Page 28 of Fangbanger

Iam rapidly sobering, damn slayer genetics, and I wish I weren’t. I wish I could blame the alcohol for my interest in Marcus. For the way my body heats under his gaze.

He’s looking at me like I’m prey, and Goddess help me, I don’t hate it.

“Show me what?” I keep my voice admirably even.

“What it feels like to be bitten.” His eyes bleed black as he stalks forward. His shoulders block the moonlight.

Inches away, he’s unbearably male and clearly a monster, not a man. No heartbeat, no breath, no hint of softness in his body or his gaze.

“You might hurt me,” I whisper.

“You’d like it.”

“You said you hated the taste of slayer blood.” Saying the words makes me feel insecure and weak.

His gaze goes to my mouth, my neck, lower. His jaw flexes. “I came as close to lying as is possible for a vampire. You tempt me.”

I go stock-still against the counter. Blood sings under the surface of my skin, tingling in my fingers. I tempt him. That could be dangerous. Or delicious. Or both.

“Vampires are not famous for their control.”

His gaze narrows. “Is that what they told you?”

I’ve seen it firsthand, but I don’t want to say that and remind him of how much more powerful he is when I don’t have my weapons. I tuck my arms more tightly to my body. “You’re all on the edge of snapping and turning into spree-killers.”

His mouth lifts. “And you’re on the edge of staking me and thinking about the consequences later.”

I can’t help my laugh. He chuckles too, a mere puff of air. He seems unfamiliar with humor, but his gaze warms and I can feel myself softening toward him, though I’ve spent my whole life being warned against exactly this.

Vampires will seduce you. Your body and your mind. You’ll beg for more even as they kill you.

“Truce, slayer.”

He lifts his hand, and I freeze, but he simply rubs a lock of my hair between his fingers. His pupils are nearly swallowed by the blackness of his eyes.

“We already have a truce.”

“A real truce,” he murmurs. “You promise not to think poorly of me, and I’ll think better of you. Allies.” His mouth curls again. His gaze is hot and certain. “Sealed with a bite.”

Allies. What would it feel like to let my guard down around him? To depend on someone else? To not be alone?

It’s the last that does it. “Done. But don’t savage me.”

He plants his hands on either side of my hips. I fight the urge to lean back. Our chests brush. He’s cool and solid, not warm and human.

“Let me show you how good my control is, Leah.” His voice is coaxing, and an ache unfurls inside my stomach. He dips his head, and I tense, certain he’ll go for the throat. Instead, he wraps long, cool fingers around my hand and brings my wrist to his mouth.

“Here?” he asks. Our gazes connect over my hand, and his seems to burn. His lips graze my skin. I bite back a sound.

I nod jerkily.

He looks pleased. “How about here?” His mouth drifts higher, to my elbow, and I want to whimper at how much I want this.

It’s just the newness of it. You’ve wondered, and now you’ll get it over with, and you won’t want it again.

It cannot possibly be as good as people say.

“Do it,” I growl.