A Blood Seduction by Pamela Palmer Read Free Book Online Page A

moved, and she felt the flick of his damp tongue along the edge of her ear. She gasped, accidentally rocking forward, pressing her hips against that thick erection. The groan that escaped her throat sounded embarrassingly happy.
    “Will you help me find Zack?”
    “No.” One long-fingered hand rose to cover her breast.
    Her head tipped back, her eyes drifting shut at the wicked pleasure. This was wrong. So wrong. “Please. You must.”
    His lips returned to her jaw. “You are magnificent, tessoro. Built like the sleekest racehorse, all long limbs and lean strength.” He released her, his fingers suddenly at her waist, unzipping her jeans. “There is nothing I must do. Except have you.”
    Quinn grasped his wrists. “You said I wasn’t fully recovered.” But, oh he smelled decadent. It would feel so good to let him finish, to feel his hands on her, his body over hers, inside hers. It was so tempting to push one of the wrists she held down, forcing his hand lower, between her legs. How could she be so hot for him? For him ?
    As he nuzzled her jaw, he nicked it, the sharp prick of pain making her rear back.
    The vampire lifted his face, and the blood drained from her own. His eyes once more had those awful white centers, and his fangs were growing, thickening. Her desire fled on a rush of panic.
    He went still, his eyes drifting closed, that look of intense pleasure returning to his face. “You’re afraid of me.”
    Her breath trembled out. “I don’t want this. You. Sex.” Her eyes started to burn. “I don’t—”
    His finger lifted to her lips, silencing her panicked plea as his eyes returned to normal, his fangs retracting. “Then we will not.”
    She stared at him. Just like that?
    To her amazement, he stepped back, his expression unreadable. “Eat, cara. Rest.” He turned and started for the door.
    Quinn launched herself after him. “Wait! At least tell me where Zack is. Tell me if he’s still alive.”
    The vampire turned back. She half expected to feel the sting of his anger, but the look on his face remained closed and enigmatic. “I know not, nor does it matter. The life you led before is over, piccola. You belong to me now. And your brother is no longer your concern. The sooner you accept that, the longer you will last.”
    “As long as I draw breath, he’s my concern.”
    But the vampire left without replying, closing the door behind him.
    Quinn stared at the door, lifting shaking hands to her head as she wondered if she was going to implode from the emotional whiplash of the past minutes. Raging desire, crippling fear. And the desperation to find Zack. He’d been gone for three days. Three days. “Dammit!” She sank back against the bed, tears burning her eyes.
    Zack was still alive. He had to be. And she had to find him soon.
    Brushing at the tears that were starting to fall, she took a deep, unsteady breath.
    It was time to start hunting a way to escape.

Chapter Four
     
    Z ack Lennox strained to push the full wheelbarrow, his teeth clenched so hard he feared he was going to crack his molars. His hands were blistered, his muscles screaming, but he didn’t make a sound. He’d learned that lesson on the first day. If you shouted, if you groaned, if you did the unthinkable and actually spoke—meet Mr. Whip. And fuck did that guy sting.
    Rivulets of sweat ran into his eyes, making sight next to impossible, but he’d traveled this path a hundred times, at least, over the course of the past couple of days, wheeling load after load of bricks back to the wall. Several of the other slaves were actually building the wall, while still others stirred the mortar.
    He was sweaty and grimy and sore, but the worst of the misery was the constant, excruciating hunger. How the fuck did they expect him to keep working his ass off with no food? Well, some food, but not nearly enough.
    Are they feeding Quinn better than me? God, I hope so. He hoped she was okay. All he remembered was their being