The vampire didn’t even appear to be breathing. Eyelids lowered to half-mast, lashes damp, he stared at her like a starving cat presented with a bowl of kibble.
“Don’t lock me up,” she whispered.Let’s see how well I can bargain.“Please?” Her legs were a bit woozy, but she managed to unfold a bit, her palm skating up to touch his neck. Theka-thumpof his heartbeat continued, nice and steady; she didn’t dare peek at the other half of the tub to see if he was still standing to attention, so to speak. Her fingers found his nape, sliding on damp skin, and if she hitched herself up and braced her ribs on the rim, she might be able to get close enough.
Amazingly, the vampire obeyed that gentle pressure, leaning toward her, lowering his head. Water rippled.
Her lips touched his. It was goddamn awkward, balancing precariously on a flared cast-iron edge, her toes slipping against damp tile, and she hoped her breath wasn’t horrible. The vague spice in her mouth reminded her of being high on monster blood, andthatwasn’t a thought she needed.
I am no good at this sort of thing. Please let it work, though. I’m trying awful hard.
A splash, a tumbling confusion as she overbalanced, and Layla bit back a surprised yell. Water geysered up—she was lifted, a tug at her waistband, and fabric ripped. Falling, a jolt of impact, another massive splash, and good God the entire bathroom was going to be swamped.
That was beside the point, however. Because Max had, with terrifying, casual strength, simply stood up, carrying her along, and stripped away her sweatpants, not to mention clawed the T-shirt to scraps. Then he simply dropped, controlling the descent with negligent grace, and she was on his lap in a half-full bathtub, clutching those very broad muscled shoulders. A familiar, very insistent pressure poked between her legs, eager to burrow further.
Layla froze, and so did he.
Her ribs, still feeling the rim’s imprint, heaved as she tried to sort out what the hell. Her knees were pressed hard against the sides, and if he let go of her waist gravity would help the hard, hot nudge at her opening push deeper. Layla couldn’t decide if this was a bad or good sign, especially since he didn’t move.
Shit. Oh, goddammit. Didnotexpect that. There was such a thing as a half-baked plan working entirely too well.
Max was still staring at her, heavy-lidded though thankfully without any wet red pinpricks in his pupils. A humming went through stone-hard muscles, leashed strength just on the edge of exploding.
“I will not leave you here alone again.” A soft, rumbling whisper.
For a moment the words didn’t make sense. Her breath caught, and a strange uncoiling sensation deep in her belly washalf terror, half a dark excitement she didn’t care to examine more closely.
Oh, my God, do I actually like this?Layla fought to keep her own eyes wide open, to think clearly. “Good.” A high-pitched, breathy little word. “Everyone leaves me behind. I’m tired of it.”
Was she actually using her body to negotiate with a vampire? She hoped Meemaw wasn’t watching from heaven, but then again, Lay had known she’d never reach the pearly gates. There wasn’t any point in trying; she’d settle for saving her own miserable life and maybe getting out of here.
The spellbound quality was draining from Max’s expression; his gaze sharpened. “I told you I would?—”
Don’t let him think. Layla wriggled, hips rocking, and plastered her mouth to his, her tongue sliding between thankfully human-seeming teeth. An excruciating moment of worrying whether she was just going to embarrass herself—he could shove her away, decide he didn’t like her initiating action, maybe he only got off when she struggled? She knew that was what a lot of guys preferred, thinking a girl was a slut if she acted like she wanted anything at all.
But no, he seemed interested. At least, one part of him was; she slid, aided by silken hot water and gravity, halfway onto his cock.
Not only that, but he returned the kiss with surprising force, inhaling the short sharp hiss she made at sudden penetration. So far, so good—she let herself respond, flutter-probing, hoping she was teasing and tempting instead of licking like a Pomeranian. Kissing was supposed to be a matter of practice, though Suze had averred you either had the knack or you didn’t?—
She didn’t want to think about Suzy. And then, maddeningly, his fingers tensed, biting into her middle. All movement halted, both of them locked in stasis once more.
Goddammit.Really going to make me work for it. Okay.She moved, finding a better angle. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, two people crammed into the tub which all of a sudden seemed to have shrunk, and she hoped she wouldn’t get a faucet in the back if things got more active.
Or went badly.
The kiss deepened, a half-familiar numbness filling her mouth. Layla rocked a little, finding he’d cooperate after all, and so far, her halfass, entirely insane plan was going great. Especially since her entire body had lit up, nerves crackling with electricity, fresh jolts rising with every movement, and a wicked, delicious pressure found her clit as well.
How the hell is hedoingthat?But she had to think, she was in a good position—agreatone—for negotiation, and there wouldn’t be a better time.
His mouth pursued when she tried to pull away. It took two tries and tipping her chin up before he got the idea, but that could have been a mistake because he turned his attention to nuzzling down her throat. If he was going to bite, she was absolutely defenseless.
Not that it was a big change. “Max,” she whispered. “Max. Please. Listen.”
“Hm?” A sleepy, inquisitive noise. His hands loosened another fraction; she sank further, an exquisite stretching. “Leila.” Drawing out her name, tasting it.
More than once, Layla had been forgotten in a corner while men discussed how bitches used sex to get what they wanted, a certain kind of male laughterhur-hurring around the room.
She was going to find out if it actually worked. “I’m cooperating,” she gasped. “See?”
“Leila…” An honest-to-gosh groan. His movements were a lot less graceful now; he was clearly trying to find her rhythmthough she could keepjustahead of his attempts, and a heady sense of power rose with the pleasure, filling her skull.
