Read Online Blood Doll by Siobhan Kinkade - Free Book Online

through.” His voice was low, nearly lost in a growl. Lana looked up at him, defiant, and stuck her tongue out at him again. His growl grew louder, and he bent, sucking her tongue into his mouth. Her eyes fell closed as he kissed her. When his hand closed around her throat, she shoved backward, knocking him into the dirty slush on the sidewalk, and landed on top of him. She bent close to his ear, tracing its cuff with her tongue before whispering into it.
    “That goes both way, princess.”
    Chuckling, Christian lifted her and settled her on his feet, then pulled himself out of the muddy ice. “As much fun as this is, it isn’t the least bit productive. Now, are you going to listen to what I have to say, or are you going to make me drag you back to the house and make you behave?”
    “You can make me behave later,” she said, straightening her dress. “What was this thought of yours?”
    “Tomorrow is Halloween. The club always has a big masquerade ball.”
    “So we get to dress up?”
    “Yes, but it won’t be for fun.”
    “Are you kidding?” Lana squealed. She hadn’t been this excited about something silly in a long time. Perhaps it was her new confidence… or maybe just madness settling in. “Dressing up is always for fun!”
    “Maybe so,” Christian replied, taking her arm and turning her toward the end of town, “but you can’t let the costume get in the way of your mission. Let’s just hope the shop has something worthwhile.”
    Lana sighed as they started to run. She knew that. She knew Sarah’s life hung in the balance, but she hadn’t had a real Halloween costume in years. Of course, looking for something the night before Halloween was probably going to be a lesson in patience and frustration. Most places she knew of would have been completely picked through a week ago.
    Luckily, the place Christian took her seemed to have a decent stock… of animal costumes, she realized as she wandered through the messy rows. There were plenty of palates of vampire makeup—a sight that made her break down into a fit of giggles in the aisle—and black capes. The few decent costumes she saw were all for either a size two, or a plus-sized girl.
    “Sometimes being of average size really sucks,” she muttered as Christian came around the corner of the next aisle. His arms were full, and he dropped the pile at her feet so they could sort through.
    “We’re a little late. The good stuff is gone,” he said, and picked out three packages. Lana eyed them suspiciously until she realized that they were all men’s sizes.
    “A vampire? Really?” she asked with a smirk. “Why don’t you just go as yourself?”
    He sighed at her. “What other vampire would think to dress up as a vampire?”
    Lana shook her head and began to dig through the mess of things he’d pulled. There was a hippie costume, which she immediately threw over her shoulder. No way in hell. She found a penguin costume, which earned Christian a very hard glare.
    “You have to be kidding,” she said with a grunt, and threw the furry mess back at him. Christian laughed, and reached into the pile to pull something from the bottom. For a moment Lana wasn’t sure what it was, then she turned the hanger around in his hand and looked at the label. “This could work.”
    “I thought you might like it,” he replied, and pulled the snaps on the plastic bag open. A dress fell out—a red and black plaid number with a wide, frilled skirt and a corset-style bodice. It was cheaply made, but would serve its purpose. And it was more or less the right size.
    While she inspected the dress, Christian continued to dig in the pile, returning with a pair of red lace stockings and matching gloves. He also pulled out a black parasol. “All we need is a mask to hide your face, and you’ll be perfect.”
    Lana eyed him suspiciously. “This doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that you want to see me dressed up like a doll, does it?” If he’d been