Daylight - Book 1 (No Death for the Wicked) Read Online Free Page A

me, my skin burns but in a sensual way while his eyes scan seductively over me. I pucker my lips and blow out a thin stream of smoke while I take in the sight of him.
    “Thanks, you don't know how bad I need this,” raising the cigarette up. He circuits slowly around me like it's a stroll in a park, while I try not to seem high-strung with him so damn close.
    Eventually, he props himself along the railing and asks, “So, Mattie, tell me what's the story on your costume tonight?” 
    “No story,” is my brassy comeback.
    “No offense, but isn't this your usual attire, the dark, mysterious girl theme.”
    “I'm just being me. I don't really get into the whole costume thing.” I reach over with my other hand and run the tip of my finger on his scythe blade, splicing my skin open. Retracting my finger back, I lick the blood off. “And your story? The Grim Reaper, really? Please do tell, I'm curious.” Easing myself back, I take another casual drag and flick the ashes over the edge of the banister. Graham focuses solely on my lips, making me feel slightly self conscious. He shrugs and vanquishes the space between us while holding a wicked smile. That actually has me wet in all the right places.
    “It's the only thing I had in my closet. So, when did you pick up smoking?”
    “I have this oral fixation and sometimes, simply put, it's hard to ignore.” Pitching the last remnants of my lit cigarette down, I quickly mash my boot down, extinguishing it out. My body instantly becomes alert and completely stimulated at his touch. He grips my chin and silently persuades me to look up at him. “I know a cure for your fixation, come here...”
    Our lips unite and I have no idea if I'm drowning or swimming for my life, he explores every inch of my mouth with such skill. My bearings for control are shredded, and ripped away. My body screams more and my craving takes over as my fangs extend.  I drag my fine-tipped fang across his lower lip, puncturing the delicate skin.  The blood trickles out and I suck hard on his lip.  When the taste hits my mouth I know the blood is bad, corrupt, and too vile even for me. I break apart from him and flash back wiping the back of my hand across my lips. “You...  you really are Death.”
    “And you, Mattie, you are a Vampire.” Graham counters with an intrigued realization.  “That's why you didn't die.”
    I give him a coy grin and add, “Don't you know, there's no death for the wicked.”

Chapter One
     
    One year later
     
    The Midnight Train
     
    I crumple my hand around a fist full of twenties and wad them back into my skinny jeans. I flick the shade back with my two fingers and watch the stars string along the predawn sky. Seventy bucks for a midnight train ride out of the wasteland is not a bad deal at all. I'm leaving my old town, my old fucked up life back in the north and heading south, to a vamp town. I can just see my mom, well, not my real mom, but in the vampire world, she is the one who changed me, so by default, she is 'mother dearest' .  I can just imagine her raging and ranting right about now. Waking up from her blood drunken stupor and calling out for me.  Not this time, I am so gone. 
    She’ ll be way better off without me anyway.  I already know that I'm better off without her and all her constant yelling, bitching, and manipulating ways.  Plus, she drives like shit.  That damn car of hers probably wouldn't even make it out of the driveway.  Once Fred, Bob, or maybe it was Hank, I can’t seem to keep them straight anymore. They are all the same, these sleaze-ball type men she convinces to work on that car for her, if she, which is a big ‘ if’ she gets that old hunk of metal running she just might attempt to search for me. I highly doubt it though, one whiff of a man’s scent, she just can't resist, she'll bleed them dry. I made sure she was stocked with bags of blood. Which is one thing I won't miss doing anymore, stealing from the local blood