Page 43 of Heartbeat Girl
She sucked in a breath, eyes moving down my face, and stopping on my lips. “It’s a mess. No need to lie.”
Her voice trembled. But there was something else that took me by surprise. Her natural scent flooded my senses along with something richer. Something that turned my cold veins to fire. Sugary fucking sweet. I glanced down at her bare legs and the thin shorts she wore. Did she even have panties on? Blood rushed to my cock. How long had she been hiding that from me? Or was that the first time I’d ever aroused her? She was so open for me. That made her pussy easier to scent, which would explain why I’d never recognized it before through all her layers of clothing. She looked at me when it happened.
It’s me.
That had my mind hoping for things it shouldn’t. Maybe Jayne was unsure. Some part of her might even dread her attraction to me. Maybe she fought it. Jayne’s afraid to want me, too.
Jayne. Jayne. Jayne.
My leash just got shorter.
“Wow,” Steve groaned. “That’s...”
“Jesus Christ.” Pete covered his face and inhaled.
Oh, fuck no.
I wasn’t the only one who could smell Jayne’s desire. My skin itched as I watched the other two males near Jayne.
I didn’t likethem knowing what she smelled like. For vampires, our senses were so sharp, a scent might as well be tasting. Her arousal completely faded within seconds, but it had a potent effect on Pete. He shielded his eyes to hide the change within them, amplifying my anger.
“What are you guys talking about? I’m missing the entire conversation here.” She frowned and turned to Pete. “Are you okay?”
When she reached out for him, I jerked her out of the booth and steered her further away from Pete. She gasped, and I felt her hammering pulse at her wrist. Her nipples were sharp points against the silk she wore. I covered my own eyes because I worried about what I might show her.
“I’d rather you not do that.” More accurately,don’t do that.The more unstable I became, the further I let my obsession consume me. I rubbed my face, unsure if it was safe to look at her.
“Not do what?” she asked.
When the fire beneath my skin simmered down, I dropped my hand and gazed at her wide eyes. “Touchanyoneelse.”
She exhaled, and her jaw dropped. “What?”
My stare was merciless. I wanted her to sense my desire for her through it. That I came for her. She needed to be open and ready. There would only be me. Only me for her.
“You’re being strange.” Jayne looked at the others. “Tell him how strange he’s being Steve.”
“I don’t see it.” Steve took my side for once and pushed her further into a corner.
Jayne’s heart hammered. Her panic crept up the bus walls, drowning me in her emotions because it was so potent.
Throwing her hands over her head, she backed out of the room. “Stop messing with me. I’m going to lie down. Whatever this is needs to be over when I wake up.”
The second she did, I turned on Pete, fangs and blackened stare focused on him. He closed his eyes as I pulled him out of the seat. “Why are you hiding your eyes?”
“It’s not like that,” he said. “I couldn’t help my reaction. Come on. She smells good. Shealwayssmells good. You can’t expect me to be near her when she’s aroused and not get affected.”
“She’smine.”My voice was low, so Jayne wouldn’t hear me, but it didn’t erase the malice.
“She’s not,” Pete replied. “But I wouldn’t do you that way. And I like Jayne. I’d never risk her friendship like what you’re doing.”
“What?”I jeered.
“Liam,” Steve whispered my name as he yanked me away from Pete. Slapping my chest, he said, “Look at you. No wonder there aren’t more vampires in relationships. Ever consider the fact we never see vampire couples despite the fact that a mating bond is supposed to exist? If this is what love does to us…”
Mating bond… I hadn’t heard that in a while. Marilyn always claimed it to be a myth, always ranting, “Nothing could ever be stronger than a bond to your sire.”
Taking a deep breath, I reeled in my anger and turned toward Pete. “I shouldn’t have done that. It’s just… I noticed her being so at ease with you and then you reacted to her and—”