Cody by Kimberly Raye Read Free Book Online

through the same spiel with bouncer number two.
    Luckily, they were in the rear parking lot, which didn’t have as much traffic as the one just across the street. A paid lot that offered security. The back lot was strictly for overflow and employees, so Cody didn’thave to deal with anyone else coming out during the next few moments as he checked for damage to the car.
    Other than a smashed right fender, everything else looked okay. He stuffed the air bag back into place, slid behind the wheel and flipped open the glove box. He retrieved her purse and found her wallet.
    A glance at her driver’s license and his stomach knotted.
    Skull Creek.
    The truth echoed in his head, along with a rush of dread because he’d just had the most incredible sex of his afterlife and now the plan was to gain as much distance as possible from the woman who’d given it to him.
    He had a vampire to kill and a score to settle. He needed his concentration. His focus.
    Shit.
    Could his night get any worse?
    A great big Hell, yes! smacked him upside the head when he pulled into the parking lot of a convenience store a short distance from the club and slid into the backseat to check on Miranda.
    The place had long since closed and everything was dark, but he could see her any way. Her smooth skin and full lips. The soft fan of her lashes on her cheeks. The swelling on her forehead was getting worse and Cody had the gut feeling that she had a concussion.
    Shit.
    He couldn’t very well take her to a hospital and risk her gaining consciousness and blowing his cover to an entire E.R. full of doctors and nurses before he’d had a chance to mesmerize her and zap her memory. Not thatthey’d believe her, but the incredible story would surely stir some gossip and attention.
    With Benny James on his heels, he couldn’t afford either.
    He had no choice but to help her himself.
    Hesitation rushed through him. Ridiculous, of course. It wasn’t like he was going to turn her into a vampire. She would have to be on her deathbed for that. Only if she drank some of his blood while dying would she become a vampire.
    She was merely wounded, which meant his blood wouldn’t turn her. It would only heal her, and strengthen the bond that already existed between them because of the sex.
    He’d drank in her orgasm—her essence—which meant he could now feel her. If she drank his life-blood—his essence—she would be able to feel him, as well. His lust. His anger. His sorrow. His secrets. How strong those feelings would be, he wasn’t sure. He’d never shared his blood with a human. He only knew the bond would become a two-way street.
    Don’t do it.
    That’s what reason told him, but his damned conscience whispered otherwise. He’d left her in that alley alone when he knew good and goddamn well that there was another vampire in the vicinity. Sure, he’d thought the young gun had taken off, but he should have sensed him still close by.
    He would have if he hadn’t been so freaked out by his own climax, and so damned desperate to get away.
    To cut and run. Like always.
    He focused on the hunger in his gut, letting it rise up and take control. His fangs sharpened and lengthened. Biting at his own wrist, he drew a steady drip-drop of blood. He held the wound to her lips and let the precious life trickle into her mouth.
    He knew the moment her survival instincts kicked in. While her eyes didn’t open, she arched up off the seat and grasped at his arm. Holding his wrist close, she lapped at his skin.
    At the first feel of her tongue flicking against him, his groin tightened and his muscles went tense. She suckled, the drawing sensation sending a bolt of desire straight to his already aroused cock. He braced himself against the seat with his free hand and fought the urge to explode right there in his pants.
    The agony went on several more seconds until he finally pulled away.
    Her eyes opened then and she stared up at him. Her forehead wrinkled for a split