Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
~Harlow~
"I skipped breakfast, too," he tells me, reaching up to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. I notice the sharp points of his fangs pushing passed his upper lip, and he runs his tongue across his lips.
"Good to know," I tell him, about to turn away again, but I stop when he speaks.
"However, you might be able to help me with that, Z," he purrs, and I freeze in my tracks.
"Pardon," I gasp when the heat of his chest presses against my back. My eyes dart to the hallway, wondering if the others heard what he called me.
"I know you work for Tal," Leon purrs, and I swallow as his nose runs up the side of my neck and inhales deeply.
"But I am willing to keep your little secret. If you keep mine. See, I need a feeder or Thane is going to send me away. Now, if you want to keep your job, you will play along, Zara, or I will tell Thane exactly the kind of whore you are. He doesn't take too kindly to being deceived," Leon purrs.
I grit my teeth and turn to glare at him. "No, I'm not going to be your damn feeder," I growl at him, and the redness in his eyes grows brighter as I glare at him.
"Fine then, I will tell Thane he has a stripper working for him," Leon says, walking toward the door. My breath lodges in my throat at his words. I need this job, need the money if I ever want to get my shitty apartment back from Martha. I grip his arm.
"Wait, please, Leon," I tell him. Leon stops and turns, looking at me. He smirks, knowing full well he has me.
"Please, I need this job."
"I know, and I need a feeder. It's a win-win situation. So, what will it be?" Leon asks me and my eyes turn glassy. "I haven't got all day Zara, or should I call you Z? Because that will be the only place you will ever get a job in this city if Thane finds out."
"You're a fucking asshole. You know that?"
"And you're a skank, one that is willing to do anything for the right price. Spraying yourself up with all that pheromone shit, appearing all innocent to pull men in. You are in no position to judge me, so choose, Zara," Leon says, and I gape at him.
Is he calling me a skank? He should be able to tell I’m a virgin. Then again, with the pheromones Tal pumps through that place's air-conditioning, it's not surprising that he thinks I am just that. Leon turns to walk out, heading toward Thane's office, and I set my mug down on the counter.
"Fine," I whisper, knowing he’ll hear me with his extra-sensitive hearing.
Leon smiles, wandering over to me before gripping my wrist and sticking his head out the kitchenette door.
My brows furrow when he suddenly yanks me down the hall to the bathroom and shoves me inside, kicking the door shut behind him.
I try to take a step back from him, but he still has a hold of my wrist.
Leon growls, his aura spilling out, making me freeze.
He steps closer, pressing me against the cold, porcelain sink.
He dips his face to my neck, and tears burn my eyes when he growls before sinking his teeth in.
Panic sets in, not knowing if he’ll be able to stop.
But having fed on me last night, he seems to have more control.
My system floods with endorphins, and the pain dissipates as quickly as it comes.
His tongue laps at my neck, and I feel a little lightheaded when he pulls away.
He wipes his lips with his thumb before sucking on it and then pecks my lips.
"See, that wasn't so bad," he purrs, yet I feel used, disgusted that I am now reduced to a feeder, just to keep my job.
Leon bites his wrist, offering it to me.
I grab it wanting the holes on my neck gone as soon as possible.
It will be like it never happened. Leon chuckles, mistaking my eagerness for addiction.
I shove him back, feeling the holes on my neck close.
He growls when I try to push against him.
He got what he wanted. As if last night wasn't bad enough, I sure as shit don't want to get caught in here with him.
Yet my attempt at escape seems to anger him.
I am shoved back against the basin as he steps closer, caging me against it.
"Just remember that I am the only thing preventing you from getting fired," he growls at me.
I bite the inside of my cheek and quickly nod.
I feel degraded and humiliated, it is one thing for mates to feed on each other, but they have no idea I am technically their mate, so Leon treating me like a damn whore only makes the humiliation hurt more.
He steps aside, allowing me to pass, but speaks as I push open the door.
"And Zara, if you go back to Tal's, I will tell Thane you work there.
I will not risk giving my mates some disease because you want to whore yourself out," Leon snaps.
My stomach sinks. What else am I supposed to do for cash for the next two and a half weeks?
"If either of us has any diseases, it's the leech in front of me," I growl, pushing out the doors and going to my desk.
Though the more I walked, the more vertigo takes over.
How much did he take? He only fed on me for a few minutes.
I stop by the kitchenette and retrieve my lukewarm coffee, needing the sugar, before falling heavily into my chair.
Only, when I do, I look up to see Raidon peering at the bathroom door before looking at me.
Leon walks out a couple of seconds later.
Also spotting Raidon, he stops and looks at me, or more like glares at me, before storming past Raidon when he opens his door and nods for Leon to get in his office.