Page 31 of Bite Me

I shake my head. Anything but that.

He sighs. “Fine.”

“Luther seemed very helpful,” I say, intentionally pressing a button I know he’ll press back.

“Luther is maybe the least helpful person I’ve ever met, and when you get to know him, you’ll understand why.”

“Oh, yes, but I can trust you? The man who harasses me every day?”

“Harass? I think you harass me.”

I roll my eyes and sigh.

“What?”

“Why does it always feel as if you want to say something, but you don’t? You’re . . . cryptic and bossy.”

Something about that budges his frown. “Bossy?”

“Yeah, you love telling others what to do.”

“You probably don’t get that much . . . You do the telling.”

My heart drums, and heat rises in my blood. Dacre leans in unexpectedly, and his voice grows deeper, sultry.

“How does it feel then, thief? To be told what to do?”

When I don’t say anything, he continues, “Maybe you should try it. You might find you like submitting and doing exactly what I tell you to do.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” I spit.

He chuckles, standing to scrub his hands in the sink.

I let out a breath, thankful the blood is preventing me from smelling that stupid cologne and clouding my judgment. In fact, with the little distance, I feel more levelheaded than ever.

“I’m going to the Solexxa party this weekend. I can decide for myself who is and isn’t someone I can trust. And since you obviously hate me, I really hope you don’t show up.”

He snatches a clean towel and glowers at me. “You’re exhausting. Now, let me see.”

I remove the towel from my nose.

“Finally, it stopped.”

With a clean towel, I make quick work of wiping my face. “Allow me to remedy your exhaustion.”

The door is almost closed behind me when I stop. “Thank you.”

Mom taught me that killing people with kindness is the best way to travel through this world. It’s not a skill I’d say I’ve mastered, but I try.

“You’re welcome.” His voice echoes in the lounge as I reach the door.

Chapter Eleven

Dacre

I’ve showered twice every day for four days to get the smell of her blood off my skin, and it still feels as if it’s sitting in my pores. I steady myself as I lean back against the wall.

I swear it’s making me dizzy.