“I hope you don’t expect me to pay for these,” she declared without looking at me. Something was definitely going on. An alternate plot to take me down and protect her family? I didn’t think she’d be the type but then again maybe she knew about her stronger side and thought to use it against me. Play the innocent girl, only to harm me when I let my guard down.
“I’m not paying.”
“You have to pay. You can’t steal the clothes,” she whispered angrily. She grabbed my arm for emphasis, like she’d do something if I stole the clothes. I shrugged her miniscule grip off and walked to the woman standing behind the desk where I saw others pay for their items.
“Oh, wow. Hi. Did you find everything you were looking for?” The woman’s eyes lit up and her smile shifted into simply sensual.
“We’re taking these clothes.” I noticed her focused eyes glazed over as my words soaked into her.
“Have a great day. Thanks for shopping with us.” She placed the clothes in a bag, then quickly grabbed a small piece of paper and scribbled something on it before handing it to me. I took it, but the sequence of numbers meant nothing to me, so I tossed them into a bin full of other trash on the way out.
“That girl was into you,” my annoying hostage’s voice sang from my right.
“No.”
“What do you mean ‘no’? I saw it. She gave you her number. That means she was interested and wanted you to call her.” Katsumi smiled, elated about this revelation. We walked by a dark alleyway, and I pushed her into it.
“I do not like this. You’re plotting against me. I can feel something amiss. Tell me.” I caged her between my arms and the wall.
“I’m not plotting anything!” she screamed, then tried and failed to move me. Her too-small body barely had any muscles to move me.
“Lies. Do you want me to take what was so easily offered by that human? Is that part of your plan? To attack me with my cock still inside her flesh?” I growled and darkness swirled around us, attracted to my anger. Her hands went to her face as it turned pink.
“For goodness’ sake, I don’t care what you do with her. I was trying to lighten the mood. You just Jedi- mind tricked her into stealing clothes and ignored her advances. I wouldn’t even know how to attack you. I’m smart enough to know that a man who can shift into shadows and toss a tree on my van can’t be taken down easily.” She spoke through her fingers but refused to reveal her eyes to me. I had enough of this. I pulled her hands down and stared into her eyes.
“What is going on inside your head?”
If she admitted to plotting against me, then I’d kill her immediately. She fought to keep her lips sealed, but my compulsion power forced the words out of her.
“You’re hot, okay? I wasn’t expecting to walk in that dressing room and see you shirtless looking like a god amongst man! Are you happy and satisfied now? How does someone get all those muscles? It just doesn’t seem real,” she rambled, and it took me a moment to understand her words. She found me physically appealing.
“Bedding me will not save your life,” I warned. It had been done before and they all failed. She huffed and turned her head to the right, away from my eyes again.
“Geez, just because you’re good-looking doesn’t mean I wanna sleep with you. You can think someone is attractive and still hate them.” The pink on her cheeks remained, and I studied her features. I could see how her words held merit. She was in her own words “hot.”
However as appeasing as her form and mouth were to me, I still wanted revenge. Nothing would change that.
Chapter Eight
Katsumi
I officially checked shoplifting with a vampire off my bucket list. After Tatsou tried to squish me with his body, thinking I plotted to kill him, we grew content with each other’s presence, like the thought of me finding him physically attractive made things awkward. I took him to a few more stores where we grabbed everything I could think he might need. He fought me on some things, like a toothbrush. Apparently, they lived au naturale in the teeth department back in the day. I refused to be in his space unless he brushed his teeth, especially if he was going to be chugging blood down. I was not a fan of blood. I didn’t faint when I saw it, but I did feel queasy.
So far, he’d been asked on three dates, while I stood right next to him, and one very pushy saleslady even tried to get him to try on gray sweatpants for her enjoyment. I pulled him out of the shops quicker than my anxiety could poke its head out. He was causing too much attention for me, and I was ready to be home, take a bath, and pass out.
Tomorrow, I’d have to figure out a new vehicle situation and sew all day. I also assumed Tastsou would have some nefarious plan for me, so I needed to mentally prepare myself for that as well. I still hoped that I’d fall asleep, wake up, and it would have all been a dream.
“Are your revenge plans officially starting tomorrow?” I dared to ask as I drove us to my studio. Tatsou sat quietly and watched the scenery pass by the window.
“Yes. I’m going to become your protection warrior. Only you and I will know the truth, but it will give me an excuse to remain close without suspicion.”
“I’m not sure that’s gonna work. My father does not let just anyone around his daughters.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I wanted to slap myself. Why was I helping him? Even Tatsou shifted to stare at me curiously.
“You wish to help me?”
“If I’m being honest here, I don’t know what I want. I’m pissed at my family for lying to me, for being bad guys in our world. I’m not overly fond of you and your constant threats to kill me. You’re not very nice, either. Junin toiro. Different strokes for different folks. But a little kindness goes a long way.” Once I started voicing my thoughts, I couldn’t stop.
“I mean, I just found out there are vampires in this world. They can go in the daylight, they have reflections, and they can shift into shadows. They are super-strong, fast, and can mind-trick people to do whatever they want. Twenty-four hours ago, I was stressing about adding eyelet lace orAlençon laceto the dress I’m working on. Now, I’m in the middle of a revenge plot. I’m confused, I’m tired, I want ice cream, a bath, and to go to sleep. Gah! Can I even sleep around you? Are you going to suck my blood while I dream?” My heart raced as I thought of Tatsou creeping on my veins while I dreamed about being a top designer during fashion week.
