let out a wavering breath. The vampires would have their way. The hunters would be torn apart.
Alfonzo began walking once more. Reluctantly, Eddie followed, pulling Maxine along with him. Shaking her head, Maxine cast a baleful and knowing look at the form of Bella who walked close beside her.
The false huntress only smiled sweetly and shrugged as if to say, “I told you so.”
Bella awoke once more in Mordecai’s arms. Although, this time, she had willingly put herself there. She stretched and lifted her head to look up at him. He was asleep. The lines of his face were smoothed, and he looked peaceful. Happy.
Almost innocent.
That wasn’t possible. The things they had done together had proven that to be quite clearly a lie. And they had indeed done them together. With each round, with each embrace, he gave her the chance to turn away and protest. But she had thrown herself into his affections headlong and seemed to find a fire in her that answered his own.
She had enjoyed it.
There was no denying that.
Guilt pulled at her, trying to tug her down into the world of regret. Just because she could now accept his affection and her willing part in it did not mean it was “right.”
His words echoed in her mind. What was right? What was to say she was not living in a backward way of thinking as he claimed?
Perhaps it was her opportunity now to choose which world she wished to live in. Hers…or his. She ran her hand along his chest, exploring the warm expanse of it. He was muscular but not bulky. Warm, and soft, with the promise of strength underneath. Strength she’d tested and used several times over.
He felt so good. She never knew it could be this nice to have someone beside her, beneath her, and in every other way she figured a man and woman could know each other.
His face bloomed in a slow smile. “Good morning. Or evening. Or whatever time it is.”
“I am sorry to wake you.”
“You’re sweet.” He yawned, stretched, and wrapped an arm around her to rest a hand idly on her lower back. “I was awake.”
“Have you not slept?”
“Hm? No.”
“Why not? Do you not trust me?”
He paused as he opened a purple eye to peer at her both mischievously and sleepily at the same time before shutting it. “If I fall asleep, my charade will fall apart, and I fear this will all be for naught.”
“What do you mean?” She pushed up onto her elbows. He was lying on his back, still stretched out like a damn cat. There was something deeply feline about him.
“This is not my true appearance. I have taken the shape of what I can sense you would desire the most. It is a gift my ilk has mastered.” Purple eyes were watching her now with a surprising amount of sadness.
She sat up and gathered the blanket over herself. More out of the chillness of the air and less out of modesty, she discovered. She had already shown him every part of herself that he could witness without gutting her open. He did not seem offended. He was lying there with a hand across his bare stomach, his other toying with the edge of the blanket by her knee. Now she was curious. “Show me.”
He furrowed his brow. “I had hoped to wait. I wanted to give you more time in my presence before I revealed myself to you.”
“Why?”
“I had hoped to win your heart before scaring you.”
“Are you truly that revolting?” She smiled faintly. She had a hard time believing it.
“Pah. Hardly. But you are a woman of righteousness. I doubt you would take to my demonic self so readily.”
“I was a woman of righteousness. I am not so certain anymore.” She paused and made up her mind. Nodding once, she sat back to give him more room. “Go on. Show me.”
Mordecai let out a groan that was partially a whine. “But I don’t want to.”
She laughed at his childishness. It was more endearing than it had any right to be.
“Fine.” He grunted and climbed out of bed. Simply watching him move was captivating. The smoothness and gracefulness to his lithe muscles made her mouth water. It pooled a dangerous fire in her once more, and she tried to shove it away before she acted on it.
He seemed nervous. Shy. He ruffled his hands through his blond hair, mussing it, and turned to face her.
“Why are you troubled? Do you not want