Page 95 of Heartbeat Girl

Ipaused mid chew when I caught Liam watching me from across the bus. It was just me and him while I munched on the burger and drank the shake Rupert gave me. I couldn’t hide my happiness over the idea Liam had a plan. My foot tapped repeatedly, and I hummed. I shouldn’t be so thrilled about wanting someone dead, but the turmoil in Liam and the other's eyes any time they mentioned their sire had me seeing red. The killing, rape, and other disgusting things they’d told me about while in fear of my reaction made my heart ache. And that was all I needed to hear. I believed them. Simple as that.

Of course, my intentions weren’t purely because of that. I wanted Liam’s bond broken from his sire. I simmered whenever I pictured someone else touching my Liam, forcing pleasure from him. I wanted to puke. It was wrong, and why I would blindly trust Larissa if this plan fell through. I wanted my vampires free.

Alas, that’s why his news made me happy andhopeful.Anything was better than doing nothing.

“I figured Steve and Pete would be back by now,” I said, averting my eyes from Liam’s intense, utterly focused ones. My skin tingled, begging to be touched.

“They’re feeding,” Liam replied. “And then making a run down the road.”

I swallowed, eyes darting around the room. That was another topic I wanted to broach. Liam hadn’t asked for my blood, but it’d been two days since his last feeding. I’d been too angry to be around him most of that time. That anger might have sent him biting into another. I glanced at him before taking another bite of my burger.

Don’t be crazy. Don’t be crazy, Jayne.

“Did you already eat?” I blurted. “And where did they go?”

Whatever he held in his hand snapped. Or maybe it was his patience I heard breaking. “Do you think I’ve drunk from someone?”

“Have you?” I asked, finally steeling my spine and meeting his gaze. A shattered pen dropped to the floor near his feet.

“Jayne…” His mouth lifted on one side slightly.

“You haven’t asked for my blood.”

Liam looked toward the door seconds before it opened. Steve stepped in first and tossed a bag at Liam, who caught it. Steve watched Liam open whatever he gave him, then smirked at me. “Ah! This brings back memories.”

My eyes bulged as Liam pulled out a blood bag.

“I thought—”

Liam cut me off. “You’ve already ruined me and my taste buds, Jayne. The smell alone of another human repulses me just like this blood does.” His nose wrinkled before he bit into the bag. A second later, his body convulsed. The blood bag, and what he swallowed, spewed on the floor. Steve and Pete reached him before I could, but I was right there with them. Shudders wracked Liam’s body. My stomach churned.

What’s wrong with him?

“I remember it being bad, but not like this,” Steve said, observing Liam warily.

“I knew it,” Liam gagged through another spasm.

“What’s wrong?” I gripped his shirt, wanting to push the other two away and pull him close.

“He’s rejectingallblood,” Steve said, eyes lighting up as he gawked at me. “Except yours.Holy shit.The fucking vampire mating is real. Apparently, it doesn’t have to be to another vampire.”

Vampire mating?I didn’t know what they rambled on about. All that mattered was how I felt and what I wanted. And how Liam felt and what he wanted. The rest didn’t compare to the love I found with Liam.

I felt silly for getting so worked up about Liam drinking from others. I should have known he had the same thoughts as me. And now I knew something about our growing feelings ruined his taste buds for everyone else’s blood. I worried he wouldn’t get the right amount he needed. He’d still yet to eat since that epic night of making love.

My heart pounded as heat engulfed me. “What are you talking about?”

Liam wiped his mouth. His face lit up from his smile. “You know what it means. You’re mine, and I’m yours. Sire bond be damned because I’ll tell you all what I’ve never been able to before.” His gaze went to Steve’s. “I think I can do it.Wecan…” Liam’s neck strained slightly before the tension left, and his mouth grew wider. “I cankillMarilyn.”

Steve’s eyes bulged. “How did you say that?”

Oh.

Oh!

This was big. Their smiles were infectious. I grinned with them. None of them could speak about their intentions before. They couldn’t outright ask for help with Marilyn. Then my smile waned when I saw Pete rubbing his ears until they were red. He held his head and backed away slightly.

“Pete, you okay?” I asked right before I reached out and grabbed his arm.