Microsoft Word - Blood and Sex from CE.rtf by Administrator Read Free Book Online

the main road, heading for the airstrip. The other vampire looked at him, his eyes narrowed a little. “What?”

    44
    “Nothing.”
    “I could have sworn you growled.”
    Blane laughed, and it was almost believable. “I think you’re hearing things.”
    “Maybe.” Arracado leaned back in his seat, looking a little too much like an ad for luxury cars. “Or maybe you like her.”
    “Yeah. That’s it. I like some crazy bitch yelling at me.”
    Arracado laughed this time. “Maybe you do. And maybe it’s that she doesn’t believe a damned thing you say. I saw you talking to her at Michael’s last night.”
    Blane fought to keep his jaw from clenching. “So.”
    “Are you really going to tell me that she doesn’t do it for you?”
    “You’ve lost your damned mind, Rac-a-do.”
    A little snarl came from the driver’s seat. That nickname always got under his skin, which made it a great distraction. The vampire straightened and took a deep breath, obviously trying to let the insult slide, but it took the rest of the trip for Arracado’s knuckles to loosen on the steering wheel.
    He didn’t speak all the way to the airport. When the car stopped, Blane opened his door.
    Arracado turned toward him. “You know, I see guys every night who fuck all the women they can to prove how normal they are.”
    Blane started to step out. He didn’t need a speech.
    The other man grabbed his arm. “But when they come to me, they’re looking for someone who can top them. A challenge. They’re miserable with their lives and their women. It doesn’t make you less of a man to want that. Don’t live your life trying to impress everyone else.”

    45
    “Yeah. I’ll try to remember that.” He jerked his arm away and opened the bag door to get his bag.
    “Don’t freak out about it,” Arracado said, turning in his seat. “I won’t say anything.
    Discretion, always.”
    “Sometimes, you really push it too far.” He grabbed the bag and stepped onto the sidewalk. “Thanks for the ride,” he muttered as he slammed the door.
    Even with the door closed, he could hear Arracado’s curses as he walked away. He smiled.
    It was a short walk through the gate and across the tarmac to the sleek private jet that Khalil had sent along with Christiana. Blane climbed the stairs and stepped inside, where his padrone and cosca were seated. He glanced around, but didn’t see her. She must have gone on a different flight. Hopefully.
    It was much larger inside than he’d expected, and stylishly decorated in shades of brown and cream. They could haul an entire basketball team in the jet and still have plenty of room.
    Either Khalil only bought the best, or he wanted to make sure his princess rode in style. It was probably the latter.
    Jonas smiled from his place on a small couch on the left side, beside Elena. In the dark suit, he was even creepier. “You’ve disappointed me.”
    “Why?”
    “I was looking forward to kicking your ass.”
    He smirked. “Don’t let the Halloween costume go to your head.”
    Michael was seated across the aisle next to Tori, who was flipping through a magazine. If she was nervous about being the only human on the trip, she didn’t show it. The girl had guts.

    46
    The padrone nodded in his direction. “Thank you for coming on time.”
    “I couldn’t let J come after me. He just wouldn’t be the same after I got through with him.” Blane put the bag into an empty seat while the others laughed.
    “Still keepin’ that dream alive, huh?” Jonas said. “Maybe we should try that cage fighting that Gregory’s got going.”
    The pilot poked his head out of the cabin door. “Please take your seats. We’re ready to leave.”
    The door shut again. Blane slid into a chair next to Michael and Tori. “So, what am I supposed to do on this trip exactly?”
    “Make sure Christiana is safe.”
    If he weren’t already dead, Blane would have sworn that the lump in his throat was going to suffocate him.