to my car and parked. He opened my door for me, and when I got out, he leaned down and kissed me. It was almost weird, but nice, too.

“Hope you aren’t scared of haunted houses,” he said, leading me by the hand toward the entrance to buy tickets.

I stopped and he halted. “What if I am?”

“I somehow doubt that.” He smiled down at me.

I glanced over his shoulder at the big, creepy house and the tall bush maze leading up to it. Chewing my lip, I didn’t know how to tell him that yeah, I really didn’t care for those things. No, I hadn’t been to one since becoming a vampire, but the very fact that I was made it worse. I was already on edge most of the time.

His smile fell. “You’re really scared? Come on, it’s fun. They’re just actors with fake saws and blood and stuff. It’s a little adrenaline rush.”

I knew all of this, yet, I was afraid my reflexes would make me throat-punch one of the actors or knock someone’s teeth out.

“What about a drink? That will loosen you up,” he suggested, pulling a flask from the inside pocket of his leather jacket.

I fucking wish I could get drunk.

I held a hand up. “I’ll pass, but you feel free.”

He put the flask back and took both my hands. “I’m sorry, Dani. I thought you’d have fun at something like this. We don’t have to go in. We can go for a late dinner or something. Walk in the park?”

Knowing I didn’t want to make excuses again for not eating, and that it was too cold for a walk in the park (for him, not me), I gave in. “No, it’s fine, I’ll go in. Just haven’t been to one before.”

“I’ll hold on to