Read Online Don't Blackmail the Vampire by Tiffany Allee - Free Book Online Page A

asked, voice low, as if he didn’t want to disturb the relative silence around them.
    “I need to put a bell on you or something.”
    “I didn’t mean to push.”
    “Yes, you did.”
    “Okay, I did. But I didn’t realize it would upset you like this.” A frown creased his face, and worried lines surrounded his eyes.
    “I’m not upset.”
    “You’re stubborn as hell, you know that? I think you’d argue with me if I said it was cold out here.” Counter to his tone, he grinned. “You don’t have to confide in me, but I did need to know some of it—at least a bit—if I’m going to have any hope of helping you with your sister.”
    Cold air filled her lungs, and she let it out in a poof of steam. “Yeah. I guess so.”
    “You don’t sound terribly hopeful.”
    “At this point…I’m not sure anything will work.”
    He stepped closer, edging into her personal space, but she didn’t step back. “You’ve tried to break them up before.”
    “Nothing like this. I just…nudged.” Repeatedly.
    “Getting your sister free of him is important to you.”
    His scent seemed to fit the mountain. Woodsy and natural, yet somehow smoother than the real nature surrounding them. She wanted to lean in just to inhale more of his smell, breathe him into her lungs. Just barely, she resisted. “Yes.”
    “Then I’ll help you.”
    A thank-you was on her tongue, but she bit it back. He’d already agreed to help her, right? But somehow, this promise felt more real. Solid.
    “Good,” she murmured, staring at his chest.
    His finger slid under her chin, and he tilted her face up.
    Icy blue eyes met hers, and her skin tingled where he touched her. It didn’t seem like she should be able to see the color so clearly under a single, half-snow-covered lamppost, but she was able to, just barely. A woman could drown in eyes like that. Especially a woman who wasn’t used to swimming.
    A tiny part of her mind told her to look away. That danger lay ahead. But she couldn’t seem to drag her gaze from his. Was unable to summon her normal defenses.
    His hand slid up to cup her cheek, and he leaned closer. His mouth only a breath away from hers, he murmured, “I swear to it.”
    Then his lips touched hers, so softly. A sizzle of recognition arced through her body, and a need coiled inside of her. Then just as quickly, he stepped back. She could have almost convinced herself she’d imagined the press of his lips against hers, if not for the slow, clear wink he gave her.
    She touched her lips, unable to form a thought, let alone speak one aloud.
    With vampire speed, he was gone.

Chapter Four
    Rachel woke up feeling determined. Determined to get her sister alone. Determined to convince her sister on her own that Brent wasn’t good enough for her. Determined, above all,to avoid a certain vampire however much she could manage.
    He’d kissed her. Kissed her. What the heck had that been about? Okay, sure, it wasn’t exactly a passionate embrace. It had been a peck. A small touch of the lips. Not much more than the kind of kiss a person might give a relative. Like maybe something someone from a more huggy-feely country or family might do to say hello.
    But it had felt like more. Like a connection between them.
    No. That was all in her head, and she wouldn’t allow herself to be drugged by her emotions. She wasn’t her sister. She wasn’t her mother. She was strong.
    Kristen had decided they’d all go ice-skating today after Rachel convinced her that her ankle was fine, but the rink didn’t open until ten o’clock. Two hours left before they’d have to head out. It was still early, so Brent would be in bed since they weren’t skiing—one of the only things that seemed to get the man up early. But Rachel knew exactly where she could find her sister, and it wasn’t sleeping in.
    The lodge gym was empty save one attractive brunette running on a treadmill. The morning news jabbered quietly in the background from a television hanging