Read Online Dahlia (Blood Crave Series) by Christina Channelle - Free Book Online Page B

that path.” She motioned back toward the house with her hand.
    He looked older to be at a high school party, maybe nineteen or twenty. She glanced away from his stare, unable to look into his eyes again. She knew she wouldn’t be able to articulate proper sentences in his presence if she did, his attention on her making her feel rather self-conscious and out of breath.
    It was definitely different from the way Sam looked at her.
    Instead, she decided to focus her gaze directly in front of her. This happened to land on his chest—his rather exceptionally large chest. She gulped, slowly murmuring, “You can’t miss it.”
    He smirked at her comment, white teeth gleaming in the night. “What makes you think I’m here for the party, Dahlia?”
    She froze, her face instantly paling at the sound of her name on his lips. She knew that throughout their brief conversation she had never once uttered her name—not once. As she stared over at him in alarm, she felt the quiver in the pit of her stomach grow and knew she was in trouble.
    Deep trouble.

Chapter 7
    Dahlia turned to run to the house but her body suddenly jerked back by the large figure blocking her path. How he got behind her, she didn’t know, but he instantly enveloped her in his strong arms.
    “Now, darling. Where do you think you’re going?” His breath tickled her throat as he bent his head closer to her, causing Dahlia to shiver involuntarily in response.
    She squeezed her eyes tight and took a quick inhalation of breath, shaking her head. She was angry with herself for wanting to be in his arms instead of trying to break free, like any sane person would. Squirming, she tried getting out from his grasp but his hold on her shoulders was unrelenting.
    Dahlia realized she was going nowhere fast so she stopped struggling. Still refusing to look him in the eyes, she pleaded. “Please, I have no money or anything. Don’t hurt me.”
    Even in the dark night, she could see his grin out of the corner of her eyes. That look terrified her even more as he answered calmly, “Why would I want to hurt you, Dahlia?”
    Slightly angry that this guy, this person , was getting under her skin by the way he said her name and by the way he looked at her as if he knew her, she forgot to be scared for a moment. She glanced at him directly as she retorted without thinking, “Stop saying my name like you know me, and tell me what it is you want so you’ll leave me the hell alone.”
    He looked taken aback, blinking rapidly a few times. Then giving an equally direct stare, he grinned again. “I like you. I knew you’d be a fighter, baby doll. There’s something feisty underneath all that ‘poor me’ attitude. Isn’t there?”
    Suddenly letting Dahlia go, her former capturer took a step back then leaned himself against a massive rock that was off in the corner. Folding hands together, he sighed then stared up into the sky as if looking for answers. Dahlia scowled at the endearing term he just called her then wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling chilly again. She rubbed her skin as she tried to bring warmth back to her body, goose bumps beginning to form. Damn it, but it was like her body missed the warmth he emitted from being so close to her.
    And who did he think he was, calling her baby doll?
    For a few minutes there was complete silence, the only thing heard was Dahlia’s deep breaths as she evaluated her next move. If I ran with everything I have, I just might make it back to the house.
    “I don’t think so.”
    Looking back at him, she saw that he still stared up into the sky, as if meditating, and hadn’t just spoken aloud. He looked almost like a sculpture made out of stone.
    “I’m not going to hurt you.”
    He finally turned to her, again stunning her with those beautiful green eyes of his. “All I have for you today is a message. And then you can go back to your little party that I see you’ve been enjoying so much.”
    Dahlia glared back at