Lure of the Blood by Doris O'Connor Read Free Book Online

it.
If all you were to me were some convenient feeding tool, I would hardly have
had to come all this way. Trust me, chere, I am not short of willing females
only too eager to share their body and quench my thirst.” One hand grasped her
chin in a firm grip, forcing her to look up at him whilst he was talking.
Marnie’s fear levels increased a thousand fold at the deadly expression in his
usually oh-so-compelling eyes. “Are you listening to me, Marnie? This is what I
am; it’s what I do. It’s how I survive. If you can’t deal with that, then maybe
you are better off with our furry friend.”
    “At least he doesn’t need me to feed on.”
    The cold laugh chilled her further.
    “Oh no, he’s a regular boy scout our Ion.
Wouldn’t hurt a fly. Just changes into a wolf whenever it suits him and hunts
little fluffy bunnies.”
    “Don’t––please, don’t. I know he’s a killer.
Animal attack, the papers said… I’m not stupid and I may not remember what
happened that night, but I know I was there and that man is dead because of me
and I can’t be responsible for any more deaths.” He let her go then, his whole
body very still, his eyes drawn together.
    “You think it was he who killed that bastard?”
    The odd note in his voice made her look up at
him. “Who else would it have been? The man was torn to shreds and drained of
…Oh my God!”
    Sheer terror filled her. It hadn’t been Ion,
had it…it had been him. The man…thing standing in front of her and watching her
as casually as though they were talking about the weather, not the brutal end
of another human being. The man she had allowed… She barely made it to the
bathroom before being violently sick. No, this couldn’t be real. It just
couldn’t.
    When Marnie finally stopped shaking she became
aware of the quiet presence behind her. Lucas stood with his arms crossed,
leaning against the doorframe watching her through hooded eyes, his features
unreadable.
    “Feeling better now after that outburst?”
    “Why? Why would you do that?”
    “The bastard was trying to rape you. Would you
rather I’d have let him have his way with you?”
    “Of course not, but you didn’t have to kill
him. And you let me believe that Ion…?”
    “Oh, spare me.” His voice dripped with pure
contempt as he pushed away from the doorframe. “The wolf will get over the dent
in his reputation, I’m sure. What’s really bothering you, chere? The fact that
I didn’t declare my undying love and devotion to you after we had sex, or that
you were so responsive to a complete stranger?”
    “I… I never…”
    Another harsh laugh made Marnie flinch.
    “Never what, chere? You weren’t a virgin, so
don’t act like one and don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy it.  We had a connection,
you and I––don’t deny it. Maybe we could have had more in time, but you’re just
another hypocritical human, unable to deal with what she doesn’t understand.
Can’t believe I let myself get sucked into all this crap again. And I wouldn’t
hold my torch to Ion either, if I were you. He may want you for sex, but that’s
all it’ll ever be. He’s been well and truly cured of any romantic entanglements
with humans and if he hasn’t he will be when he sees you in the morning. Think
our wolf is going to like it that I got there first?”
    Marnie withdrew into herself, letting the cruel
words feed her own anger. How dare he? How dare they both? Forcing herself to
stand on her wobbly legs, she faced the vampire head-on, earning herself a
grudging look of respect.
    “Have you quite finished? For your information,
I am not holding a torch for anyone. Perhaps I allowed myself to be fooled into
thinking that what we shared, this connection as you put it, was more than just
physical. Well, more fool me. But excuse me for feeling a little freaked out at
the thought of werewolves and vampires and god knows what else lurking out
there, and your complete disregard for human life. Have three