Page 63 of Blood Queen

Tasha dances by and deposits a bottle of water into my hands. Truman laughs as I stare at it.

“Drink,” he says.

Suddenly thirsty, I chug the bottle.

Truman hasn’t left my side all night, a steady presence at my back, his fingers resting on my hip whenever someone gets tooclose. But he’s distracted now, talking to Eli near the couch, so when a guy sidles up next to me, I don’t think much of it.

“You new around here?” he asks, his grin lazy and a little too familiar.

I smirk. “I guess.”

He leans in. “Never seen you at one of these parties before.”

I grin at him, feeling light and happy. My buzz has faded just a little from the various bottles of water that Eli, Tasha and Truman have been giving to me. “I’ve never been.”

His eyes sweep over me. “Damn shame.”

I don’t get a chance to respond before Truman’s there, stepping in front of me, chest-to-chest with the guy in a heartbeat.

“Walk away.” Truman’s voice is low, deadly.

The guy scoffs. “Relax, man. Just talking.”

Truman shoves him back. “Walk. Away.”

The guy stumbles, holding his hands up. “Alright, alright.” He backs off, disappearing into the crowd.

I stare up at Truman. His hands are clenched, his chest rising and falling like he’s barely keeping himself in check. A side of him I haven’t seen before—possessive, territorial.

I should probably tell him to cool it. But the truth?

I like it.

Laughing, I step into him, sliding my hands up his chest. “You jealous, Truman?”

His gaze snaps to mine, dark and heated. “You think this is funny?”

I bite my lip. “I think it’s hot.”

His breath hitches. Then, he’s gripping my wrist and tugging me toward the door.

“We’re leaving,” he growls.

The second we’re inside his dorm room, the door slams shut and Truman has me pressed against it, his hands framing my face.

“You drive mecrazy,” he rasps against my lips.

Panting, I tug him closer. “Good.”

“What do you want?” he breathes, inches from my face. Green eyes stormy.

I can’t find my voice. “You have to say it, Kid.”

“I want your mouth,” I whisper.

He arches an eyebrow at me, a devilish smirk on his lips. “Where?” he asks.

I move my hair over one shoulder and point to my neck. His head dips down, lips caressing from my earlobe to my collarbone. A moan slips out of me.