I recoiled. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
The ice rattled against the glass as I brought it to my lips and sucked the sweet drink. My tastebuds exploded like never before, and a long sigh slipped out.
“Your taste is heightened, remember?” Kai squeezed the glass in his hand so hard I heard it creak as if it were about to break, but he loosened his hold on it before it shattered.
I licked my lips and sat it down on the counter. “I can definitely get used to all the vampire perks.”
He took a sip of the drink I made him and gave an appreciative groan as he sat his glass next to mine. “That’s scrummy.”
I smiled as a sense of homesickness swept through me. I’d inherited the coffee addiction from Mom, and she’d taught me how to make a good coffee.
“I started spending too much money going out, so my mom taught me to make it myself. That’s the bare minimum. Just wait until I can get some real creamer in here.”
“I’ll take you to the store as soon as you can go into public without wanting to rip into humans.” He flashed a smile. “How’re you holding up? Really. You’re in a house with three lethal strangers who turned you into something you didn’t even know existed before.”
“Honestly?” I sighed, pressing my palms to my cheeks. “I’m okay. I miss my mom and my brothers. I really miss my cat, Jax. I hate the fact that they don’t know where I am or if I’m okay.”
He leaned against the cabinets. “But?”
I clasped my hands behind my back. “ButI’ve been craving something more from life. I don’t feel like I was meant for a small town, boring life.”
Ever since the voice from hell told me I was destined for more, the craving for more haunted me like a shadow.
The corner of his lips tilted upward. “So, what’s stopping you from fully embracing it?”
“My old life. Maybe if they knew I was okay...” I took a hesitant step forward. “Can I borrow your phone?”
He blew out a breath of air, reaching out and twisting a lock of my hair around his finger. The close proximity sent chills of excitement through me. “I’d let you, but Thaddeus doesn’t think it’s the best idea.”
If you think I’m staying here like a prisoner just because Thaddeus said so, you’re sadly mistaken.
I swore my vision pulsed red as I slammed my hand down on the counter, splitting the marble in half, our coffees toppling over and glass shattering in the process. “I don’t give a fuck what Thaddeus says,” I growled.
“You may want to rethink that.” Thaddeus’ low voice rumbled behind me.
Of-fucking-course.
I turned to face him, my fangs dropping.
He sighed, staring at the mess I’d made in his kitchen. “I’m not surprised you lost the plot. This is why you need to be trained.”
“Lost what? I’m assuming you’re talking about me being pissed off. Well, I’m pissed off because you think you can tell me what to do,” I gritted out. “What’s stopping me from leaving anyway?”
“What’s stopping you?” Thaddeus let out a dark chuckle. “Maybe the fact that you’re a newly turned vampire, illegal by the way, or because of the looming danger you’re in, remember? Don’t forget the part where you could slaughter everyone you love. We can’t offer you protection if you leave.”
A low growl emitted from my throat. I didn’t care what reasoning he had. A rush of heat flooded my face, and I got tunnel vision for his neck. The anger was more substantial than anything I’d felt before. I didn’t know why, but I wanted to sink my fangs into his throat to sate some carnal need.
His eyes darkened as if he knew exactly what I was thinking, and in seconds, he had my body pinned against the far wall, and I snapped my teeth at him like a feral animal.
“Our senses aren’t the only thing heightened, love.” His nose brushed against mine, bright green eyes slicing into mine. “Our emotions are too. Our wants. Our fears. Our deepest bloody desires. You have to learn to control all of it. What if you got pissed off at someone in your family? They can’t fight you off like I can, and you’ll have that on your conscience for the rest of eternity. Just take a gander at what you did to the counter. Bones aren't marble.”
My blood ran cold.
Dean and Hunter pissed me off a lot back at home. They were my brothers, so it wasn’t unexpected. I’d never had the best control of my emotions, even when I was human. I didn’t want to think about the damage I could do to them now that I was a vampire.
But still, I knew I wouldn’t fucking hurt them.
My eyes fluttered closed as I took in a deep breath. For the first time, I took a moment to breathe in Thaddeus’ scent. He smelled of freshly brewed dark roast coffee, and it made my mouth water—not in the I want to eat him kind of way, but more in the I want to fuck him kind of way.
