The woman wasn’t stopping. Not until she’d tried to drink from someone else. He could fight her, but he knew Iona wouldn’t give up. “One sip,” Jamie said, his voice clipped. Just one. That would be all she’d need to find out if the blood worked for her.
And if it does work? He couldn’t think about that possibility right then. The witch had been adamant. The wolf that woke her would be the wolf that controlled her.
He didn’t think Brian had been lying, but since the witch was dead, it wasn’t like he could find out for certain.
And I have to make sure she doesn’t find out about my deal with Brian. Because if she did…
“There’s a room in the back.” Sean inclined his head toward a dark, narrow hallway. “Right through there.”
Wasn’t that just fantastic.
“Lead the way,” Iona invited him with a wave of her hand.
But Sean wasn’t an idiot. He glanced at Jamie, waiting to see what his alpha wanted.
“Keep your hands off her,” Jamie ordered him, voice lethal. “She gets one taste—one.”
Sean gave a nod. As a rule, werewolves weren’t up for being vamp prey. Only this wasn’t a typical situation.
Iona wasn’t your average vamp.
Sean headed down the hallway. Iona didn’t move, and Jamie was far too conscious of her body near his. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him, then Iona crooked her finger, inviting him closer. His head bent toward her, the move automatic. She rose onto her toes. Her lips brushed against his ear as she said, “I don’t need your permission to feed from prey.”
He turned his head. Made sure their eyes met. “In order to touch you, he needs my permission.” Because, dammit, Jamie had already started to think of her as—
Mine.
“Werewolves…always the same.” Iona sighed as she eased away from him. “You think that you can control everyone and everything around you.” She sauntered toward that dark hallway.
“No.” The growl slipped from him.
Iona looked back at Jamie.
“I can’t control everything. If I could, there’d be more than six members of my pack still alive.” He stalked to her, aggressive, deliberately so. “If I could control everything, my family would be alive. I wouldn’t have come home to find my mother and father dead, their bodies savaged. Latham wouldn’t have killed them.” His parents had come to this country because they’d wanted a fresh start. They’d brought their pack over with them. Everyone had been so hopeful, at first.
What could have been sympathy or maybe even pity flashed in her stare. That faint emotion just stirred up his anger even more. Pity was the last thing he wanted from her.
His body brushed against hers. “And if I could control everything,” his voice was for her alone, “then I’d already have gotten you, naked, under me, and I wouldn’t be so wild with lust that I want to rip apart my own best friend…because you’re about to put your mouth on him.”
The words surprised him with their brutal truth. The lust he felt for her…it was just growing. Stronger and stronger. Almost like he was under some kind of spell.
She’s part witch. Maybe I am under her spell.
Under, and falling fast.
“One taste,” he told her, “but you’re going to regret it.”
Her gaze searched his. “There are few things I regret.”
He could believe that.
“This won’t be one of them.” Then she turned, head high, back straight, and marched to the door at the far end of the hall.
He didn’t follow her. He didn’t want to see her with Sean. “You’ll be coming back,” Jamie said, the words drifting after her.
And they were a promise. Iona was about to realize that no other man would ever do for her again.
Only me, baby. Only me.
He’d already realized that no other woman would satisfy him.
Chapter Four
Her fangs had stretched and sharpened as she prepared for the bite. Iona had locked the door behind her—locked Jamie out—and now she and Sean were alone together in the small storage room.
“So…how does this work?” He asked her with a nervous glance at her fangs.
She almost rolled her eyes. Really? How did he think it was going to work? “The usual way. I bite you. I drink. That’s how it works.”
Sean was nearly as big as Jamie. His shoulders weren’t quite as broad, his muscles not as big. He was probably a few inches shorter than the alpha wolf, too.
But Sean was…handsome. His features were even and smooth and had no doubt drawn plenty of female attention over the years.
Iona realized that she preferred the rough danger of Jamie’s hard face. Story of her very, very long life. The bad boys often drew her in.
Then, frequently, they’d tried to kill her.
So she’d had to kill them.
“Give me your hand,” Iona ordered.
But Sean shook his head and shoved his hands behind his back. “No way. I’m not supposed to touch you!”
For the love of…She grabbed his arm and jerked up his hand. Then she lifted his wrist to her mouth. “Calm down.” She could probably try to soothe him. She’d always been good at lulling her prey, when she wanted. Seduce with a look. Kill with a bite.
Been there, done that.
So many times that it rather bored her now.
But, yes, if she wanted, Iona could seduce just about anyone.
Only she didn’t want to seduce Sean. She just wanted to find out what his blood would do to her. Don’t burn me, don’t. Because if she was stuck with only taking from Jamie, then she’d be tied to him.
Forever.
Iona parted her lips. Her fangs pressed into Sean’s skin, and just like that, with one quick press of her teeth, his blood flowed onto her tongue.
Sean gave a little moan. “Oh, shit, no one said it would feel good.” For the first time, she heard the whisper of an Irish accent in his words.
Only…his blood wasn’t “feeling good” to her. It felt horrible. His blood tasted rancid, and she was already yanking her mouth away from him and backing up even as her body started to shake and spasm.
“Iona?” Sean called her name as he came toward her. “Iona!”
The door burst in, heaving right off its hinges. Jamie stood in the doorway. His gaze swept around the room, from Sean—and his outstretched hand—to Iona.
When did I curl up on the floor?
She didn’t curl. She didn’t hide.