Blood Bath, A Paranormal/Urban Fantasy (The Maurin Kincaide Series Book 4) Read Free Page B

you didn't try to bust me out." I leaned back, putting a little distance between my neck and him. Aidan had never asked to feed from me but his agitation was bubbling beneath the surface and I didn't want my jugular to get caught up in it. He's tasted my blood twice. Never as a meal. I didn't want his obvious hunger and emotional state to make this a first.
    "As was I, when I learned you confessed to killing Olwyn in order to protect the alpha." The last word came out in almost a growl.
    His relentless insecurities over my friendship with Cash were pissing me off, so I fired back. "I simply told the truth. Something that might serve you well in this relationship instead of the half truths and secrets between us lately." 
    He bristled at my accusation. "I see you've already r esorted to hitting below the belt?"
    I gla red at him.
    “I suppose now you’ll stomp your foot and pout those beautiful lips.” He ran his thumb along my bottom lip for emphasis.
    I swatted his hand away. “I don’t pout.”
    “You do and as much as it pains me to admit it, I find it irresistible.”
    “Knock it off, Aidan. I know you know something.”
    “I know a great many things. You have yet to tell me what the detective questioned you about. What makes you so sure I know anything about his case or that this is even a council affair?” His hand found its way to my lower back, stopping me from inching away.
    “How about that response for starters? Aidan, we are well past the part where the council tries to keep this a secret. SPTF is asking me about rogues."
    "A rogue wolf is a good place to start any investigation given the new regime."
    "He wasn't referring to just wolves. What's going on, Aidan?"
    He let me go abruptly, preparing himself for the arg ument he knew was coming and I stumbled back a step. "You know there are things I can't tell you."
    "Can't or won't?" Another low blow. Aidan had been nothing but truthful with me - as much as his position allowed anyway. After the coven betrayed me, he knew I would accept nothing less than honesty, a condition testing the bounds of his obligation to the council during more than one of our all night conversations.
    He actually looked pained by the question. "I have never lied to you. Especially not when I told you there would be things I couldn't talk about."
    "Things like dead girls in bathtubs?"
    "Get in the car , Maurin." He was trying to keep the anger from showing on his face and was failing miserably. His eyes and thickening Irish accent always gave him away.
    Look ed like I over played my hand, pushed him too hard too soon. I should have built up to what Masarelli’s investigation was really about. Instead I blurted it out, needing to know everything, to be a part of every council disaster take over. I was never getting him to tell me anything this way. I needed to figure out a way to salvage the conversation and our night together.
    "Would you get in the god forsaken car?" he snarled, mistaking my lack of movement as a dismissal. "Why are you so hell bent on ruining our night together? Quite possibly the last night we'll have before the Council sends me away again."
    N ews he would be leaving again so soon was a sure fire way to stop me asking about dead girls in bathtubs. At least for a little while. I'm surprised he didn't say checkmate. "I wonder what's causing the sudden up tic in vampires behaving badly. You've barely been home a week. How long are you going to be gone this time?"
    He didn't say anything. The muscles in his jaw, another of his tells, twitch ed. Something was wrong, something more than chasing down another vampire in the throes of a blood lust.
    "How long , Aidan?"
    "Indefinitely." He practically choked on the word.
    I felt sucker punched in the gut. Sure he was over protective and jealous and stubborn but I had those same endearing character traits as well. In reality we hadn't been a couple very long and time alone had been scarce but that didn't stop him from