Page 9 of Deadly Cravings

“She has a nice ass,” whoever he addressed intoned; the low voice sent a shiver up my spine.

I was lifted and then dumped into the chair. A sharp pain radiated from my wrist where it hit the arm of the seat. I whimpered, holding it to my chest.

“Quiet,” he snapped. I jumped, my back flattening against the couch cushion. No wonder it hurt, my wrist bone hadsmacked into the carved wood jutting to the side of the arm rests.

“That’s the woman . . .”

“Not now, Asher. I don’t care if she looks like someone you’ve fucked. Compulsion doesn’t work on her.” Jax’s sharp tone dragged my attention to him.

How had his hair grown...?I blinked as my gaze bounced from one to the other. Twins. Except one had long hair that hit his shoulders instead of the short style. The long-haired twin stepped close, head tipped to the side, blue gaze inquisitive and exponentially less aggressive than the other one. A loose, white, unbuttoned shirt flashed his pale skin.

Jax leaned down, his face frighteningly close to mine so the little lines of his pupils were clear for me to see. I struggled to breathe. “Why were you with Tobias?”

My lip trembled, and my eyes kept dropping to his pointy fangs. A muscle in his cheek twitched. He gripped my hair, twisting strands with such strength that it sent agonizing pinpricks through my scalp. “Speak.”

“I don’t know anything! He was being attacked. I thought he was human, so I took him to my car.” The words fell from my lips in a rush.

Jax became preternaturally still and all I could do was sit there as he stared at me. This was it; I could see my death in his eerie blue eyes.

“Fine. You’re useless if you know nothing.” His hand was suddenly wrapped around my throat. My pulse pounded in my ears, and I wrapped my hands around his wrist, trying to pull free, but it was no use. I used my nails, scratching and tugging desperately as my head became pressurized.

“If you’re going to kill her anyway, let me taste her,” the long-haired blond, Asher, said.

“Fine, but fucking drain her.” Jax released me and I dragged in air. I didn’t even have a second to collect myself before the cushion beside me dipped and a gentler hand cupped the side of my head.

“There there, take a breath,” he murmured, his lips slightly pursed. “I wish we could have had more time together,” he tsked. “Too bad I must kill you. It would have been quite the adventure to fuck a human that can’t be compelled.” He bopped me on the nose.

He was just as psychotic but he packaged it differently. Before I could even try to beg for my life, his lips brushed my neck and his fangs sank in.

They moved too fast. I was no match. Tears filled my eyes, and I bunched his white shirt, tugging at it weakly. He sucked in a long drag of blood, and just like the last bite, a flame ignited in my gut, spreading like wildfire. I stopped pulling at his shirt and went limp. My head swam with a mix of debilitating fear and lust so strong I clasped his arms, trying to get closer. He dragged in another swallow, pulling a cry from my lips as my core clenched, pulsing needily.

His fangs suddenly yanked out of my throat without precursor and the heat of his body left my hands. I drooped against the couch.

My hands shook, making it difficult for me to grip my purse strap, and no matter how much I focused, there was no strength in my fingers. He’d messed my neck up and left me floating on the edge of an orgasm. I panted, weakly fumbling with my purse. A hiss lifted the hair on my arms, but as frightened as it made me, I didn’t stop trying to unzip my bag. The sound of a scuffle erupted through the room, but I didn’t look up as I tried to focus.

“I’m in control now.” The rough voice held an undertone of a hiss.

Tobias knelt in front of me, slipping his hand into the purse and pressing the lip of the inhaler to my mouth like he’d done last time. I sucked in and relief loosened my chest.

“Fuuuuuck, she’s delicious.” Asher leaned his elbows on the arm rests, looking down at me like I was some specimen under a microscope. Blood coated his toothy grin. My stomach turned over, but I could do nothing other than struggle to breathe. “She tastes like . . . like . . .” he trailed off, his eyes unfocused.

Tobias pulled the inhaler from my lips, and the back of his finger grazed my cheek. I flinched, swallowing hard as I studied my surroundings.

“You have both lost your minds.” The angry twin paced near the entrance.

The wooden floorboards were polished to such perfection that I doubted they’d seen much wear in their lifetime. Two couches faced each other in the middle of the room, an onyx coffee table with the surface made of glass between them. The seat I huddled in gave me a view of the entire room.

There had to be a way to escape. I worried my lip as I sought the latch to the half oval window I sat near. The dark curtains fluttered... it must be open. If I tossed myself out, I’d be able to run, but they were vampires. I didn’t have a chance of escaping before one of them caught me.

I met Tobias’s gaze, and he frowned as if he understood the rioting emotions in my head. His lips parted and he focused on my face, a dent forming between his brows. I avoided his searching eyes.

The inside of the home was Gothic, all dark bars and curving metal. It was beautiful in a spooky way. Like something out of a story book. The chimney, with ornate black-metal framing, was hauntingly beautiful.

A tickle at my neck dragged my hand up. My fingertips slid over my skin, brushing over a stinging wound.

“Let me close that for you,” Asher purred. He leaned close, too suddenly.

Panic shocked my strength back to life. I swung the only luxury bag I owned, smacking him across the face. The entire room seemed to still.