some random topic of conversation.
He turned into a mostly empty parking lot near Loyola. “Just making sure we’ve got everything set for Saturday night. Is your sister Livvy willing to be your partner in crime?” He downshifted, the car purring as we slowed.
“More than willing. Livvy is always up for adventure.”
He wheeled to the back of the lot where there were only two or three cars parked.
“What’s wrong? You seem tense.”
Devraj shook his head, unbuckling his seatbelt. “Just the reading Violet did. I want to be ready for anything.”
“I’m sure your Vampire Justice League can handle anything unexpected.”
“Oh, we can. Vampire Justice League? Is that an Avengers thing or something?”
I laughed, thinking of Evie. She’d like the label. “I don’t think so, but it should be. I don’t know what you call your little party of vampire cops.”
He eyed me like I was crazy then said, “Get out of the car, Isadora.”
I unbuckled and met him around front. I glanced around, wondering where he was taking me. This was just an empty parking lot for students near the university. He took my hand and led me around to the driver’s side.
“What are you doing?”
He opened the car door. “Teaching you how to drive.” He gave a little shove to the small of my back.
“What?!” I backed up into a hard wall of Devraj. “No, no, no, no.”
He laughed, spinning me by my waist and pressing my back to the side of the car. He cupped my face, pinning me with his pelvis and his gorgeous eyes.
“Do you trust me, Isadora?”
I gripped his wrists. “Not if you’re trying to teach me to drive, I don’t.”
He kicked the inside of one ankle, spreading my legs and settled against me, possessing my mouth with dizzying speed. I pressed my blunt nails into his wrists in defiance of this crazy-ass idea. Still, I kissed him back, my appetite for him as voracious as ever. When our kiss mounted to that frenzied state, his tongue piercing making me want his tongue in other places, he pulled away and pressed his forehead to mine, still holding my face, his gaze so warm, so steady, so sure.
“You trust me with your body.” He pressed his closer to mine, rubbing against me, as if I needed a reminder. “And with your blood.” His gaze flicked down to my neck. “Now trust me with your fear. I can help you with this.”
“You think me wrecking your million-dollar car is going to help me get over a lifelong phobia? You’re nuts, vampire.”
He nipped my bottom lip with a fang, not breaking the skin, but stinging all the same. “Isadora.” He licked the sting, rocking his hard body into mine, dragging a whimper from my throat. “Trust me.”
I was breathing heavily, panic running amok. “I can’t do this.”
“You can.”
“I might wreck your car.”
“It’s insured.”
“I’m scared.”
“I’m here for you.”
I half-laughed, half-whined at that. “You’re insane.”
“I want you to trust me. I’d never let any harm come to you. You’ll be safe.”
His crooning words vibrated straight through my ribcage and encircled my heart. I did trust him. I did feel safe with him. I knew he’d never let harm come to me. All of these things sung in my soul like magic, pulsing with his sweet promises. As sweet as the ones he’d made with his body, his hands, his mouth, his tongue.
Why did this feel so monumental? Trusting him enough to teach me to drive? It was a trivial, minor thing. To most people. To me, it was an irrational fear that had morphed into my way of life, settling me into a world where I avoided cars and preferred to shop as far as my bicycle would take me. And he was asking me to just, what, jump off the cliff with him and drive his freaking Lamborghini?
“Trust me,” he cooed against my lips, sipping softly now, tracing my jawline with his thumbs in soothing sweeps. “You can do this, Isadora.”
My heart tried to pound through its cage of flesh and bones. I squeezed my eyes shut and said, “I can do this,” just trying the words on for size. My pulse immediately slowed.
“You can do this,” he repeated with supreme confidence. And affection.
I opened my eyes and inhaled a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll try.”
The smile he gave me was galactic in its brilliance. “Good girl.”
One more soft kiss then he ushered me into the driver’s seat. I sat there stiffly, trapping my hands between my thighs, staring at the insanely