Free BloodlustandMetal by Lisa Carlisle Page B

would be the end of my time with Layla.
    Why did this give me a pang of regret? She was a vampire and
she attacked me! If anything, I should be glad to get her out of my sight and
move on to the next job. Let Stefano deal with her. She’d be his problem.
    “I need to go to the bathroom,” she shouted from my bedroom.
    I couldn’t help but smile. She was a crafty little minx. I
had to admit, I was looking for a reason to go back in there and she gave me one.
    Reentering the room, I said. “You’re lying.”
    “No, it’s true. I really, really have to go.” She squirmed
on the bed and made an uncomfortable face that made me laugh out loud.
    “You are some character, Layla Costa. Quite the actress,” I
said. “And you must think I’m just some dumb animal who you could trick.
I hate to inform you, sweetheart, but I know more than you think. I may not
know much about vampires, but I know enough to do my job well. And that means I
know you’re full of shit. You don’t use the bathroom ever .”
    She made some humph noise and then pouted. I imagine she was
frustrated that this new plan of hers failed. She was hoping that I would get
her out of the bed, maybe even untie her so she could go to the bathroom. Once
she had a little bit of freedom, she’d either make a run for it—or she’d attack
me first and then run. Either way, I wasn’t going to let that happen on my
watch.
    “Don’t make that face. You look so cute. I might have to
come over there and take my chances with that dangerous mouth of yours again.”
    She pouted for another moment and then looked up. “What
look? This one?” A fuck me message was clearly spelled out in her eyes.
    Why was she doing that? I clenched my fists in an attempt to
keep from running over to the bed and climbing on top of her. “Don’t encourage
something you don’t want to happen.”
    “Why not?” she purred.
    “Because I’m already so on edge, it won’t take me much to
come over there.”
    She tipped her head and smiled. “I might be nicer this
time.”
    Oh God, was she luring me in or just playing me?
    My growing erection said Who gives a damn?
    “Why are you doing this?”
    “Plain and simple. I want you. Even though you’re a jerk,
this may be the last night of my life. And my last opportunity to be with a
man.”
    In two giant strides, I was at the side of my bed. “Are you
sure you want this?”
    She nodded and followed it with a breathy “Yessss.”
    “Don’t fucking bite me this time.”
    “If you’d let me continue, you might have liked it.”
    “Yeah, sure, that’s why you did it—for my sensual pleasure.”
    She shrugged. “It can be enjoyable for us both.”
    “Let me say it clearly then. Don’t bite me, vamp. ”
    “Okay, okay.” She bit her bottom lip. “Untie me then.”
    “No way. Are you nuts?”
    “How can I touch you with my hands tied up?”
    “Is this part of your game? Seduce me so I’ll untie you and
then you’ll get away?”
    “No.” I’ve dealt with enough liars to know I was dealing
with one right now.
    “We’ll have to manage with you tied up, now won’t we?” I sat
on the bed next to her and lifted one of her hands to my lips. The resistance
of the rope stopped me, so I bent down and kissed one of her wrists, leaving a
trail up her arm. “Besides, I kind of like you like this. It’s very hot.”
    “It would be hotter if I could run my hands over your back,
over your chest. It’s not fair being able to see but not touch.”
    “You don’t play fair.” I sat back, gently letting go of her
wrist. “But I’m not a fool. I’ll be right back.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “To get something.”
    In the living room, I rifled through my bag, grabbing the
silver handcuffs and spray I made with a combination of silver dust and garlic.
For good measure, I grabbed a silver knife I had in there as well. It was in a
beautiful embroidered knife holder that I picked up in China. Never hurt to be
prepared.