Rogue (Sons of Sangue Book 4)

by Patricia A. Rasey

  She gave him a crooked smile. “Do I have to drink it from the bottle?”

  “No, smart ass. I suppose I could offer you a glass.” Alexander reached overhead and pulled down a wineglass. “You want to talk about it?”

  “Actually, I’d prefer to get good and drunk. I’d ask you to join me, but it’s not possible for you.”

  “It’s times like this I wish it were,” he mumbled beneath his breath.

  “What was that?”

  He rubbed his nape. “I was just agreeing with you.”

  India picked up the bottle and half-filled the glass. She brought the glass to her lips and took a small sip. If she was looking to get soused, she wasn’t going to get there anytime soon with her tiny ass little sips. Swirling the liquid in the glass, she watched the red wine as if it held the answers to whatever had upset her.

  He covered her hand laying on the bar with his, not being able to stop himself from touching her. Hell, he wanted to touch her all over. It had been far too long since he had last gotten laid. The brief touch sent a bolt of desire sizzling up his skin and had him pulling his hand back. By the look on her face, she felt it as well. She toyed with the stem of the glass, suddenly unable to look him in the eye.

  “Maybe I should go.”

  Maybe she should. “Something kept you from getting here on time, something that’s upset you. If you want to talk about it, talk while I’m still willing to listen.”

  Yeah, he was pretty sure he needed his fucking head examined.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “What the hell?” Fuck! Whatever he expected, it wasn’t that. “Then you definitely shouldn’t be drinking.”

  He took away the wineglass and sat it on the counter behind him. He grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and handed it to her. “What the hell were you thinking?”

  “Seriously, Xander? I don’t think I was thinking about babies when it happened.”

  “I meant the drinking.”

  Her beautiful brown gaze filled with tears again.

  “Who is he?”

  “No one.”

  Alexander leaned in, bracing his forearms on the bar and clasping his hands, when what he really felt like doing was wrapping his long fingers around the throat of baby daddy.

  “You don’t know?”

  “I didn’t say that.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

  “You know birth control usually prevents that.”

  Her jaw tightened, knowing he stepped over the line. He deserved the dressing down she’d no doubt give him. Something about knowing she carried another man’s baby rubbed his ass raw.

  “More like I should’ve been fucking a vampire, since vampires can’t impregnate humans. At least then I wouldn’t be in this predicament. And for your information,” she looked back at him, holding his gaze, “he used a condom. It broke.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  India’s shoulders drooped, her gaze fell to her lap. “He wants me to abort it.”

  “And what do you want?”

  His heart panged, not sure how he wanted her to answer. It was her body, her decision, no matter what he thought on the matter.

  More tears fell and she swatted them away. Uncapping the water, India took a long pull. Putting the cap back on the bottle, she glanced back him. “I want to keep the baby.”

  Alexander reached for her small hand and encompassed it within his larger ones. “You don’t need the sperm donor to help raise the child, India. You’re strong enough to do this on your own. I’m sure Suzi and Tamera would be there for you.”

  “And you?”

  He let go of her hand and stood, not sure what she was getting at. “What about me? You want me to beat his ass? Just say the word.”

  “That’s not what I meant, Xander.” Her pink tongue wet her lips. “How do you feel about me having a baby?”

  “Why should what I think matter?”

  India looked at the bottle in her hand, toying with the condensation gathering on the plastic. “Because you matter.”

  One of his brows rose. “Excuse me?”

  She looked back at him, sucking in an uneven breath. “Christ, you’ve always mattered, Xander. If you haven’t seen that, then you’re blind. What I want to know is if I’ve blown any chance with you?’

  “Whoa, India.” He jammed a hand through his hair, panic clawed up his spine. Hell. To. The. No. He didn’t want kids, let alone to raise someone else’s, no matter how much he desired the woman before him. “There wasn’t an us before you got knocked up.”

  “No, but I had hoped…”

  Thoughts of Grigore and his hand on her ass came back to mind.

  “Look, India, I’ll be here for you … as a friend. I’m not boyfriend material. I never have been. You want a shoulder to lean on, I’ll hold you up. You want someone to listen, I can be good at that. You want someone to be there when the baby is born, I’ll hold your hand through it. You want someone to whisper I love yous and hold you through the dark of the night, promising you his every tomorrow, I’m not that guy. You being pregnant with some other guy’s baby has nothing to do with that.”

  “I need a friend, Xander.”

  “Then as long as the fuck who got you pregnant doesn’t come around, I’ll take the job. He comes into the picture, I’ll beat his ass first, and then I’m gone. Understand?”

  India nodded, her dark brown eyes swimming in unshed tears. He was pretty sure he’d hand baby daddy his ass if he ever had the fortune of meeting him. The fuck did not deserve India.

  And Him? He needed his head examined. Sticking by her side through the pregnancy and not touching her? Yeah, he was pretty sure he was going to regret his offer of friendship and sticking his nose where it sure in the hell did not belong.

  Chapter 16

  Kimber awoke with a start. She gasped for air, sitting up, and clutching her bedsheets to her chest. Her room swam into focus. Sweat dotted her brow and beaded her upper lip. Terror held her in its grip as the dream faded. Her gaze swept the room. The curtains billowed from the cool night breeze. Moonlight spilled through, lending a bit of illumination to her otherwise darkened room.

  Aside from Diesel, who lay at the foot of her bed, she was completely alone. His head raised, cocking to one side. The dog emitted a soft growl, noting her unease, ready to pounce at first provocation.

  The dream had been so vivid and real like.

  A shiver passed down her spine.

  Kicking her feet free of the white cotton sheets, she scooted to the side of her queen-sized bed and placed her feet on the carpeted floor. She stood and padded to the opened window, reassuring herself the dream was not reality. Diesel watched her from his spot on the corner of the bed, his chin now braced on his front paws. Kimber had never been one to chase shadows or fear the unknown, but something about the dream continued to unsettle her. Diesel’s company was certainly welcome. If anyone were to enter her home, he’d alert her immediately.

  Kimber’s thoughts traveled back to Anton standing in her home a week ago. “I’d say that’s a serious security issue.” No way would an intruder get past Diesel. Although she was grateful for Anton gifting her the dog, before he entered her life there hadn’t been much need for security.

  What had she gotten herself into?

  A remnant from the nightmare teased her subconscious.

  White fangs standing out against blood-red lips.

  Vampire.

  Her vision of Anton with large, razor sharp fangs protruding from his gums and aimed at her neck seemed pretty damn real. His pupils enlarged, taking over his irises, swelling until nothing more was left of his eyes but the glassy black surface. Her reflection stared back at her from the endless black pools. Instead of terror, her gaze had been filled with raw hunger. Everything about Anton’s appearance had screamed late-night horror flick, and yet Kimber had been drawn to the monster in her dreams.

  Taking in a deep breath of th
e fresh air, she pushed aside the curtain and glanced down the road. The full moon lit a path clear to Anton’s farmhouse, where a single light glowed in his bedroom window. A quick glance at her side table alarm told her it was just after midnight. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of making the trek to his house. The burning light told her that he was most likely still awake.

  Butterflies danced in her stomach.

  Plan already forming in her head, she wouldn’t be able to sleep now if she tried. She hadn’t seen Anton since the quickie they had shared in the ladies’ room at Murphy’s. Not that it hadn’t been fantastic, but he had left so quickly following their brief tryst.

  Call it paranoia, but she had to know everything between them was still okay.

  That and maybe a quick a first-hand look at his teeth.

  Kimber opened the dresser and pulled out a pair of yoga pants and a pink sports bra. She’d sneak over, seek out Anton, and prove her dream was nothing more than fiction. Or maybe it was just a good excuse to see him. Either way, she was bound and determined to see him.

  Two days had passed since their little bathroom get together, and not a word. He had walked out and was gone from Murphy’s by the time she had left the restroom. She couldn’t very well ask Bobby where Anton had gone, so she was left with insecurities.

  After pulling on a pair of socks and stepping into her running shoes, Kimber quickly descended the stairs. She grabbed a light jacket by the door and headed onto the porch. The screen door slapped shut, with Diesel now standing at the screen watching.

  “Stay.” Kimber shoved her arms into the jacket and zipped the nylon halfway up her abdomen. “You keep an eye on the house and be a good boy.”

  Kimber pulled her hood over her mussed hair, then loped down the few steps and headed for the road. Jogging the short distance between houses, she was at his back door within a matter of minutes. The night was silent other than the heavy sound of her breathing. She almost lost her nerve, turned around and hightailed it home. If his roommate caught her, Anton would be more than pissed for her disobeying his wishes.

  She stepped back and looked up at his window. The light continued to glow. Her heart raced. Instead of knocking on the door, she opted to toss a stone at the pane of glass. The first stone missed the mark and bounced off the wood siding. Her second toss pinged against the window, sounding like a shot in the still of the night. Kimber stifled her giggle, waiting for Anton to peer out.

  Seconds ticked by.

  Maybe he wasn’t in his room after all.

  Bending down, she picked up a third stone and was about to toss it when a forearm snaked about her waist, stealing her breath. A large hand covered her mouth.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” The man’s warm breath fanned her ear.

  Panic seized her, keeping her from saying a word even if the big hand hadn’t been placed tightly over her lips. The arm, banding her waist, tightened. Her nostrils flared as she tried to suck in oxygen. Her pulse beat heavily in her ears. Her heart leaped to her throat. Blackness edged her vision.

  The back porch light blinked on and lit the area, just before Anton opened the door and stepped onto to porch. “Preacher, what the fuck?”

  “I caught this little missy sneaking around your home.”

  “It’s okay. I know her.” Anton swore. “Let her go.”

  Kimber sucked in air when Anton’s house guest released her. She had the notion to turn tail and run, not sticking around for the scolding no doubt forthcoming.

  “I came outside for a little fresh air. Beautiful night.” Bobby’s hand indicated Kimber. “Then this cute little thing comes snooping around, tossing stones at your window. I recognized her from Murphy’s a few nights ago. Can’t be too careful since we’re in Sons’ territory. It would be just like those sons of a bitches to send a chick to do their poking around.”

  Kimber gaped. “You seriously don’t mean I’d have anything to do with a barbaric motorcycle club?”

  Bobby ignored her. “You want me to send her on her way?”

  “No.” Anton’s tone dipped. Not to mention the pissed look on his face. “I’ll take her from here.”

  “She one of your pieces of ass?”

  “You, sir—”

  “Kimber.” Anton’s warning had her quickly shutting her lips. She should’ve ignored her desire to see him and just stayed home with Diesel. Time to pay the piper. “She’s my neighbor. I’ll see her home, Preacher. She may be a pain in the ass, but she’s no threat.”

  Bobby nodded, saying something sounding close to, “all yours,” before entering the back of the house and closing the screen door behind him.

  Anton crossed his arms over his perfectly sculptured chest. Damn, he had a drool worthy body. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, her sudden favorite look for him, with a pair of nylon basketball shorts hanging low on his hips. Those muscles at his sides, love handles or whatever they were, definitely turned up the heat. She wouldn’t have minded pushing him through the house and up the stairs to his bedroom. Damn his housemate anyway.

  “Stop looking at me that way, tesoro.”

  Her gaze snapped up, feigning innocence. “What way?”

  “Seriously? We’re going down this road again?”

  She tried her best to hide the smile itching at her lips. “Well…”

  Anton shook his head, stepped off the porch, and gripped her right arm. He spun her around and headed in the direction of her house. “What are you doing here?” he hissed.

  “I wanted to see you.”

  “We talked about this.” His grip on her arm wasn’t meant to cause pain, but it definitely spoke of Anton’s temperament. “If Preacher didn’t know about you before, he does now. What the hell were you thinking?”

  Kimber jerked her arm from his grip. “Your bedroom light was the only one on. I thought Preacher had gone to bed. Forgive me for wanting to see you, you jerk.”

  “So you just invited yourself over.” It wasn’t a question but an accusation. “Have you not been listening to me?”

  Her reasoning for making the jaunt now forgotten, her rising ire was starting to take over. “Just go home, Rogue. I can find my own way back.”

  “You aren’t getting off that easily, tesoro. I want an answer to my question.”

  Kimber kept walking, shoulders back, not wanting to give him an answer. Regardless that she had disobeyed his wishes, he didn’t need to be a dick about it.

  “Kimber?”

  She stopped in the middle of the road and spun on her heel. “What?” she damn near yelled.

  Anton closed the gap between them and glared down on her. “Why were you at the house?”

  “I think we already established that. I wanted to see you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because … oh, hell. Never mind.” Kimber turned and began jogging the short distance, hoping he’d take the hint that it was meant to be and let her go. She had embarrassed herself enough for one night.

  She hadn’t gotten very far before Anton caught her. In fact, he had moved incredibly fast. His forearm wrapped her waist and snatched her up, leaving her legs dangling. “Answer me, tesoro.”

  “I wanted to see for myself you didn’t have fangs.”

  Every muscle in Anton stilled. Not denying her accusations, nor making fun of her ridiculous notion. His arm slackened and her feet hit the ground. She stepped away, turned and looked up at him. His expression was unreadable. He probably thought her ready for a straightjacket.

  His gaze narrowed. No smile, no humor at her asinine assumption. “Why in the hell would you think that?”

  “I had a dream.”

  “A dream?”

  She chuckled, knowing how foolish she must sound. Too late. She couldn’t take it back. She pushed up his upper lip. No fangs there.

  “Happy?”

  “It was more like a nightmare. You had these long, white fangs. You dragged them down my throat. I could feel the points. They felt so real. You … you
were about to bite me. And your eyes … they were glassy like big black marbles. Your face, I don’t know, was different too.”

  “And this scared you?”

  “Scared the hell out of me once I woke up and thought about it.”

  He looked at her queerly. “I’m not sure what you mean. Once you woke up?”

  “In the dream…” Her face heated, not sure how much she wanted to confess. “I guess I was a little aroused, even if you did look like a monster. And the idea of you biting me was sort of a turn-on. Like I actually wanted you to.”

  “But then you woke up?”

  She nodded, worrying her lower lip.

  “And now?”

  “I see how silly I was being.” Kimber looked to the pink and blue jogging shoes she wore. “I suppose I was using the dream as a reason to see you.”

  He tipped her chin up with the pad of his thumb. “To disobey my order.”

  The word order rankled her as if she would just do as he told her to do. “I’m not yours to order around, Anton.”

  “No. But it’s the deal we made. I cannot protect you from my brothers, if you won’t listen to me.”

  “If you weren’t running around with a bunch of miscreants, I wouldn’t need protecting.”

  The sound of a ringing phone stopped Anton’s retort. He reached into his pocket, looked at the screen, then slid the lock and put it to his ear. “Hello?”

  Kimber couldn’t help wondering who would call him in the middle of the night. Better yet, why he’d answer in the middle of their disagreement. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but she could definitely tell the voice was female.

  “Now?” Anton rubbed his nape. “I know I was supposed to be there. It couldn’t be helped,” he told the caller. “Where the hell is Viper?”

  By the tone in the woman’s voice, Kimber sensed the woman wasn’t too happy with Anton, whoever she was.

  “It’s going straight to voice mail?” He took a deep breath and blew it out between pursed lips. “Fine.”

  The person on the other end sounded much like she was reading him the riot act.