What Lies Inside (A Blood Bound Novel, Book 1) (13 page)

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I popped a fifth consecutive piece of chocolate into my mouth as I paced back and forth. Then I glanced through my bedroom window again. The clouded sky was darkening with night. The driveway was still empty.
He’s late
. Just as I thought the words, Ty’s WRX veered into sight, catching the house’s exterior lights against its freshly washed panels. Anxiety seeped through to my bones like acid as I bolted from my room. Tonight I’d learn the truth.

Stepping out of his car, Ty was dressed in black-denim jeans and a hooded V-neck, just visible beneath a black-leather bomber jacket. He was heading for the door as I flew out onto the rain-slicked steps. I slid and almost landed on my butt before awkwardly righting the fall. My face burned. Stupid freaking boots!

But Ty didn’t seem to notice, a broad smile lighting his perfect features. “Wow!” His eyes widened, sparkling as though they were drinking me in. “You look delicious.”

My face grew hotter and I tugged at the too-short hem of my skirt, feeling self-conscious. “Vanessa picked it out.”

Ty’s smile faltered. “I know.”

She told him? My heart sank at recalling Vanessa’s cryptic words.
Stay away from him. This can only end badly.
Having mulled the words over again and again since she left yesterday, I had jumped from one conclusion to another. But now, knowing she’d told Ty, I wondered what his reaction had been. Standing before me he seemed unsettled, like he was being pulled from different angles.

Ty’s voice cut through my mental turmoil, his smile returning. “Just ignore Vanessa. She likes to meddle.” He pulled open the passenger door, standing aside. “Shall we?”

With uncertainty, I lowered myself into Ty’s car. Then knowing his scent would soon curl around me and assault my nostrils, I retrieved the nasal tube from my right boot. Concealed in my palm, I raised it to my nose while jabbing the button to lower my window. When Ty resumed the driver’s seat I asked, “Whose party is it, anyway?” Please don’t be Vanessa’s.

Ty’s shoulders stiffened and a flash of gold rippled across his irises. He shrugged, directing the car through the front gates. “Does it matter?”

Distracted by the sight, I shook my head. The flicker of that unmistakable color sparked a memory of the dream I wished I could forget, as Ty had lunged at me, weapon raised. Shaking off a dark chill, I found my voice. The time was now or never. “Ty, have you ever been to Alaska?”

Ty frowned, eyes set on the dark road ahead of us. “No. Why do you ask?”

Tension released from my body, soothing as a receding tide. It wasn’t him. Of course it wasn’t. I cracked my knuckles. “No reason.”

After a few minutes of uneasy silence, Ty pulled into the long gravel driveway of what appeared to be a country club. It was an elaborate double story of extending gray stone and balcony-laced walls. A cone-pitched roof made up the domed entrance. Half of the foregrounds were taken up by a gravel car park. The rest was decorated with manicured hedges and Rose bushes, all illuminated by yellow-hued garden lights.

As we stepped out of the car, I said, “People live here?”

Ty walked up beside me. With clear hesitation written across his face, he took my hand. His skin was rough and calloused, the hand of someone who worked with them on a daily basis. The warmth of his touch radiated up my arm, causing my heart to skip a beat. But I didn’t resist. Instead, I allowed Ty to pull me forward, around the side of the house and into darkness. The seclusion raised my pulse, while my mind conjured up unspeakable images. I imagined forcing Ty to a standstill and slamming him against the brick wall, then plunging my fangs into the soft-looking flesh at the base of his neck. Gritting my teeth, I tried not to hum the chorus of
‘Monster’
. Then I consciously loosened my grip on Ty’s hand. In my resistance to playing out my sick fantasy, it had tightened to an almost bone-breaking vice. I snuck a shooting glance at Ty. He didn’t seem uncomfortable in the slightest, or even to have noticed.

After a few more tension-filled steps, we emerged out of the darkness. I sucked in a quick cleansing breath and glanced around. The largest outdoor entertaining area I had ever seen surrounded us. A resort-style pool encompassed most of the space, with a rocky island in its center. It was surrounded on three sides by the U-shape of the house. I did a double take on noticing a slope curving down the island. The raised-rocky-structure was actually a water slide. Teens dotted the courtyard and pool, and a steady beat of music filled the crisp night air.

Ty’s hand released mine, bringing me back to reality. “What’s your poison?” He inclined his head toward the bar and motioned to the bartender.

I paused, surprised and a little uncomfortable, then glanced around sniffing the air. There wasn’t a single visible adult, and almost everyone, even the teens in the pool, had alcohol-scented drinks. I shrugged. Alcohol had very little effect on vampires, so I didn’t see the harm. Besides, I needed a distraction. “Uh, sure. Vodka lemonade.”

Ty called out our drink order to the bartender, requesting a bourbon and cola for himself. Once served, he grabbed the glasses from the tabletop and handed mine over.

A loud, repetitive pulse of music radiated through my body with force. My sight redirected across the pool as I sipped my drink. The space had been transformed into a club atmosphere. A growing sea of bodies danced provocatively under an array of flashing strobe lights. I sniffed the air, and was surprised. Even from the other end of the courtyard, I could detect salt, blood and chlorine mixing on the air.

As I continued sipping my drink, a mixed group made their way over from the dance floor. A slight breeze had picked up, delivering a waft of nose-assaulting perfume. Ty stiffened beside me. The muscles along his neck corded with strain as a girl’s flirtatious laughter rang through the air. Then Ty’s scent deepened. It grew with intensity and clouded my mind. Desperate for a distraction, I downed the remainder of my drink. I leaned into the bar and away from Ty.

“Shots of Tequila or Vodka?” a guy I recognized from chem questioned. He slumped onto one of the leather cubes that surrounded a cane-weaved coffee table.

“Gotta be Tequila!” another answered, following suit.

One guy shouted their eight, double-shot order to the bar tender, while the crowd made themselves comfortable around the table.

“And keep ’em coming!” yelled a girl wearing a mini skirt that molded to her curvy hips. A seriously tight tank top flaunted her generous bust. She didn’t ooze the smell of blood and alcohol from her pores like the other kids. Instead, she reeked of the vanilla perfume I had detected moments ago.

Just looking at her made me feel flat as a board in comparison and, if I was being totally honest, a little jealous. I’d never be daring enough to dress with such confidence.

The girl staggered with intoxication and caught sight of us. She flicked her black abyss of hair over her shoulders and straightened to attention. “
Ty,
” she said in a voice that was both alluring and intimate. “It’s been a while.”

Ty downed his drink then slammed the empty glass down on the counter. It exploded in a rain of splinters, and Ty huffed, brushing the shards from his unharmed hand. A few of the kids had gasped, but Ty took no notice. Instead, he turned abruptly from the girl and grasped my elbow, pulling me away.

Throwing a glance over my shoulder, I caught the girl watching after us. Her eyes were narrowed into a death stare. “Who was that?” I demanded, instantly disliking the girl. Everyone else I had recognized from various classes at school. I was certain I had never seen this girl before.

“No one you need to know.”

Pulling my elbow free from Ty’s powerful grasp, I crossed my arms over my chest. I had played along with his conditions and now it was his turn. “Time for answers…”

“Alright,” Ty said with a sigh. With his back turned, he stripped down to a pair of blue board shorts, revealing more scars across his back. Even with his scars, his perfect body sent dizzying warmth through me. I fought to keep my jaw from dropping. He threw a backward glance over his shoulder, eyes seductive and inviting. “Coming?” Without waiting for an answer, he dove into the crystalline water of the pool, breaking the surface like an arrow before emerging ten feet away.

Recovering, I glanced around, worried. Dorian had already known about the party when I told him I was going with Ty. His invite had come from a new girl at school. Apparently Cindy was already old news. Though him seeing and following us was the last thing I needed. Since the swim-off last week and my poor explanation for Ty winning, he hadn’t even brought the subject up, much to my relief. He was generally a carefree guy. Still, whether he appeared concerned or not, I was certain he hadn’t forgotten. It would only take something small to re-ignite his suspicion.

I scanned right to left. The group at the bar was engrossed in an exuberant drinking game, and the dance floor across the courtyard was still crammed with gyrating bodies. A few kids bobbed in the water on the other side of the pool, which must have been heated considering the chill in the air. Dorian was nowhere in sight.

I reluctantly kicked off my boots and shed my clothes. Thank God I’d decided to wear my bikini underneath. The green of Ty’s eyes gleamed as they raked over my body and vibrant-purple bikini. The stupid thing covered far too little flesh and emphasized the tiny peaks on my chest. Scalding heat crept across my cheeks. Why didn’t I wear a one piece? Or, come to think of it, a full-bodied chastity suit? Hoping the water would provide
some
reprieve from his eager expression, I lowered myself down into the pool. I waded closer to him, but not too close. “So tell me…”

“Wait,” Ty demanded, raising a hand to cut me off. “Not here. It’s too…public.” He pointed to the rocky island, acting as a water slide in the center of the pool. “There.”

My fingers curled into fists beneath the water. “You’re stalling.”

Ty edged closer, his face inches from mine. “Amelia,” his warm breath washed over me like a soft caress. “I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. Just
try
to trust me.”

I nodded dumbly, the power of his scent totally clouding my judgment. Ty shot me a captivating smile, then dove beneath the surface and swam over to the island. And I followed. This was a bad idea and my mind screamed for me to stay away. But my body wouldn’t obey.

We pulled from the water and Ty stepped forward, grasping my hand. The sight of beaded water running down his scarred and muscled chest raised my pulse. He turned with a wink and pulled me after him through an entrance I had only just caught sight of. It was in the side of the island and camouflaged by green ferns.

Inside, the cave was lit by the licking flames of kerosene torches that sent moving shadows of our bodies skulking across the rocky walls. Thick humidity hung in the air. As we rounded the corner, I realized it was due to an oversized hot tub, steaming with bubbling water.

Without even a second’s warning, Ty spun on the spot. His body was so close. Too close. His skin was almost touching mine. His intoxicating scent whirled around me, its potency spiked from the claustrophobic heat. His audible heartbeat raced in time with mine.

Too freaking close!
My mind screamed, over and over.

But I couldn’t move. My body was paralyzed by fear. Fear that I would lose control.

Ty’s hands moved, blurring with speed to connect with my hips. I gasped as he forced me hard-up against his smoldering body. His hot lips, slightly parted and scorching, connected with mine.

I tried to pull away.

But his grip on my hips tightened. His lips trapped mine, deepening the kiss. Breath evaded my lungs.

And every inch of me melted. All the fight in me to pull away and run was gone. A deeper yearning had taken over, a primal need for every part of him. His touch. His mouth. But predominately his blood.

Our lips moved in rhythmic motion, tongues—fire and ice—dancing in our mouths. My arms flung around Ty’s neck, preventing him from escape.

Encouraged, his hands clutched my thighs. They lifted my weight with ease and my legs curled around his back, tight and trapping. Ty took a rushed step, lowering our entwined bodies into the hot tub’s scorching water. Steam rose from the surface. Its coiling tendrils set my skin alight, and strengthened the scent of his blood. The reckless abandon of our kissing deepened, getting hotter and harder.

A familiar tingle rippled across my gums. But I didn’t care. Thoughts of stopping evaporated.

Instead, my body pressed harder against his. I clung viciously to his neck, nails breaking flesh.

Ty seemed not to notice, pressing hands gliding down my back. The electric touch forced my fangs to split from my gums.

Releasing his lower lip, my mouth trailed down his face and neck with nipping kisses. A fleeting memory of my victim back in the alley, flashed through my mind. The look of Joel’s terrified expression as the monster within me took over was unforgettable.

It’s happening again.

But the crippling fear was quashed as Ty’s pulse hammered beneath my wet, cold lips. It raced faster with each frenzied kiss. Faster than I thought was humanly possible.

“It’s okay. Do it,” Ty whispered, voice gravelly through hard breath. “I want you to.”

Saliva flooded my mouth, and a merciless desire to taste him seized me.

I couldn’t stop.

The terrifying thought only encouraged my inner monster. All thought was suddenly abandoned and my body took over. My tongue traced the pulsing vein along his neck, tasting, toying. Then unable to hold back for another second, I bit down hard.

The skin punctured with more effort than I had anticipated. A dissipating concern as his sweet, fiery blood spilled into my mouth. It was unlike anything I had ever tasted, better than animal blood, better than Joel’s. If heaven had a taste, this would be it.

I was hypnotized.

Ty groaned with pleasure—a venom-induced reaction to the bite of a vampire. His hands glided intimately over every inch of my tingling skin. I clutched him tighter. I couldn’t stop.