Cherry Stem Read Online Free PDF Page B

flattered that he’d searched for me, especially since it had to have been hard without his knowing my real name when he’d gone looking.
    “Okay, but I don’t get why. It’s a nice na—”
    “Never. I’m not her anymore. And how’d you find that file?”
    “Looked for models who went missing six years ago. You don’t look like your picture.” Conversational tone, calm voice—maybe we were done with the drama for the day.
    “I better not, if it’s the same picture my mom put in the paper when she was looking for me. I’ve lost seventeen pounds since that was taken.” I missed my mom every day that went by, and the thought of her brought tears to my eyes. I wiped at them furiously, mentally thanking God that sunset was near. I could feel it in my bones.
    “I don’t know. I think you looked adorable. Blonde, green-eyed, round cheeks. The poster child for healthy upbringing.”
    Alex sounded, dare I say it, flirty, but I couldn’t respond in kind. All I could think of was that I had been brought up perfectly, by loving parents who just wanted the best for me. I’d been a rebel, though, and had left home for a life in the big city. And now here I was, in the City of Angels, but with no life to talk about and no way of getting back to the people I loved without risking their lives.
    The tears began flowing freely, and I couldn’t contain a sob.
    “Cherry? Are you all right?” Concern colored his voice, and I wondered what had happened to bring that about. He’d seemed to despise me when he’d left the house hours earlier.
    I sniffled. I wasn’t all right. Not even close. I was alone, and that wasn’t likely to change. “I miss my mom, okay? The big bad vampire misses her mom. And my dad…” My dad, who’d always supported me in everything, who acted as a peacekeeper when my mom and I had one of our stupid yelling matches over something menial, thought I was dead. I was only a couple of hours away from him, but I’d never again get one of his bear hugs. Unable to put my emotions into words, I thudded my head against the door.
    “Can I—Is there some way I can help?”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll get over it.”
    “Want to open the door? We can talk about it.” I heard him whisper, “I can hold you.”
    It sounded so tempting that my hand was reaching for the knob when I thought better of it. I didn’t want him to make me feel better. I didn’t want to need him. Or anyone. I didn’t want to be weak and sad.
    “Why do you care, anyway? I bet you just want me to open the door so you can see what vampire flambé looks like.” Under my breath but loud enough to make sure he heard, I added, “Jerk.”
    “I’m not that attached to the door. I could break it in and watch you burn if that was what I wanted.”
    Don’t be reasonable, for fuck’s sake; work with me ! “Then what? You want a second round? I’m a good lay, huh?” The words tasted bitter in my mouth. I knew I was being unfair and unreasonable, but I needed some distraction from my reality.
    “I’m sorry,” he said, effectively silencing me. “I freaked out this morning. I was…scared, I guess. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. I’m so—”
    “ I’m sorry!” It was becoming a trend, him apologizing, and this time it felt wrong. He’d come back offering an olive branch, and I’d been nothing but bitchy. “And I’m sorry I bit you. I just don’t know of another way to stay alive; I need blood.” The truth, pure and simple.
    “Did you only wanna fuck so you could feed?”
    “I wanted to have sex with you because I liked you. I didn’t mean to spend the night, and I’m sorry I fell asleep.” I really was. I was even sorrier that spending the night in his arms had felt like the most right thing I’d ever done.
    “You liked me?”
    I snapped, thinking he was going after some ego stroking. “Yeah, I liked you. You’re hot. Satisfied?”
    “You don’t anymore?”
    I felt like screaming. What did he want from