Bound Through Blood by Alexis Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page B

She shifted the wet bag of vegetables in her arms, so they wouldn't rip through the damp paper. A kind sales clerk offered, though, to keep the bag behind the counter, so Salena could look at the clothing racks, and she gratefully accepted. She looked through the racks of new merchandise, filled with bright spring and summer colors, and picked out a couple of new blouses and skirts for work. The phrase her mother had used, "retail therapy," came to mind and made her smile. She wondered, with a heavy heart, what her parents would think about the events in her life right now. They were always strict about who they'd let her date when she was growing up, so she was pretty certain they would disapprove of a vampire in her life now; even if her grandmother had one first.
    After paying for her clothes, she waited out the rain with several others.
     

Chapter 21
    Devin was still tingling from the close contact of rubbing up against her, even if he'd been a cat at the time. He was back in human form now and on the way to her house with the flowers she'd been admiring. He'd grabbed them when the vendor had closed everything up and ran for cover from the rain. Along the way, he noticed a young woman, probably in her late teens, standing alone on the sidewalk in front of a dilapidated store. Her white lacy top was drenched and transparent enough to show she wasn't wearing a bra. Rosy buds peeked through at him, and shifting her hips, she crooked her finger with a smile. Devin laughed silently to himself. It was always amusing when females thought they were the charmers when it came to him. He is the alpha—in this and every case. Nonetheless, he was hungry, so he played along. He approached her, smiling back, and looked her up and down, "Good afternoon. Trying to stay dry?"
    She cocked her head and tried to make her voice extra sultry, "I am all wet."
    He couldn't help but notice how she drew out the word, "all."
    She looked him up and down as well and said, "Come inside here with me," while gesturing to the dilapidated building.
    The door opened without any resistance, apart from the loud moan of its rusted hinges, and he followed her into the abandoned store. He looked around the rundown building, "What is this place?"
    She, too, looked around, "I dunno, I think it was a grocery store or somethin'. But, now, it can be a place to get to know you better." She turned and looked at the flowers in his hand and batted her lashes at him playfully. "Are those for me?"
    "No," he said, and as she approached him seductively, he added, "I don't have time for this." Then he had his dinner.
    His hunger contained for now, he left her body there with the rats and headed back to Salena's house to leave her a present. She wasn't home yet, so he left the flowers by her garden tub and looked around some more. He became especially interested in her painting, and, being artistic himself, he added a few brush strokes where she had hesitated on the fountain.
    When he heard her car in the driveway, he went down through the basement door and left the same way he'd come in.
     

Chapter 22
    Salena, still drenched from the rain, pulled into her driveway. A hot bath was definitely in order now; she needed to get ready for her dinner plans anyway. After putting her vegetables in the refrigerator, she shed her wet clothes into the washing machine and put her new ones in the hamper. Then she hesitated; she was sure she could smell the musky fragrance again. She sniffed the air around her then looked down, where it seemed to be coming from. She pulled her pants back out of the washer and, besides stubborn wet fur, there was definitely a musky smell there. She dropped the pants back into the machine like they were on fire and promptly started the wash. Shaking her head, she padded off to the bathroom for a long, relaxing soak. I'm just imagining things . Or maybe not? She was sure she could smell the enticing musky fragrance throughout her house. But, she already