Free Bitten: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance by Michelle Fox, Kim Faulks

sweat. Don’t scream—and don’t fuck this up. I stepped into the elevator, and rode in silence with the bodyguard.
    Enjoying the show?
    Kol’s voice filled me. The memory of his breath against my ear sent shivers along my spine. He whispered dangerous things—deadly things. My coated lips stuck together. I inhaled and wrestled with my demons. Blue eyes dragged me under like a whirlwind. A bead of sweat slipped down my spine. The air-conditioned air chilled the trail, like a frigid caress. He was a violent summer’s squall, calm one minute, terrifying the next. I couldn’t figure him out. Why come here? Why pay for a debt that wasn’t his?
    He left. He’s gone. The elevator shuddered to a stop. And he’s not coming back.
    “This way, miss.”
    I wrenched my gaze to the guard’s hand over the elevator door. Cold, mechanical, unflinching, unfeeling, Kol filled my mind. It looked so simple. Shut down every emotion and walk away.
    I clutched my dress and followed the guard toward the automatic doors. I could do the same—shut down, feel nothing—become someone else—if only for a night.
    Specks of colored light danced across the floor at my feet. I lifted my head to the massive chandelier. Crystal spheres turned slowly, moving with a breeze I couldn’t feel. This entire building reeked of money and elegance. I might actually pull this off. Maybe I could get used to the sex... I knew I could get used to the money.
    I followed the guard out of the building and climbed into the back of the waiting limousine. The rich leather swallowed me as the door slammed shut. The engine growled, sending tremors through the seats as the limousine pulled out.
    This is a bad idea. The angel on my shoulder whispered as empty streets whipped by. I waited for the devil to counter, to tell me this was the only way. That this was how I’d survive—that this was how I’d be free from Jared, free from being broke.
    But he was strangely silent.
    And I realized I didn’t need him at all.
    I knew it already.
    Headlights from parked cars flashed on, blinding me with the glare. I looked away, finding panicked faces of those who worked too late and played with danger. I’d never noticed how divided we were. Humans owned the day, they owned the light… but the dark was inevitable. Tires squealed as a black Ferrari raced the limousine, outrunning, outgunning us. I pressed the button, cracking the window. Fear seeped inside. Night was coming and with it would come the hunters.
    I hit the window as we passed the Aquarium. Towering buildings gave way to a broody sky, storm clouds rolled in and the briny smell of the bay rushed in. Seagulls called overhead, dipping and weaving between towering buildings, racing the car.
    The boats became bigger the further we drove. White giants glared at me with black glassy eyes. They rocked and swayed with the merciless surge and retreat of the water.
    Two guards stood on the deck at the back of a alabaster mammoth. I craned my neck as the car pulled to a stop. Black windows crowded the lower level of the cabin, then lightened to grey the higher the floors went. Fear turned my bones to jelly. This is it, this is the place I’ll lose my virginity. A shadow crowded the backseat of the car.
    Soft brown eyes beguiled the mountain who waited for me. The hard lines of his face softened with a smile. He held out his hand. I reached out and gripped his massive paw. “Welcome, Miss Flynn. We’ve been expecting you.”
    The muscles in my thighs tensed. My knees locked into place. The guard’s arm was under mine before I could blink. His corded forearm bulged like steel rope under my hand. I gripped his wrist and rocked, pulling myself from the car and stilled. The waves crashed down, boats rocked my world. My chest tightened, my pulse galloped. The neon boats were too white, too clean, blinding my world against the dimming sun.
    “I... I don’t know if I can do this. I….”
    My body recoiled, tightened and