Blood Twist (The Erris Coven Series) (15 page)

“I know plenty. He’s obviously
in love with you or at least – well on his way there and fully cognizant of the fact.
”

“In love?
We just met. It doesn’t happen that fast.”
She casually flipped a strand of hair over her shoulder.

Although with Braden,
I wish
it did
.

“Maybe not for humans, but damphyrs are different.
I’m guessing you like to play the ‘mixed signals game’ which probably has him confused as hell.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

Sidling up to her, Riley trailed his cool fingers down her shoulders. She shivered at his touch. The effect was nothing like what she felt when Braden touched her, no tingling or pulse racing.
Riley lack
ed something she found in his brother
.

Maybe a pulse.

“Yeah, I’d say
you’re presence gives him a disadvantage, but between you and me, I like that you stayed.
I was hoping we could
become closer
.”

“Really?
Close enough that you would consider giving me the cure for the lycanthropy virus so I can save a friend?” Liz edged away from his touch.
That took her by surprise.

“I’m not exactly thinking bosom buddies – but another tradeoff could be made.” Riley’s expression shifted. The humor behind his eyes darkened as he stared down at her. “Give me all
of
you,
let me make you my own.
I really think you would quite like this lifestyle. In return, you would have your cure.”

Liz tried
swallowing, but her throat
dried up. Riley’s voice had a seductive quality – matched with the heated gaze he gave her, she was stunned she was still conscious. If she had never met Braden and knew nothing
of what the draug
r
was really like
, she may have actu
ally been tempted to follow the
sensual creature to hell.

“You mean me becoming a vampire – like you,” she stated simply.

Riley sat down on the bed beside her. Hi
s hand extended over to her leg
. Very lightly, he traced small circles on her knee cap. Liz sat frozen in place, afraid to even breathe.

“I’
m sure my brother painted it in a negative
lig
ht, but I’m far from the
boogeyman.”
Riley
smiled
. A hint of black stirred around his irises, intensifying his gaze
. “It’s simple really. You and I can
spend the evening together,
take off our clothes, do a little kissing – maybe massage –
I would drink
some of
your blood and give you some of mine. There are
lovely places on the body to do that
.
”
His voice lulled to just a whisper. “Imagine how much fun we could have night after night.”

Liz didn’t have loads of experience with boys, but
she didn’t grow up in a convent. E
ven she could tell that Riley was
offering more than just some vampire ritual. Shaking her head, Liz fumbled off the bed to her feet. It wasn’t clear what game Riley was playing, but she knew one thing – it had to end.

“Uh, as much as I appreciate the offer, I think I’ll stay human tonight.” Looking away from him
, she felt disgusted
that a part of her
found Riley desirable. Not
the
same
way she felt for Braden, but that sh
e would have wanted
the vampire if she didn’
t
know a thing about him and m
et
his brother first.

He’s sick in the head and I’m just as sick for listening to him.

What was Riley’s issue anyway? He just got through telling her Braden was starting to develop feelings for her
and in the next breath he tried seducing her right there on the bed. Liz could only figure he was awfully miserable in his life to want her to join him so bad.
Riley didn’t even know her.

Poor Braden
…
. He really better watch his back.

First the vampire
took their father away and
tortured Braden
with the knowledge for years
. Like
that wasn’
t
bad
enough, he now offered to sire
his brother’s
travel companion
on top of everything else.

Riley watched her as she picked up a few remaining objects around the small room and stuffed them in her bag. Although there wasn’t much illumination shining in from the
streetlights, Liz could see he was disappointed. Gone was the sexy confidence he usually exuberated, leaving only a vulnerable
boy.

Forever eighteen and completely self-loathing.
I don’t envy that.

J
ust when she almost fe
l
t
sorry for him, his expression hardened over, and a slow smile crept across his face. “Well, maybe you should go in and talk to Braden. I’ll be around all night if you change your mind.”

Watching him leave her room, Liz knew his words were meant to hurt althou
gh she had no clue what their intentions were
. It wasn’t the first time her inner alarm was screeching for her to be wary of him and knew it wouldn’t be the last.
Riley wasn’t what he seemed
.
If she was smart, she wouldn’
t forget it

1
6

BRADE
N

Less than ten
minutes after Braden left Liz alone in
her room, he was standing next to his bed
,
staring out the windo
w at Vancouver’s night-clad sky
line.
With the mountains as a backdrop, skyscrapers lit the valley with millions of twinkling lights. A far cry from the place he found himself in now.

Around him, the greyi
ng sheetrock was old and crumbling. The scent of cockroach excrement was strong, but surprisingly, he couldn’t hear them in the walls or under the furnishings.
O
ther rodents were silent as well. Night was setting and the draugar would be rising.
Even the critters knew to run and hide.

He just wish
ed
Liz would do the same.
She was such a fierce thing. Neither of them expected to have their freedom, yet she still insisted she stay.

Another night and he could get to the bottom of the charade Rile
y
was playing. If there wasn’t a cure for Ruby, then fine. He would need to let the coven know so they could search
elsewhere. But having Liz right smack in the middle of a draugar nest was insane.

It was his fault. If he hadn’t been completely taken by her, he would be able to use his brain for something other than thinking about her mouth and how desperately he wanted to kiss her.

When that damn owl swiped at them, it took all the control he had not to fang out ri
ght in front of her and tear its blasted
wings off.

A light knock summoned his attention.

“Braden
,” Liz said,
leaning against
the door.
Her hazel eyes were
wet;
like she had been crying.
T
here was a tin
y catch in her voice
, “
I need you
.
” Coming in she closed the door behind her, and walked over to the bed.
Still in her tank top from earlier, he wondered what was wrong.
“The last twenty-four hours
are messing with my head. I
need to
just
shut out ever thing
and feel you against me.
”

“What happened?”
Striding over to her, Braden looked for sign
s she was hurt. “
Did one of them bother you?”

“No,” but they’ll be up soon. It’s our only chance to be together.
I know you want me. I want you
,
too.”

Braden was stunned. Taking a breath, he allowed her t
o take his hand and sit back on
the bed.
Her skin was cooler than usual, missing the usual ripple of sensation she usually gave.
Touching her shoulder, he was again surprised how very fragile she was.

“I need you. All of you,”
Liz repeated
slowly, climbing onto his lap until she straddled him completely.

Running his hands down her back, she shuttered beneath his touch.
Inside him, his hearts
beat in perfect synchronization
.
He wanted this, he knew
he did, but something
didn’t feel right.
She didn’t feel the way he thought she would in his arms. Her pleasant vanilla scent was just missing.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Before he could even finish the last syllable, Liz’s mouth was on hi
s.
Her tongue parting his lips with urgency.

“Wait,” he said, turning
his face away
. Her body rocked against his. Reaching out, h
e gr
abbed the bedrail
for leverage, the metal
beneath creaked from
the strength of his grip. She pushed her face
harder against his throat. Her small, sharp teeth skimmed
over the sensitive skin.

Braden’
s eyes flew open. Grabbing h
er sh
oulders, he pushed her back
as her black hair turned
frosty
and her hazel
eyes shimmered into a
stony
grey.
Grinning like a shark, Maze,
smiled naughtily
at him
.

What the…?

“What’s wrong
?” she asked in a thick voice. “Do you not want me to pretend I’m th
at child your drag around? W
hat’s her name again?”

“Liz,” he mumbled, completely thrown off guard.

“That’s right.
Ah and just in time.
S
he came to watch.”

And there she was –
motionless
at his bedroom door.

The girl he just thought he was kissing
stood
with
eyes filled with a terrible
, knowing
hurt.
Looking
fro
m him to Maze, utterly betrayed, Liz couldn’t seem to draw a deep breath
.
The pained expression
s
he gave him w
as so hopeless.
His chance of being hers, disintegrating
on the spot.

“No.”

1
7

L
I
Z

Liz felt as if she’d been smacked in the face.
Seeing the two of them together
, on his bed, arms entangled,
was a shock. Trying to speak,
her words wouldn’t form,
t
he air
just
rushed from
of her lungs
in the form of an audible squeak
.

“We’re a little busy,” Maze said, her lips curling in a pleased grin.

“No, we aren’t.” Braden
said,
push
ing
Maze from
his lap. “It’s not what you think,” he said desperately.

Liz flinched but tried to appear calm. She understood immensely what was going on.

S
tep
ping
back
wards
, she closed the door to give them their privacy.
As soon as it clicked shut, she thought she would be sick.
Standing frozen in the hallway, her gaze blurred with tears.
Liz fought to keep them from falling, but gave up. Holding them back hurt too deeply in her heart.

How could I have thought he would want me?

Maze was beautiful, sexy and obviously experienced. No wonder Braden wanted Liz to stay in Maine. Babysitting a virgin wasn’t his idea of cutting lose. Even though they were the same age, he obviously had
needs that Liz
had no right trying to fill.