“I missed you, too.”
When I pull away, I s
ee the remnants of dried blood in the corner of his mouth. My jaw clenches as I step away and look over his shoulder. Words escape me right now. I don’t know what to say. First, he disappears, going radio silent for days and now he’s fed off someone. “I have to go.”
I rush toward the casino, weaving in and out of gamblers and tourists. Roman is calling after me, but I don’t stop. I can’t, although I know, he can catch me anytime he wants, putting me at a disadvantage in our relationship. I’m still two steps ahead when the elevator door is about close, barely stepping on in time. Roman’s face is the last thing I see as the doors close.
Luck isn’t on my side, at least not today. I should’ve known he’d take the stairs to beat me to my apartment. Sometimes, he doesn’t play fair. I guess that’s the nature of the game when dating a vampire. “I can’t talk to you right now.”
“Then you’ll listen,” he says, following me inside. He slams the door, and I jump.
“I want you to leave.” By law, he has to do what I say, although it’s a dumb law since no one can enforce it. If the police were to show up, he could compel them to believe he means no harm, and I’d be left with trying to plead with a human zombie.
Roman moves lightning fast to stand in front of me. His hands are holding my arms to my side. The blood I saw earlier, is now gone, making me more disgusted. “Did you fuck her?” I spit out.
“No, and if you’d give me a minute to explain.”
“I saw the evidence, Roman. What are you going to say, your teeth slipped?”
He actually laughs, even though I don’t find it funny. “You’re a spitfire, you know that.”
“At least I’m not a cheater.”
Roman nods. “The fact that you think I would cheat on you, to break the bond we share, is laughable and yet, heartbreaking. I didn’t cheat. I didn’t bite another female. I went to Clutch to feed after I found out some very upsetting news in regards to my business dealings. I chose a man to sate my thirst. Not a woman. I would never do that to you, Fiona.” His grip on my arms loosens as he relaxes a bit.
“Are you…?” I swallow hard. “Do you like men?”
He shakes his head. “No. I’m all for your tantalizing pussy and your glorious jugular. I need no one else to satisfy me.”
“Okay.” I pull Roman into a hug and tell him I’m sorry, showering him with kisses.”I’m sorry for accusing you, Roman. Let me make it up to you. Let me feed you.” My jumping to conclusions needs to stop. I need to trust Roman. Trust him when he tells me he won’t do anything to hurt me. When I go to pull his shirt off, he stops me.
“I’m sorry, I need to calm down before I fuck you.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because today hasn’t been very good, Fiona. Coupled with the fact you thought I cheated on you, I’m a bit agitated right now, and I’m afraid I might hurt you.”
“Oh. Is there anything I can do?”
He shakes his head. “Tell me everything’s going to work out.”
“I mean, sure? Maybe you should tell me what’s going on.” I move over to the couch and sit down, waiting for Roman to follow. After a long beat, he finally does but leaves too much space between us.
“I went and saw my real estate agent today and found out I was outbid. So while I’m being patient and waiting, someone swooped in and put more money on the table. I don’t know how much it’s going to cost me, but I’m at my breaking point, Fiona. If you can’t get your father to give me the license I need, I’m going to pay him a visit.”
Roman’s angry, this much I can gather by the tone of his voice. Usually, he speaks to me softly, but not now. Each word is harsh, threatening. I don’t know how I’m going to tell him I’m the one who outbid him on his project to ensure he received the license. “Um… Roman, I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
I clear my throat and instead of sitting up to face my vampire, I slink back into the cushion. I had no idea this would upset him so much. I tell him about the visit with my father and how I presented the project as my own so I could assure that my father would issue the license, and how my dad is completely on board. “This way, you get what you want.”
In the time it takes to blink, my coffee table, chair, and wet bar are shattered into pieces. I cower and use my arms to shield my head. “YOU,” he roars. “You’ve defied and stolen from me.”
“It’s not like that, Roman. I’m trying to help because I believe in what you want to do and I know my father will never issue anything to a vampire, let alone the one who to tried to kill him and is screwing his daughter.”
Roman picks me up, his eyes are beady slits, and for the first time, I’m terrified for my life. “I’m done with this.” He tosses me onto the couch like a rag doll, and storms out of my apartment, slamming the door so hard it splinters. I call out to him, but it’s no use. He’s gone. “Oh, God, what have I done?”
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