Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) by Maddie Foxx Read Free Book Online Page B

came back with a glass, which Tessa filled from the bag. She quickly resealed the bag and set the glass down on the table.
    “Thanks.”
    Raphael nodded and left, which Tessa was happy about. She didn’t want to drink it in front of him. It was a personal and very private thing. In many ways, it made her feel depraved, like a beast that couldn’t control itself. She glanced in the glass and at the pills with a grimace. She took one out and chased it back, grimacing at the coldness. When she was living somewhere with electricity, she’d find someone who could build a warming unit. That might just be something that would work. She just wasn’t all that sure if the blood would go bad without proper refrigeration. If not for the temperature, would she be more compelled to drink the blood supplied to her, or would she still crave to get sustenance from a living, breathing thing?
    She thought about what it meant to be a vampire to her. What was most important to her was to stay under the radar so she wouldn’t be found out. To never bite a human, unless she was forced into a situation where there was no other way out of it. She’d certainly kill, but only if there was no other choice. She had fought the temptation to follow Jason and his friend and snuff out their lives that night she encountered them at the saloon. She had no real qualms against Earl other than his big mouth, but if she killed Jason, she’d be forced to kill Earl. Even thinking that meant she was less like a human all the time. Being a vampire meant doing things that most would deem a capital crime, but only if she was found out. She would have to adopt a ‘live and let live’ protocol, unless Jason did something so bad that action was necessary. She had no problem being his judge, jury and executioner.
    * * *
    Seth knocked at Tessa’s door an hour later and as Tessa let him in, he was wearing jeans so tight she couldn’t help but see the outline of his cock. His white button-up shirt was open almost to the waist, revealing his chiseled body.
    When Seth cleared his throat, Tessa forced herself to gaze into his eyes since she was still admiring his body.
    “The children would really love to meet you tonight, and dinner will be in a half-hour.”
    “Sure, whatever you’d like. After all, meeting Maxwell was part of the deal for me coming here.”
    “Do you like children?”
    “Truthfully, I’d never been around children until Katlyn gave birth to her twins, but I don’t hate them. Nolan and Elric are adorable babies. I so look forward to watching them grow up.”
    “So you do plan to stay in the area?”
    “Sure, why would you think otherwise?”
    Seth tensed and said, “I wasn’t sure is all. I meant no harm.”
    Tessa knew so little of Seth other than he took his daughter Melody in after her mother lacked any real parenting skills. “Relax,” she said as she touched his forearm. “What’s with you lately? You seem so distant. Is there something I can help you with?” Or out of .
    “Well, you and Raphael really seem to be getting along. It’s okay if you don’t feel about me like you do him. I have no problem stepping out of the equation.”
    Still with her hand on his arm, she said, “Perhaps you shouldn’t be so willing to step aside. I didn’t think we were at the feeling stage. When it comes to the law of attraction, I find you both quite desirable, and in time I hope we can put all of the doubts aside to really be together, the three of us.”
    “Are you sure? You seemed so freaked out that one night.”
    “I was. I guess I felt a little too overwhelmed. I’m still trying to get my bearings as a vampire. I don’t look at intimacy as a casual thing, or at least not for me.”
    “Me, either, but Raphael has always been more of a free spirit. He’s never had an interest in having anything long-term with anyone.”
    “What’s that?” Raphael said as his frame filled the doorway. “How about you not telling Tessa what I