Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod Read Free Book Online Page A

with all that wonderful witch protection you have carefully cultivated.’ He spread his hands wide. ‘You are fair game.’
    ‘Tell me something I don’t know.’
    ‘Are you so eager to offer your blood?’
    ‘What do you think?’
    ‘Such bravado.’ He glanced at the door again, a vague anxiety in the action. ‘But even your sidhe magic will not shield you from some amongst us.’
    ‘Are you done yet? Because so far I’m not hearing anything new.’
    He sighed, the sound coating me with remorse. ‘Go home, Genevieve, while you still can.’
    ‘What? Just leave?’ I stopped strangling the strap of my bag and clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms, determined to resist the impulse he’d given me to go home. ‘When you haven’t even threatened me yet?’
    Something dark and sad appeared in his eyes, then it was gone, hidden by the same enigmatic look as before.
    ‘Threats ... Coercion ... Violence.’ The words hung like blades in the still air. ‘Is that what you would want?’
    I froze, pulse speeding up, unable to move or speak, gazing into his eyes. A voice screamed in my mind, yelling at me to break his mesma , but another part of me wanted, desperately needed , whatever he was offering.
    Cool fingers circled my left wrist and lifted my still clenched fist between us. My hand moved, seemingly of its own volition, opening like a flower before the sun. Blood welled in the half-moon marks across my palm, bright against my skin.
    ‘May I?’ His eyes echoed the silken seduction in his voice.
    My lips parted in a sigh as my head bowed in submission.
    Anger flashed across his face and his fingers squeezed, the bones in my wrist grating with the pain. ‘Say. It.’
    ‘Yes,’ I breathed.
    For an instant his pupils glowed red and my heart fluttered with sudden terror, then he dipped his head. I gazed at the line of his jaw, the long dark lashes, the sleek silk of his hair where it curled round the intricate whorl of his ear, its lobe pierced through, a single gem black against his pale skin. His lips caressed my palm, a shudder rippled through his body and I felt an answering shimmer resonate through my own. My eyes closed as he licked hot lines along my hand. Sharp fangs scraped my wrist and chill air kissed my bare skin.
    Leaves rustled in the stillness and a horse whinnied from the nearby stables, startling me out of my reverie.
    I opened my eyes to an empty street.
    The vampire was gone.
    I stared down at my palm. The cuts from my nails had disappeared, healed over as though they’d never been. A bracelet of bruises around my wrist was the only evidence of his presence.
    ‘Genevieve.’ My name whispered through the breeze.
    I swung round fast, searching, then stopped, muscles trembling as the terror hit me again.
    Fuck.
    I hugged myself, breathing in the scent of spice and liquorice that fragranced the air, trying to ignore the sharp, craving ache inside me. Why had he gone? And why had he been angry when I’d offered him my blood? It didn’t make sense.
    ‘Ms Taylor?’
    I jerked again, spinning towards the voice.
    Alan stood holding the door to the police station open. He said something, but I couldn’t hear past the pulse thundering in my ears.
    Damn vampire. If he thought he’d scared me enough to stop me ...
    I took a deep breath, rubbed my hands along my arms to smooth the goosebumps, and walked up the steps into the police station.

Chapter Five
     
     
    ‘ T here’s a bit of a hitch here,’ Alan said anxiously. ‘I’m not sure you’re going to be able to see Melissa’s body tonight.’
    ‘Why not?’ I asked, then frowned. Was the vamp still playing with Alan’s mind? I reached out, laid my hand over his and sent a tendril of magic into him.
    Alan started. ‘What are you doing, Ms Taylor?’
    ‘Checking,’ I muttered.
    His hand was warm, the skin a little rough under my palm, his pulse was faster than normal, but the tangled net of his thoughts told me he was free of