Текст книги "Tempting Whispers"
Автор книги: T. A. Grey
сообщить о нарушении
Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 11 страниц)
Chapter 12
They were in the car and headed to Dmetri’s the following morning. What they’d done last night clung to her skin and thoughts like glue. A part of her almost wished she could forget it, but she’d have better luck trying to forget ever being mated—yeah, right. Then the other part of her really didn’t want to forget it. Not at all, not ever. Something had happen between them last night. They’d shared something that was more than physical. She just didn’t quite know what it was yet.
In truth though, it frightened the hell out of her. In her daydreams, which seemed so innocent in comparison to actually being with Brayden, she’d had girlie thoughts of falling in love. He’d fall in love with her and it’d be all smiles, sweet words, and happily ever after. Yet when she’d awoken this morning, she’d felt none of that. She’d felt a bit cold, even with his arm wrapped around her waist. Things felt distant. She’d taken a quick shower as he ‘fed’ himself and few words were spoken. How could things feel so awkward after sharing what they’d done last night?
How could he look at her like she was just any other woman in his house? Like how he looked at Gail this morning when she came in for work. He’d had the same deadpan glaze to his eyes, the same nod of his head when he said hello. He hadn’t even kissed her good morning. Isn’t that what real couples did?
Hell, that only brought on another probing question. Just what were they? She’d committed adultery by sleeping with him, not that she cared about that. She could almost laugh. Maybe if she told Joseph, he’d be so disgusted with her, he’d give her a divorce. But she couldn’t actually laugh at it, because she knew it was untrue. No way would he give her up. She was a prized possession to him. She made his life so much easier, doing everything he wanted, even as she felt like she was shoveling her own grave with each task she did.
So, what were they? A fling, a couple, dating? What did he mean when he said things couldn’t go back to how they were?
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He looked tense. His eyes were pulled forward, lips pursed, and his index finger on the steering wheel kept tapping a constant beat. A thought dawned on her that rocked her world. He regretted it. Her chest squeezed so tight she couldn’t breathe. He regretted it. The words were like a haunting melody chiming over and over again in her head. Her heart hurt and she had to turn away because tears filled her eyes.
She removed her thoughts, and with it, her tears. But nothing she could do, no matter how hard she concentrated, could remove the suffocating pain surrounding her heart, building in her chest until everything hurt.
“We need to talk,” she said and winced at the croaking miserable sound of her own voice. She hated that sound. It was the voice of a weak person, someone alone and lost in life and that wasn’t her. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and called upon her strength. She had it; she knew she did. How else had she put up with Joseph for two fucking years?
When he didn’t say anything, she glanced over. He was looking right at her. His eyes looked sharper than usual, brighter. Probably just from feeding this morning. Her task just became a whole lot harder, because he had really pretty eyes.
“Are you sure you want to do that...?” The way he said it, like she might not enjoy where the talk would lead them, made her hesitate. She shook her head. No, no, they needed to talk. She needed answers.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
His finger stopped tapping as his hands curled tight around the wheel. “Fine, talk.”
She knew the words that needed to come out, but couldn’t seem to form them. God, what was wrong with her? Was she that fucked up or something? Leaning her head on the window, she banged her head into the glass a three good times. Not enough to hurt, but hopefully to knock some sense into her. God, what she’d do for a drink right now...
Okay, she’d start simple. “What’s with you, today?” She faced him a bit in her seat so she could study him, even though he kept his eyes on the road.
“Nothing. What do you mean?”
She laughed a soft, sarcastic sound. “Excuse me? Don’t lie; you’re smarter than that and I know it. Tell me the truth.”
The corner of his mouth jerked in a twitch. “That’s not an easy answer, Vanessa.”
Pain flared at the inside of her eyes. She squeezed the bridge of her nose and sighed as it alleviated the throbbing if only a little. “Okay, let’s try another one. What are we?”
He glanced at her, then frowned before gazing back at the winding highway. “I’m not sure I understand the question.”
Her jaw slid tight and hard, left then right. She bit out the words feeling anger rising. “What the fuck are we? A couple? Or fuck buddies, maybe? I want you to explain this whole ‘not going back thing’ and what we are. Is that fucking clear enough for you?”
He didn’t look at her. “You should relax. There’s nothing to be upset about.” His words grated on her nerves like a serrated knife.
Her jaw dropped and then unbelievably, she started laughing and couldn’t stop it. She laughed at the absurdity of his response, she laughed at the impossible situation she was in, and mostly she laughed, because otherwise she might break down and cry.
“Please, just answer the question,” she whispered. Her warm breath fogged the window and she watched as the steam appeared then slowly dissipated to reveal the lanes of cars next to them.
She didn’t think he’d answer. But he did, and when the words started flowing she froze in her seat, sight unseeing as she soaked in his words.
“Everything changed the moment I lost control with you. The first time. I come from a strict background, Vanessa. My father married and never strayed as some other men did, and she never strayed either. It wasn’t love or even desire that I know of, but the times and the era. He believed in honor, duty, and law. In doing the right thing. And I believe in that too, all of it. Perhaps, even more so than he did. That’s why I wanted you to obey your father, because it was your duty and for the better of the people. Then you came here.” He shot her a look, his eyes dark with a heady mixture of anger and passion.
“I never thought the man you’d mate would hurt you. A man doesn’t do that. A man protects and honors his woman. That’s the right way, especially for lykaens. I can honestly say that when I met you two years ago, I saw a little girl being rebellious and thinking only of herself. I also never thought your father would settle you with someone unworthy. Not having met him, I still trusted his opinion. I was wrong. So now, what does that make us? That’s a hell of a question to ask and I’m not sure if you’ll like the answer.” His voice faded and though her voice croaked a bit she managed to respond.
“Tell me.”
He rubbed a hand over his chin slowly. The bristly sound of his chin stubble made her palms itch to touch it. “I’m old, Vanessa. Old as dirt next to you. When you came into my headquarters...I didn’t see a rebellious girl. I saw a strong woman. A woman with fight and courage, even if she was creating a scene. It surprised even me, but I liked it. I like you.”
He cast a look at her, his eyes hard as if daring her to speak otherwise, challenging. “Having you in my house...I like even more. I’m still not sure why. I can feel relaxed with you. You almost make me laugh.”
“Well, I am funny,” she muttered.
“To say I think you’re beautiful shouldn’t need to be said.” His eyes trailed down her body and his look burned her. She suddenly had the urge to crack the window and let in a cool breeze. “Every time I see you...I feel strange. It’s almost uncontrollable. No, it is uncontrollable and for some reason it feels like a rush when I finally let go with you. I’m not about to lose that.” He glared at her as if daring her to contradict him or make an argument.
She couldn’t even if she wanted to. Her tongue felt too big for her mouth and she had trouble making a coherent thought. All of his thoughts were way beyond, and a little bit stranger, deeper, than anything she’d have guessed.
“Does that answer your question?”
“Umm...” She had to think about it, had to remember what her initial question had been. Oh, right. What ‘were’ they? “I don't know.”
With a frustrated growl, he swerved over to the shoulder and threw the car into park. He turned to her, his big body shadowing her as he rested an arm behind her seat. She started panting at the wild look in his eyes. He looked dangerous, as if he might attack her at any second. He was so out of her league, it wasn’t even funny and now she suddenly felt very small and inadequate compared to him and all that stuff he’d just said.
He cupped her face with his free hand, forcing her to look at him. “That means that you’re mine now. It means that only I touch you. I will take care of Joseph, and I will take care of you.”
She was pretty sure she was panting and she tried to close her mouth, but she couldn’t. “Why?” she whispered.
He looked up as if seeking guidance, then glared at her. “I already explained that.” He looked annoyed.
“But, why?” she insisted. She had to know. Not some long explanation that would take her a day to rewind and think about, but something short that her baffled mind could wrap around right now.
“Because, I want you. Because, you came back into my life for a reason, and because...” he paused to swipe his warm thumb across her bottom lip. “When I’m with you, I feel good.”
Her chest rose and fell in hard, fast waves. With his words hanging in the air, she realized just how close he was to her, how good his hand felt on her face, how much she liked the masculine scent of him, the stubble on his chin...everything. His eyes flicked down to her mouth and stayed there. Her gut tightened in reflex, something hot and wet gushing between her legs. All with that one look. His eyes shuttered to a hooded position, then he was moving closer. His lips caught the corner of her mouth and her breath stilled, her chest squeezing so impossibly tight from the lack of air.
Then she felt it. His harsh breaths blowing across her lips and she nearly burst apart. He felt it, too. He was right there with her, wrapped up in a tight bubble where only they existed in this moment of time.
His lips slid over and covered hers. A needy sound escaped her at the firm press of his lips. Sense and reason flew right out the window. Hands threaded in hair, lips meshed hard and tongues glided against each other. They were like animals eating at each other, trying to get as close together as possible by the mouth. She folded her body against him, a needy moan rumbling from her as his arms swept across her back and crushed her to him. The seatbelt, the stupid seatbelt held her back, kept her from climbing into his lap and rubbing her core against him. She needed him, here and now.
She pulled back, breathing hard and then they both dove at each other. His hand wound up under her skirt, bare skin meeting bare skin. Only his touch made her hotter; she spread her legs and when he pushed her panties to the side and touched her, she worked faster. She tugged at his pants, cursing very loud how much she hated his fucking belt, then released the zipper just as his finger plunged inside her.
She melted into the seat as pleasure engulfed her like a blast of sunshine. He started pumping, breathing hard, and apparently, unable to wait for her, buried his face in her neck to lavish wet sucking kisses there. Oh God, she was going to come, just from that.
“Mmm,” she moaned just as a piercing screech slammed her so fast and hard back into reality that she only had one second to look in the rearview mirror to the car coming.
The crash came hard, fast. Everything exploded. The loud grinding sound of metal crushing metal pierced her ears. Time slowed. She couldn’t hear anything after that, only a slight high-pitched ringing as she was jerked forward in her seat. Her face nearly slammed into the airbag just as it exploded, blowing hard against her face and shooting her head back into the seat. Her head bounced, her brain swishing around hard form the jolt. It didn’t stop. She felt the momentum. The big SUV surging forward. Somehow, she managed to loll her head to the left to see the window gone, bits of glass covering the console and hood. The sharp shards flew back inside at her as the car’s momentum pushed faster. Then it stopped.
She blinked at the empty seat next to her. Brayden was gone. She couldn’t think much more than that. She knew she should move, unbuckle her seatbelt and go help Brayden, but everything felt sluggish.
She blinked and it seemed to take forever for her eyes to open back up again. Black and gray spots dotted her vision. She thought she whispered his name. Thought she reached for her seatbelt but felt a sharp stab and stopped, then the squeal of peeling tires registered, but it sounded soft and faraway. A hard jolt smashed into the car again and she was flung forward again in her seat, even harder than before.
Her ribs screamed in pain as the seatbelt jerked on her hard to keep her in place. Her face bounced off the already deployed airbag and her head slammed back so hard into the seat everything went black. She didn’t even have to time to call out his name again.
Chapter 13
Vanessa’s eyes shot open and confusion quickly dawned. She was in a room that put Brayden’s house to shame. She was on a canopied sleigh bed with white gauzy curtains hanging in beautiful arches from each corner. The walls held works of art that looked old in their aged wooden frames.
A massive wooden hutch sat against the far wall with an assortment of the matching furniture along the walls. It looked expensive; it looked rich. Where the hell was she?
“Brayden?” she called out, only to find her voice a mere croak of sound.
Then, the pain registered in a flash. Her hand flew to her throat and found the skin rough and scratchy like sandpaper. She winced as she prodded it then tossed back the covers and slowly stood. A rush of blood flowed through her straight to her legs. She stood wobbling at first, then with growing strength. She walked across the room on a plush middle-eastern looking rug to the door. Some parts of it, especially near the corners, were thread-barren and worn out in color, but the overall pattern and vivid red, blues, and tans, still looked beautiful. She had to stop halfway across the room and lean heavily against a rocking chair for support. Breathing was hard and each breath pinched her ribs where the seatbelt had been. She didn’t want to look, but she’d bet she had a nasty bruise covering her waist where the belt had been.
Footsteps came, closing in on the door, then it opened and confusion set in. “What are you doing here?”
The older pack healer from her Kategan cousins’ pack smiled big. Her blonde hair hung loose and curling around her shoulders. She looked so vibrant and happy. “I live here, honey.”
Vanessa scrubbed a hand across her forehead trying to make her brain work. She remembered the car accident, then that was it. “What happened? Where’s Brayden?”
“Here, sit down first, then we’ll talk. You really shouldn’t be out of bed yet.”
Her legs felt so weak that she let Christine lead her back to the bed and put her in it like a child. After she settled, she leveled her gaze on the older pack healer. “Okay, spill.”
Christine smiled and pulled a bag out from beneath the side table next to the bed. She pulled out a jar with some kind of wet gunk inside that made Vanessa’s nose curl even though couldn’t smell it yet. It just looked nasty.
“You’re at Dmetri’s and my place. Brayden brought you here.”
“Is he okay?” she blurted out.
Christine’s saucy wink instantly made her tense shoulders relax. She wouldn’t wink if it was bad, right? “He’s fine. You took the brunt of it. He had some cuts, but he’ll heal fast. Even faster, if he’d of let me put my salve on him. Oh well, men, you know? Anywho, good to see you, Vanessa. Though it’d be nice to actually see you when you weren’t hurt for once.” She laughed at her own joke, then gently tugged Vanessa’s shirt up.
Vanessa lifted her back off the bed so she could tug it up past her bra. She looked down and grimaced. Nasty barely covered how awful her stomach looked. She had a black and purple bruise that went from her right ribcage down to her left hip from where the seatbelt had been. The thing looked radioactive or something, because surrounding that nasty dark line was even more colors—all an assortment of ugly ones in dark yellows and sunburn reds and garish blues.
Christine fingered some of the goop on her hand then rubbed it across her stomach. “This’ll help, trust me. And don’t worry, it doesn’t stink.” She gave Vanessa a pointed look then laughed. “I know that’s what most people think when they see it. But really, it’s a mixture of herbs with some petroleum jelly; my own concoction! The jelly helps it to glide and stay on. I even added a touch of mint just so it’d smell kind of nice.”
Vanessa sniffed and still winced. “Smells like Vapor Rub.”
Christine shrugged. “Would you rather it smell as bad as you thought it would?”
“Hell, no,” she muttered.
That done, Christine went into the adjoining bathroom to wash her hands then came out drying them on a dark brown towel. “Brayden went to interview some lady or something, I don’t know. Said he’d be back soon.”
“Oh.” She tried to hide her disappointment, but she must have failed, because Christine’s face instantly drooped with a frown. She came and sat on the bed next to her.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
What was wrong? Hell, she wasn’t even sure yet. What she did know was that she didn’t like waking up in a strange place without him. She didn’t like not being able to see his injuries for herself, and she really didn’t like that he left without waiting for her to wake up so he could at least fill her in on what happened.
“Nothing.” She forced a tight smile. “Do you know when he’ll be back?”
Christine gasped and her eyes widened as if something important just dawned on her. “You and him...” She didn’t say the words, but instead made crude moaning and kissing sounds as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
Vanessa tried not to laugh, but she couldn’t contain it. “Sort of...” she said with a shrug.
Christine’s eyes lit up. “That is awesome! I always told Dmetri that man needed a woman. What kind of good looking guy spends all his time alone like that?” She shook her head. “What a waste.”
“Yeah,” Vanessa agreed with another tight smile.
Christine eyes grew serious, her smile small but strong, then she cupped Vanessa’s hand in her own. “Okay, tell me everything. What’s going on?”
Maybe it was having another woman to talk to or Christine’s open honesty, but Vanessa found herself spilling the beans about everything. From what happened after she was kidnapped at the Kategans two years ago, to the mating and finally leaving Joseph. When she got to the parts involving Brayden, her cheeks burned and she wished like hell they didn’t. She didn’t mention any of the kisses, the amazing sex, the way he could make her entire body burn even on the side of a busy highway in broad daylight. But Christine saw that blush, heard her stumble over those parts of the story, and smiled. And what a smile it was—pure sexy knowing woman.
Christine winked. “You’re in real good hands with Brayden. Considering I’ve never seen him with a woman, you must really mean something to him.”
Vanessa’s heart leapt at the thought. Stupidly she said, “Really?”
Christine nodded slowly, her smile curling bigger. “Oh, yeah. You’ve broken him out of his shell. Hell, look at it—you both stayed here with us last night. Everything he’s used to is jumbled right now. I say take advantage of it while you can.” Her smile turned kind of sad. “You find love like that and you shouldn’t let it go, no matter who’s in the way.”
Vanessa’s face burned red and hot. “I didn’t say anything about love,” she said quickly.
Christine grinned, then winked. “I know. I’m going to get some food for you then I’ll be right back. Stay put,” she added firmly.
She left and Vanessa slammed her head back into the pillow. Love? Why did that word make her heart flutter and beat in fear at the same time?
After a full belly and a long bath, Vanessa’s moods managed to swing from happy, to content, to angry, to really pissed off. It really didn’t help that every single room she went in, even the damn bathroom, had a clock in it. So, as she bathed, because standing for too long wore her out, she got to stare at the clock and watch the hours fly by. First one, then two, then more and more until her teeth were grinding into sawdust.
She took a tour of the house with Christine and even said a brief hello to her mate, Dmetri, when he finally tore his gaze away from the newspaper. He still looked as good as ever. His hair had been snipped though. It looked good on him. It fell just around his shoulders, and almost made him look a bit younger. The house was massive, a mansion really. Christine showed her each of the suits, the expansive library, and the gardens outside. None it made her feel better though. In fact, each new room she walked through, her eyes narrowed on the clock.
The garden was lovely and elaborate. A maze of hedges led down a path of soft green grass to a circular enclosure. More tall hedges gave the inner space a separated, private feel. Pretty brickwork covered the ground and a fountain with cement benches surrounded it. Vanessa stared into the watery font and frowned. Five hours. He’d been gone even longer she was sure, since that was just when she’d woken up. He couldn’t call? After the terrifying experience yesterday, he couldn’t even shake her shoulder and wake her up? Could he not write? A damned note would have served just as well.
An arm curling around her shoulders jerked her out of her nasty thoughts. “Hey, what’s bothering you?” asked Christine.
“Nothing…I just feel kind of cramped-up here.” She flushed at the lie. Okay, it wasn’t quite a lie, but even she knew it sounded ridiculous, considering she was standing on God knows how many acres of land right now with only twirping birds to bother her.
“Wanna go out and get dinner?”
Vanessa’s eyes lit up. “Great idea! Can we go now?”
Christine nodded and they split ways to get dressed. Vanessa’s eyes narrowed in focus. Each step up the stairs to her room was a heavy thud. In her room, she tore through her bag of clothes and found the sexiest dress she had. She grinned down at it as she started pulling her clothes off. She’d made the right choice in buying it. It wasn’t particularly tight, but where it showed skin it did so with sleek straight cuts of material that somehow made a simple V-neck top look more daring and sexy than usual.
She pulled the dress on, slid on a pair of flats, since her other bag with various clothes and shoes was missing, probably crushed in the accident.
“Gah!” she growled.
Marching to the bathroom, she tore a brush through her hair catching on some rats, but yanking harder. He couldn’t even stay to tell her about the accident! Like, was anyone else hurt? Was he hurt? Or, you know, maybe just a text message letting her know what the heck had happened. Was that too much to ask for? Apparently so, she thought and slicked on some mascara.
On her way out the door, she snatched her cell phone from the table. Christine came out a minute later, Dmetri hot on her trail. He had a fierce frown on his face and Christine positively glowed. Chuckling, Vanessa turned toward them to watch.
Dmetri snatched her by the arm and spun her into him. “You’re not leaving.”
“Sure, I am. Why, are you gonna miss me, baby?” she purred, her lashes batting. Vanessa glanced down, and yup, her ass was shaking.
Dmetri snatched her by the waist so fast, Christine giggled as he brought her up to eye level. He buried his face in in her neck and whispered something too low for Vanessa to hear. Christine’s smile bloomed as she melted against him, her entire body curling around his with a sigh.
He pulled back, kissed her hard then said, “That’s what I thought.”
Vanessa’s jaw dropped as he then spun on his heel with her in his arms and stormed back inside. Just before he kicked the door closed, Christine snapped out of her sexy haze, grinned at Vanessa, then tossed a pair of keys to her. Vanessa didn’t bother trying to catch them. She was enthralled watching the couple so obviously in love having fun. The door slammed closed and then giggles and masculine threats sounded as his heavy steps bounded up the stairs.
A small shiver passed over her. Would Brayden ever need her like that? Could he, was the better question. Shaking her head, she grabbed the keys then headed to the carport. A man with gray hair and sharply receding hairline already stood out front. He wore an all-black suit with a black shirt underneath—he looked dressed and ready for his own funeral.
Vanessa strode toward him. “Which car belongs to these?”
He held his hand up and out. She hesitated for a moment, then tossed them. Unlike her fail, he caught them easily. “These would be for the lady’s Mercedes. Just a moment, please.” A few seconds later, the butler pulled a sleek black car out of the port and got out with the keys in and still running.
“Thanks,” she said and took off.
Her butt slid around on the leather, her legs felt silky on the cold cushion beneath her. She drove aimlessly carrying only her purse, phone, and a little of the money she still had left. With the first busy restaurant she saw, she snagged a parking spot and got out. She ran a nervous hand down her stomach. It was getting dark and now she wished she’d brought her pocketknife. She hadn’t realized her mistake until she felt that same prickling fear down the back of her neck.
She jerked her head behind her, her breath caught hard in her throat, eyes wide, but only saw a group of people climbing out of their car in the parking lot. She kept walking, making herself put one foot in front of the other. She kept her chin up and tried to keep her eyes focused straight, but she wasn’t strong enough to do it. The night seemed to be closing in on her faster and faster as the sun set in the distance. Each step closer to the restaurant brought the shadows of night in on her quicker and quicker.
She gasped and fled to the well-lit restaurant, to the cheery music playing over the speakers. Her heart clamored a raucous beat in her ears, booming so loud it was all she could hear. Her foot caught on the pavement and she slid for a second before righting herself. She flew to the door, whipped it open, and stopped inside it. Faces turned to her, some sitting on benches with arms wrapped around loved ones. They gazed at her with wide eyes and strange expressions.
Vanessa forced herself to stand still, to breathe through her nose and not run back out. Somehow, she managed to keep herself from looking back one more time to make sure he wasn’t there. Gradually the people blinked, their gazes wandering back to what they were doing and Vanessa could finally breathe again.
She went to the hostess and requested a table.
“No tables are open right now but you can sit at the bar if you like.”
“Perfect.” Just what she needed, a strong drink.
As time went by and more than a couple drinks went in her belly, the more she realized this was a mistake. Coming here, or anywhere for that matter, with Christine would have been fine. Safety lay in numbers. Now she was all alone.
Oh, God. She finished the last of her strawberry margarita and let the chilly iced drink roll around on her tongue before she swallowed. It just hit her.
“God, I’m stupid,” she muttered burying her face in her hand.
She only felt safe with him. Of course, it made sense. How it didn’t really hit her until now showed just how stupid she was. A buzzing noise caught her attention. Mumbling to herself, she rummaged in the small purse on the bar until she grabbed her phone. She hadn’t really paid much attention to the phone before which was obviously a mistake. The phone was small and black. After she hit the power button on it to turn on the screen, she had to slide this little key button across the screen to even unlock the phone.
“Fancy schmancy.”
There were all kinds of icons for stuff she either didn’t recognize or had never used. But at the top of the screen, a green bar flashed at her. She pressed her thumb to it, then her breath caught. A text messaging box popped up and the name of the person on the ‘from’ line sent her heart racing with excitement. Brayden Erickson. The message was something else entirely. She did a quick scan around the restaurant for him. Had he found her? Would he come after her again?
She re-read the message again, all of her fears vanishing with the excitement that only Brayden Erickson could bring.
What the hell do you think you’re doing?
Her lips twitched with a smile. It felt so good making him mad, she didn’t know why. Her thumbs flew across the small keyboard, then backspaced a lot when she made a slew of typing errors.
Getting a drink. Why?
You better get your ass home now.
Anger surged and she typed faster. Why? Where were you when I woke up?
Busy.
That’s it. One word. Was that supposed to make her feel better? Too busy to leave a note, apparently.
Indeed, he replied in an instant.
Yeah well, I’ll come back when I’m ready.
If you’re not ready right now, then I’m coming for you. You won’t like it, trust me.
“Ha,” she laughed. With a final swig, she downed the last of her icy margarita. Maybe you won’t like me if I come home. I’m pissed at you.
His reply gave her pause. Why?
She started to give in, relinquish her anger, but then she remembered waking up in a damned strange house with no sign of Brayden and anger won out.
Because you left me alone in a strange place after a horrible accident. I still don’t even know what happened!
She stared at her phone for a full thirty seconds waiting for a response. Nothing came. She clicked the phone on and off and still nothing. Frantic, she darted another look around the restaurant, but no tall vampire lurked waiting for her.
