reBekah WeatherspOOn
green v-neck. It was twenty-five degrees out and she couldn’t have
looked more comfortable. I assumed she had her cloak up. All
Kristen, or my parents for that matter, had to do was look out the
window to see a half-naked woman standing on our porch in the
snow.“Can anyone see you?” I asked anxiously.
“No, baby. The porch looks empty.”
“Good.”
And then I jumped on her, my legs wrapping around her waist,
my big boots digging into the back of her thighs. She took my weight
easily, carrying me to the corner of the porch, pushing me up against
the side of my house. My lips latched on to hers, and instantly her
tongue slid against mine.
I pulled away, just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. “What
are you doing here?” I panted before diving in for another kiss.
“Trying to keep you from giving your neighbor another crack
at that beautiful mouth of yours.” Her fangs trailed across my jaw.
“I’m sorry you heard that, but she doesn’t have a chance. How
long have you been lurking in my yard?” I asked.
“Long enough to know she still wants you.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re here. Kiss me.” She smiled against my
skin then sunk her teeth into my neck. My orgasm hit me like a Mack
truck, sending my head spinning. Her cloak had to be soundproof,
because I was moaning pretty loudly. She fed deeply, letting me
come once more and again as I pressed myself against her stomach.
I shuddered a final time when she pulled away and sealed the bites.
“Okay. I have to go now,” she whispered softly between warm
strokes of her tongue.
“What? No. Stay. Please,” I said. “I have a double bed and new
pink sheets. You’ll love it. Just poof yourself to my room. I’ll tell my
mom I’m not feeling well.”
“Really, Red. I have to go. Kina just came back to the house.
The kindergarten teacher dumped her. She’s a mess.” She put me
down, smoothing my hair behind my ear. “I told her I’d be right
back.”“Fine. Will you call me later, if you can?”
• 246 •
Better Off red
“Yes. If it’s not too late. You have to go shopping tomorrow,”
she said with a mocking smile.
“Har, har. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.” And then she disappeared.
I kicked off my boots by the door and stumbled into the living
room, dazed and soaking.
“What did Kristen need, honey?” Mom asked.
“Huh? Oh, uh she’s fine. I mean, nothing. She was just saying
hey. I’ll be right back.” I ignored Dad and Todd’s bizarre looks and
ran up to my room to change my underwear. I glanced at my neck in
the mirror to make sure it wasn’t too blotchy. It was, but that I could
blame on the cold if anyone asked. I was back in the living room in
record time, doing my best to play it cool as I took the thimble from
Dad.“If I have to spend time with you people I want to be the bank,”
I insisted.
“You okay there, champ?” Todd scoffed, nodding toward my
arm. Unknowingly, I’d been running my fingers across my bottom
lip. It was puffy and swollen. I dropped my hand.
“Yeah. Why?”
He just shook his head, smirking at the Chance cards he was
sorting.
Monopoly was as fun as the Carmichaels could make it. I slid
Dad money behind my back. Todd sold Mom some properties at a
discounted price. We quit when Dad kept nodding off against the
couch.
❖
I climbed into bed and texted Camila, telling her how much I
loved her. I passed out before she texted me back. I dreamt about her,
though, her kisses on my cheeks and my neck, the gentle caresses
of her hands between my legs. We talked less than we made love,
but I remembered her telling me that my bed was way too small.
I’d laughed in my sleep, almost waking myself up, but not quite. I
wanted to hold on to Camila and my dreams.
• 247 •
reBekah WeatherspOOn
In the morning I found a piece of my mom’s pink stationary
Linda. Enjoy the day, Red. Next time we’re doing it on the floor. Luv,
your M.
I cursed out loud, careful not to crush the paper in my fist. I
couldn’t believe I’d missed her.
• 248 •
Better Off red
Chapter fOurteen
It turns out Camila could hold her cloak in place while she
fed, but she couldn’t do it while I was busy twirling my
tongue around her clit. She only came back once while I was home.
Kina was devastated over her breakup with the kindergarten teacher.
Camila and Faeth were on best friend duty on and off for the next
day, but the afternoon of Thanksgiving, the kindergarten teacher
had a change of heart and wanted Kina back. Camila texted me
right before we started dinner, telling me to let her know the second
I’d gone up to my room for the night. Needless to say, I was in an
abnormally good mood while we ate.
I wanted to give Camila the same level of romance she’d shown
me during our dates back in Baltimore. I made my bed and actually
threw my clothes in the hamper. Then I downloaded a few movies
for us to watch on my laptop. We had till dawn, and the nights were
longer now. A few hours of romantic comedies would ensure that
my parents were asleep before we tore each other’s clothes off. She
texted me right before she appeared standing across my room. I
wanted to invite her to make herself comfortable on my bed, tell
her the choice of movie was hers, but the words were trapped in the
back of my throat.
Camila was already naked, her eyes glowing green and gold,
lips parted, fangs exposed. I had no clue what had set her off, but
she was hungry—for me. I walked toward her, my hand extended
out. Her purr grew to a low panting growl the closer I got. I pressed
my body against hers.
• 249 •
reBekah WeatherspOOn
“What happened to your clothes?” I asked.
“Do I need them?” Her heated gaze focused on my mouth.
“No, babe, you don’t. Did you just feed?” Her reply was more
hiss than an actual yes as I ran my fingers down her side. Her soft
skin was on fire. There was no need to bait her any further, but it
was impossible to resist her heat. My palms found her breasts and
my lips found her throat. I drew lazy circles with both as her head
fell back. “Let me take care of you.”
I sank to my knees, separating her slit with my tongue. She was
so wet, pulsing hot. I needed more of her honey sweet taste. I swept
my tongue deeper, closing my lips around her clit, my underwear
soaking at the loving sounds rumbling from her chest.
She let me please her for a few moments, but I felt her body
tensing, growing impatient. She never had a problem with me
making her come, but she also didn’t like sitting by and letting me
do all the work.
She pushed me away from her body, sliding to the
floor beside me. In the next second she was underneath my hips,
tearing my underwear off, pressing her face between my legs. I
looked down, trying to get my bearings, pleasantly surprised to find
her wetness still at my disposal.
I got lost in her, using my fingers and my tongue, tracing every
inch of her pussy. Even though I thought her cloak was up, I tried
to keep my voice down. It was difficult. She knew how to work me
so good. Her tongue driving in and out of me with strong thrusts,
her finger gently prodding my asshole. I was so close, dripping on
the edge when she replaced her tongue with her other fingers. I
shuddered against the dragging sweep of her fangs as they searched
the inside of my thigh.
“Do it. Please,” I begged, panting loudly. “God, Mila. Please.”
And then there was a light knock on my door. Only my dad
knocked like that. Camila and I froze.
“Ginge, honey. Can you keep it down? Your mom’s trying to
sleep.” My eyes slammed shut, my teeth clenching together.
“Sorry, Dad,” I called back, mortified.
“It’s okay, kiddo. Night.”
“Night.”
• 250 •
Better Off red
We waited, listening until my parents’ bedroom door shut.
I crawled off Camila as quietly as possible, and shuffled to lean
against my bed. She was right there beside me, nuzzling my neck
and slipping her hand back between my legs.
“You distract me too much, Red. My cloak dropped.”
“Yeah, I kinda forgot where we were too.”
“Well, we’ll just have to finish each other…one at a time,” she
said. Her fingers pushed back inside me and her fangs sliced into my
throat. I bit the inside of my cheek, drawing blood, swallowing my
cries while I worked myself against her hand. When I was done, she
let me back between her thighs. I could still taste a hint of my blood
in my mouth as it mixed with her delicious juices, but as she came
silently, dripping on my lips, I couldn’t help but wonder what her
blood would taste like.
❖
The line to the ticket counter wasn’t too bad, but the line
through security was ridiculous. Dad was back from the short-term
parking before I’d moved an inch.
“So I’m guessing Mila’s going back early too.”
“Uh, yeah.” I’d told my parents I was heading back early to get
a jump on my finals. Maybe texting Camila non-stop and leading
them to believe that we were having phone sex gave away my true
motivation for going back early.
“She’s it for you, isn’t she?” Dad asked.
I turned and peered at him. He was looking at his shoes,
blushing a little. “What makes you say that?” I asked.
“That look you’ve had on your face all week. That’s how I used
to look at your mother,” he said.
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” he said, dismissing my worries of a divorce with
a confident shake of the head. “I’m just old. My eyes don’t get all
wide and googly anymore.”
“You’re not old, Dad. Just seasoned and mature. And your eyes
still get plenty googly when you’re with Mom.” The line moved
forward a little. Dad followed the slow pace, sticking to my side.
• 251 •
reBekah WeatherspOOn
“I guess that’s true. She’s a great gal,” he said. “But I can tell
with you two. The way you talk about her. The way you are now.
She’s the one for you.”
“You don’t think I’m too young to be so sure?” I asked. I think
we both thought it would be a few years before we had this talk.
“No. Not at all. I was your age when I met your Mom. Plus, she
can’t get you pregnant.”
“Ew, Dad.” I scowled.
He chuckled before he got serious again. “If it’s okay with her
parents, we’ll fly her up here for New Year’s.”
“Okay,” I agreed uselessly. That wasn’t going to happen. Ever.
I knew she wanted to meet my family, but still after all these months
we hadn’t figured out how. I couldn’t fly her up for an evening and
then what, explain that she left before dawn to get us all coffee and
wouldn’t be back until dinner? But I would talk to her. I couldn’t cut
off my family, and I couldn’t imagine not having her in my life. We
would work something out. I just didn’t know when.
When I was next in line Dad turned to me.
“Tell her I’m sorry I silenced your fun. Us old people still need
sleep.”
“Dad!”
“Come here, Ginge.” He hugged me, chuckling his deep laugh
against my hair. “Call me when you land.”
“I will.” I walked forward and threw my backpack on the belt
and pulled off my boots. I glanced back when I got through the
detectors and Dad was still standing there, still tired, but smiling.
❖
I felt bad that I didn’t have more than three bucks to tip the
driver Camila had sent for me. He turned down my measly wad
of cash, explaining that Ms. Sanchez had already tipped him
generously. He carried my bag to the porch and waited by the limo
until I was safely inside.
The front door was locked, so I tried the doorbell. A minute
later Florencia opened the door. She let me in and was on my heels
as I walked toward the pantry.
• 252 •
Better Off red
I was so anxious to see Camila, a little bit nervous actually, but
that anxiety disappeared the moment I stepped off the elevator and
into her arms.
“Hi,” I breathed against her neck. She held me close, wrapping
her arms around me, but something was off. I took a small step back,
shocked at the pained look on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, baby.” She relaxed a little, but the look she gave me
was way left of reassuring. “Well, Cleo’s coming in an hour. She’s
trying to study for her anthropology final and her house is full of
cousins. She won’t bother us though.”
“Okay. What else? Where Cleo studies never makes you this
upset.”
“I’m not upset. Come sit with me, querida.” And then I knew
things weren’t good. I trailed behind her toward her apartment, trying
to ease the death grip I had on her hand. My heart was thudding
against my ribs and my stomach was clenched beyond tight. The
worst things were running through my head. Maybe she wanted to
end things. Or maybe she wanted to take a step back. What if I was
smothering her? Maybe she saw me at home with my family and
realized we didn’t belong together.
“Are you breaking up with me?” I blurted out nervously.
“No, Red.” She laughed for real this time. “I don’t want to talk
about this in the hallway.”
She opened her bright red door for me and I followed her inside.
Then I dropped my bags on the floor and sat beside her on the couch.
I’d missed the smell of her apartment. The air was always so fresh
and clean, but her cinnamon musk lingered ever
ywhere. Still, her
perfect scent wasn’t enough to calm me down.
I took a deep, ineffective breath. “Okay, tell me.”
Camila stared at the floor for a moment then looked me in the
eye. “I’ve given this a great deal of thought and I didn’t want to bring
it up because I truly don’t think it’s fair to you, but it’s just as much
your decision as it is mine. I have to speak more with Dalhem, but
if you would, after you gave it some real, serious consideration…if
you’d like, I’d ask you to be my na’suul.”
• 253 •
reBekah WeatherspOOn
“Sounds pretty,” I said with light hesitation. “What does it
mean?”
“It means that you would be more than my mate. Our minds
and hearts would be connected. If you wanted me, I would be yours
forever. In your world and in mine.”
I didn’t think. I just answered.
“Yes.”
“Red, wait. Let me explain first.”
“No. You don’t have to. My answer is yes.” Even though part
of me was just so overwhelmed that she wasn’t kicking me to the
curb, I loved Camila more than I ever imagined I could. There was
no other response worth considering.
“Just listen, please. This is a serious bond, but that is why I
want to speak to Dalhem. I want you to have an out clause.”
“What do you mean?” I frowned.
“If you change your mind, three years from now, ten years
from now, I want him to break our bond so you can go on with your
life—”
“Don’t say that,” I pleaded, my voice sounding pathetically
sad. “Ginger, you’re just so young.”
“I know, but I’m not going to change my mind. I want to be
with you. Till I’m old and gray and you have to spoon-feed me
peas.” I nudged her leg.
“Oh, I’m putting you in a home, but I’d love to keep fucking
you until then, knowing you’re mine,” she said before the stern look
came back to her beautiful face. “I am serious, though, Red. I do not
want anyone else but you. But I have had years and years to know
what I’ve been missing. You might find that you want someone else
one day or that you just don’t want me. And if that happens, I’m not
going to stand in your way.”
“You understand you’ve planned our marriage and our divorce
before I even took my chem final,” I said playfully. “My answer is
still yes. We’ll figure out the other stuff later.”