The Vampire's Second Chance novel Chapter 17

Sebastian

Her scent.

It was intoxicating.

My fangs dripped venom as I watched her from afar. The small amount of lurking I did throughout the morning was relatively easy. She stayed in the coffee shop the entire time, and made a friend who was a werewolf. It seemed she was drawing enough supernatural attention to her, and it wasn't bothering her in the slightest.

I had talked myself up to enter the shop, even daring to buy a cup of coffee from the wolf. Her eyes didn't even flutter in recognition as I dropped the change into the tip jar. "Enjoy!" she chirped. She reminded me much of Suron. They would either be the best of friends or the worst enemies with their cheerfulness.

As I walked over, the arousal around her table had me stiffen. She was drawing intently on her tablet screen. Suron was kind enough to give me a run down last night on the latest technology.

Her small tongue separated her lips, ever so slightly. Her messy hair bun left small tendrils of curl around her face. She wore a tight red cotton shirt with black leather leggings. Again, my fangs dripped with anticipation.

She looked absolutely stunning.

And she was mine.

Now, what the hell was she looking at? Vampires in the corner snickered. They could smell her arousal, and she had no damn idea. I glared in their direction. They stilled. Being much younger than me caused them to bow their heads and avert their eyes. Being much older, stronger, and more experienced would give them the disadvantage if I fought for my beloved's honor. At least some of these earth vampires understood what a vampire hierarchy was.

The oldest overpowered the youngest unless they were of royal bloodline.

I continued to glare. They slowly got the hint and threw their computers in their bags. As they scattered out the door, I lifted my lip to show a fang. Clearing my throat opened the collar wider on my dress shirt. It was getting obscenely warm in here. Since my heart started beating and being brutally aware of Christine's strong scent could do that.

Could she not feel the heat?

"Christine?" I smiled, coming closer, but she still didn't look up. I growled in frustration. She couldn't feel the bond at all. She must have just miraculously decided to look at the door last night. Again, getting my hopes up over this, 'onion' of a woman. Letting out another ragged breath, I said her name louder. "Christine?"

And that was when she dropped the tablet. It flicked off so quickly I didn't get a great look, but it was obviously a picture of a man.

Fuck.

Luckily our conversation flowed after that. Christine shifted in her seat, the air conditioning blowing her arousal closer to me. Each breath caused my cock to push against my pants. She was fucking breathtaking, more than I could have ever imagined.

Her arousal never wavered, but the thoughts of that picture she had created on the tablet still continued to invade my mind. Who the hell was it, and how can I kill him?

Because I would not be left alone again. I would protect her with more ferocity than before.

Christine's statements about how I was older than her step-dad were funny to her. She shifted in her seat again, sipping on the tenth cup of coffee of the day. I averted my eyes to think what could possibly be so funny about that. The combined arousal and the hint of secrecy behind her blue orbs had me biting my lip, and chuckling.

Could it possibly be she was attracted to me? Crushing on a vampire older than that of her mothers? That she was having lewd thoughts about... me? Fuck, I hope so it would make my life so much easier.

But that picture on the tablet.

"So are you into drawing?" I glanced at her tablet and pen that now sit on the side of the table. Her eyes widened, flushing with red until she answered.

"Yeah, I went to school for art and design. I've always loved drawing," she smiled thinking of a memory. "I won many competitions in high school with it, then decided to continue in college. Not many people want to hire an artist, dad didn't want to pay for it, but he also didn't want me to rat out on him and tell people he refused to pay for it," Christine's voice softened.

"Sounds like your dad cared about image and not who you are," I gripped my coffee.

"Yeah, he was a jerk. I'm glad mom found someone that is so smitten with her. Still a little wary on the whole 'you are my soulmate' thing, but what can you do?" She smiled.

"Yeah, what can you do?" I shrugged my shoulders, not wanting to elaborate on mates. Rowan had told me enough about her distaste for the whole mate idea with her mother. I could use that to my advantage and reel her in another way.

"So you don't believe in bonds either?" Her eyes twinkled with curiosity.