Page 46 of A Bond Beyond Blood (The Butcher’s Daughter Trilogy #1)

J ack

Once the last of my employees left, I locked up the front of the butcher shop and dropped the blinds, then switched off the neon sign. As I began rotating the sausages lined up in the display case, motion caught my eye near the darkened hallway that led to the back.

My heart stuttered and I jumped, spinning toward the intruder, then brought my hand to my chest when I recognized the shocking white of the vampire king’s hair.

Breathing deeply, I tried to calm my heart, but it hammered even faster now that I was face to face with him again.

I wish I could say it was only fear, that element of surprise that made my heartbeat a thundering rush in my ears, but the way my body reacted to him was intoxicating. A tightening of my belly, warmth running through my veins—

His lips twitched as he followed my thoughts or clocked the signs of my traitorous body, then he motioned toward the back of the shop.

“The back door was unlocked, dear Jack,” he said as he strode toward me.

“And your bulldog is nowhere nearby. Did I not warn you that my enemies might come for you?” With a frown marring his otherwise perfect face, he added, “I’d hate to see a single hair harmed on that pretty head of yours. ”

“I can take care of myself,” I lied, hating the way the tremor in my voice stole the credibility right out of that statement.

He raised one condescending brow, but refrained from reminding me that he’d beaten me to a pulp and graciously allowed me to live just a short time ago, right here in this very shop.

I huffed and rolled my eyes, then his features hardened, his lips thinning into a firm line, and my heart skipped a beat.

He stepped toward me and I held my breath as I held his gaze. “I should take you over my knee each time you make that derisive sound.”

I gulped at the image that stirred in my mind—and the rush of heated desire that followed.

Goddammit, Jackie, no.

No.

He smirked as he lowered to a crouch at my feet, and I sucked in a breath, bracing myself to be tossed over his shoulder—and not hating the thought as much as I should.

Instead, Eli retrieved the wrapped sausages I’d dropped when he’d surprised me, then his nostrils flared and crimson rimmed his crystal blue irises.

“The offer stands,” he purred, looking up at me from his crouched position.

I swallowed hard and shook my head. No. See? That wasn’t so hard. “No thanks.”

It was his turn to roll his eyes at me, but I didn’t threaten to pull him over my knees—

He snorted. “A tempting thought indeed.” When he was back at his full height and taking up all the oxygen in the room, he said, “Tell me, Jack, have the boys failed to satisfy your needs in my absence?”

“Satisfy my...” Blinking, I tried to clear the fog from my mind, ignoring the way my body melted at that crimson heat in his eyes and the way it slipped down between my legs like a physical caress. I ignored that dirty promise in his words. The challenge.

If they weren’t satisfying me, he certainly would.

And I had no doubt he could .

He leaned down, closing the distance between us, his breath a gentle tease against my cheeks as he whispered, “Smart girl.”

Then he straightened again and I craned my neck to keep my eyes on his, too afraid to look away—or too completely mesmerized , if I was being honest with myself.

Eli moved so quickly that my brain had barely registered motion when his hand snaked around the back of my neck and his lips brushed the shell of my ear. I sucked in a gasp, shivering from the contact.

“I find you mesmerizing as well, petit colibri .” He pressed his nose against my ear and breathed deeply, reminding me of the way Vinny always breathed me in—

Shit. Vinny.

Snapping out of it, I stumbled backward, out of Eli’s hold, hurrying away from him until my shoulders hit the wall.

“Trapped,” the vampire king said with a cluck of his tongue. He canted his head to the side, then gave my body a languorous once over. “Whatever shall we do?”

“What are you doing here, Eli?” He’d stayed away so long I figured he’d changed his mind about me—

His eyes snapped to mine. “I’d sooner cut off my own hand.”

“Don’t let me stop you.”

His lips quirked up on one side, a delicious smirk. “I’d prefer to keep them intact.” He grinned, wolfish and predatory. “The better to unravel you with.”

I closed my eyes and counted to five. When I opened them again, he had one eyebrow raised in challenge, but when I didn’t say anything, he lifted one shoulder as he waved his hand in the air dismissively.

“I’ve had business to attend to, as you know.

Dreadful stuff.” He closed the distance between us slowly and my pulse sped, my shoulders still pressing against the wall as if it might open up and swallow me whole.

“I would have much preferred the presence of your company to the loathsome men at the Council of Lords.”

The crimson still ringing his irises stirred something deep in my belly, a desire I wanted nothing to do with.

Eli tsked . “Let’s not be mendacious, Jack. It benefits no one.”

When he stopped in front of me this time, he leaned forward, pressing one forearm against the wall above my head. With his free hand, he pressed a knuckle beneath my chin and tilted my head up.

My mouth went dry as all the moisture in my body raced south to pool between my legs.

Eli’s tongue traced a slow line across his lower lip, then he leaned forward and I froze.

Don’t. I shook my head. I can’t.

Eli’s eyes narrowed. “Can’t or won’t, love?”

“Won’t,” I said aloud, my voice firm even as I trembled with need.

He gripped my chin and dragged his thumb across my bottom lip. I shivered in response to the intimacy of that simple touch, and Eli smirked.

“Hm,” he purred. “Can’t or won’t indeed.

” He leaned forward and nudged my nose with his own, breathing me in as he whispered, “Why deny yourself, butcher?” He dragged his nose along my jaw, to my ear, breathing deeply as he left tingling numbness and goosebumps in his wake.

“Why pretend your body isn’t begging for me right now? ”

I shuddered as his tongue flicked out against my pulse point.

“You’ve consumed my every thought, petit colibri .” He brushed his lips gently over the place he just licked, then opened his mouth to suck my flesh between his lips.

I jerked as pleasure raced through my veins. My hands flew out to grip his shoulders. When Eli chuckled against my throat, a dark, almost threatening sound, my body shuddered with pleasure.

He notched one solid thigh between my legs and my hips jerked forward without permission, wantonly seeking friction. He growled, a low, sensual purr deep in his throat, and my pussy throbbed with need.

I ached in ways I shouldn’t.

In places I shouldn’t.

He licked his full lips as he assessed me with those impossibly blue eyes.

My breathing was fast and loud in the quiet of the empty shop. My pulse thundered loudly in my ears, my heart banging so forcefully against the cage of my ribs I feared it might burst free at any moment.

“A siren call,” he murmured, gaze dropping to my chest. He flattened his palm over my heart and I held my breath.

My body burned from within, veins aflame with desire and vibrating from a heady mix of dread and adrenaline.

But I had to resist him.

I’d finally found a rhythm with Gannon. I didn’t know what that meant, but we were friends again, maybe moving toward more...

And Vinny and I were so good together—

The leg Eli had between mine rose higher, lifting me to my toes, then he shook his head.

Eyes focused on my mouth, he leaned forward, then he slanted his lips over mine and I whimpered at the first searching flick of his tongue.

The hand resting over my heart dropped to grip my hip, and his other hand snaked around my neck once more, holding me to him with effortless ease.

Trapped. His earlier word floated back into my mind.

Like a bird in a cage.

A hummingbird in a cage.

I sealed my lips together to keep him out. What little control I had, I could use.

The hand on the back of my neck flexed and he titled my head back with ease. “Open, petit colibri ,” he murmured against my lips, “give me what is rightfully mine.”

I shuddered at the possessiveness in his tone, the searing grip of his hand at the back of my neck. The way his arrogance should have angered me but only managed to light me up in other, delicious ways. Eli hummed appreciatively as he followed my thoughts, sending a thrill down my spine.

“That’s where you’re mistaken,” Vinny said, and my body trembled for entirely different reasons as worry sliced ice through my veins.

Eli chuckled, the sound a low cadence in his throat. “Ah, there’s the good puppy now.” He met my gaze and said, “Next time, love,” then spun around and strode toward Vinny as if he hadn’t just had me pinned against the wall and moments away from giving into him.

He tilted his head, but thankfully didn’t respond to those wayward thoughts.

I dragged in a stuttering breath and buried my head in my hands. What the fuck is wrong with me?

“You’ve failed at taking care of the girl,” Eli said with a cocksure lilt to his voice. “Such a simple directive. I had hoped for a better outcome when leaving her in your care, Vincenzo.”

My eyes widened as I peeked through my fingers to watch Vinny’s shoulders rise and his chest puff out.

His hands clenched into fists at his side, and I tensed.

He was an incredible fighter, a champion once upon a time, but I had my doubts that he’d be able to survive a true fight with the vampire king.

“I take care of my girl,” Vinny said, an unmistakable warning in his voice.

“See, now that’s where you’re mistaken.” Eli flashed a smile over his shoulder and I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Please don’t.

“She’s intact , yes,” he said, and I groaned, “but her needs have not been met. You have not cared for the girl.”

Vinny’s eyes shot past Eli and locked with mine, confusion knitting his brows together.

And then it happened.

And I died a little.

His nostrils flared, picking up on what we’d been doing, what we’d been about to do—

No. No, we hadn’t been about to do anything, thank you very much.

Eli snorted. “Be a good lad and finish what I started.” He clapped Vinny on the back and my eyes bulged out of my head. I took a step forward, but Vinny gave me the slightest shake of his head, and I froze.

When Eli was gone, we remained locked in place, just a girl and her vampire. Staring.

I swallowed hard, and the sound must have broken the spell because Vinny canted his head to the side and began to stalk toward me.

Uh oh.

“Is that true, sweet girl?”

Oh god. There was amusement in those deep brown eyes. And a hint of menace. Challenge.

Red-rimmed irises.

Hunger or lust. Anger, or violent need.

He was either going to feast or fuck—and I was on the menu either way.

I squeaked and stepped backward, and Vinny’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

Don’t run, he’d told me countless times.

“Vinny, I...” I swallowed hard and took another step back, this time hitting that goddamn wall again.

“Let’s play a game, Jacqueline.”

Gulp.

“Run from me.”

My eyes widened and I shook my head. Okay, so he was mad and this was how I’d die.

“I won’t hurt you,” he stated firmly, eyes imploring.

“But you said—”

“Do you trust me?”

I nodded. Easiest answer in the world.

“Three,” he began, the deep purr of his voice reigniting the fire in my veins.

I squeaked but made no move to run.

“Two.” He stepped forward and canted his head to the side, breathing deeply. “Fuck me, sweet girl, you reek of him.” Shaking his head, he dragged his hand down his face. “I’m going to remove every bit of his scent from your skin. Are you his?”

I shook my head.

“No. You’re mine.”

I shuddered as I nodded frantically.

Then Vinny winked. “Mine,” he mouthed. “One.”

And I bolted with a high-pitched shriek.