Fresh Blood by Jennifer Colgan Read Free Book Online

flowered silk on the floor next to the bed.
    “Where’ve you been tonight, Max? You look so
tired.” He normally found the sensual purr of her voice soothing,
but tonight he wished for silence. Kyra wasn’t the submissive type,
and if he ordered her to be quiet while he took what he wanted,
she’d kick him out. He used to like her independent streak.
    “I’m working a new case.” He bit the words
out as he folded her slim body into his arms. He used to like the
feel of her against him too, but tonight she felt fleshless. She
made comforting sounds as he sank his incisors into her skin. The
warmth of her eased the cold hollow inside him somewhat, and as he
drank, he waited for the bloodlust to take him. He needed that
release too, but oddly, aside from lessening his hunger, he felt
nothing. The hard-on he’d been battling since the moment he’d
tasted Erica began to subside as he took his fill.
    When he finished, Kyra threw herself back on
the bed, ready for what usually came next. She held her arms out to
him and smiled. “Come on ... let Kyra make it all better.”
    He glanced at the bedroom window where a
black shade hung ready to block out the morning light. He could
stay. She’d welcome a captive vampire for the day, but if he left
right now he might make it back to his place before the clouds
parted and the damning daylight took over.
    “I wish I had the time.” He hated lying. Kyra
had always been good to him. Always available when he wanted her.
She’d even given up smoking after he told her how the nicotine left
a bad aftertaste that most vamps didn’t care for. He fished a fifty
out of his wallet and handed it to her.
    She pouted. “Oh come on, Max! You’re going to
leave me like this? What’s up with you?”
    Apparently nothing, at the moment, he thought
wryly. That had never happened before. He often fantasized about
other women when he was with Kyra but the fantasies had always
helped make it hotter, harder. Tonight, Kyra’s willing body seemed
like a pale shadow. The taste of her blood wasn’t quite as sweet as
he remembered. He wanted Erica. Maybe if he pictured her, conjured
her scent with his mind he could ...
    “I’m tired. I’ve got to go. Next time, babe.
I’ll make it up to you.”
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Erica woke just before seven after barely an
hour of sleep.
    Frustrated and jittery, she finally flung
herself from the sweat-damp sheets and hurried into the kitchen to
brew some tea. She sipped slowly, staring out her kitchen window at
the building’s rear parking lot. She thought of Max, his dark gaze
and the way her body responded to his voice and his touch. She’d
never imagined giving up control to someone else, but the thought
of him subtly guiding her movements, or openly commanding her, made
her knees weak. How could she find it arousing to submit to him?
Why did she crave more?
    She finished her tea and shook the unsettling
thoughts from her mind. It was a fluke, she decided. Everyone
talked about getting caught up in the moment--people did things all
the time that they couldn’t explain to themselves by the light of
day. She’d get over it, and move on. As soon as she found
Elena.
     
    * * * *
     
    At 6:00 p.m., Erica stood before her open
closet and drew out a black dress with trembling fingers. Half a
dozen times she’d picked up the phone to call Max and cancel and
each time she’d taken a deep breath and steeled herself to do
this.
    When the doorbell rang, she smoothed her
skirt and her hair, and pressed her hand tightly to her stomach to
quell the butterflies. This is business, she told herself. Just
business.
     
    * * * *
     
    This is just business, Max told himself. He’d
had less trouble believing that all day while he worked from his
apartment. He’d spoken to his contacts and his colleagues and
circulated the details he had about Elena Talbot’s disappearance.
Since keeping a reluctant human from becoming a feeder was within
his job description, he