Page 76 of Heartbeat Girl

I shrugged. “It would be nice to know what my could-be killer looked like if she did wake and come for you guys.”

“What a gift if we never saw Marilyn’s face again,” Pete said.

Looking at the anger and pure misery reflected in their eyes, I wished more than anything that I could help them. I would drive a stake into some vampire’s chest for them if she were evil incarnate. But if Marilyn really commanded them to hurt me, would they?

I found that so hard to imagine, no matter what they said. They were good guys. The only time I’d witnessed them being bad was when the vampires attacked. Any time Steve got flirty with me, Liam became all fangs and rage, but that was different. I was well aware they had a dark past because they told me. But all I saw when I looked at them were the same three goofballs, trying their hardest to befriend me. They were playful, silly, and extremely protective. Their music was the only thing that revealed the darkness within.

“Since today went all to hell, can I assume everyone has already snacked?” I couldn’t help but direct my attention to Liam. Did he go drink from someone else while I was in agony thanks to Steve’s bite?

Pete chuckled before saying, “I’ve eaten, but since you’re staring at Liam all squinty-eyed, I get the feeling you don’t really care if I’m starving or not.”

“I’ll wait until tomorrow,” Liam responded.

“Are you sure? We can go find someone,” I suggested.

He crossed his arms. “Do you want me to bend you over in front of these two and smack your ass?” My cheeks grew warm, and he arched a brow. “Yeah, that’s what I figured. I said I’ll wait.”

I sucked on my bottom lip. So, he did plan on drinking from someone after all? I wanted to ask him, but it felt like too much after feeding Steve earlier. I got nauseous at the idea of him touching another woman, but he couldn’t survive off our emotional attachment. But could he live off my affections?Fuck blood.I’d fill him up with all my attention. If only that were possible. I sighed.

Liam made me all kinds of crazy possessive.

“Okay,” I mumbled.

Don’t tell me your plans and let me sulk about it.

I was carrying a damn cup around during their concert tomorrow. When Liam wanted to eat, I’d find him a nice girl and kindly tell him to cut her wrist and drink from the mug. He could tell her Steve fucked her or held her hand afterward. As long as Liam didn’t say it was him.

“Jayne, you okay?” Pete asked, and pointed at my face. “You got this twitch in your right eye. You look a little unstable right now.”

I covered my eye. “Just a headache,” I lied. “I need to let Black Hearts know about what happened today before they hear it from anyone else.”

Steve laughed. “Yes, make sure it’s our lie they believe.”

I snickered as I followed the three of them to my room. It was quite nice being knowledgeable for a change. And so much easier to let myself be comfortable around them.

+++

Around ten, after working on the puzzle with Pete, I told the band I was going to sleep. I removed my makeup and freshened up before shutting myself in the room. Fluffing my pillow, I laid down and closed my eyes. Then I listened to their soft laughter, their hushed voices, and the creak on the couch. I always heard them over the quiet night traffic. What once frustrated me put a smile on my face.

Everything I’d learned about those fucking vampires and Liam came flooding back. How I constantly looked at him throughout that evening to make sure his focus was still on me.It had.I enjoyed being the center of Liam’s attention. But I wondered if it was a lot longer than that day or week. I remembered all the times his eyes tracked me in the recording room when I was with Ruth. The way he teased me about my smell and me not knowing that he wasliterallysmelling parts of me no one should. I wasted so much time averting my eyes from his I missedhowLiam watched me.

My heart fluttered, and that tingly excitement kept me from falling asleep quickly. I peeked at the door. Light seeped through the cracks, but there was no vampire sneaking through. I sighed and rubbed my legs together. Sparks of pleasure pulsed at my clit. I half expected Liam to burst in and have his wicked way with me.

I waited and waited. Tossed and turned. Huffed and puffed. Then I groaned and shoved my face into the pillow. They were vampires who never slept. What was I expecting? If Liam came to me, they’d know exactly what we were doing. Did I care? No. Would I be embarrassed? Yes, but not enough to make the idea of him slipping inside the room disappear.

I guessed Liam wanted to stew over Steve’s bite longer.Liam’s not coming.I would let him drag it out that night. Tomorrow, he would feed and hopefully it would be from me. Then the next day? Me. After that? Me again.

Realistically, that fantasy wouldn’t work unless I could produce blood at an insane rate. But no matter how ridiculous it seemed, I didnotwant his hands on or fangs in another woman, especially since I knew what the bite made them feel like. The longer I thought about it, though, the more my heart pinched. The idea of speaking to him about it was worse.

Eventually, my wandering mind came to a halt and exhaustion claimed me because I didn’t see the door open or close. I roused as the covered lifted. The movement was so slow and precise that goosebumps broke out over my arms. Hands trailed up my bare legs, awakening every nerve ending.Mm.I didn’t want to move. I barely breathed, too afraid to kill the buzz of the vampire’s touch. A palm slid up my thigh and tickled my belly. A knee wedged between my legs, spreading my thighs. And a warm body nestled between them. My lips parted, but didn’t make a peep. If this was a dream, it was a damned good one, and I wouldn’t ruin it by waking up.

He finally lowered himself, and I moaned, shutting my mouth right after. His hard length pressed against my shorts, searing my clit through the thin material.I’m not dreaming!I panted, eyes slowly opening. Light trickled in from the streetlight outside the small window that gave me brief images as they came and went as the bus moved. I made out his hair and the shape of his head, but couldn’t see his face clearly. Skimming my fingers down his cheek, I felt his perfect jaw. Then darkness filled the room again, casting shadows.

“Liam.” I wiggled beneath him as he ran a hand up my thigh before wrapping my legs around his waist. His mouth found my neck and the wet sensation shot straight down to my clit.Ohhh.“I didn’t think you’d come,” I admitted. I’d given up the possibility of him coming to me and fell asleep.

“You smell like strawberries,” he whispered, then flicked his tongue against my ear.

My eyes rolled back as I gulped.