Free Night Moves (The Night Songs Collection) by Kristen Strassel Page A

into. We may look like people, but it’s a mirage. I think I have it under control, but my own wife didn’t trust me to be around my girls. I love them more than I’ve loved anything before. I’d never do anything to hurt them, would I? Is she right?”
    “No.” I didn’t know what else to say. Every time Ryder mentioned his girls, his heart ripped apart all over again. There was nothing I could do to take his pain away.
    “I know she’s protecting me, us, them. I tell myself that every day. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”
    “Someday they’ll understand.”
    Ryder scoffed. “Why daddy wasn’t there to put them to bed, or get them off the bus, or to play Santa? They’ll hate me. They’ll think I’m a monster, and they’ll be right.” His chest rose high and fell in defeat when he exhaled.
    “I’m sorry.” I wrapped my arms around him, rocking him like a child. “I wish I could make it better for you.”
    “You do.” His fingers trailed circles around my scalp, threatening to lull me to sleep. “I don’t want to lose you.” His voice rasped, barely more than a breath.
    I crawled back up to meet his eyes, watery and frightened, and kissed him deeply. I wanted to show him he had become as much a part of what I needed as I was what he needed.

E rin collapsed beside me in the round booth reserved for us, looking like the cat that ate the canary. Her brightly painted pink lips curled upwards in a satisfied smile.
    “I take it you had a good afternoon.” I sipped my rum and coke.
    The intermission music was loud and the small room was packed. Soul Divider still had a hold over Milwaukee. Erin leaned over and pushed her finger against my tragus so I could hear her better, just like old times. “It was wonderful.” She leaned back and fluttered her eyelashes.
    “Dare I ask? Does Drake have an awful little bunk, too?”
    Erin wrinkled her face in disgust. “Oh, hell no. He’s got a full bedroom in the back of the bus.” She leaned in closer, even though it was impossible to whisper. “There’s a mirror on the ceiling.”
    Erin never had a problem sharing. In fact, over-sharing might be a little more of a problem for her. I guess it was a good trait to have in her line of work.
    “Oh yeah?” I knew she was begging me to ask for more.
    “Oh, yeah. I love watching his ass go up and down when he fucks me, and watching the blood appear on his skin when I scratch his back.”
    That peaked my interest for the most macabre of reasons. “You draw blood on him? How does that work out?” A control freak like Drake would want to be in control of the blood, I would think.
    “Um, yeah. Mel, you don’t know about the blood?”
    “Sort of. I don’t know.” I sighed. “Tell me.”
    “Have you drank from Ryder yet?”
    I almost spit up my drink. “What?”
    She pushed harder against my ear and spoke slowly. “Have you drank his blood?”
    I pulled away from her, horrified. “Seriously?”
    She dissolved into a fit of giggles. “Girl. Don’t knock it until you try it. It’s like traveling to another dimension.” She almost swooned. I still hadn’t recovered from the shock. “Words don’t describe unless you’ve experienced it. It’s like what ecstasy wishes it could be.”
    “I thought people stopped doing E years ago.”
    Erin rolled her eyes. “Not the drug, silly. The real thing.” Welcome To The Jungle began to blast from the PA, and the lights fell over the room, delighting the crowd. Erin grabbed my arm a little too hard. “Showtime!”
    Erin got up to dance in front of the table, but I wasn’t in the mood. Ryder was in perfect character, joking and teasing the fans in front of the stage, playing the happy band mate, but it seemed obscene knowing how miserable he really was.
    And the blood! How could I think about anything else? I could hear my own thrumming through my veins, my muscles clenching at the thought of drinking from Ryder.
    “Let’s put on our own show.” Erin