Bled Dry Read Online Free Page A

in five minutes, karate kick at the ready. “Fine. I’ll just come with you now.”
    She went over to Corbin, who was standing by the front door, arms crossed, looking annoyed. “So, if you think we still have some things to talk about, maybe we could get together in the next few days.” She didn’t want to pressure him, but she wanted to know how involved he intended to be so she could mentally deal with the logistics of raising a vampire baby, either alone or with his help.
    “Of course we need to see each other. We have many, many things to discuss,” he said, French arrogance back in place. “I will come to you tonight.”
    See, this was what had gotten her in trouble in the first place. When he did that whole appearing out of the dark sexy thing, she couldn’t help but get a little excited. She should tell him no, but they did need to talk. “Fine. But knock on the front door instead of coming in my window this time.”
    He relaxed, uncrossed his arms, and cupped her cheek, stroking across her skin. Brittany stared into his pale green eyes, taking comfort in the strength and determination she saw there.
    “Our baby will be fine, I am convinced of it. This child is not a mutant, or an aberration, or an accident, but a child born of passion, and I am honored that you will be his mother.”
    Now that was a sweet thing to say. Brittany felt some of the tension in her ease. “Thank you. And you really think everything is okay?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “I’ll see you later then.” Brittany left, feeling much better.
     
    Corbin watched Brittany leave with Carrick and her sister, and stuck his hand in his hair.
    Mon Dieu , his child was going to be born a mutant.
    A freak of nature, a bloodsucking baby. This was not good. And he had lied to Brittany. This was not fine, this was not okay, this was a complete and total genetic nightmare, and yet again he was to blame for such an act of total stupidity.
    Nearly thirty years of mortal life, two hundred as a vampire, and he had never once gotten a woman with child. That he did now, with an Impure half-vampire/half-mortal woman, was a strange and cruel irony. Of course, skipping birth control in a century when it was available at every turn for less than a cup of coffee, was inexcusable.
    Corbin had made mistakes before. Grave and unfortunate mistakes that had left one woman dead and his work in question.
    But he was so close to finding a cure for vampirism. Success was just a few tests away and now this. He was such an idiot.
    Corbin called in the guard who was standing in the hallway. “I must leave for a few hours. Keep an eye on Ringo.”
    The guard nodded even as Ringo said, “I don’t need a baby-sitter. I’m not going to leave.”
    A determined but belligerent patient, Ringo had been dealing with the withdrawal symptoms fairly well, but Corbin knew drug lust drove vampires to desperate measures. He preferred having a guard keeping an eye on Ringo. Especially since part of Corbin’s own punishment was essentially doing whatever the current government wanted him to do in exchange for being allowed to continue his research. Carrick was the head of that current government and Corbin didn’t want to anger him and jeopardize his work. Of course, getting his sister-in-law with child probably hadn’t endeared Corbin to Ethan Carrick.
    He was such an idiot. He just couldn’t say it enough.
    “I know you are not going anywhere. You’re technically under house arrest. He is just here to see to your comfort until I return. If you like, I can ask Kelsey to come and keep you company.”
    Ringo made a face. “I’m really not in the mood to listen to her babbling.”
    “Fine. I will be back later this evening.” After he’d had time to gather his thoughts and mentally slap himself around a few times. After he’d had a chat with Brittany about how they were going to proceed, and how soon they could marry. He would not heap further mistakes on top of the first by