Once Bitten, Twice Burned

“The way you trusted your father?”

He was pushing her. If he kept that up, she’d push back.

“Betrayal hurts, it’s a wound that doesn’t heal, not with any kind of time.”

She wouldn’t step away from him. Right then, Sabine wanted to be close to her vampire. “How many times have you been betrayed?”

“Too many to count.”

Brutal.

“But I made sure to always pay back those who betrayed me.”

Yes, she was rather sure his payback was a biting bitch. She kept her hands on his shoulders as she eased back down until her feet were flat on the floor. Don’t kiss him again. Not yet. When she kissed him, she just thought of sex. She needed to ask him more questions. This was her chance to actually unravel the mystery that was Ryder.

She wasn’t giving up this chance. Even if she did want to strip him naked.

He looked good naked.

Sabine cleared her throat. “How did you wind up in Genesis?” He knew how she’d been tossed into that cage. What about him?

“Another betrayal.” He inclined his head toward her. “Some vampires sent me right into a trap. One I stupidly didn’t see.”

“Have you gotten your payback?”

His gaze seemed to see past her. “A human owned the motel they sent me to. They said . . . said there was one of our kind there who needed my help. I went, but the human just sprung the trap. You see, he sold paranormals to Genesis. He sold me. Probably dozens more, too.”

“What did you do to him?”

“I sent him to hell.”

She should have been afraid of him. Any sane woman would have been scared.

She wasn’t afraid. Maybe she wasn’t sane, either. “Do you know who the others are that betrayed you?”

“Two vampires are already dead, but there were more.”

The puzzle pieces slipped into place for her. “When we went into that bar, Bran—”

“I wanted word to spread that I was free. Those who worked against me . . . now they’ll know that I’m back. Soon I’ll be hunting them.”

“Or they’ll be hunting you.” Would they just sit back and wait for death to come? Not likely. They’d fight. Try to attack first.

He simply stared back at her. “Let them come. There isn’t another vampire on this earth who is stronger than me.”

She had a flash of the vampire who’d attacked Vaughn. Her heartbeat kicked up. “What about that freak who came after us before? The one who bit Vaughn?”

“I can handle the primals.”

Primals?

“They’re . . . after you.” His words were halting.

Surprise barely flickered in her. Because, sure, whatever, of course they would be. Was there anyone who wasn’t after her? “Why?” Sabine asked. But she really wanted to know . . . why can’t they all just leave me alone?

“Wyatt made them. At least two others that I know about. I can’t control them, but I can kick their asses.”

Her heart kept beating too fast. “Made them how?”

“He used my blood. He injected it into test subjects that he’d been experimenting on for years. The blood amped up their power. Made them into something else.”

Something right out of a nightmare.

“But why do they want me?” Maybe she would be better off not knowing this part, but sticking her head into the sand wasn’t exactly an option that she wanted to take.

“Because I do.” Gravel-rough. “With my blood, somehow, they got my cravings. I think Wyatt linked you and me. Made me want you. Made me—”

“Crave?” His word. But wasn’t that just the way she felt? Like she craved his touch? His body? The wild pleasure he could give her?

She’d worried that the emotions she felt were too intense around Ryder. Were the feelings she had the result of some experiment? Was she not even controlling herself any longer?

“I’ve never wanted anyone this way before,” he said. His pupils spread, pushing darkness across his eyes. “So badly that I’d do just about anything in order to have you.”

“J-just about?”

“You know all of me.”

She could taste him.

Could feel him.

Her br**sts ached. Her sex . . .

“If you want to run from me, that might be wise.”

She tried to control her breathing. Tried not to look like she was panting.

Ryder shook his head. “But the truth is that even if you ran, I’d follow you.”