Nathan paused, his expression turning thoughtful.
Liam moved away, meeting my irate gaze with a hint of smugness. I rolled my eyes. Yes, yes, he was very strong and manly. Unmatched in a fight. I got the point.
“Come, you haven’t had anything to eat tonight. We can take care of that while we discuss what I need from you,” he said, his feet whispering across the grass.
I followed reluctantly, already beginning to regret our agreement. Vampires. Their sneaky machinations knew no bounds.
The kitchen was surprisingly updated, given the fact Liam had no need of one. Most vampires,I’d learned, didn’t eat food despite the ability. I was one of the few who still clung to its comfort.
He headed for the fridge, opening it and grabbing a wine bottle.
I lingered by the doorway of the kitchen, mentally bracing myself. I didn’t want to embarrass myself by throwing up the blood Liam gave me. I already knew that if I tried to avoid drinking blood, he’d force the issue.
I resigned myself to the upset stomach and cramps I knew were in my immediate future as he poured blood into a glass.
“You’re not drinking?” I asked.
“I already met my needs for the night,” he told me, his piercing blue eyes coming up to meet mine in a challenging stare.
I firmly squelched the spark of jealousy that threatened to upset my mood. There was nothing between Liam and myself aside from a few kisses resulting from an overpowering blood lust on my part. That’s it.
He could find sustenance from whoever he wanted. Both Nathan and he had assured me feeding didn’t require passion— it could be no more personal than a visit to the doctor’s office to have blood drawn. Still, I knew from my stay in the mansion that some vampires preferred a little sex with their blood.
I’d never been able to bring myself to ask whether Liam was one of those.
“How nice for you,” I said, grabbing the glass and lifting it to my mouth. The stench of rotted meat wafted up to me.
I tilted the glass up, draining it in seconds. As soon as it hit my tongue and coated my throat, I had to fight the urge to choke, forcing it down through sheer stubbornness.
The glass empty, I scrubbed my hand across my mouth, wishing I could scrub my tongue at the same time.
“Mm, mm, delicious,” I said. I breathed through my nose, hoping doing so would help keep it down.
“Is that so?” he asked, arching an eyebrow, a watchful look on his face.
I gave him a fierce smile even as my stomach turned fretfully.“Yup.”
He poured another glass and slid it toward me.“In that case, you wouldn’t mind drinking another.”
I stared at the glass, feeling something like horror slide through me. There was no way I could drink that, not without losing the battle with my stomach.
“Not necessary,” I forced myself to reply calmly.“This should be more than enough.”
Nathan and Eric entered the kitchen behind us, their voices quieting once they got a look at the standoff taking place between the two of us.
“I disagree,” Liam said, his voice equally calm even as a storm gathered in his eyes.“You need to replace your reserves from last night.”
This asshole knew, I realized. He knew how blood was beginning to affect me; knew it and was forcing me into a situation whereI’d have to admit it.
My head spun toward Nathan. Had he been the one to tattle? The slight confusion in his expression told me he didn’t quite understand what was going on.
Nope, not happening.
I pushed the glass back toward him.“I’m full. Maybe later.”
His fangs glinted in his sharp smile as he pushed the glass back toward me.“I insist, and as your boss, you have to listen. Or did you forget the agreement we made earlier tonight.”
Son ofa—he wouldn’t. His deadly smile said he would. He’d take pleasure in snatching this job away from me, and knowing him, he’d stick me in the mansion and have Thomas sit on me until they’d dealt with whatever this was.
