BittenandDefiant Read Online Free PDF

a
black-and-white world for the most part.”
    “Nothing wrong with that. Still, I would have liked to meet
her anyway. We could have talked books without me telling her I wrote them. It
would have been interesting.”
    “Wow! Look at this kitchen!” Frankie exclaimed as he
continued their tour.
    “Like it?”
    “Hell yes! It’s gorgeous. But, um, why do you have it? I
mean, it’s all new so you had it redone, right?”
    “Yes, I did. If you’re wondering whether or not I have need
for human cooking, you’re correct, I don’t.”
    “Then why did you bother? Was it just to add value to the
house when you’re ready to move on?”
    He chuckled. “I have people over sometimes. Just because I
don’t need to eat doesn’t mean I don’t provide for them.”
    “Ah. I’m really dumb sometimes. I never thought of that
either.”
    “Stop that. Why would you? All the lore ignores the
day-to-day, mundane aspects of being a vampire. And honestly I like it that
way. It really is better if the world on the whole doesn’t think about it.
There are some who would come hunting for us if they suspected we might be
living right next door.”
    “I suppose. I’m sorry. I never considered any of this.”
    “It’s okay, Frankie.”
    “Thank you for trusting me.”
    Kellen smiled. It pleased him that she understood the
significance of opening up to her. Perhaps that would help encourage her to
trust him in return.
    He led her upstairs. “You can have your pick of rooms here.
Mine are on the third floor.”
    “Wait. You live in the attic? It’s got windows.”
    “It only appears that way from outside.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’ll show you.”
    “This is so cool,” Frankie declared when she saw the room
within the room upstairs.
    There was a narrow hallway so light would be visible from
outside should anyone be looking. Inside there was another room without windows
to protect him from sunlight.
    “You have a bed?”
    Kellen laughed. “Yep. Sleeping in coffins is another myth we
allow. As is being tucked away in the basement. I prefer it up here where I can
hear the rain against the tin roof.”
    “Look at this stuff. It’s all so high-tech,” she said with
awe when she spied his computer system.
    “Oh? You thought I wrote in blood with a quill?”
    “Kellen. Quit it. This is all so surreal to me. Very little
of what I thought I knew is right.”
    “I’m sorry. I’ll stop teasing you. Okay, here’s the deal. We
live on blood although we can eat if we need to for appearance’s sake. Sunlight
burns like hell and exposure for a long period of time will eventually kill us
very painfully, but being caught in a sunbeam for three seconds won’t turn us
to dust instantly. Not everyone we feed from becomes a vampire. Silver stakes
to the heart will kill us. Holding a silver cross in our faces will not, nor
will any cross of any material. Garlic has no effect. Being shot hurts but for
the most part isn’t fatal. Not unless the majority of the head is blown off or
a silver bullet is used. I personally can’t shape shift, but there are vamps who
can, though not necessarily into bats.”
    Frankie seemed amazed. “Thank you, Kellen. I’m honored. Can
I ask you something?” He raised an eyebrow in response, causing her to giggle.
“Right. Of course I can. I’m just wondering why you picked me to tell all this
to.”
    “As I said before, there’s something about you.” He
shrugged. “Call it instinct or whatever else you want but I know I’m safe with
you, Frankie. Just as you’re safe with me.”
    “Oh.” She hesitated, suddenly looking very lost. “Yeah.
Okay.”
    “Come here,” he said, opening his arms to her. When Frankie
stepped into his embrace Kellen felt his undead heart throb. She was where she
belonged and he would do whatever he needed to in order to make her see that
too.
     
    Frankie was beyond confused. This night was not turning out
at all as she expected. But then what in her life