Awakened (Vampire Awakenings) Read Online Free Page A

inches taller than her, and she had to tilt her head back to look at him. His hair was black, a pure, raven black that was cut short, but waved around his gorgeous face.
    He smiled softly as she hesitantly met his penetrating gaze again. She couldn’t imagine why he wanted to dance with her when he could have any girl here. “What’s your name?” he asked. He didn’t seem to raise his voice, but she was able to hear him clearly.
    “Sera.”
    “Sera, that’s unusual.”
    “You don’t know my full name,” she said with a playful grin, unable to believe that she was actually flirting with him. She never flirted, hell she never even danced with guys. She kept to herself, she avoided them. As a matter of fact she went out of her way to avoid them, not to dance with them. It was easier that way, less hurtful. But now, she found herself unable to stop doing either.
    He grinned at her and shifted his hold as he pulled her closer. “What would that be?” he asked; his voice was deep and husky. It sent chills of pleasure down her spine.
    “Serendipity.”
    He broke into a grin as he laughed softly. “Well now isn’t that perfect. Sera, I think my meeting you was serendipitous.”
    She laughed and shrugged. “Who knows, maybe. What’s your name?”
    “Liam.”
    “Nice to meet you,” she said as the music came to an end.
    She felt a sense of loss as his arms fell away from her. “Want to go somewhere else?” he inquired.
    Sera nervously licked her lips; her gaze darted quickly around the crowded room. “Where?”
    Liam stared at her for a moment, surprised by her hesitation, her sudden fear. In that moment he was surprised to find his mind going from wonderful, lust filled thoughts of the bedroom, to making her feel safe and secure. “For a walk. It’s hot and loud in here. To loud to talk, and I would like to get to know you better.”
    She stared at him in surprise, and then, to her own surprise, she found herself nodding in agreement as the music blared again. He took hold of her hand and led her off the crowded dance floor. She followed numbly behind, unable to believe that she had agreed to leave with him. What was the matter with her? She knew better than to do this, knew better than to allow this to happen, but she couldn’t stop herself. Couldn’t bring herself to tell him that she didn’t want to go, because she did want to go.
      She caught the envious glances tossed her way as they moved slowly through the thick crowd. Suddenly, Michelle stepped in front of her.
    “Where are you going?” she demanded, her eyes chillingly cold.
    Sera gaped at Michelle in surprise. She pulled on Liam’s hand, stopping him in the midst of the crowd. He turned back to her, a frown marring his forehead. His eyes darted to Michelle and his frown deepened as his hand tightened upon hers. “I don’t know yet,” Sera answered.
    “This is very unlike you Sera,” she said coldly. “I’ve never known you to leave a party with someone, has Kathleen finally succeeded in making you a slut?”
    Sera’s face flamed red with embarrassment and anger. Michelle was supposed to be one of her best friends, not attacking her like this.
    “That is uncalled for,” Liam growled, taking a step closer to her.
    Michelle’s eyes blazed with fury as they landed upon him. Sera found herself trapped between them, her face on fire as she trembled slightly, unable to move. She had no idea how to get away from either one of them, but she desperately wanted to bolt from them both. “Well Michelle, it is like you to be a bitch.” Kathleen appeared at Sera’s side, her jaw clenched angrily as she leveled Michelle with a fierce look. “Even I, who am well aware of how much of a bitch you can be, am surprised by this new level.”
    Michelle’s eyes snapped to Kathleen. They burned with an intense hatred unlike anything Sera had seen before. A chill shuddered through Sera in the face of that hatred. Kathleen seemed not to notice it as she