Free The Wicked Kiss by Trina M Lee Page B

there was no coffin for this bed-loving vamp, he was otherwise dead to the world until sundown.
    “I have to go shopping for a costume for the Halloween party at Lucy’s Lounge,” I said, for no other reason than to see if he was still awake. Changing the subject right about now couldn’t hurt either.
    When he didn’t answer right away, I thought he was out. A low chuckle rumbled in his chest, and he said sarcastically, “Pray tell, Alexa, what are you going to be for Halloween? A werewolf?”
    “That’s not even worth dignifying with a response. There’s nothing wrong with dressing up for Halloween. It’s fun.” And, it reminds me of being a kid , I added silently.
    “I suppose it is, when you haven’t suffered through as many as I have. They all start to blur together.”
    His voice was lazy, and I knew he was drifting away. I reached up to gently grasp a handful of his silky, black hair. It slid through my fingers with a softness that created a warm tingle in my veins.
    “It’s exciting to be a superhero or your favorite TV character. You know, dressing up in a way that you would never do otherwise.”
    Arys stirred slightly as he turned towards me, his arm going around my waist possessively. “Like a Playboy bunny?” His tone was teasing, and I couldn’t help but giggle to myself at the incredible odds.
    I snuggled in beside him and gave in to the fatigue that pulled at my eyelids. I had absolutely no intention of telling either Arys or Shaz just how alike they could be. I doubted that it would be very well received.

     
     
     
     

Chapter Five
    It wasn’t all that often that Shaz managed to score two nights off in a row. As the best crowd-pleasing bartender in town, his employer’s hated having to let him escape their clutches at all. So, even though we had just spent the past two hours in a typical Hollywood chick flick that failed to impress me in any way, it was worth it because we were together.
    On our drive into the city, I had told him about Harley. He’d pursed his lips and muttered obscenities about Arys, which had made me reluctant to tell him the rest, about the blood bond. However, he was my mate, my wolf’s other half, and so I had to spill it all.
    The look of horror on his face had me rushing to assure him that the blood bond was not something I intended to enter. It was just a vampire thing that, shockingly, could be applied to mortals. There had been an anxious energy oozing from him since, and I almost wished I hadn’t told. Maybe it just wasn’t that important.
    The heater was on in Shaz’ little Chevy. I angled the vents so that I could put my hands up to the warmth. We were heading out of the city, back to Stony Plain. I flipped down the visor so that I could check my makeup in the mirror. My careful black liner was just as it had been before I left the house.
    “What are you looking at?” Shaz asked, a lazy smile tugging at his full lips. “You always look incredible.”
    “Aww,” I blushed, grateful for the darkened interior. “That’s very sweet of you to say. It’s also a lie.”
    “Like hell it is. I don’t know another woman that could rock those pants the way you do.” His attentive gaze momentarily left the road to rove over my tight, black leather.
    “Hot damn, you are fine.”
    I laughed then, a bubbly sound that only he could bring out of me. The truth was that I had dressed just for him, knowing he would appreciate the pants paired with a low cut, white top made of flimsy, sheer fabric. It thrilled me to hear how much he really loved it.
    “Be careful, babe,” I warned teasingly. “If you keep talking like that, my ego will go through the roof.”
    I felt his sidelong glance and met his jade eyes. He was serious when he said, “You don’t give yourself enough credit. I love your modesty though, it’s sexy.”
    My response was to stick my tongue out and make a very unlady-like noise. His compliments felt good, but I didn’t know how to take