The Dark Gifts Birthright Read Online Free PDF Page A

the implied intentions. She
tried to rein it in and make it stop, but his smell—he smelled
so—edible.
    “ Elizabeth, stop!” Blasted into her
skull. So loud, the speaker should have been in the same room.
    Another growl rumbled through her chest as
she took a step forward and to the side.
    The man’s hands went up in front of him. “Now
just calm down.” Still eyeing the door, he made a running break for
it.
    She slammed it shut before he could make it
out. Cat-like she pounced. She saw nothing other than the red haze
covering her vision. Hot, slightly bitter fluid poured down her
gullet squelching the burn. Dizzy with the nearly orgasmic feel of
it, her jaw tightened and she felt her teeth sink deeper into his
flesh. His shrieks could not block out the slurping-sucking sounds
as she drank. Inwardly screaming at herself to stop, she had no
control. Nothing would stop the darkness from draining every last
drop of the delicious nectar.
    Within seconds his cries of terror changed to
barely audible pleas for mercy. “Don’t. You don’t have to.
Please.”
    The door behind them splintered from the
hinges and slammed into them. Flying backward, Liz lost her hold on
the man and scrambled to her feet. The raven haired man from the
night before stood between her and the prey. “Get out of my way,”
she hissed.
    “Calm down. Had I known you’d wake so early,
I’d have been here sooner.”
    Momentarily glancing at his face, she
returned her gaze to the victim standing behind him holding his
throat. “Get out of my way.”
    “It’s not happening, Liz. Give up before you
get hurt,” Michael answered.
    Her eyes darted back and forth between the
two. The older man groaned. Blood seeped through his fingers and
ran down his arm.
    Her tongue slipped from her mouth, running
over her supple burgundy lips. Unable to wrest her gaze from the
ruby fluid dripping from the man’s elbow, another growl rumbled
softly through her chest. Pure animal instinct kicked into
overdrive and she crouched and sprung through the air. With
lightening speed, he stepped out of the way. She landed behind him
and spun. Aiming for his nose, she threw her right fist. Before it
could reach the desired destination, his hand clutched hers with an
iron grip. Holding tight, he pulled, twisted, and was behind her
with his arms wrapped tightly around her waist.
    "Had enough?" he whispered in her ear.
    The coldness of his breath sent a pleasant
shiver down her spine. She shook her head and struggled against
him.
    With little effort, he lifted her body and
briskly walked outside.
    Out in the open air, the haze lifted and the
knowledge of what she’d done overwhelmed her. Even the blood high
was not enough to assuage her guilt. Grief and disgust burrowed
through her. Her body went limp. It was then that she realized he
still held her tightly against him. His rock hard body sent a shock
through her own. Trembling, she whispered, “I’m all right now. Put
me down.”
    His grip loosened allowing her feet to touch
the ground, but his arms remained closed around her. “You need to
stay right here for just a little longer. When Amos leaves I’ll let
you go.”
    As if on cue, the older man appeared in the
cabin doorway. “You got this, boss?”
    “We’re good. You?”
    Still covering his neck, Amos answered, “I’ll
live. Thanks to you. I think I’d better be moseying--if you know
what I mean.”
    “Quickly.” Michael agreed.
    Amos nodded and began walking around the side
of the cabin.
    “Hey, Amos?”
    He stopped and glanced back. “Yep?”
    “I’m sorry I was late. I didn’t expect--”
    “It’s okay, Michael. Hazards of the job.”
    A few seconds later, the hum of a car’s
engine roaring to life filled the air. Michael waited as the sound
faded into the distance before releasing his hold on Liz.
    She stumbled forward, grabbing a large tree
trunk for stability. “You’re--I’m--I almost--”
    “Yes.”
    Her stomach clenched, closing her