4. Draco
The night before felt like a dream, but when I licked my lips and tasted Frankie’s pussy, I knew it was real. No matter how much I wanted to dismiss tradition, I couldn’t deny my connection to Frankie. I almost couldn’t control myself watching theniggaat my shop touch her, and I had only felt that way when it cametomy brothers.
When I sensed her creep in my bathroom last night, I wanted to call her out. Instead, I tested her limits to see if she was as bold as she acted. So badly, I wanted to fuck the virgin after she fed me her honey, but I couldn’t. The first time I entered Frankie’s body, it would drain every ounce of energy she had, and I knew she wasn’t ready for it.
“That pussy got your ass in here knocked out. You didn’t even get up to go run, chump!”
I grinned at theceilingthen tossed a pillow at Quadir. “What are you doing over here? Let me find out you like my girl.”
“Your girl? That was quick.”
I sat up and shrugged. “No point in fighting what’s ordained.”
My brother dropped a laugh into his fist. “Why the hell are you lying? Shoota already told me and Zo how you almost lost your cool over Frankie’s client. It’s deeper than that.”
“Shoota just lost his job for telling you what happened in my shop. Gossiping ass.”
“Man, don’t get in your feelings because somebody calling you out. I know you like her. You gave her a nickname the first night she got here.” He smiled. “When’s the baby coming?”
I shook my head, thinking about how badly I wanted to cross the line.
“What’s the plot for the day?” he asked, moving past the baby talk. “We still meeting the brodies at the clubhouse?”
“That’s the plan. The meeting will be short.For the most part, we’re just going over the route we’re taking to Silk Hills for Durk’s engagement party.”
“Are you bringing Frankie to the function?”
I groaned at the nonstop questions.
“Quadir, bust a move. You’re asking too many questions.”
“Yeah. I can tell you didn’t get no pussy. You still waking up angry like a man biotch!” He clowned. “One more question. Have you figured out our next plot? I know you and Frankie are getting close, but you haven’t sealed the deal, and our debt will be due soon. You know if we don’t deliver?—”
“Don’t worry too much. I got it. Get out.”
I lingered in bed for another ten minutes before I got ready for the day. Before I got in the shower, I shut my eyes and listened for Frankie’s heartbeat. It was too calm for her to be awake, so I used the time alone to think. I didn’t know how the energy would be between us after last night, but I hoped the shit wasn’t weird. Our situation was already… odd.
By the time I made it downstairs, Frankie was in the kitchen. Home cookeddishes were settledacross the table as if waiting for my arrival.
“Good morning, Nugget.”
“Good morning, Draco.”
Her back was to me, but I could hear the smile in her voice.
“I never asked you... Why do you call me Nugget?”
“Because you’re small. Like a chicken nugget.” I laughed.
Her hand caught her forced giggle.
“Oh. You got jokes?”
We sat in a comfortable silence for all of two minutes before Frankie cleared her throat.
“I woke up and saw the ring on my finger.”
I nodded. “I put it there.”
“So… You came to my room twice last night.”
I scoffed. “If I remember correctly, we cameineach other’s room.”
“Stop!” She squealed. “You know what I mean.”
“Frankie, you cameinmy room first. I felt you watching me when I was in the shower.”
She snatched her glasses off and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Wait. I?—”
“Nah, don’t lie. You really don’t need to say anything. Every emotion you felt, you left on my tongue.” I pushed a plate in her direction. “Eat. We’re leaving in an hour.”
“Where are we going?”
“I know you need to take care of things for your mom’s house. I arranged for a driver to take you to the bank then wherever else you need to go.” I glanced up from my phone to see her watching me through narrowed eyes. “Is that okay with you?”
Frankie nodded, causing her tears to fall. “That works.”
After I wiped her tears away, Frankie rushed off to get dressed while I finished enjoying the fire ass food she made. I got a few bites into the salmon patty before the doorbell went off.
“Damnit!”
I pushed my chair back and headed to the front of the house. My face twisted into a frown when I ran into Frankie.
“Hmm. The police are at your door.”
I caught the look of confusion on Frankie’s face. Silently, I was grateful it wasn’t fear.
“What’s up, Jinx?” I spoke to the officer.
“Same shit, different day.” His eyes raced to Frankie. “It doesn’t look like I can say the same thing about you.”
“You looking too hard.” I raised the bag. “Everything is everything?”
“You already know. I don’t want to hear anybody’s mouth about it being short.” He dapped me up. “I’ll check with you later.”
I hardly got the chance to shut the door before Frankie asked, “What was that about?”
“Don’t answer the door,” I replied.
I turned around just in time to see her roll her eyes.
“What’s with the attitude?” I asked.
“Why do you always do that?”
I lifted my head. “Do what?”
“When I ask a question, you never give me a direct answer.”
I opened my mouth, ready to tell her to go finish getting dressed, but I realized I would prove her point.
“Officer Ernest is... like me and my brothers. He drops off his offering with us, and we deliver it when we take ours.”
She smiled. “Was that so hard?”
“Harder than you may believe. I rarely deal with people who ask questions and yours are nonstop.”
“I guess there’s a lot we have to get used to. Now, tell me about the offering.”
I stared at Frankie, realizing there was still so much I had to explain to her.
“Go get dressed, Nugget.”
“You did it again.”
“You didn’t ask a question,” I said while walking off to keep from sucking on her bottom lip. Before I started up the stairs, my limbs went stiff as a question hit me. “Why didn’t you tell the police you were being held against your will?”
“Because I’m not. Our blood ties us together. The law can’t keep us apart.” She paused. “After last night, I believe that more than ever.”
Once I made sure Frankie had a bankroll in her pocket and a blush swallowing her face, I got on the road.
Me and my brothers raced through traffic like the speed limit didn’t exist. We had been riding bikes for as long as we’d been in Blackstone, each gravitating to the steel and the community attached for different reasons. I hated to wear a helmet, but I didn’t feel like dealing with the police. The logo on my leather jacket was already a bullseye in the city.
The Sons of Eshu started in Silk Hills, a city a few hours from Las Vegas. The president, Shiloh Sharp, created the car club close to twenty years ago, and his cousin, Swag, expanded the club and made his branch predominately bike riders. When me and my brotherswere approachedabout joining the club, we told them to move around. However, after the group had our backs during some beef we had with another club, we chose up. Granted, we didn’t need their help, but witnessing their brotherhood and loyalty made the human in me crave the connection. Lately, my club stayed out of the way and made plays when necessary. After years of turf wars and fist fights, we focused on securing property in the city.
As we pulled up to the clubhouse, I quickly shut off my bike and snatched my helmet off.
“You’re a dumb ass!” I mugged Zo. “Are you trying to get us caught up? Keep the tricks for night riding.”
He fixed the chains resting on his chest before waving me off. “Whatever! I get sick of hiding who I am to appease the nextnigga.”
“The next nigga? I’m your brother. I wouldn’t tell you anything wrong, Zo.”
“I don’t want to hear that shit. Give that energy to the snake in the grass.”
Knowing exactly what he was referring to, I growled internally. I had killed more people than I would like to admit, yet none of them were a part of my brotherhood.
“Stop arguing like a pair of nightcrawlers, and let’s get this over with,” Quadir declared as he walked up behind us and looped his arms around our shoulders.
I pushed his arm away. “We’ll handle one thing at a time.”
A group of motorcycles ranging from Harley-Davidsons to Yamahas lined the walkway leading to the metal door. Like many clubhouses, ours resembled a bar filled with round tables and a small stage. We hadn’t buried many members, but helmets of those we had lost hung on the wall like retired jerseys.
I waited until the room of sixty settled down before I proceeded to the front of the crowd.
Just like any organization, there was a hierarchy of power within The Sons of Eshu. Shiloh sat at the top, but down in Blackstone, Swag called the shots, and me and my brothers made sure the ruleswere enforced.
“Aww shit! Big dawg running shit today!” Rattle joked, not understanding this would be his last day telling one.
I slipped my hands in the pockets of my jeans and focused on everyone but Rattle.
“Swag is out of town, so he asked me to run the meeting. Jamie said she emailed everybody the agenda, so let’s get down to business. Durk’s engagement party is a month from today. You should have a map outlining the route we’re taking.”
Rattle lifted his hand, garnering everyone’s attention. “Why are we riding out for the engagement? We can wait until the wedding.”
“ You don’t have to go nowhere!” Zo hiked up his pants as he stood up.
“Fuck off, Zo! You always running your mouth.”
“And your bitch loves it.” My brother grinned.
I grimaced at the childish pair before continuing with the meeting. We went over the map and pit stops we’d make during our four-hour ride. Some members had questions and others were just excited about turning up with our brothers.
Bear, a man I trusted as much as I did Quadir and Zo, cleared his throat.
“Are we still on the hook for providing security for the Black Heroines?”
“Only if Piper comes too.” Quadir rubbed his hands together. “Her fine ass is running for mayor. She needs a real thoroughbred in her life.”
Aside from disturbing the peace and breaking laws, we prided ourselves on being of service to people in our city. Most didn’t want our help because of our reputation, but when a black woman called, we came running.
“I’ll have Jamie follow up with Piper’s peoples and get back to y’all on that. If you have two or more felonies, you can let go of your secret service dreams.”
“All right. What’s next on the list? I need to go get my ol’ lady from work soon,” someone proclaimed from the crowd.
Any other day, I would have dismissed his comment, but considering I needed to get back to the lady at my house, I wasn’t mad about it.
“Don’t forget, we’re turning up for Bear’s birthday in two weeks, and dues are due! Other than that, we’re all good.” I rubbed my hands together. “Y’all can go. Bear and Sparrow, y’all stay.”
The chairs screeched against the freshly waxed floor. As soon as Rattle caught my eyes, I shook my head.
“Rattle! You stay too!”
His brows bunched in the center of his forehead.
“For what? What’s going on?”
I moved across the room, giving him nowhere to run. Up close, I saw he was shaking like a leaf.
“Meet me in the red room. Now,” I demanded through clenched teeth.
With every step I took toward the room, my vision narrowed. The thought of my fangs piercing flesh made my mouth water. It had been twenty-one days since the last time I tasted blood, but the idea heightened my appetite.
My brothers along with Sparrow, Bear, and Rattle joined me in the bare room. A serious expression tightened everyone’s face. Although no one spoke, we all knew shit was about to get hectic. The only time we used the room was when blood was being shed.
“Have a seat, Rattle!” Bear yelled once the door bolted closed.
Rattle’s beady eyes scattered around the room, pausing on every man until they landed on me.
“Draco, I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not sitting down. Did y’all forget I’ve been in this room whenniggastook their last breath? I know what the hell goes on in this muthafucka!”
I stepped forward. “Then why the fuck would you make the mistake of brokering a drug deal with the G-Riderz using The Sons of Eshu name and earn yourself a spot in here!”
Rattle unlatched his lips, but I shook my head, dismissing even the thought of his response.
“I don’t want to hear excuses. I want to hear the creed.”
His fidgeting came to a halt. “Wha-what?”
“Let me hear it!” I shouted, causing the walls to shake. “The mission of The Sons of Eshu is to preserve the integrity of real men. Our vision is to be respected as entrepreneurs while also maintaining a connection…”
Rattle’s shaky voice joined mine. By the time we finished, the snake was snotnose crying like a bitch.
“The deal was only an attempt to push The Sons of Eshu back into the limelight. People think we’re out of the game. We gotta get back in the streets!”
Quadir sucked his teeth. “This ain’t a gang, nigga! This is a brotherhood. You’ve forgotten that. Your fuck up cost us six figures.”
“That doesn’t count the damage it could’ve done to our reputation,” Bear chimed in. “That’s priceless. How the fuck are we going to protect a politician when members of our clubare making deals to sell drugs out of our spot? That shit ain’t hard to understand. You’re breaking the rules!”
Rattle snarled. “Ain’t no rules in the wild!”
“But there’s shit you gotta follow in this kingdom!” I yelled. With every second thatpassed, I felt my fangs sprouting.
“Because we have history, I’m going to let you swing first,” I declared.
Rattle pushed a heavy exhale from his nose before he ran into me like a lineman, though he barely rocked my frame. He cried and cursed as he swung with all the strength he could muster, which was pointless. I wanted to feel sorry for Rattle as he fought for his life, buthe had been warnedin the past about scheming.
“Come on, Draco. I’m not scared of you!” Rattle yelled between heavy exhales.
Zo laughed. “You know we can end this fast.”
“Fuck you, Zo!” Rattle spit a loggie at his feet.
“Bet!” Zo yelled as he kicked Rattle in the back of his kneecaps, causing him to drop to the ground.
Rattle shamelessly reached out to Bear, but the big man shook his head.
“I can’t help you, partna,” he replied as he smacked on a pack of corn nuts like he wasn’t in the middle of a murder scene.
Once we were done withRattle,blood and cartilage littered the floor. Quadir used a sharp bladeto slice his throat, and the laceration was so deep it nearly tore Rattle’s head off.
My ride homewas pollutedwith visions of the hour before. That was the downside to being half human. My conscience didn’t settle after a kill unless the person was a stranger, and even then, there were times I had nightmares about what I’d done.
Zo slapped my shoulder. “Hey! Don’t start acting all sensitive and shit. Thatniggadeserved it.”
I turned to tell loudmouth to lower his voice, but the sound of the second-floor window sliding open caught our attention. I glancedup,finding Frankie staring down at me. Her armswere crossed,and the mug on her face was tight. The longer we stared at each other, the more tense I became.
“Go get her,” Zo muttered. “Y’all looking at each other like it’s that time.”
“Nah. She doesn’t need to see me like this.”
“I’m not getting on that thing.”
“Yes, you are.” I placed the helmet against her chest. “This isn’t your first time on my bike.”
Her eyes bulged behind her glasses. “Seriously? You can’t compare the two. I was half awake and half unconscious.”
When she looked off to the side, I seized her chin and forced her to look at me.
“All you have to do is hold on to me. You won’t fall.”
“You don’t know that for sure, Draco.”
“I promise.”
Frankie ran her tongue over her pearly whites and shuffled her visionfromme andontomybike.
“If I fall and die, you can bring me back to life, right?”
“Yeah, if I fuck you.”
Her shoulders dropped.
“I’m just fucking with you. Stop being dramatic.”
“Can’t help it,” she whined. “Put on some music. If you play Tank, I’ll be able to relax.”
“Nah, I don’t ride to that.”
Her lips morphed into a pout.“You have to compromise, Draco.”
“Tomorrow. I got you. Get. On.”
While we rode to the clubhouse, I tried to think of contrived answers to questions I knew my brodies would ask. I had been a part of The Sons of Eshu for over a decade, and I never brought a woman around them. Most of them thought I was a player. Truth was, I was powerless. Other than Bear, Swag, and Sparrow, no one knew the truth about my bloodline. They just thought me and my brothers were three men with no family except for each other.
The clubhouse was always packedon Saturdays, but since it was Bear’s birthday, there was an overflow. Car and motorcycle clubs we fucked with showedupalong with anyone else in the city. Werarely chargeda cover, but since Bear was saving up to buy a new bike,we madefolks paythenplanned togive the money to him.
“Stay close to my side,” I warned Frankie as we entered the building through the back door.
I scoped the scene when we made it to the main floor, and it didn’t take long for me to find my folks. I approached Sparrow and dapped him up while shaking my head at the fools in the middle of the dance floor.
“What’s good with you, Draco?” Sparrow addressed me but eyed Frankie.
I offered a brief introduction before changing the subject.
“How’s the vibes so far?” I wondered aloud.
He gestured toward Zo andBeardancing with a few nightcrawlers I’d seen before.
“I would say things are goinggood.” He laughed.
I smirked at the view before facing Frankie. A jolly demeanor swelled her eyes asshepeople watched. The smile on her face made me breathe easier about introducing her to this part of my life.
“Do you need something?” I quizzed, pushing Frankie’s curly locs off her shoulder.
“Water,” she replied, running a finger down her throat.
I ordered ourdrinksthen led her to an empty table in the corner. Our seats were out of theway but gave me a clear view of Frankie and the door.
“So, this is what you do when you leave the house?” She pointed to the men tossing dollar bills at a group of women.
“It’s not usually this bad,” I replied. “Bearis hypedbecause he got to see another birthday. He beat cancer last year. He has a reason to celebrate.”
She lifted her glass in the air. “In that case, cheers to Bear.”
As Frankie stalked the crowd, I watched her. She looked good in a pair of leather cargo pants, a leather halter top, and one of my old motorcycle vests. I picked out the fit for her, but I almost didn’t believe she would put it on. When she appeared downstairs with her locs curled and her unique skin bathed in oil, I knew we had reached a new level of trust. Hell, ever since I feasted on her pussy hole, the energy between us shifted. She didn’t rush to another room when I camearound, nor did she conceal her hard nipples when we ran into each other during the early morning.
“You look good tonight. I mean… You look good, Nugget.”
Her head hit a swivel just in time for me to see the dimple in her left check make an appearance.
“Thank you. Some motorcycle-riding vampire picked out my threads.”
“Does that bother you? Me picking out things for you?”
She drank from her straw as she slowly shook her head. “I actually think it’s… sweet. I don’t know if that wordcouldbe usedwhen describing your mean behind.”
“Mean?” I repeated the word like it wasn’t something I heard all my life. “I’m not mean. I just don’t have time to play games. I’m a straight shooter.”
“You don’t always have to shoot—or bite in your case.” She giggled at her own joke. Her laugh was contagious. “Oh, wow.” She palmed her chest. “The vampire smiles.”
“I’m not that bad. If I’m being real, I haven’t had a lot to smile about.”
“Really? You seem to have everything anybody would want—money, power… family.”
I nodded. “I recognize how blessed I am, but all that comes with a price, even the family when you’re the head.” I finished the rest of my drink. “Enough of the sappy shit. I want you to enjoy yourself before we have to get into the deep shit.”
Frankie combed a few locs behind her ear. “Liquor and a dance would help with that.”
“I got you, pretty lady.”
We abandoned our chairs and returned to the bar for something stronger. This time, Frankie entangled her fingers between mine as we traveled through the party. I scoffed when I saw my brothers and a few members staringat us, knowing they were about to talk shit.
“Look at the loverboy and his lady.” Bear slurred and bowed his head at Frankie as we got closer. “How you doing, Ms. Lady? I’m Big Bear.”
Frankie accepted hishandshake but stepped back to my side quickly.
“This shit is crazy!” Bear freed a goofy laugh. “I never thought Draco would find his ol’ lady.”
“Why is that?” Frankie asked, catching me by surprise.
Bear’s eyes found me as he said, “I’ve been around Draco for years. He’s always said he would never have a woman on his hip unless shecamefrom his rib.”
Even over the music, my keen senses allowed me to hear Frankie’s heart skip a beat. I glanced down and saw she was gazing up at me.
“I guess I’m special.”
“More than you know, Nugget.”
Frankie opened her mouth to speak, yet the smell of cheap cologne drove my eyes to the door. Cali and Kash, the leaders of the G-Riderz, mobbed through the building like it belonged to them.
“Niggas must want problems popping up over here.”
I heard Quadir, but I was too busy ensuring other members were onalertto say anything back.
“Stay at the bar. I’ll be right back,” I muttered to Frankie.
When her full brows bunched in the middle of her forehead, I leaned forward and kissed her frown away.
“I’ll be right back.”
I joined the group in a room in the back of the club, and I walked up as Sparrow spoke to Cali and Kash.
“Where is Rattle?” Cali asked. “That’s who we’ve been handling business with.”
I rubbed my hand over the hair on my face, hoping to calm my nerves. “Rattle is unavailable.” I gestured toward the bag in Bear’s grasp. “Take the money as an apology for Rattle’s overstepping.”
Kash, the hothead of the two, stepped in my face.
“Draco, that’s not our problem. We had a deal.”
“If y’all don’t move around, y’all are going to make a bigger problem,” Zo countered.
Kash looked him up and down. “Man, fuck what you talking about!”
Zo lunged forward, but I caught his chest. “Chill. It’s not that deep. Not tonight.”
When I faced the intruders, I saw Cali reach for the bag of money we offered them. He sporteda sneakysmirk, whereas Kash maintained a deep scowl.
Once the room started to clear out, I grabbed Cali’s shoulder.
“Yo’ boy doesn’t know how to read the room,” I suggested. “You better handle the problem child before he soils the family tree.”
Cali shrugged. “I ain’t worried about it. The Sons of Eshu run a tight ship. I let myniggasroam as they please.”
I lingered back for a few, trying to calm my raging emotions while everyone else rejoined the party. However, my anger spiked when I reached the main crowd and spotted Kash smiling in Frankie’s face. A frown creased her forehead while she fixed her glasses. When she tried to step away, he blocked her path. Unlike when I confronted her client, I didn’t give any warning before I started wrecking shit.
It took nothing for me to knock Kash off his feet, and my response set off a domino effect. The blend of screams and glass echoed in my ears. During the brawl, I saw a tall dude with a pot belly grab Frankie from behind. I barreled to the other side of the club to where they were, but Bear knocked Frankie’s assailant upside the head with a bottle before I made it to them. Frankie turned to Bear, but Tatiana yanked her back.
“Frank—” A punch to my jaw broke my chance to warn her.
With little effort, I caved thenigga’s chest in, and by the time my eyes found Frankie, she was fighting. I cringed, seeing Tatiana getting the best of the four-eyed beauty. Frankie stayed on her feet and landed shots, but her opponent fought with both hands. I had never put my hands on a woman, but I didn’t think twice as I snatched Tatiana up by the back of her neck and slammed her to the ground.
With no concern for the damage I caused, I held Frankie like we had just left the altar as I carried her outtheclub. She wrapped her arms around my neck, putting up no fight. However, the instant the night breeze crashed into us, Frankie fought to get out of my arms.
I wanted to press her to express what she was thinking, but I could feel the rage. It burned like coals on a grill, damn near making my chest explode.
As soon as we made it home, Frankie dropped her purse in the middle of the floor and stomped up the stairs.
“Frankie, you know we need to talk.” I pulled at my hair. “How the hell did you and?—”
“Don’t say that bitch’s name!” she interjected. “She thought she could punk me, and I wasn’t letting that happen.”
I inched up the stairs until I was hovering over her. She swatted my hand away when I reached for her chin, causing a rumble to glide through my lips.
“Stop acting like that, Nugget! Let me clean you up.”
Though she dished profanity under her breath, Frankie followed me to my bedroom. I kepta firstaid kit under my bed, so I guided her to a seat after I laid everything out.
Ready to work, I pointed her head up to get a better look at the damage. Aside from a few scratches and a busted lip, she was good.
“I have to teach you how to fight. You’re too pretty to get hit in the face.”
“Screw you, Draco! This wouldn’t have happened if you had your whores in check. That was the same broad that popped up to your house two weeks ago.”
“I already talked to her about it, but I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Frankie scoffed and tried to jerk out of my grasp.
“Stop trying to get away from me, Nugget.”
Herscrewed-upface twistedintoa pout when I dabbed her wound with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball.
“Ouch! That burns!”
“You ain’t talking shit now, huh?” I blew the area, trying to lessen the sting. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when this happened.”
“It’s all right. I didn’t win, but I handled my own. A few scratches won’t kill me.” She drove out a harsh sigh. “Where did you go anyway?”
I was reluctant to fill her in, but there was no reason to hold back. Frankie was going to be my wife. I could only keep her in the dark for so long. If I didn’t fill the space with some truth, I knew it would turn into a pocket of resentment.
“Can you retwist my hair?” I asked out the blue.
Frankie’s head tilted to the side. “Oh now you want me to do your hair? Draco, you’re?—”
“Going to fill you in, but I need a retwist. We can kill two birds with one stone.”
“All right. I’ll go get my materials, and I’ll meet you back in here.”
I nodded before placing a kiss on the spot where she took the punch. Frankie sat there like a figure until I pulled her to her feet. Despite my nonchalant attitude, I wanted her to know my affection belonged to her.
We separated for all of five minutes before Frankie resurfaced in a pair of leggings and a sports bra. I watched her as she made herself comfortable at the end of my bed then tapped the inside of her thigh with a wide-tooth comb.
I grabbed my phone and turned on a random playlist as I got comfortable between her legs and enjoyed the sensation of her fingers on my scalp. I’d been going to a local salon to get my hair braided and twisted for years, but I could never relax in the chair. I was too afraid of what letting my guard down could mean.
“Tell me what you want to know?” I asked in a low drag.
“I want to know everything you haven’t told me.” She huffed. “You were vague about your family when I asked.”
“My father was a vampire and my mom was human.” I answered like it was no big deal. “They met here in Blackstone, but once she got pregnant with me, they moved to Midnight Hills.”
I felt oil melt into my scalp as she said, “Your mama was a brave woman moving to a place so… dark. I’ve heard rumors about Midnight Hills. Still, I can’t believe vampires are real.”
“That’s the case for most people, especially since we look like humans.”
“Yeah, until someone pisses you off.” She snickered. “You mentioned something about an offering. What’s up with that?”
I explained the curse on my bloodline and the things we had to do to stay alive. I could tell the information made Frankie uneasy by the way her breathing pattern switched.
“It’s not anything you need to stress about. Once you and I make things official, that commitment is severed.”
“Make things official? Do you mean once we… have sex?”
I turned my head, so I was looking at her.
“Yeah. That’s what I mean. I already told you how onyx vampires view the bond between a vampire and his mate. The day I enter your womb, my allegiance becomes yours.”
“That’s deep,” she muttered. “You won’t have to provide for Midnight Hills anymore, but you’ll have to provide for yourself. How will you… feed?”
At a loss for words, I gave her my back. “You’re asking all the questions. I think it’s my turn.”
She pinched my shoulder as she giggled. “I should bite you for changing the subject, but I’m going to give you a pass.”
“Why are you still a virgin, Nugget?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“A fair one. A twenty-four-year-old virgin isn’t common.”
A sarcastic laugh split her mouth wide. “You are one to talk.”
“Yeah, okay. Answer the question.”
“After what I saw my mom go through, I wasn’t in a rush to give away my body. She pimped herself out for a man who didn’t care enough to feed her kid. As I got older, I became more of a recluse. I’ve never spent enough time with a man to see if he was worthy of being attached to me forever.”
The pain in Frankie’s tone caused me to swallow away my thirst for revenge.
“Where is your birth family?” I followed up.
“I’m not sure. When I turned eighteen, I searched for my mom and learned that she passed earlier that year. I swear it felt like I lost her twice. Don’t even get me started on how I feel about losing Ms. Green. I still can’t believe she left me all by myself.”
My head jerked back. “Don’t say that. I’m right here.”
“Half the time, it doesn’t feel like it. I don’t know what I’ve done to make you so hot and cold.”
“Youhaven’t done anything,” I responded quickly. “Every part of my life feels like it’s under the control of someone else. I put my freedom at risk for someone else’s gain. Even my cravings are something I can’t fight. Having you around reminds me I don’t have a choice of who I spend the rest of my life with.”
“I’m not that bad if you get to know me.”
“I see that.” I smirked. “Trust me, I’m not complaining.”
Frankie pulled my head back, so I was staring at her upside down.
“Is this when we have a Spiderman moment?” I asked.
“More like the vampire and the virgin.”
I grinned at the comparison as she planted kisses on my forehead and nose. Before she could go further, I pulled Frankie over my shoulder and cradled herinmy lap. A feverish flush overwhelmed my face as I studied her features and the pattern of vitiligo that outlined one side of her hairline. Frankie may have believed her skin made her look unusual, but I thought her coating made her majestic.
“Tell me what you’re thinking?” I pressed to know.
“I have so many thoughts. I don’t know where to start.” She stole a second to gather her breath. “What will happen to me once we… make things official?”
“Your senses will heighten, but that’s where it ends.”
“And our kids?”
I swallowed hard at her choice of words. “What about them?”
“Will they be… special like you?”
“Yes, and we’ll teach them how to handle being… special. Unlike my childhood, they won’tbe raisedwith a chip on their shoulders. Love will surround them.”
She giggled. “In a motorcycle clubhouse?”
“Trust me. Sometimes, that’s the safest place to be.”
I couldn’t stop myself from pressing my lips into hers. My hands caressed her long locs while hers pulled at the chain around my neck. She didn’t pull away when I slipped my tongue in her mouth though her body grew stiff.
“Breath, baby,” I declared before christening her button nose. “Don’t be scared, Frankie. I got you. In this lifetime and in the next. Believe that.”