Vivianna's POVI leaned against the headboard, my body flushing with heat. I could taste Gabriel and Lucy on my lips. Decadent and sweet. Rich and bright. Exactly how I imagined they'd taste together. Perfect accompaniments. My core tingled, wetness spreading down my thighs at the sensation of Gabriel's cock rocking against my slit. Lucy stared up at me, dazed with lust. Her pretty pink-tipped breasts asking to be licked. The taste of her pussy in my mouth. Heady and sweet, and I couldn't wait to sink my face between her thighs and use my tongue to make her come.But there was something I needed to say first. They had to know what was going to happen. "Once this starts, it won't stop," I murmured, my throat bobbing, the ache burning between my legs. I brought my nails to my collarbone and slit across the skin.The desire I felt kept me from feeling the sting, and I released small ruby droplets from under my skin. My blood would heal Gabriel now that I was strong again. All his
Vivianna's POVI felt powerful.Like I was siphoning Lucy and Gabriel's power for myself. The more time passed and the closer they got to a full transformation, the more strength surged through my body. It was like nothing I had ever felt before.And there was a reason for it.All the pain had vanished, leaving euphoria in its wake. Addicting. Enough to drive mature vampires into madness. I blinked hard, holding on tight to my mind, not letting it sweep me away.Gabriel and Lucy were mid-transformation. The initial heat of my blood had worn off, sending them spiraling into a lust-filled hunger. I remembered my transformation. Delirious lust. Hunger. But I was confused. Lost in the haze. Pain embedded into every fiber of my being. My muscles ached as they stretched and strengthened. Agony clenched my heart as it slowly stopped beating.Alistair left me alone during the change. Let the fear consume me as I felt myself die. I was in the dark, buried in a box in a shallow gr
Lucy's POVI was floating in the black. The call of the void beneath my feet. A bottomless ocean. Deeper than the heavens above. I watched the clouds split apart, beckoning me to rise, but I chose to sink deeper and deeper. Finding warmth in the abyss.A burning pain seared my throat, churning my stomach with an insatiable hunger as my eyes shot open. Air clawed into my lungs, even if I didn't need it. I felt cold. Usually, I could hear my heart beating in my ears.Blood rushed under my skin. Warming my cheeks.But I heard nothing.Felt nothing.Except for this nauseating hunger.Disorienting. The first face I saw was Gabriel's, leaning over me, fully dressed. The last thing I could remember was intertwining myself with him and Vivi. Finding a mind-bending pleasure as I soared.Intoxicated in the sensations. Until everything became cold. Chills and pain settled over my body, and it paralyzed me. I remember the pain heightening to a point where I couldn't breathe, my
Gabriel's POVSix months later…"Who's next?" I asked, flipping through paperwork at my desk. The blinds were open, letting sunlight stream into my office. I'd admit that was the biggest thing I'd miss from my humanity—the sun. But I could enjoy the warmth as the high-end glass protected blocked out the rays. My tie was loose around my neck. Still hated the things. That didn't change. My suit jacket thrown on the coat rack behind me. I rolled my sleeves up, gazing over the recently closed cases, and filing them into the proper categories.VampireShifter.Ghost.Demon.Boogeyman.Etc. I'd make a new file if we came across a new type of monster.The scent of strawberries filled my nose as Lucy plopped onto my lap, setting her laptop down to scroll the schedule. I brushed her longer blonde hair over her shoulder, peppering kisses against her throat.When we were human, her pulse would jump, but her reactions were still the same. She'd lean against my mouth, h
A churning stomach.Eyes blurring with tears.My shoulders felt so heavy. So fucking heavy.I wanted to scream but I couldn't get out of my own head. They were in my head. I could hear them. Laughing. Whispering behind closed doors. But I couldn't bring myself to say anything. My boyfriend, Deacon's voice was unmistakable. "Shh, Nova. Don't be too loud. She'll hear us."Followed by the noise of my supposed best friend giggling and sighing. How the fuck was I supposed to look at them right now?Pretend everything was fine?Like I didn't know? I guess I should be angry, but instead, I felt lonely. Empty. The last two people I had in my life betrayed me. I didn't have anyone else. My fingers traced the deep scar marring the side of my face. Maybe I was pretty once upon a time, but Deacon was always fast to point out how I wasn't pretty anymore. How I let myself go after my mother died.I don't know why I held on so tight.My lungs constricted as if I was barely holding on u
Ugh…where am I?My head pounded, blood rushing in my ears. I reached out from under the covers to prod at my temples, rubbing circles in an attempt to offset the discomfort. Blurry flashes from last night occupied my mind.It was all a haze. Sensations of Orion's hands on me, but I couldn't remember his face. All I could remember was how he made me feel. I couldn't imagine his smile but I knew how it pooled warmth in my belly. I couldn't remember what color his eyes were, but I could remember the hunger in his gaze. The predatory desire enveloped me entirely. A wet, hot tongue sliding across my skin. A fire scorched under my skin so hot I didn't know if I could ever put it out. Everything he did just propelled me higher. Made me hungrier.I felt so fucking exquisite. Desired. Wanted.But that was last night. Time to get back to reality. Open my eyes, get dressed and leave. Pretend it never happened. If I talked to him, that would only make this worse. Guilt plagued
My car idled in the parking lot across from The Den of Sin. All day, all I could think about was what really happened last night. How I got home. I didn't remember anything after dancing with Orion. If he was even real. Fuck. I felt like I was losing my mind. I could blame it all on stress, but last night felt so real. My entire body quivered just thinking about it. About how he made me feel. It had to be real. He had to exist. Spending the day driving around, I picked up applications from various places that said: HIRING NOW on their windows. I wasn't dressed for an interview, much less to go clubbing. But damn it, I couldn't get it out of my head. I couldn't get him out of my head.The sun lowered across the horizon, and the club just opened for the night. No one was in line yet, but the same bouncer from last night guarded right outside. I could ask him. Orion said he owned the place. I mean, the man took me upstairs…I think. Surely the bouncer would know the owner.
"Four businesses down. Two more left," I murmured to myself as I left the last cafe. Next on the list was a corner diner and I hoped they were short-staffed enough to hire me. The girl with the fucked up face.But that wouldn't stop me. Not today. I was determined to get a job. I didn't care what it was, I'd work my ass off regardless. I'd been waitressing before. Not my favorite, but I'd do what I needed to.Rolling my shoulders, I turned the wheel and pulled beside a parking meter about a block away from the diner. Not too bad considering parking in LA was a fucking endeavor. As confused as I felt when I woke up, very much alive, I also felt fucking spectacular. My eyes flew open at five o'clock in the morning, completely rested, still dressed in my pajamas. Tucked under the covers like I was when I fell asleep that night. Confidence poured off me as I dressed nicely to make a nice first impression. Cute but comfortable kitten heels, a flattering blazer, and a flared ski