Awakening (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

room.  The woman staring back at me didn’t even look like me.  I looked wild, feral.  Turning from side to side, I memorized every pale purple finger tip, the pink outline of his hand across my ass, the fading bite marks that scattered a path from my neck to my stomach.
    The only thing missing were the marks from his fangs.  They’d already healed.  The tiny bruises and marks were already vanishing and would be gone by afternoon.  Watching them disappear would be almost as frustrating as my numerous attempts to brand him.
    Once again, my mind flashed back to hours earlier as I relentlessly attempted to mark him.  The scratches and bites I inflicted on him healed within seconds, leaving behind his flawless, perfect skin.
    He'd sensed my frustration.  He'd kissed me tenderly, following the line of my cheekbones with his fingertips and lips.  "I would gladly wear your marks if you could inflict them on me."
    And once again he caught me off guard under his sweet words.
     
    Snapping out if my reverie, I blinked at myself and shook my head in frustration.  Turning on the faucet, I splashed water on my face and quickly brushed my teeth.  I pulled my hair into a ponytail and headed to the closet, grabbing a pair of faded jeans and a black cashmere sweater.  I was dressing for comfort.  Anna was still in the other room and I knew we wouldn't be leaving the apartment until she rose.
    If she rose.  I was becoming as hesitant as Stefan and Lukas, too afraid to assume she had survived her change.
    Glancing back at the bed, I noticed Stefan had rolled to his side, clutching my pillow to his chest.  His handsome face looked young and innocent in his sleep, all of his smug smiles and sexy sneers missing.  Only his unguarded beauty was left behind.  His soft lips were parted slightly and sandy-colored stubble darkened his chiseled cheeks.
    Sitting down on the bed beside of him, I ran my fingers over his silky golden hair.  Like a sleeping cat, he nudged into my hand, encouraging me to continue.  Smiling softly, I obliged.  It wasn't often anyone was able to see this side of Stefan.  More than likely I was the only one he’d trusted enough to let this gentle side of him show.  He was always on guard, always thinking 20 steps ahead of everyone.  It had helped keep him alive for 1,000 years.
    My cell phone chimed with a text alert from the bedside table.  I reached for it, opening the incoming message.  It was from my editor.  Let me edit that: a text from my extremely agitated editor.
    ‘Josie, you need to call me.  You missed your deadline.  Call me !’
    Before I could reply, another came through.
    ‘I mean it.  CALL ME.’
    Damn it!  Since meeting Stefan, my life had become a whirlwind of drama.  My book had been the last thing on my mind.  It was ready to submit, I just needed to sign off on the cover design and the interior jacket before returning it to him.
    In spite of myself, I giggled.  The thought crossed my mind that I should change my biography, adding that I was currently mated to a sexy blond vampire with control issues...and that I was exploring my new found immortality.  It was still amazing how different things were for me.  My life had become a series of surreal moments and bizarre new realizations.
    Leaning to press a kiss against Stefan's forehead, I silently left the room.  I stopped in the doorway and looked back, smiling at the beautiful Adonis sleeping in the bed.  It may be a surreal situation, but I counted my lucky stars every day.
    Dialing my phone, I walked into the kitchen and started digging around for coffee.  I was scooping it into the coffee maker when he picked up.
    "Finally!  Jesus, Josie!"  Aidan said.  He sounded harried and over-caffeinated.  In other words, it was business as usual.  The conversations I had with Aidan always left me emotionally exhausted and mentally drained from constantly shielding.
    "Hey, Aidan.  Nice to talk to you too."  I turned on