Free Wicked Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series, Book 4) by Jaz Primo

beer.
    She arched one brow.
    “It’s only my third,” I replied to her unasked question.
    Jeez, I’m not some idiot alcoholic like my father was.
    “And have you eaten anything?” she asked.
    “Here?” I asked. “They were all out of goth snacks by the time I arrived. After all, we’re in a club, not a restaurant.”
    “There’s no need to be snippy,” she said.
    She glanced over her shoulder and motioned to a nearby server. It was then that I realized that the server and a number of other patrons were once again casting curious glances in our direction.
    We always attract so much attention when we’re out.
    Of course, I realized that it was likely to be less me and more Kat; she commanded the attention of most eyes in a room.
    She’s got vampire allure on steroids.
    We sat in silence as the server brought a fresh beer and a Dark and Stormy to our table. She cast a longing look at Katrina but offered me a polite smile before departing to check on some nearby patrons.
    Kat frowned after her and returned her attention to me.
    “Our server probably wants to ask you out for a date,” I said. “As would a number of guys in the room.”
    “Not happening,” she said. “Now, where were we?”
    I smirked. “You know full well where you left off,” I said. “You’re just testing to see if I’m keeping up. I haven’t had that much to drink just yet.”
    She appeared amused as she took a sip of her drink.
    “I think we left off at my self-esteem issues,” I said. “And your revelations about hidden talents. A dominatrix?”
    She frowned at me. “ Not a dominatrix.”
    Hopefully, the mood was lightening between us slightly.
    “I bet you’d be a really good one, though,” I said in a mock-conspiratorial tone.
    The edges of her mouth curved upward slightly.
    “Maybe I’ve never been an actual dominatrix, but I’ve known a couple of them over the years, and you might be surprised at how well I can fulfill that role for you,” she said with a grin that looked half-menacing. “Interested? We could take things very slowly, if you like. It doesn’t have to be conducted in a… How did you put it? Cruel manner.”
    While slightly scary, there was a forbidden allure to the idea of roleplaying with her.
    Crap. What the hell am I thinking?
    “I don’t think that’s a very good idea, after what happened today,” I said. “Do you?”
    “Caleb,” she said. “What loving couples do together, or share together, is entirely between them. I don’t care what other people think. They can all go to hell, for all I care.”
    Her eyes glistened. “Dammit, I love you, and I want to be whatever you need me to be. I want to fulfill your needs. You’re all that matters to me.”
    Her admission hit me with full force; like a tidal wave of emotion.
    I swallowed hard, feeling a lump grow in the back of my throat. “That means a lot,” I managed to say.
    The sudden emotional overload in my brain threatened to overwhelm me.
    I deliberately glanced past Kat to see Paige obviously enjoying herself while dancing to the sound of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” with a young man who was dressed in classic Goth rave wear.
    I couldn’t help but smile.
    “That’s your Paige look,” Kat said.
    “I have a Paige look?”
    “Oh, yes,” she said. “It’s quite distinctive, actually.”
    “Does that bother you?” I asked.
    “That you have ‘a look’ for her? Not as long as I continue to see the ones that you have for me,” she said.
    “Look, I’m not contemplating leaving you, if that’s what you’re implying,” I said. “I’m just really disappointed, shocked, and still a little hurt.”
    God, how over-the-top-emo did that just sound? What the hell’s wrong with me all of the sudden?
    Her body language appeared more relaxed. “Well, at least we’re finally talking, and you’re being honest with me about your feelings.”
    The fact wasn’t lost on me that vampires were the world’s best lie detectors; not