Page 81 of Blood Match
“That’s none of your business,” she snaps, fumbling with her keys. “And for the record, showing up uninvited at someone’s home is creepy as hell.”
Her defiance only fuels my irritation. “As my…blood donor, I think I have a right to know who you’re associating with.”
Rowan whirls on me, eyes flashing. “Your ‘blood donor’? Is that what you think this arrangement is? You don’t own me, Darick. I can spend time with whoever I damn well please.”
I want to bare my fangs. “It’s not safe for you to be gallivanting around with humans who don’t understand—”
“Oh, spare me the protective vampire routine,” she cuts me off. “He’s not a human. And I’m a witch, remember? I can take care of myself.”
The scent of her anger is intoxicating, stirring something unfamiliar within me. I take another step forward, crowding her against the door. “Can you? Because from where I’m standing, you seem woefully unprepared for the dangers that come with our…arrangement.”
“Oh?” She raises a brow. “And what would those be?”
I stop because it’s probably not a good idea to tell her about the volumes of shit I bring with me. “It’s not something you need to worry about…as long as you do as I say.”
“Hah!” She tosses her head, auburn waves flying. I stop myself from reaching out to touch the silken strands. “Admit it: You’re a control freak. This has nothing to do with these so-called dangers and everything to do with pushing me around.”
“Push you around?” I snort. “I should be so lucky.”
She glares at me. “Look, is there some reason you’re here right now, or did you just come here to try to annoy me?”
I don’t answer immediately.
Why the fuck am I here?
“You said I couldn’t get in your head uninvited.” I shrug.
“Oh. So you decided to come to my home uninvited instead?” She pauses, her eyes going wide. “Wait… This is my home, Darick! You can’t be here!”
“Why not?” I fold my arms over my chest.”
“Because my family might see you, you big jerk!” She rolls her eyes. “Do you know how much trouble I’d be in if they saw me…fraternizing with a vampire?”
“Fraternizing?” I half-laugh. “I’d say it’s more than that.”
“Fine.” She huffs. “Exchanging blood for magic. Whatever you want to call it…they’ll flip out.”
“You mean to say you’ve kept this entire thing a secret?” I ask.
Fuck, I hope she has.
But when she looks away and gnaws on her lip, I go tense.
“Please tell me you’ve kept this secret.”
“My gran knows,” she mutters. “I couldn’t keep it from her. Now, are you going to leave, or do I have to hit you with another sunbeam?”
I smirk at her threat. “I’m not going anywhere, little witch. And I doubt you have the strength for another sunbeam right now.”
Rowan glances nervously over her shoulder. “You can’t be standing on my patio. What if someone sees?”
“Then invite me in,” I say smoothly. “I can’t enter unless you do.”
She hesitates, conflict clear in her eyes. Finally, she sighs. “Fine. Darick Drake, you may enter my home. But only because I don’t want to risk anyone seeing you lurking out here like a creep.”
I step over the threshold, savoring the moment. Few vampires ever enter a witch’s dwelling.
A blur of gray fur suddenly appears, and I find myself face-to-face with a squirrel perched on a nearby table. Its eyes widen comically.