Bat out of Hell Read Online Free PDF Page B

covered paths and trails. Once he had to pull her along as dogs barked behind them. They finally made it back to Winghaven in the wee hours of morning before night lifted.
     
    Ava collapsed against Gabriel, and he carried her the last few steps into the house. Servants awaited, and he barked orders to them. She soon found herself surrounded. After a few minutes, she had a bowl of warm soup before her as she reclined in the red guestroom.
     
    Gabriel stared at her, his eyes a light blue color, his dark hair disheveled. “ Are you feeling better? ”
     
    “ A bit, but not much, I'm afraid. ” Tears filled Ava's eyes and dripped into her soup.
     
    “ I'm not surprised. ” He pushed her damp hair back from her forehead. “ I can help you. ”
     
    “ How many women have you already helped in this way? ” Anger made her voice tremble.
     
    Gabriel's mouth turned down at the corners. “ Only you. I swear it. I became a vampire as part of my family inheritance. All Dunnings are. We feed off each other. My family is all dead. . . killed by those who hunt us in this region. ” He frowned. “ I wasted away until I saw you. I'm in love with you. ”
     
    “ Yes, for my blood. ” She tried to laugh, but a sob came out as she pushed his hand away from her face.
     
    “ No. Not just for that. For you. Look at you. ”
     
    Ava's face grew hot.
     
    “ I can't see myself, but I'm average. Plain. ”
     
    “ No, you're gorgeous. You're light where I am darkness, sunshine where I am moonbeams. ”
     
    “ If I do believe what you say, how can you help me? And can I leave? ”
     
    “ I want you to stay. If you leave me, you'll die. We're bonded now, and I will make you love me. I think you already do. ”
     
    “ How could I? ” Ava stared at her empty tray, and he took it from her, banging it down on the table.
     
    “ Have you ever felt such ecstasy in your life as you did the other night? ”
     
    “ No, but that doesn't mean —”
     
    “ What we shared is an act of love. Do you feel that, Ava? ”
     
    “ I'm not sure. I'm confused. ” She shook her head. “ Maybe I'll take my chances without you. ”
     
    “ Just give me an opportunity. You'll feel love like you never have, Ava. ”
     
    Ava sighed, her eyes crossing again in weakness. “ I want to trust you, but I feel so weak. ”
     
    “ Drink my blood and you'll grow strong again. ” Gabriel took a small knife from his pocket.
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    He made a tiny incision on his wrist, and Ava gasped as the metallic, rich smell of blood hit her nostrils. She felt ravenous, as if she would die if she didn't drink every bit at that second.
     
    Gabriel held his wrist under her nose, and she moaned, lapping at it until there was no more blood, and still she thirsted.
     
    Ava pulled him to her, kissing him, biting his lips. He let her suck on them as she moaned, the rush of blood in her mouth exciting her. Gabriel turned her on in a way he had not before. She didn't stop to analyze the realization. He threw his head back, exposing his neck to her, and she dove for it, pushing him down on the bed.
     
    Her bite into his neck was fierce, her teeth growing longer as they scraped against his neck, and he moaned like an animal. She returned the sound, feeling more vital than she ever had after sucking the blood dry.
     
    “ I want you now, love, and then we will go away. . . ”
     
    His words came to her as if from a long way off.
     
    “ I want you to make love to me, Gabriel. ”
     
    He growled deep in his throat. “ We are bonded now, but if we do that, you can never go back. It's what we did not do before, and you fled from me and died with your parents back home. ”
     
    Ava whimpered, something about his words ringing true. “ I want you. I want to be with you always. ”
     
    “ So it shall be. ” He tore her dirty dress off as she whimpered, her body tingling in anticipation. All her virgin hesitation was gone as if it had