Bleed For Me by Cynthia Eden Read Free Book Online

and has the power
to prove it.” A vampire who could teleport, just as Eric had done
when he’d disappeared from her apartment.
    Well, at least that explained how he’d managed to get
inside
her locked home.
    And, unfortunately, it also presented her with a
whole new slew of problems. Because if Eric could teleport, there
would be no safe place for her to hide from him.
    She didn’t doubt that he’d be back for her. Eric
wouldn’t just walk away. Things would never be that easy.
    He’d be back, and he’d make her pay for her perceived
betrayal.
    “You’re not his mate.” Apollo gazed down at her with
blazing eyes.
    “No.”
Hell, no
.
    His fingers circled her injured arm. Warmed the
flesh.
    “You don’t have to—” She began but the dull ache
immediately eased as the skin closed. Terese swallowed. “I told you
before, I can heal myself. Vampires heal while they sleep.”
    His hand dropped away, and she missed the warmth of
his touch. “Eric’s the one who made you into a vampire.”
    Even though it wasn’t a question, she nodded.
    “Was he your lover?” Quiet, emotionless words.
    “We-we were dating. We’d just been seeing each other
for a few weeks. I didn’t know what he was.” It wasn’t like she’d
expected her boyfriend to be a vampire.
    “
Were you lovers?”
Not quite so emotionless
now. There was anger humming in his voice. Anger or jealousy?
    Terese shook her head. “We weren’t. Not even after he
changed me.” She’d thought he would rape her after that first
terrible night, but he hadn’t. Eric had been waiting, confident
that she would turn to him, that she would seek out his
lovemaking.
    Wrong again, asshole.
    Some of the tension eased from Apollo’s shoulders.
But his gaze still simmered with emotion when he said, “Don’t run
from me again.”
    A broken laugh slipped from her lips. “Don’t you get
it yet? That’s all my life is now.
Running.
” And the
running wouldn’t stop. Not until Eric was dead.
    Killing an elder?
Good luck with that
one.
    “Why did you leave?” His fingers brushed her arm.
“Was I…too rough?”
    “No.” She shook her head. “I liked…everything you
did.” That was the problem. Terese stepped away from him. “And now
I need you to leave.”
    He blinked. “Run that by me again.”
    Didn’t the guy see that she was fighting to hold on
to her control? “Eric is an ancient vampire. One who now hates
you.”
Because of me.
“The last thing I wanted to do was
put you in danger.”
    He laughed.
    She glared. “I left to protect you, Apollo! I didn’t
want my hell coming to your home.” But he’d followed her, and Eric
would know him now.
    “I don’t fear your vampire.” Ah, that cockiness was
back in his voice. “He should fear me.”
    Then his hands wrapped around her and pulled her
against him. “Why did protecting me matter to you?”
    This was the tough part. “Because…you’re special.”
He’d brought her out of the sunlight. Shielded her. Healed her.
“You took care of me. You gave me so much pleasure. I just…I don’t
want anyone to hurt you.” Because her feelings for him were so new
and confusing and it almost felt like they were ripping her
apart.
    “And I won’t
let
anyone hurt you.” His words
were a vow. “Trust me, Terese. I can protect you.” His lips
feathered over her jaw. “I can give you everything you need in this
world.”
    Her eyes closed. “I wish I’d met you months ago.”
Before…
    His breath blew against her skin. “I’m here now.
That’s all that matters. The past is gone…”
    As was her human life. She knew that. Time to pony up
and deal with it.
    “The future is right here.”
    He raised his head and smiled down at her.
Sexy
dimples.
    “I’m your perfect partner. You can’t kill me, no
matter how much blood you take. And you can fuck me to your heart’s
content.”
    Terese’s heart kicked in her chest.
    “But it’s only gonna be me, do you understand? From
here on out,