Page 43 of Bound By Blood

Her gaze flicked over her shoulder, and she found Landon standing there, his shoulder resting against the doorframe and his arms crossed over his chest while he watched her.

“Did you want this bedroom?” she asked, turning around.

He didn’t answer her. Instead, he said, “You should probably shower. We won’t go see Kata until tomorrow.”

She nodded, and he turned and went into the other bedroom. Grabbing her shower toiletries from her bag and her clothes, she tucked herself into the small bathroom. There was a tub, but it was old and small. Even the sink was small – too small for even a contour brush, but she didn’t mind. Even though everything in this cabin was outdated and probably older than she was, it felt cozy.

She turned on the water and waited for it to heat up. Once steam was rolling over the plastic curtain, she stripped and dipped inside. She immediately wet her hair, letting the water comb through it and cascade down her back. She couldn’t help but think about the conversation they had on the plane. She had tried to apologize, but it was too late. Nothing she said was going to change his mind, not about her, not about the bond. Her soul was weary and beaten, and even the water wouldn’t wash it away.

Lifting her head and turning around, she let the water spray her face. She loved him, but how could she tell him that she loved him when he wanted the bond broken so badly? She picked up her shampoo bottle and then froze.

She loved him. Oh my god. She did love him. What Lily said was right. Carly Harris, in love with someone, and a vampire no less. Shit, she was in trouble. Trouble – because love was a leap where you had to trust that you wouldn’t fall to your death.

Did she trust Landon? He’d done nothing that would warrant her not to.

She understood, she fucked up, and she didn’t know how to undo it, but she did know she had to keep trying.

After she was fully washed, she got out of the shower. She could hear him rummaging around in the kitchen, even though he was being quiet. She frowned for a moment, midway through towel drying. She was still not sure about this heightened senses thing, but . . .

She shrugged it off and finished drying herself. Perhaps Landon had awakened something in her.

Picking up her clothes, she slid a shirt over her head and underwear over her ass. She didn’t bring pajama pants. There was no point. He’d seen her naked anyway, and she preferred to sleep without them.

The door softly clicked when she exited the bathroom and stepped into the hallway. She could smell food from the hallway, and she followed the aroma into the kitchen. Landon was there, setting down a TV dinner on the table before shutting the microwave.

“You should eat,” he said when he caught her staring from where she still stood.

“What about you?”

“I’m on my way out myself.” He pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit.

“Where are you going?” She frowned. It was late. Where the hell would he go at this time of night?

He rolled his eyes and sighed softly through his nose. “I already told you, Carly. I need to feed before we meet Kata tomorrow. It’s been four days. You may not be concerned about how dangerous she is, but I am. I need to feed so that I’m at my strongest.”

Carly nodded a little, crossing her arms over her chest. “I know you don’t like me right now, but . . .” She stepped further into the kitchen. “Feed on me.”

“No.” His answer was so firm it caused her to blink. He didn’t bother to look at her. Instead, he turned and left the kitchen, heading toward the front door and grabbing his coat.

She trailed after him. “The nearest city is quite a distance, Landon. Besides, you promised.” She wasn’t above being a little petty. She still didn’t like the fact that he would feed off of other people.

He rubbed at his jaw as he watched her carefully. “I know how far the nearest city is. But I also know there is a campsite about twenty minutes away. And I know you don’t like the idea of me feeding off another female, so I’ll take a male this time.”

She shook her head. That was not good enough for her. It made her feel selfish, but she wanted to be the only one he fed off of. “No. You promised me that you wouldn’t.” She pulled her wet hair to one side of her neck and stepped closer to him. “Feed off of me.”

He gripped her shoulders, preventing her from getting any closer. “I promised I wouldn’t touch another female. Please, stop trying to make this harder than it has to be.”

Without looking away from him, she said, “It’s simple, Landon. Let me feed you. Don’t overcomplicate it.”

He chuckled and shook his head, releasing her and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Everything about you is complicated, Carly.” He pulled his shoulders back and looked down at her. “Look, you asked me the other day if your blood was different from other people’s. And I told you yes. What I didn’t tell you was why. It’s . . .” He took a moment to gather his thoughts. “It’s like a drug to me. It’s addicting. The best I’ve ever tasted. The more I have, the more I want. But since we are here to break the bond, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to feed off you anymore. It will make it harder to stop.”

She swallowed thickly, and quietly, she said, “I like it when you feed off me.” When he said nothing, she nibbled on her bottom lip. It caught his eye. “It feels . . . good. Too good.” The thought of the night they shared together surfaced in her mind, and she clenched her thighs a little when her clit started to tingle.

Landon took a step closer to her and tilted her chin with his fingers. “I’m aware of how good it feels. Which is why we need to stop before it becomes so addicting that we can’t.”

She clutched his coat and peered up into his eyes. “I don’t want it to stop.”

Sighing, Landon rested his forehead against hers, body tense, but he didn’t reach out to touch her further. “I don’t either. But it’s for the best.” He pulled back and searched her eyes. She could see the moment he relented. “If it’s what you really want, I’ll do it. But this is the last time.”