Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [75]
A thumping noise came from the closet, and Marielle jumped. He was awake. He would notice right away that his shoes and socks had been taken off.
“What the bloody hell?”
“Remember your lines,” Brynley whispered as she headed out the front door, carrying the shotgun. “I’ll be out here if you need me.”
The closet door crashed open. Connor stood barefoot in the opening, his eyes a brilliant, gleaming blue, his red hair wild and loose about his shoulders.
Marielle gulped.
His gaze zeroed in on her. “Woman,” he growled.
She stepped back. “Your eyes are glowing blue.”
“Rage.” His fangs sprang out.
With a gasp, she stepped back again.
He wrenched the refrigerator door open, grabbed a bottle of blood, then stuffed it into the microwave. He pressed the buttons, then stopped to glare at his hot pink fingernails. His hand curled into a fist.
His head turned toward her. “You.” His eyes burned into her. He grabbed the bottle from the microwave, still cold, and guzzled some down.
He slammed the bottle down on the kitchen counter, then advanced toward her. His fangs were still out and stained red with blood. “Why did ye do it?”
She lifted her chin. “I felt like it.” Her voice trembled. “And if you don’t like it, you can . . .”
He arched a brow as he continued to move toward her. “I can what?”
Tears stung her eyes. “You can leave and never come back.”
Chapter Sixteen
Leave? Connor halted his advance on Marielle. His vision turned a more intense blue as his rage surged to a dangerous level.
What were those crazy women doing to his angel? The first night they’d taught her about blow jobs, and now they had obviously embroiled her in some sort of stupid drama that was supposed to make him leave.
Leave? Over his dead body.
His hands curled into fists. “What about yer training? Do ye intend to go into battle unable to defend yerself?”
She stiffened her spine in a gesture of strength, but the tears in her eyes told another story. “I can train myself.”
“Can ye teleport yerself?”
“Ian will take me. And he and Phil can protect me.”
“Ye’re planning to replace me?” She might as well have stabbed him in the chest. “Am I suddenly untrustworthy?” he bellowed.
When she flinched, he made an effort to tamp down on his rage.
He grabbed the bottle off the counter and drank the rest of the blood. It tasted awful this cold, but it helped cool his rage a little. His fangs retracted, but his vision remained tinted blue, a sure sign he was still on the verge of losing control.
He set the empty bottle down. “Do ye know what infuriates me the most? ’Tis no’ the damned nail polish. Nor the fact that those women have lured you into some sort of childish plot.”
When she didn’t respond, he turned his head to glare at her. “I gave you my word that I would help you, that I would get you back to heaven no matter what.”
Her face paled.
He advanced toward her once again. “And ye ask, nay, ye tell me to leave? Does my word mean nothing to you?” His voice rose to a shout. “Do ye expect me break my pledge?”
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I expect you to leave.”
His jaw shifted. “Ye’re forgetting something.” He stepped closer. “Angels make terrible liars.”
Her mouth opened to protest, but before she could say a word, he clamped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her against his chest. She gasped.
“Yer heart is pounding something fierce.” He touched her cheek. “Yer heart doesna lie.”
A tear slipped down her cheek and he caught it with his thumb.
“Yer tears doona lie.” He dragged his hand down her throat, then farther down to cup her breast. “Ye tremble at my touch. Yer body doesna lie.”
He gently squeezed her breast, and she moaned. “At last, some truth coming from yer lips.” He kissed her lightly. “Now tell me if—”
The front door slammed open.
“She told you to leave, so go!” Brynley stormed inside, leveling a shotgun.
Bloody fool! If she pulled the trigger, she might kill Marielle. Connor teleported behind Brynley, ripped the shotgun from her grasp with one hand, and shoved her