Alphas - Origins Read Online Free Page B

tighter to him. The hard shaft of his erection dug into her butt. She tried to edge away from it.
    â€œDon’t worry. I can’t help it, but I won’t molest you. Unless you start moaning and rubbing your ass against me.”
    She stopped moving. The odor of hot copper was overpowering now. Karina cleared her throat. “I feel light-headed.”
    â€œYou’re breathing in my scent. Your body’s reacting. It will speed things up.”
    That explained the shirt coming off. He wanted no fabric barriers between her and that smell, so it could roll off his skin and take her under. “Do I need to do anything?”
    â€œJust lie there and endure. Your body needs my venom. As I said, I’ve bitten you already to kill the poison, but you got just enough to keep you alive. This will take some time.”
    She brushed her hair from her neck, exposing skin. No point in drawing this out.
    A low laugh answered her. He spoke into her ear, his breath a warm touch on her skin. “You ever watch hockey?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThe Buffalo Sabres had a goalie—Clint Malarchuk. Steve Tuttle, a guy on another team, was trying to score a goal, and as he charged at the crease, a defenseman grabbed him from behind and swung him up. Tuttle’s skate caught Malarchuk’s neck. A shallow cut, only severed the exterior jugular. Blood sprayed like water from a hose. Covered the whole crease in seconds.”
    For some reason she couldn’t understand, his quiet voice steadied her nerves. “Did he survive?”
    â€œHe did. Had the skate cut a bit deeper, he would’ve been dead in about two minutes.” He gathered her even tighter against himself. “The neck nuzzling is fun, but the pressure within the jugular would expel your blood so quickly, it would kill you.” His finger traced an outline on the vein on her neck, sending electric shivers along her skin. She wished he hadn’t done that.
    â€œIf not the neck, then where?”
    â€œThe arm works well.”
    â€œCan you . . . get on with it?”
    â€œNot yet. The longer we wait, the less painful it will be for you.”
    His body was hot against hers, his heat seeping into her. His scent enveloped her completely now. Her head spun.
    â€œThat’s it,” he prompted. “Go limp. Don’t strain.”
    â€œI’m scared,” she told him.
    â€œI’m sorry.” The undercurrent of violence that permeated everything he said muted slightly.
    â€œWhat will happen after you feed?”
    â€œYou’ll pass out. It’s like giving blood except messier. Your body will go into shock from my venom. If you survive, you’ll get used to the feedings.”
    â€œI might die?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThis just gets better and better.”
    â€œLife’s a bitch.”
    The room crawled. “I’m not dreaming, am I?”
    â€œIf this is your dream, you’re seriously fucked up.”
    â€œWho are you . . . all of you?”
    â€œYou ask too many questions.”
    He pulled away from her, turned her arm to him, and bit into the soft flesh just above the elbow. Pain lanced through her. Her body tensed in response, but his arms clamped her down and she could barely breathe.
    It hurt. It hurt and hurt, but worse than the pain was the awful sensation of his gnawing teeth and the prickly heat squirming its way up her arm. It spread into her shoulder and fanned out, claiming her body. She wanted to break free, to get away, but Lucas held her tight.
    â€œPromise me you will make sure my daughter is safe if I die.”
    He didn’t answer.
    â€œPromise me.”
    â€œI promise,” he said.
    Karina let herself sink into the pain. Gradually it eased into a steady ache. Her limbs relaxed. She tried to think of something else, anything else, of Emily, of their safe little apartment, of being far away in a different place. But the reality refused to recede. And