Amaury's Hellion
Page 81
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He ran his hands through his hair.
Had she really tried to offer him her blood?
It was what he’d fantasized about for the last few days, ever since he’d licked her blood off her wounds. It had haunted him, the knowledge that he was lusting not just after her body, but also after her blood. He wanted Nina, all of her.
As he ran down one flight of stairs, he stumbled over a package in front of Mrs. Reid’s door. He instantly stopped in his tracks. The old lady was still gone—all, because of him.
As crazed as he felt right now—thirsty from the lack of blood—his brain kicked in, and fear spread in his chest. What if he hurt Nina like he’d hurt the Mrs. Reid? What if he couldn’t control himself? The way he wanted Nina right now, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to stop drinking from her.
He remembered the sweet taste of her blood on his tongue, the intoxicating scent, the smooth texture when it had coated his throat. His cock went rigid at the mere thought of tasting her again, drinking from her, more this time, much more. His hands balled into fists as he fought back the urge to run after her and dig his fangs into her.
His desire collided with the guilt pulsing through him. He had to set something right first, had to assure himself that Mrs. Reid was going to live. The burden of another death at his hands would be too much to carry, and he couldn’t go back to Nina, knowing his conscience wasn’t clear. She’d forgiven him for one murder—he didn’t believe even she would have it in her heart to forgive him for another.
If he could save Mrs. Reid, only then did he deserve another chance. If not, he wasn’t good enough for her, not good enough to take what Nina offered him.
***
An hour later he’d found out where the old lady had been taken and had snuck into her hospital room.
Mrs. Reid looked fragile, lying there surrounded by tubes and machines. Amaury took a seat next to her bed and just looked at her. Her skin was pale, and there were lots of bruises. Had she fallen, because he’d weakened her too much?
His gut twisted in disgust at himself. He was a despicable creature, feeding from the weak and vulnerable, a monster. Amaury let his head fall into his hands, not knowing how to go on.
A sound at the door made him jerk.
“You can’t be in here. Visiting hours are long over,” the young nurse said. She stood at the door, hands at her waist and a scolding look on her face.
“I’m sorry. I just only got into town.”
“And you are?” He sensed the suspicion she treated him with.
“Her grandson,” he lied, knowing that if he didn’t claim he was family, she’d get security to throw him out instantly. “I’m sorry. I was so worried about her and didn’t want to wait till tomorrow.”
Her look softened, and she gave him a pitiful smile. “Have you talked to the police yet?”
Amaury stiffened. “The police?”
She nodded and stepped further into the room. If she was going to drag him to the police, he’d have to use mind control and wipe her memory. “Yes, I think they have a lead on the guy who did this.”
He swallowed hard. They were onto him? How? He’d wiped Mrs. Reid’s memory. There’d been nobody in the stairways when he’d entered her apartment to feed from her. Amaury stood, ready to do whatever he needed to do. His body hardened as he prepared to use his powers.
“You mean, they haven’t told you yet? It’s really awful what he did to her. Nice lady like her, and that thug just robs her and beats her up when she’s on her way to cash her social security check. I don’t know what the world is coming to.”
“She got robbed?” He cast another glance back at Mrs. Reid. Her arms sported black and blue bruises.
“You mean nobody told you?” The nurse tossed him an incredulous look. “She was attacked right outside her building.”
Amaury shook his head. “Nobody told me. I just came out here as soon as I heard she was in the hospital.” He hadn’t caused this? This wasn’t his fault? He felt a boulder the size of Mount Rushmore lift from his shoulders.
“Will she be alright?”
“She’ll pull through. She just needs some rest. You should go home now. Come back tomorrow during visiting hours.”
He nodded. “Just a few more minutes?”
“I didn’t see you.”
He smiled at her as she left the room and closed the door behind her.
Amaury approached the sleeping Mrs. Reid and stroked his hand over her cheek. He hadn’t hurt her after all. It was terrible what had happened to her, but at least he was free of guilt. He could feel her pain, and he knew he could help her.
Had she really tried to offer him her blood?
It was what he’d fantasized about for the last few days, ever since he’d licked her blood off her wounds. It had haunted him, the knowledge that he was lusting not just after her body, but also after her blood. He wanted Nina, all of her.
As he ran down one flight of stairs, he stumbled over a package in front of Mrs. Reid’s door. He instantly stopped in his tracks. The old lady was still gone—all, because of him.
As crazed as he felt right now—thirsty from the lack of blood—his brain kicked in, and fear spread in his chest. What if he hurt Nina like he’d hurt the Mrs. Reid? What if he couldn’t control himself? The way he wanted Nina right now, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to stop drinking from her.
He remembered the sweet taste of her blood on his tongue, the intoxicating scent, the smooth texture when it had coated his throat. His cock went rigid at the mere thought of tasting her again, drinking from her, more this time, much more. His hands balled into fists as he fought back the urge to run after her and dig his fangs into her.
His desire collided with the guilt pulsing through him. He had to set something right first, had to assure himself that Mrs. Reid was going to live. The burden of another death at his hands would be too much to carry, and he couldn’t go back to Nina, knowing his conscience wasn’t clear. She’d forgiven him for one murder—he didn’t believe even she would have it in her heart to forgive him for another.
If he could save Mrs. Reid, only then did he deserve another chance. If not, he wasn’t good enough for her, not good enough to take what Nina offered him.
***
An hour later he’d found out where the old lady had been taken and had snuck into her hospital room.
Mrs. Reid looked fragile, lying there surrounded by tubes and machines. Amaury took a seat next to her bed and just looked at her. Her skin was pale, and there were lots of bruises. Had she fallen, because he’d weakened her too much?
His gut twisted in disgust at himself. He was a despicable creature, feeding from the weak and vulnerable, a monster. Amaury let his head fall into his hands, not knowing how to go on.
A sound at the door made him jerk.
“You can’t be in here. Visiting hours are long over,” the young nurse said. She stood at the door, hands at her waist and a scolding look on her face.
“I’m sorry. I just only got into town.”
“And you are?” He sensed the suspicion she treated him with.
“Her grandson,” he lied, knowing that if he didn’t claim he was family, she’d get security to throw him out instantly. “I’m sorry. I was so worried about her and didn’t want to wait till tomorrow.”
Her look softened, and she gave him a pitiful smile. “Have you talked to the police yet?”
Amaury stiffened. “The police?”
She nodded and stepped further into the room. If she was going to drag him to the police, he’d have to use mind control and wipe her memory. “Yes, I think they have a lead on the guy who did this.”
He swallowed hard. They were onto him? How? He’d wiped Mrs. Reid’s memory. There’d been nobody in the stairways when he’d entered her apartment to feed from her. Amaury stood, ready to do whatever he needed to do. His body hardened as he prepared to use his powers.
“You mean, they haven’t told you yet? It’s really awful what he did to her. Nice lady like her, and that thug just robs her and beats her up when she’s on her way to cash her social security check. I don’t know what the world is coming to.”
“She got robbed?” He cast another glance back at Mrs. Reid. Her arms sported black and blue bruises.
“You mean nobody told you?” The nurse tossed him an incredulous look. “She was attacked right outside her building.”
Amaury shook his head. “Nobody told me. I just came out here as soon as I heard she was in the hospital.” He hadn’t caused this? This wasn’t his fault? He felt a boulder the size of Mount Rushmore lift from his shoulders.
“Will she be alright?”
“She’ll pull through. She just needs some rest. You should go home now. Come back tomorrow during visiting hours.”
He nodded. “Just a few more minutes?”
“I didn’t see you.”
He smiled at her as she left the room and closed the door behind her.
Amaury approached the sleeping Mrs. Reid and stroked his hand over her cheek. He hadn’t hurt her after all. It was terrible what had happened to her, but at least he was free of guilt. He could feel her pain, and he knew he could help her.
