Immortal Desire Read Online Free PDF Page B

stretched and burned over the deep wounds. She’d learned to live with them, but nothing had ever healed.
    “I’m sorry about your mom. Your dad probably wasn’t equipped to take care of you, so the State was likely a better choice.”
    She shook her head. “Don’t make excuses for him, Griff. Just don’t.”
    “I’m doing my best to explain what’s happening.” Letting her go, he rose from the couch and shoved the waistband of his pants down. “See this?”
    Bailey glanced at the exposed hip. “It’s a tattoo.”
    “No, it’s not. It’s called a Marker. Five large says you have one, too.”
    “I don’t have a—”
    He cut her denial short when he grabbed her arm and hauled her off the couch.
    “Ease up, Captain Caveman,” she snapped. “You might buy my time, but no amount of money gives you the right to abuse me. Clear?”
    He gave her a gentle shake. “Check your hip.”
    She pulled free of his grip and undid her pants enough to expose skin. “Nothing there.”
    “You’re female. It’ll be on the other side.”
    She sighed. “There’s nothing...” Roughly the size of a silver dollar, a thin-lined circle surrounded a large dot. “What the hell?” She rubbed the unfamiliar red mark, but it wouldn’t come off.
    “It’s your Marker—like a brand. Every species has one. Design and location depend on what you are.” Griff ran a hand behind his neck, his biceps bunching.
    “What you are? ” Scrambling to button her pants, she shot him a hard stare. “I’m afraid to even ask.”
    An ironic, humorless smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “I’m an incubus.”
    Her jaw dropped. “You think you’re a sex demon.”
    “There’s no ‘thinking’ to it. I know.”
    “And now you think I’m a...what? Succubus?”
    Silence.
    Her vision narrowed, graying on the fringes. She backed away from him in a tripping rush, stopping only when she hit the wall. “Look, you clearly cracked the orgasm vault, and I’m grateful. But gratitude doesn’t mean I’m willing to buy into your time-share of crazy.”
    “Crazy, huh? You’re suffering low-grade fevers and flu-like symptoms that run the gamut from full-body aches to nausea and vomiting. Orgasm has been impossible, yet you’ve been horny as hell. And it’s all getting worse, fast. I bet you even went to the doctor, and the only thing they found was a whole lot of nothing. Tell me, Bailey. How far off am I?”
    Cold, the kind that seeped through bones and turned blood to slush, started at her center and spread outward. “Stop it.”
    “No. You need help if you’re going to survive the Change from mortal to immortal.”
    “I-immortal? You’re insane,” she whispered, shaking her head.
    “Immortal. And you’re going to wish I was.” He reached around her to grab the phone, completely ignoring her flinch. The beep of keys sang across the tension strung between them. “Upstairs.” He tossed the phone on the sofa.
    The elevator hummed as it ran down and then started back up seconds later. They waited, both staring at the polished steel doors. A faucet dripped in the background. The AC clicked on. Cool air rushed from the ventilation ducts and carried a stale, recirculated smell.
    She jumped when the doors slid open.
    Seth stepped into the apartment and glanced between them. “What’s going on?”
    Griff blinked slowly and lifted his chin. “I need you to show Bailey your Marker.”
    The man stared at Griff, considering. Then his lips twitched. “My Marker, huh?”
    “Keep it in your pants, Casanova.” He swallowed hard enough that she heard it. “She’s entering her Change. I showed her my Marker, explained what is happening. She doesn’t buy it.”
    Bailey rounded on him. “You don’t ‘buy it’ when the waiter pushing dessert promises the cheesecake will never show up on your thighs, Griff. This? If this was a game of hangman, you’d be one silent consonant away from spelling psycho. ”
    Seth snorted and began