Read A Wicked Hunger (Creatures of Darkness 1) for Free Online Page B

you. I can’t risk taking you to a hospital.”
    She made a noise of complaint, her eyes angry and boring into his. That look chased away his dread. Better angry than dead. But when she turned pleading, his heart squeezed.
    “This will heal you, not turn you,” he explained. “Drink it. I won’t let you up until I’m satisfied you’ve had enough.” When she still didn’t open her mouth, he threatened, “I can stay here all night.” H e tightened his grip on her nape.
    She let out a whimper as her lips parted. He shoved his wrist between her teeth and felt the sting of her bite. And though she’d done it out of spite, the effect was a substantial amount of his blood gushing into her mouth. By reflex, she swallowed and then began to cough, trying to hack it back up.
    “Don’t you dare spit that out!” he growled.
    She stilled. Then after a moment of trembling hesitation, she swallowed more of his blood, only gagging a couple more times.
    “There’s a girl.” He removed his wrist from her mouth, stifling a grin at the red marks on his skin that matched the pattern of her teeth.
     
     
    Cora glared up at Mason, but exhaustion stole the memory of why she was so angry with him. Her head lolled, and she was confused by the sharp scent of dirt.
    “I’m so tired,” she heard herself say.
    “I know, sweetheart. Give me a little time to set us up with a room for the night. There’s a motel about a mile back.”
    Her vision dimmed. Mason said something else, but she didn’t hear it. When she opened her eyes again, the sky had morphed into a white, splotchy ceiling. A tiny lamp in the corner of the room gave off a soft glow. Mace hovered over her, fumbling with the belt of her coat. Automatically, her hands flew out to slap him away.
    He paused, but didn’t move from his position at the edge of the bed. “I drew you a bath. You look like you’re straight from a massacre.”
    Using her elbows, she pushed to sit up. It took more effort than it should have.
    The motel room was small, with only one bed. She’d consider that little nugget later. Her hand went to her forehead, which still throbbed.
    “It’s healing, but it needs to be cleaned,” he informed her.
    Healing? Her mind zeroed in on the word. “You forced me to drink your blood!”
    “I did. And you don’t have to sound so disgusted. It’s considered a privilege among my kind.”
    “How dare you—”
    “I already told you, if there had been any other way, I wouldn’t have done it.”
    “When did you tell me that?”
    “When you were cussing me out all the way here.”
    She tilted her head. She didn’t remember doing that. She wouldn’t have the nerve to do that.
    He knelt before her and began undoing her coat belt again.
    “Stop it!”
    “The water is getting cold.” Foregoing the belt, he reached for her left foot and started undoing the ties that ran the length of the boot. His actions were clipped, and he seemed irritated with her.
    Oh, goddess! What had she said to him in her stupor? It suddenly registered that she had a very strong, very unpredictable vampire on her hands…and he was undressing her.
    In a demure tone, she said, “I can do that myself.”
    “I’m sure you can,” he replied, slipping her boot off and setting it aside. Then he started in on the second one. Soon it joined the other on the floor. When he reached for her belt once more, she cringed away from him. He stilled, but only long enough to send her a look that said she wouldn’t win this battle.
    She forced herself to calm.
    He noted her capitulation and then resumed undoing the strap.
    Her coat fell open, and a fiery blush entered her cheeks. Damn this outfit!
    Without a word, he stood and held his hand out to her. She debated the probability of talking her way out of this. It wasn’t good. Hesitantly, she slipped her hand in his, and he helped her to her feet. In the next instant, her coat plopped on the ground.
    Standing now in her expensive lingerie,