Page 15 of Tainted Souls
Evan carefully repositions the woman so she is leaning against the plush cushions instead of him, then grabs a water bottle from the table. “Drink this,” he instructs, pressing it to herlips. She complies, some of the water dribbling down her chin as she gulps greedily.
“Not addiction,” Evan corrects me once more. “Pleasure. Humans chase all sorts of thrills and dangerous highs. Take extreme sports or gambling, for example. How is this any different?”
Noticing the subtle concern in his face, I stay composed. “It’s not about the high, Evan. It’s about what happens when a vampire loses control.”
Evan’s retort dies on his lips as someone knocks on the back room door with three sharp, impatient raps that silence the entire room. No one that knows the code would knock. Not knowing the code means this is either a nosy parker, or a keeper.
“Get everyone out,” I instruct, nodding toward the personnel door on the other side of the room. It’s connected to the main part of the building through a small hallway behind the bar. “Lou will know what to do. Just, for the love of all that’s unholy, please make sure no one leaves the premises in an incoherent state.”
I hand Evan my vitaequils as Haden and the others start corralling their companions together along with anyone else that is in the room with us. The knocking comes again, harder this time.
My heart is racing, thinking of possible excuses for what could be going down in here. I reach for the zipper of my corset and, without hesitation, yank it down. I shimmy out of my skirt, letting it pool at my waist and leaving me in just my black lace bra.
Evan’s eyes widen at my impromptu strip. “What are you doing?”
“Making this look like a changing room,” I whisper back, frantically running my hands through my hair. “Go!”
As the last of them disappear, I unlock the door and poke my head through it.
“Seriously?” I huff, feigning outrage as I pull my dress back up to cover my chest. “Can’t a girl change in peace?” My breath mists in the night, fear turning to a sharper, more personal dread when I spot the last person I expected to see. There, arms crossed and jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth, stands Max.
“What are you changing for?” His expression is caught somewhere between confusion and suspicion, his hand still raised as if preparing for another knock. “Or should I say who?”
“Nothing. No one.”
“What’s going on in here?” His voice drops to that quiet, dangerous tone he usually reserves for courthouse cross-examinations. “I thought you were talking to your friends.”
“I was, and they just left,” I say, trying to explain. “We thought you were the police.”
“And, of course, you were doing things the police can’t catch you doing.”
I fasten my zipper again before slipping through the door, closing it firmly behind me to shield the mess inside from view. I need to make him understand without understanding too much.
“They’ll stop bloodsucking,” I lie.
“Really?” He frowns, skepticism written all over his face. “Just like that?”
“I guess this whole incident with Kyla is a wake-up call for them.” I push the statement out with more conviction than I feel, hoping he’ll believe it as much as I need to believe it.
His expression softens. “I’m glad to hear it. I’m sorry for, you know, taking it out on you.”
“It’s okay,” I reply, touching his arm gently.
I almost tell him everything—how scared I am of disappointing and losing him. How much I want us to work, despite our differences. How much I want him to accept me for who I am, but I know better than to shatter this version of myselfI spent years curating carefully. The version of me that deserves to be loved.
“I understand why you reacted the way you did,” I say instead. “I appreciate the apology, though.”
He looks down into his hands, fidgeting a little, a gesture I know he makes when he’s relieved. “I have a little surprise for you.” A smile breaks through the seriousness that clouds his face. “For our anniversary. I know you like to receive your gifts early.”
I indeed have a strong desire for instant gratification.
Max has learned to give me my presents ahead of time, so I won’t bug him about it weeks before the day of celebration. It is exactly why I anticipated him giving me my present, or dare I say, ring, tonight.
I made sure that he would.
“Oh?” I echo, feigning surprise.
“Let’s go to my apartment first.” He glances around as though remembering where we are. “Keepers and security checkpoints everywhere doesn’t quite make for the romantic setting.”
