Free Lost Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans #6.5) by Kym Grosso Page B

believe he took Mya,” she began. “If we hadn’t made a scene…we did this.”
    “Stop it, Syd.” Anthony’s eyes met Kade’s. He moved to sit on the bed, bringing his legs next to hers. He shoved up onto his side, resting his head on his hand. Bringing her hand to his chest, he continued. “You know Pat better than anyone. The women he takes. The ones he tortures. He’s been after you for months. But not once did you flinch. Not once did you cave to the phone calls or the letters. And I’m not going to let you now. We,” he glanced to Kade, “aren’t going to let you be a victim. If you were feeling better, you’d kick both our asses.”
    “How am I supposed to fight like this?” she replied.
    “I want to help you.” Anthony kissed the back of her hand, refusing to let her go. His eyes met Kade’s.
    “What do you mean, help me?”
    “Anthony’s going to be your donor,” Kade said, his voice calm and caring. He knew she’d protest at first but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
    “No.” Sydney tried unsuccessfully to sit. She grunted and fell backwards once again.
    “Yes,” Anthony insisted. “Listen, Kade’s been talking to Léopold about what’s causing this to happen to you, and I know you know this already, but he thinks you need a friend to help you get through this thing. It’s just like anything else in life. You have an accident and you’re afraid to get in the car and drive. Fall off a horse and you’re supposed to get back on.”
    “I was never on the horse.”
    “Okay, bad analogy but the principle is the same. Until Kade, you’d steered clear of the supes. I know you love Kade and you’ve become friends with some of his friends, but for a long time, all you saw was the bad side of vampires.”
    “And humans,” she added.
    “All the donors we’ve had to date have been strangers. And normally that’s fine,” Kade explained. He’d thought discussing his proposal would be the easiest path to get her to acquiesce, but he was starting to rethink his strategy.
    “I can’t control it. It’s not like I haven’t tried,” she told them, shaking her head.
    “I know, but we need to try again…you’d never hurt Anthony. Please. Let him do this for you, Sydney. Let him do this for us. Once you learn how, you’ll be free.”
    “I don’t know. This seems wrong. What if I can’t control the rest?”
    The rest? The devil is, indeed, in the details. Kade knew what she was thinking. It was perfectly normal to arouse and be aroused when feeding, but the act itself could be restrained. One learned discipline through experience, but first she must learn the basics.
    “I’ll do that for you.” Kade took her hand in his. Like mirrored souls, he and Anthony flanked her.
    “I don’t know…are you sure about this?” Her eyes darted from Kade to Anthony. “Tony, if this works…I need to know you’ll be okay afterward. I don’t want to use you.”
    “I’ll be fine. It’s not like it’s a secret that I find you attractive. But we both know that we aren’t meant to be together…not that way.”
    “You know I love you, Tony, but I’m in love with Kade.” She gave him a small smile.
    “I get it, Syd. It’s okay. I want to do this for you.”
    “I don’t know if this will work,” she hedged.
    “This will work, love. All you need to do is trust me.” Kade pressed his lips to hers, indulging in the warmth of his mate.
    “I don’t know,” she whispered into his kiss.
    “Trust us to take care of you.” Kade spoke into her mouth.
    “Yes,” she agreed softly. Her face flushed as she caught Anthony watching her.
    Reluctantly, Kade broke away and slowly turned her to Anthony, who brought his palm to her cheek. “I want you to taste him…scent him. Know your prey.”

    Sydney’s mind warred against what she yearned for, Anthony’s vital essence flowing beneath his skin. As she took his wrist to her lips, she shivered with desire. An ache grew between her legs,