Free Kiss of Temptation: The Kavanaugh Foundation, Book 3 by Crista McHugh

concern. “What’s wrong, Luc?”
    The skin on his face felt too tight, like it belonged to a much smaller man and had been overstretched to fit his skull. Blood trickled down her face onto her clothes, pulling at him stronger than anything he’d ever known. His mouth grew dry, and he knew the only thing that could quench his thirst was flowing right in front of him. He pressed himself into the corner. “Blood,” he rasped.
    Her eyes widened and sweat beaded along his forehead. Mon Dieu , had he just revealed what he was to her?
    “Does the sight of it make you ill?” she asked, her voice sounding so innocent, so unaware of his struggle not to sink his fangs into her and draw out every precious drop.
    He nodded. Yes, it made him ill. It turned him into the monster he feared becoming.
    She reached into her bag and pulled out a knitted cap. As she gathered her hair and tucked it into the cap, the evidence of her injury became less obvious. Then she turned her jacket inside out so the only blood he saw was what coated the side of her face. “Is that better?”
    He leaned over and buried his face between his knees. He may not see it anymore, but he could still smell it. Maple sugar and vanilla, with a hint of bourbon. So sweet, he could almost taste it. His stomach rolled.
    “Don’t worry, Luc. When we get to your house, I’ll clean up.”
    He didn’t even look up. Instead, he focused on the cracks in the laminate floor. A pair of blood-splattered shoes moved into his line of sight and a cool hand caressed the back of his neck.
    “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
    No, I’m trying not to rip your throat out in front of everyone on this train. But he couldn’t even bring himself to look into her eyes for fear she’d witness the bloodlust glowing inside him. He nodded and shrugged her off.
    “Fine, I’ll leave you alone. Just let me know where we need to get off.”
    “Madeleine.”
    The rocking of the train lulled him into a half-slumber, and by the time they reached Madeleine, he felt like he’d been drugged. At least that was an improvement over the fierce thirst that had consumed him earlier. She rose when he did and followed him onto the platform, concern wrinkling her brow. I don’t deserve her pity , he thought as he turned away from her. I deserve to burn for all my sinful thoughts.
    And yet, he only regretted his thoughts of drinking from her. What had happened last night would go down as some of his favorite memories. The passion in her eyes, the flush of her skin, the way her sex tightened around him when she came. Nothing could compare to that.
    His heart gave another lurch, reminding him of the strange changes she’d caused in him. Maybe he should listen to Morwen’s nonsense, if only to get a few more answers about his farcical return to humanity.
    The sugary scent of Daniela’s blood assaulted him, reminding him once again that he would never be fully human. He clamped his teeth together. The sooner she got cleaned up, the easier it would be for him to be around her.
    He wove his way through the people milling around, not bothering to check if she followed. He knew she did. He could smell her. The crowds thinned as he ventured into a little-used area of the station and fished for his keys.
    “Where are we going?”
    “You’ll see.” He stopped in front of a metal door and unlocked it. A dark tunnel waited for them on the other side. “Come along.”
    Daniela wrapped her hand around his, and he flinched. It would be so easy to lure her into the tunnel and drain her dry. No one would see them. No one would ever find her body. It would be the perfect murder. But the hammering of his heart prevented him from harming her. He didn’t know why their paths had crossed or what purpose she would serve in his life, but he knew he needed to be patient to find out.
    “There aren’t any spiders in here, are there?”
    Laughter welled up, easing the tension inside him as it broke free.