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  I streaked them under his t-shirt and rubbed them over the hard plane of his bare chest. I'd wanted to do that ever since I'd seen him in the shower. He was as hard but smooth as I thought he'd be, like silk wrapped stone.

  He pulled away and murmured cautiously, "Salem."

  "Don't stop kissing me." I nipped at his bottom lip with my teeth.

  "Believe me, I don't want to," he murmured against my lips.

  "Then don't."

  He feathered his fingertips over my cheeks and chin. As if he was afraid to really touch me. As if I might break if he pressed too hard, too fast.

  "I don't want to hurt you."

  "You won't. I won't break, Trevor. I'm not like other girls, remember?"

  He stared me in the eyes then smiled. "No, you're certainly not."

  "Then kiss me. Feed off me. I can make you stronger than those dicks in Malice."

  He chuckled a little, then he did as I asked. He kissed me. And it was hard and hot and wet. And I thought I would die from it.

  My heart thudded so fast so hard I thought it would break my ribs. My whole body vibrated with want, with need. Trevor could've sucked me dry and I would've let him. It felt that damn good.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and dug my fingers into his shoulders. Everything was light and dark and hot and cold. I'd never experienced such a confliction of sensations in my life. It was a rush, like I was high on endorphins. And I probably was.

  But then it was over and I was leaning against the wall. When I opened my eyes, I saw Trevor, shirtless, on his knees in front of me trying to breathe. Sweat slicked all of his skin.

  I pushed my hair out of my face. "What...what happened?"

  "You." He coughed into his hand. I saw the thick tarry substance in his palm.

  "What does that mean?"

  "You nearly sucked out my soul."

  My heart leapt into my throat. I collapsed to my knees next to him and tried to hug him. "I'm sorry."

  Still hacking, he patted my back. "I know. You couldn't help it. It's my fault anyway. I shouldn't have let it go so far."

  "But we only kissed."

  He made a face. "Ah, you don't..."

  I followed his gaze and looked down. My t-shirt was gone. I was just in my black cotton bra. Frantically, I looked around and spied my shirt across the room.

  I leapt to my feet and sprinted across the room. After snatching my shirt from the lamp where it had landed, I pulled it on, my cheeks blazing with embarrassment. I didn't even remember taking it off.

  I rubbed at my arms. My skin tingled. In fact, every part of my body tingled. As if it all had been asleep and now was just waking up for the first time. I didn't want to like the sensation because of what I'd done to get it. But I couldn't help it. I was invigorated. Fresh. New.

  Trevor pushed to his feet, rubbing a hand over his sweaty face.

  "I'm sorry," I said again. Although I kind of didn't mean it. It felt too damn good to be sorry for it.

  "It's okay, Salem. I should've stopped it before it even started."

  I licked my lips still tasting him on them. "Please, don't tell me we can't ever do that again."

  He shuffled over to the sofa and collapsed on it. "We both have to learn control."

  I went to the fridge, opened it and grabbed a bottle of water. I handed it to him. "How?"

  He chugged half the bottle, then answered, "Carefully."

  "Well how come this didn't happen when you kissed me at the club?"

  He shrugged. "I don't know. Different circumstances maybe."

  I watched him finish the water and set the empty on the table. He looked tired, drawn, worn out. I'd done that. I'd taken his life energy from him. It now coursed through my veins, feeding my muscles.

  "I'm every sorrier to say this, but I feel flipping amazing."

  He gave me a look. "Nice."

  I laughed. "I can't help it. I feel like I could run a marathon without any effort. Is it because you're a cambion as well? You must have different energy. I didn't feel this good even after Josh."

  "I guess. I don't know."

  I splayed my arms out to the side and twirled around. "You have to try this. It's amazing." I was almost giddy with the power of it.

  "Well maybe next time I'll be the sucker and you be the suckee." He gave me a half smile.

  I returned his smile, happy that he said there would be a next time. I thrilled at the possibility of kissing him again. Touching him even. But I just didn't have the heart to tell him that I really had no intention of being the suckee. There was no way I'd be that girl again.

  "Let's use all that extra energy of yours and do Thane's laundry. The faster we do it, the quicker we can find a way to finish him."

  I nodded and picked up the black duffel bag and wondered how bad it would be if I did cartwheels all the way there.

  Chapter 24

  "Hey look what I can do."

  Trevor raised his head from loading the dryer and watched me as I pressed into a handstand on top of the washing machine.

  I smiled at him from upside down. He shook his head then glanced around at the other people in the laundry mat, who were now staring at us.

  "Maybe we shouldn't do handstands on the washers, Salem. Ever heard of keeping a low profile?"

  I stuck out my tongue at him. "You're no fun."

  I spread my legs into a split then twirling on one hand I did an awesome dismount. Raising my hands in the air, I mimicked a crowd going wild.

  "A perfect ten for Salem Vale."

  Trevor shook his head again, but I spied the little twitch at his top lip. "Grab the clothes from the washer and put them in the dryer." He pointed to the dryer beside him, the one with the open door.

  "Fine." I lifted the lid on the washer and gathered the wet clothes inside. I carried them to the dryer and shoved them in. A sock and pair of shorts landed on the dirty cement floor. I picked them up, lint, dirt and all, and shoved them back in, slamming the lid shut. Trevor gave me the coins to feed it then I pushed the on button.

  It was all so tedious. It was driving me nuts.

  "We have forty-five minutes to kill. What do you want to do?"

  He slid into a plastic chair. "I have to have a nap."

  "You're no fun, old man."

  "Hey, I'm the one that got the life sucked out of him, remember?"

  "I know and I said I was sorry like a billizion times." I sat beside him, leaning into his ear. "I could try and give it back to you." I nuzzled into his neck.

  He held me back a little, but it wasn't meant to be mean. I could hear the thumping of his heart and the rush of his breath. He was definitely thinking about it.

  "Not that it isn't tempting, it's not the right time or place."

  "Okay." I jumped to my feet. "I'm going to go get some food. Do you want anything?"

  "Meatball sub? There's a sub shop just down the block." He fished in his pocket for some money and gave it to me.

  At the sub shop I ordered Trevor a meatball and for myself I got a foot long turkey on rye with all the trimmings. Being a cambion was hungry business. I dumped the change in my pocket along with the rest of the quarters Trevor had given me for the dryer. As I fingered the coins, I spotted another one of those old school phone booths across the street.

  Tucking the subs under my arm, I dashed across the road and went into the booth. I plugged in a bunch of coins and dialed. It rang four times before it was answered.

  "Hello?"

  I swallowed against the rising tears building from hearing my mother's voice.

  "Hello?" She said again, and I could tell she was fighting back tears of her own. "Salem?"

  My intake of breath must have been loud because she continued on in a rush as if knowing I wouldn't be on the phone for long.

  "Don't hang up. You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know that I love you baby. And it doesn't matter what you've done I will always be here for you. Just come home baby. Whatever it is we can work it out
together. I love you so much."

  Without a word, I hung up. "I love you too, Mom."

  Most of the coins tumbled into the return canister. I fished them out and plugged it back in, dialing a different number.

  "Hello?"

  "Hey, Chloe."

  "Salem. I didn't think I was going to hear your voice again."

  "I miss you." The tears were gushing now. I couldn't keep them in.

  "You can come home, Sale. Everything's okay now. Josh is awake. He's talked to the cops. He told them he tried to rape you. They just want to talk to you is all, to get your half of the story. I don't think they'd even charge you with anything. Everyone just wants you to come home."

  The sobs were coming fast and furious now. I could barely breathe. I nearly choked on the emotion gushing out of me like a typhoon.

  "Tell me where you are. I'll come get you."

  Swallowing down tears, I choked out my words, "I...I'm in..."

  That was all I got out before the folding booth door was pulled open and I was yanked out backwards by my hair and pushed to the cement sidewalk. The wrapped subs fumbled from my grip and rolled into the gutter.

  Devon grabbed the dangling phone. "Salem's busy right now. Who's this anyway?" Turning towards me, Devon grinned maliciously. "Okay, Chloe. I'm sure Salem will see you real soon." She slammed the phone onto the receiver, cracking the plastic.

  I got to my feet as she stepped out of the booth. "What do you want?"

  "Hmm, let's see." Her lips curled up into a cruel smile. "Your blood on my hands. Your soul perhaps."

  "I'm not afraid of you." I said the words even as my knees wobbled, and my skin went cold and clammy.

  She took a menacing step forward. "You should be little girl."

  "Bring it bitch." I splayed my hands out to the sides. I could feel the lethal talons poking through the tips of my fingers. Licking my lips, I felt the tips of fangs protruding from my gums. And by the hazy dark glow around Devon I could only assume my eyes had that inky thing going on.

  She took me in. "So it's true. Thane told me that you were transformed but I didn't believe it. You seemed much too weak to survive something like that."

  "Well, here I am," I sneered.

  "Yes, here you are."

  She was fast. I barely saw her move as she grabbed me around the throat and dragged me into the nearby alley. I tore at her hand, raking my talons into her flesh, but it didn't seem to do any good. She still held on tight.

  She slammed me up against the brick wall. The back of my head hit hard. I could literally see stars after that. Most likely my brain cells were popping and that's what I was seeing. Little starbursts of brain power exploding into pieces.

  Devon leaned into my face. Her breath smelled rank, like rotting meat. It was probably her dead shriveled up soul I smelled.

  I struggled against her grip as she steeled her mouth over mine. I kicked and screamed, tearing at her face with my fingers. Nothing seemed to faze her and soon I could feel energy being siphoned out of my body.

  Then her eyes widened and she pulled back. "You've been kissing him. I can taste him inside you."

  Her surprise gave me the opening I needed. I raked my nails across her eyes, fully hoping I gouged them out.

  Shrieking, she stumbled back, her hands going to her face. "You bitch!"

  I took in a few raged breaths, pushing off the wall. I needed to gather my strength for another attack because I knew it was coming. Devon wouldn't stay down for long. Like a cockroach she'd survive anything. I sensed that was her nature.

  "I'm going to rip out your throat." She dropped her hands and I gasped.

  Ink-like liquid gushed from her eyes and streaked her cheeks. I'd never seen anything so freaktastic before, in a total grotesque kind of way.

  She growled at me. I figured that was my clue to get the hell out of there. She was too strong. I couldn't take her one on one, especially when I didn't know how to hurt her. I needed an advantage. I needed to cheat somehow.

  Turning, I sprinted down the alley. But I didn't get far before she grabbed me by the back of the head, slammed me face first back into the wall. She pressed up against my back, pushing my face into the brick with her hand.

  She leaned into my ear. "I'm going to enjoy tearing you to shreds."

  I could feel the prick of first one, then two talons as she speared me through the arm. The pain was immediate and immense. It made every inch of my spine convulse.

  "Stop! Get away from her!"

  I nearly wept at the sound of Trevor's voice echoing down the alley. I turned my head to the side to see him coming down the lane, his strides quick and determined.

  Devon laughed, not relinquishing her hold on my head. "Oh looky here, Prince Charming to the rescue."

  "I said get away from her."

  "And what are you going to do Trevor? You can't hurt me. I am much too powerful for you. Haven't you learned that by now?"

  "Thane won't let you kill her."

  "Why not? She's a piece of trash. She won't be missed."

  "He wants to keep her around."

  She frowned. "Why? She'll just make more trouble."

  "I don't know. Why don't you ask him?" he thrust a cell phone in her direction.

  Without letting up on me, she took the phone. "Yeah?"

  I heard Thane's voice on the other end. "Let the girl go."

  Devon sighed angrily. "Why the hell should I do that? She's pissed me off."

  "Because I said so, and that's all you need to know."

  There was silence for about ten seconds, then she growled, "You're a dick." She tossed the phone back to Trevor.

  Then there was blessed relief on my back when she let me go. Trevor was there gathering me in his arms before I could slide, exhausted and beat, to the ground.

  "You got lucky today, slag. And you better believe that when that luck runs out I'll be there ripping your throat out and lapping up the mess."

  She turned on her heel, stepped into a shadow and vanished.

  Cradling me close with one arm, Trevor walked me out of the alley. As we moved out onto the side, I spotted the subs still in the ditch.

  "Do you think they're still good?"

  Trevor stooped down and snatched them up. "Nothing a nuker and a lot of salt and pepper won't fix."

  I tried not to laugh because my face hurt and so did my arm. But I appreciated his effort to make me feel better and not dwell on the fact that I nearly died...again. I really hoped it wouldn't become one of those nasty habits.

  Chapter 25

  When we got back to the hotel room, I immediately excused myself and went into the bathroom to clean up. Makeup ran all down my face. I looked like a deranged Alice Cooper raccoon.

  I yanked on the tap, grabbed a washcloth and soaked it. As I rubbed at my face trying to get the black off, the door opened and Trevor walked in carrying a small first aid kit.

  I spun around. "Dude, I could've totally been in the shower or on the toilet."

  He just shrugged and opened the kit, pulling out a bottle of alcohol. "We need to take care of your arm before it gets infected and falls off."

  I dropped the washcloth and turned to look in the mirror at the back of my arm. Thankfully the bleeding had stopped but the sleeve of my t-shirt was completely soaked through.

  "Gross."

  Trevor made an upwards motion. "You're going to have to take it off."

  "Isn't that what got us in trouble earlier today?"

  "We're not making out. I'm doctoring you. I'm pretty sure I can keep my hormones in check."

  I wasn't so sure, but I didn't say anything. Instead, I struggled to strip off the shirt. I tossed it to the side and looked at Trevor expectantly.

  "Sit."

  I sat on the closed lid of the toilet facing sideways so he could get at my arm without having to twist in an impossible position.

  "This might sting."

  I could smell the rubbing alcohol as he poured it onto a piece
of gauze. The odor stung my nostrils and when it touched my wound I thought I'd jump out of my skin for real and run away. Trevor pressed a hand on top of my shoulder, presumably so I didn't do just that.

  "Jesus, are you trying to finish the job for Devon?" I bit out between clenched teeth. The pain was insane.

  "It needs to be cleaned and disinfected. Trust me. I've seen one of her marks go untreated and it was not pretty." He uncapped the peroxide. "Just take in a deep breath and hold it."

  I did just that as he poured the noxious smelling liquid over my arm. I couldn't see the grotesque bubbling but I could definitely hear it. Like an alka seltzer fizzing in a glass of water. My gut roiled and I nearly yacked into the bathtub.

  "Almost done."

  I'd always thought people said that to trick you into thinking it was almost over, when in fact they had one last nasty thing to do to you. I was proven right when Trevor smeared polysporin over my wound. Liquid fire rushed over me and sizzled my brains.

  "Holy crap! That burns."

  He ignored the next onslaught of curses that erupted from my mouth as he wrapped my arm in gauze and taped it tight.

  "Done." He washed his hands in the sink. "Now we need to talk about who's taking back Thane's stupid laundry."

  I stood, testing my arm. "I'm going. The end. He'll get suspicious if I don't. Besides I highly doubt he'll let you paw through his stuff. Me he'll order to fold his damn clothes and put them away as part of my ongoing humiliation and punishment. I'll have plenty of opportunity to check out that other bag."

  Trevor just stared wide-eyed at me. "Quite a speech. You should probably take my cell phone so you can take pictures of whatever you find."

  "Oh, okay." I laughed. "I thought you were going to talk me out of it."

  He shook his head. "I figure you're not going to listen anyway."

  "Basically." I smiled.

  He returned my smile, then reached for my hand. Mine looked so small in his. He had strong secure hands. I liked that, I liked that he wanted to touch me with them. Made me feel safe.

  "Just be careful, okay?"