Free The Progeny (The Progeny Series) by Ashlynne Laynne

put out her hand. “ It’s a deal.”
    Ascher shook her hand and chuckled. “You’re going to lose!”
    “Let’s make it more interesting. The loser buys the winner dinner tomorrow night.”
    * * * *
    Ascher grasped her hand and tensed, knowing that he couldn’t eat food without it making him ill. He agreed to dinner while knowing that he’d have to excuse himself to bring it back up before it digested. “I prefer pizza, but anything will do, so long as it’s edible.” He’d successfully delivered his line. Eighty-seven years of practice made him a believable, but reluctant liar.
    Ascher smoothed a careful hand across her face. Her pulse thrummed with excitement as a sudden blush spread across her cheek, causing his breath to hitch. He sensed her hammering heart as if it beat in his own chest, pulsing electricity through him like lustful lightning. Everything in him quickened, vibrated and acclimated to her body’s biorhythms. Shock waves flowed between them, causing his pulse to skyrocket. He felt exposed and raw, his body a jumbled mess of feelings, sensations and emotions. He couldn’t believe she had this sort of power over him.
    C uriosity consumed him, negating the thirst that her blushing cheeks and jumpy carotid should have caused. She made him feel more human than he'd ever felt. Almost a century with his vampire brothers made him fierce, but less human. She was good for him, and if he could control his thirst for her trinity blood, this could work.
    A honking horn broke the hypnotic spell that seemed to mesmerize the both of them.
    “I really have to go now.” She half smiled at him before giving him another kiss on the cheek.
    They talked about random things while they walked to the parking deck. When they reached her car, he leaned in, caging her inside his arms. Each time her eyes pierced him, he got the same nervous flip in his stomach.
    That yearning to kiss her was there, again.
    Her pulsing neck caused him to shiver. He captured her eyes while securing her hands. Nervous, her palms were damp and her mind was loud. Her thoughts and emotions merged, becoming a confusing mix of jargon.
    Ascher brought his lips to the threshold of hers, his fingertips resting against her neck, picking up the throbbing in her pulse. Her erratic breaths slowly synchronized to his calmer ones. The thudding of her heart drowned out the confusion flooding his head with her soft voice.
    I wonder if he’ll kiss me. I want him to , and I can’t make the first move. Why am I still a virgin? I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. Please, please let him make the first move. Be quiet heart. Calm down.
    “Something’s happening between us ,” he whispered against her lips, his eyes still blazing into hers.
    “I know.”
    Ascher released her, having heard the truth in her thoughts. She wanted him. Channeling was better than any lie detector test. He opened her car door, closing it when she was safely inside. “I’ll see you at the bar.”
    “I’m looking forward to the movie.”
    Ascher stood, watching her drive out of sight. He desperately needed to close the Ursula chapter. It was the only way he’d be able to explore his feelings for Shauna. He wasn’t confused about what he wanted now and simply needed a way out of the sealing. Until he could kiss Shauna with a clear conscience, their first kiss would have to wait.
    * * * *
    Ascher stood behind the counter of the bar at Rousseau’s, polishing the same spot while thoughts of Shauna flitted through his head—her smile, the way her dark eyes flashed when she was excited about something, the innocence of her kisses on his cheek.
    “That sure is a goofy face you’re making ,” Quinn teased. “What’s with that face, anyway?”
    “My face isn’t goofy, Quinn. I’m just thinking .” Ascher answered with slight irritation.
    “Can I make three guesses about whom?”
    “Stop teasing me.”
    “Ash, you need to be clear about this. You know what will