Release Me When the Sun Goes Down Read Online Free PDF Page B

I just needed a minute. 
    “ What is it then?”
    “Can we just…” I swallowed, drawing comfort from the rise and fall of his chest. 
    “What?”
    “Shh, I’m l istening to your heart beat for the last time is all.” 
    His arms strained against the cuffs, and I could tell he wanted to embrace me, but that would’ve been too much trouble after I’d taken the effort to restrain him.  We stood that way and Laveda, bless her, stayed quiet as a church mouse until I was ready to let him go.  Only this time he didn’t immediately step right up to her, he just looked at me, his eyes hooded with an emotion I didn’t recognize. 
    “What’s the matter?” I asked when he didn’t move on.  “Are you having second thoughts?”  What would I do if he decided he didn’t want to become a vampire?  Could I truly say goodbye?
    “Hush now, I’m seeing you with human eyes for the last time,” he rumbled, his gaze very nearly a caress in and of itself.
    “Oh.”  That was all it took to bring the sting of tears to my eyes and I blinked them away, giving him a watery smile.  “Take all the time you need.”
    It wasn’t long though before he shuttered away the tender feelings and stood before Laveda, hesitation marking his stance as if he wasn’t quite sure how to begin.  His fangs hadn’t descended yet, and I knew it’d taken the scent of spilled blood to trigger mine that first time. 
    “ Do you want me to get her started for you?” I offered and he replied with a short nod.  “Do you mind?” I asked, not sure what I’d do if Laveda objected to it, but she shook her head.
    “Not at all.”
    Given the go ahead, my fangs descended on command, the lure of her pulse enough temptation enough despite drinking my fill from Eddie.  In and out, quick like a bunny , I told myself, but I couldn’t resist a small taste of my own as I pierced her skin.  Laveda’s blood was as rich as she smelled, even more heady than Rob’s blood to me, and I started to wonder if I’d made a tactical mistake in picking her to participate.  I felt Rob tense beside me, and knew he’d scented the blood.  He was the whole reason we were doing this and that gave me the impetus to stand aside, entranced by the sight of his fangs for the first time before they sank into her neck with a low growl. 
    The answering pain on her face as his instincts took over was enough to detract from the bright copper tang of her blood in the air.  More than anything, I wanted to ease him to the side and share in the feast.  Instead I held my breath until the worst of the urge passed, counting in my head.  It wouldn’t take much – I knew I hadn’t tasted much of Bridget’s blood before Bishop had torn me away, but I wanted to be extra sure he had what he needed to carry him through the transition.  But as she made a painful grunt I knew it was time.
    “ There, that’s enough.”  Grabbing hold of his arms I pulled Rob back, dismayed when Laveda came with him, caught in his powerful jaws.  “I said that’s enough!”  Despite the unnatural strength his feeding frenzy lent him, I was stronger, and with some not so subtle pressure I got him to let go long enough to release her.  Laveda fell back against the wall with a soft cry, her hand clamping over the wound at her throat. 
    Rob thrashed and kicked, the call of the blood too strong for rational thought.  All he knew was that I’d deprived him of his feast, and he’d stop at nothing to get it back.  So much for that famous self control.  Tossing him down on the bed, I wished we’d thought of leg restraints, but I grabbed a pillow and shook the case free, binding his ankles together tightly.  Knowing how averse he was to the ball gag, I did the same with the other pillowcase and tied it around his mouth to give him something to bite down on and muffle the worst of his snarling screams. 
    Laveda watched us, her amber eyes wide with shock and pain.  Blood still pulsed from