Bound by Blood: Two Novellas of Paranormal Romance Read Online Free Page A

away.

CHAPTER 3
    He awoke abruptly the next morning, bolting from his slumber into alertness. His Other was near – he could feel her. Drake jumped out of bed and tugged on his jeans from the previous night. Shirtless, he swung open the door, intent on the lobby.
    In his haste, he plowed into Penny, standing in the doorway with her fist raised, poised to knock.
    He stumbled forward and knocked Penny off her feet. He caught her on her way down, one arm across the small of her back, the other cradling her head. "Not that I'm not glad to see you, but what're you doing here?It's only nine."
    "I wanted to surprise you."She gestured blindly to the floor and Drake final noticed a paper bag on the ground beneath her. "I brought bagels. I know we just ate breakfast, but like I said, I like food. I'm glad I skipped the coffee, though."
    "Me too."All at once, Drake recognized the nearness of her, the press of her breasts against him, the way her hips lined up flush with his. Her cheeks burned red, as though she had noticed their proximity too. He stood, bringing her with him, waiting until she had her feet beneath her before picking up the paper bag.
    He pushed the room door open and ushered Penny inside. "It's not much, but it's not home either, so I don't really care. It works for now."Drake pulled out one of the chairs at the small roomservice table on the far side of the room. Penny sat, folded down the bag and pulled out breakfast, one item at a time. "I got an even dozen, all different kinds. What do you like?"
    Drake picked out a bagel, split it and spread it thick with cream cheese. They were still warm from the bakery, melting the cream cheese. It oozed out between his fingers as he sank his teeth into the messy treat. While he was digging in, Penny pulled two small bottles of orange juice from the pockets of her coat.
    "OJ?"She held a bottle out to him. "It's my fave."
    Drake nodded, gratefully accepting the proffered bottle and downing half of it in one gulp. "S'mine too."He finished the bagel in three quick bites, waiting patiently while Penny ate hers. "So today," he handed her a napkin, "I thought we'd do something touristy. I'm a tourist," he pointed at his chest, "and I read something once about how people always miss out on seeing the tourist spots they live the closest to – something like that."
    Penny laughed. "When you're an artist, and you live in a place like this, full of culture, the performing arts, sculpture gardens, art museums, you take advantage. How about I show you my favorite places in town?"
    Her laughter sparked a flame in the pit of his stomach, a curling heat, coiling inside him, licking up his ribcage, waiting to be sprung. "Deal."He shoved their refuse into the trashcan, tied the bag shut and left it outside the door on their way out.
    She laced their fingers together and led him to her car, just down the block. The jolt of cold air on his bare fingers and face did nothing to squelch the flame burning him from the inside out.
    Penny started the car and pumped the gas a few times. "She doesn't much like starting in the winter. I like to give her a minute to warm up."
    "Mmmhmm."Drake twisted in his seat. "Is this ride going to be like the last one?"
    "Not quite as fast. There's too much traffic and we're staying in the city."She put Lisa in gear and eased into Sunday morning traffic. Drake watched closely as she maneuvered the manual clutch, in traffic – and on ice – it was a feat and her complete mastery of the machine was a turn on.
    "So, at what point is it okay for me to tell you that I know exactly what you are?"
    Drake's fingers, which had been drumming on his thigh, stilled. "What exactly do you mean by that?"His fingers made air quotes around the word exactly.
    "I'm a painter, Drake. I finished three paintings after I dropped you off. I haven't slept yet. I feel like an addict– I needed another hit."She slowed almost to a stop and swung a right into an enclosed parking garage, but not