Page 7 of Bound by Vengeance
Vicky focused on the newspaper clippings andmap again. After what happened with Duke, she’d steered clear ofmen, but she couldn’t read anything as every part of her remainedhyperaware of him.
Am I lusting after a vampire?Nathanwondered. Yes, he was, and he couldn’t stop himself from imaginingstripping her clothes away and licking every inch of her. Would herskin be golden all over? He suspected the answer was yes, and hewas dying to know for sure.
It had been months since he’d been with awoman, but even with his drought, he’d never desired one the way hedid her. He’d never jumped from one bed to another, but he’d neverhad a relationship with someone either, and he often only saw awoman a few times before moving on. There was no point in stayingany longer with those women when it could never go anywhere; theelders would pick his future bride for him.
He’d still had sex on a somewhat regularbasis, yet he couldn’t recall the last time he did.
He ran a hand through his hair as heremembered it had been at least six months—before he firstencountered Vicky. He’d had opportunities to be with other womensince then, but he turned them down. Now he realized it was becauseshewas the one he wanted and none of them would havesatisfied him.
“Were you hunting Joseph tonight? Is thatwhy you were on the street?” she asked, her voice hoarser thannormal.
Her question pulled his attention away fromthe perusal of her lush body. “I was. I figured the concert mightbe a draw for vampires, and possibly Joseph. Then, I saw you.”
Uneasiness swept through her. “You sawme?”
“Yes. When you emerged from the Garden, Ispotted you in the crowd. Curious as to what you were up to, Ifollowed you.”
“I….” Her voice trailed off as she didn’tknow what to say. She’d been so focused on hunting Duke, she nevernoticedshe’dbecome the hunted. She’d been an idiot; shewasn’t prepared to face Duke. Her family, Ronan, and the others hadall been right about that, though she’d never admit it to them. “Iscrewed up.”
“It happens to the best of us,” Nathan said.“Sometimes we’re lucky enough to have an ally to help us when ithappens, and sometimes we’re not.”
“And are you my ally?”
“I thought so.”
“Yeah,” she muttered. “What do you plan todo if you find Joseph on your own?”
“The same thing you plan to do with Duke, Iassume. It seems you were hunting him, on your own. Where’s yoursister and her mate?”
“They’ve gone home to visit my family.”
“What about your brother, Aiden? Isn’t hetraining with Ronan to become a Defender?”
“He’s taking a break to spend some time withhis newfound mate, Maggie. He also returned home for a bit.”
“So, while they’re away, you took theopportunity to go after Duke. I doubt Ronan approved of this.”
“I’m not one of his trainees, and I’m not aDefender; he doesn’t have any say about my life.”
“He lets you travel freely back and forthfrom his home?” Nathan didn’t think that was likely. He’d been toRonan’s mansion, but the blindfold he wore to get there ensured hedidn’t know where it was.
“No. I’m not sure where he lives. Saxonblindfolded me and brought me into the city yesterday. I’m supposedto call him when I’m ready to return.”
“They let you go off on your own in thecity?”
“You’re not going to believe this, but I cancross the street without holding my mom’s hand too,” she retorted.“I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”
“I saw that tonight.”
A ring of fire raced around her emeraldeyes. Nathan’s breath sucked in at this evidence of her vampirismand the brief loss of control over her emotions. He’d assumed sucha sight would dim his lust for her. Instead, he nearly groaned ashe imagined seeing her out of control in his bed.
She was the exact opposite of what he’d beenraised to want from a woman, but damn, he wanted her.
“I know you hunters think all women are weaklittle things you have to keep locked away, but I assure you, Icould kick your ass if it became necessary,” Vicky said through herteeth.
He quirked an eyebrow at her prouddeclaration while she gazed at him with her round chin raised inhaughty disdain. “Or maybe I’ll take you down,” he murmured.
Those words sounded more like a promise thana threat, which made them far more unsettling to her. Before shecould reply, she caught a whiff of garbage and metal squeakedoutside the window.
