Sleeping Rose Read online

  His forehead creases in confusion. “Psycho?”

  “Yeah.” I swivel past him. “The fucker who tried changing me.”

  He belly-laughs. “I love it. That is the perfect name for him.”

  I stop in my tracks. Damn, his laugh is hot.

  Eli comes around the corner. “What the hell is taking you so long?” His eyes find mine. “We need to talk.”

  He thinks I’ll talk to him after the shit he pulled last night? “Not a chance in hell.” I walk past him.

  He reaches out and grabs me. “You will obey me.”

  Drake growls, his amber eyes taking on that glow again.

  I jerk my arm out of Eli’s grasp. “I do not have to obey anyone. I’m my own person and won’t be talked down to by a conceited, self-absorbed jackass.”

  Stalking toward me, his face is strained and his fists are clenched. “You listen here, little girl. I wish I didn’t have to be here and deal with you.”

  I make my way toward my door. “Good, then go.” I open it and look over my shoulder. “And don’t bother coming back.”

  Drake follows me in and closes the door in Eli’s face.

  I cringe when I take in my room. There’s a blood stain on the wall, evidence of being bitten that night. It’s going to have to be painted or covered up or something.

  There is a loud knock on the door. “Rose, open the door this instant,” Eli yells then pounds on it harder.

  Nope, not going to happen. “Go away.”

  Drake chuckles and takes my hand. “He’s not going to listen.”

  “For once, the mutt is right.” Eli’s tone gets even angrier. “Open this fucking door now.”

  The buzzing intensifies between Drake and me as he continues to hold on to me. I take a step toward him, wanting to be closer.

  He grins down at me and moves his hands to my waist.

  Before I realize it, I’m plastered against his chest. I need to taste him.

  Reaching out, he cups my cheek and groans. “Now’s not the right time with Eli out there beating down the door.”

  That knocks me out of whatever spell had engulfed me.

  The door bangs even louder. “What the fuck is going on? Open this door now or I’ll tear it the fuck down.”

  Before I have time to answer him, the door flings open and slams against the wall. It’s destroyed all over again. What the hell?

  Eli moves so fast that he seems to appear out of thin air. He yanks me away from Drake. “Get the hell away from her. She’s mine.”

  I glare at him. “I didn’t invite you in.”

  Smirking, he takes a step toward me. “It only takes once and then I’m always welcome.” His face then creases with concern. “It’s alarming how little you know.”

  Drake steps in. “She knows enough, so don’t try to make her feel inferior.”

  Leaning back against the wall, Eli raises an eyebrow. “You really want to work the friend angle?”

  Who the hell does he think he is? “Being a nice guy isn’t working the friend angle.” I walk over and put my finger in his solid chest. “Maybe you should try it.”

  Electricity flows through my finger, so I remove it. I don’t need any more complications. I turn my back to him and walk over beside Drake. “Ugh, do you think your friends would be willing to fix my door again?” Crap, I just asked someone for help. That’s not good. “I mean, forget it. I’ll just call the landlord.” I walk over to the couch to look for my phone.

  Drake appears beside me with my phone in his hands. “Of course, I will help you.”

  Taking my phone from him, I grin. “No, it’s okay. I shouldn’t have asked. I’ll just get the landlord to handle it.”

  Jealousy courses through me. What the hell? Why am I feeling like this? It’s only the three of us in here, and it’s not like Eli and Drake are flirting.

  Eli moves in between us. “No, I’ll take care of the door.” He points at himself. “I broke it, I’ll fix it.”

  That, I have no argument with. “Okay, fix it.”

  He turns to me. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to get to it for a little while, so you’ll have to stay with me.”

  Oh, hell no. “No, I’ll just call the landlord.”

  Drake takes my hand again. “Well, Eli does have a point.” Then, he smiles and looks at the floor. “I have a ton of room at my place. You could stay in the same room as this morning.” His gaze raises and meets mine. “But only if you want to.”

  I do want to go back to his place. For some reason, it feels a lot more like home than here. I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, but I’ve only ever been able to live in the rougher part of Atlanta. His community is surrounded by trees, and there’s a pond close by. “I don’t want to intrude.”

  His dimples appear once again. “I would love the company.”

  Eli’s nostrils flair. “I just offered you a place at my house.”

  Glaring, I put my hands on my hip. “I don’t trust or like you. I don’t want to stay at your house.” I march into the bedroom and start packing a bag. I can’t stay here, and I need to find another apartment. Eli will just keep showing up anyway.

  When I’m done, I sling it over my shoulder and head back to Drake.

  He takes the bag from me and winks. “I’ve got this.”

  Eli watches my every move.

  Heading toward the door, I’m stopped.

  Eli has grabbed my arm. “You aren’t leaving with him.”

  I jerk away. “Watch me.”

  Moving in a blur, he is standing in front of the door, arms crossed. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

  Growling deep in his chest, Drake moves beside me. “You better watch it, bloodsucker. If she wants to leave with me, she sure as hell will.”

  Howling fills the air.

  Wolves being out in the middle of the day in this area surprises me.

  Drake wraps his arm around my waist and glares at Eli. “Move now, or there will be consequences.”

  Fangs descending, Eli lifts his chin. “You will regret this, mutt.” Then, he steps away from the door.

  Chuckling, Drake pulls me against him and we walk out the door. He turns when we reach the stairs, looking back at Eli. “No, I won’t. She’s worth it.”

  Pure rage covers Eli’s face, but we turn and walk down the stairs.

  When we get to the Tesla, he pops the trunk and puts my bag in. He then comes around and opens my door. “Here you go, my lady.”

  I giggle. He’s the first person to ever make me smile and relax. Before I sit, I stop and gaze at him. “Are you sure I’m not intruding?”

  He lowers his head and places his forehead against mine. “Not at all.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “I’m ecstatic to have you for however long you want to stay.”

  I bite my lip and sigh. “You may never get rid of me.”

  He runs his fingers through my hair, pulling lightly when his fingertips reach the ends. “Maybe that’s what I’m hoping for.”

  I stare at his lips for just a second before turning and slipping in the car.

  He groans.

  Good. He needs to suffer just as much as me.

  Chapter Eight

  We’ve developed a routine after only a few days. It’s scary how comfortable Drake and I already are with one another. I’m afraid that I’ll never want to leave. The sexual tension grows stronger the longer I stay. I should go home.

  Eli called Drake yesterday to inform him that my door has been fixed, then demanded I go home. Asshole.

  Drake informed him I was staying here until I felt comfortable enough to go home.

  I need to be careful, because I could fall hard for this man.

  I walk downstairs in my shorts and t-shirt to brew a couple cups of coffee while I wait for him to join me. As usual, he’s right behind me. It’s like he has a sixth sense regarding me.

  His kitchen is every woman’s dream. Gray-colored cabinets line two walls, with ivory and gold ingrained marble cov
ering every countertop and an island in the center. Top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances with enough food to feed a small army fill the large area, and over the island is a copper pot rack that hangs at the perfect height, complete with a full set of copper pots and pans.

  He steps into the kitchen behind me, and the air charges with tension.

  I turn around, expecting a five o’clock shadow and messy hair that has been his usual, but instead, I find an even more dashing Drake, clean-shaven and dressed in a thousand-dollar suit. Damn, he looks good in a suit. The willpower I have to invoke to not rip his clothes off should earn me a medal or something.

  His dimpled smile makes an appearance. “Good morning, beautiful. Is that for me?”

  I nod and hand him the cup of black coffee.

  He sets it back down on the counter before wrapping his arms around me. The familiar buzzing sets my nerves on edge.

  A groan escapes my lips and I cover it with a cough. “Are you leaving our bubble?”

  I turn and grab my doctored coffee from the counter to keep my hands busy.

  He’s been working from home to spend time with me. It’s been wonderful. He caters to my every need. A girl could get used to this kind of treatment.

  His face falls. “Yes, I’m needed in the office today, but I’ll be home for dinner. Want me to pick something up so you don’t have to cook?”

  I like the way he says that. I shrug my shoulders. “You know I don’t mind cooking. It’s my way of repaying you for letting me stay. Speaking of, I overheard your conversation with Eli.”

  “I thought you might have. Do you want to go home?” He watches my face.

  “I probably should. I’ve overstayed my welcome and you’ve been so gracious to let me stay.” I turn to the counter, wiping it down to distract myself from the pain in my chest at the thought of leaving.

  His voice is firm. “That’s not what I asked. Are you ready to go home?”

  Our gazes lock, and I can’t decipher the emotion reflecting back at me. All I know is that I want to stay, but I need to go home and get my life back on track. Thanks to Eli, I need to find a job.

  I could get a job at one of his clubs as a dancer just to spite him. But that’s a terrible idea. He’s enough of a controlling ass now. I don’t want to see how he’d react if I pushed him. The less I have to deal with him, the better. We just seem to butt heads.

  “No, but I need to find a job and check on the apartment. Get my life back in order.”

  He brings his mug to his lips and finishes the coffee. “How about you stay one more day? You can use my laptop while I’m gone to job search. I’ll feel better if I know you’re here safe while I’m gone.”

  Well, since he put it like that, I want to stay even more. “All right, I’ll stay. If you’re sure.”

  He steps closer, our bodies making full contact and his hands going to my waist. The familiar buzzing courses through my body. Does he feel this, too? He must.

  When he leans down, our lips meet in a sweet kiss. I deepen it and he lets me, tongue meeting tongue. My hands roam up his back inside his jacket. A groan fills the kitchen. The passion has increased as we’ve been in each other’s company longer. It’s inevitable and will be explosive.

  He pulls back first. “That would make me happy.” He smiles.

  With hooded eyes, I lick my lips. “I know something else that would make you happy.”

  He chuckles, adjusting his erection. “You’re going to be the death of me, woman.”

  I laugh and glance down at the tent in his pants, fighting the urge to reach out and stroke his hard length through the fabric. I’m still not there yet, even though my body is screaming yes.

  He inspects my face like he’s trying to memorize every nuance of my features before leaning down and giving me a quick peck on the mouth.

  “It will be a pleasurable death.” I wink, picking up the mugs and walking to the sink to rinse them out before placing them in the dishwasher.

  “I’ll call and check on you later,” he calls out as he walks toward the garage door off of the kitchen.

  The door closes behind him, and I’m alone in his house for the first time in days. What am I going to do with myself? This is a new feeling for me. I never have down time like this.

  The garage door opens, and I run into the kitchen, waiting for Drake to walk in. It’s crazy how much I’ve missed him today. Is this what normal couples experience?

  A smile lights up my face as the knob turns. Joy bursts through my chest as he enters the kitchen.

  His face is drawn and tense, so I can tell something is wrong.

  I cross my arms over my chest instead of running to him like I want to do. “What’s wrong?”

  He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “My assistant quit today, and I’m up to my neck in paperwork. I can’t have my legal aid help because he’s helping me prepare for a case.” He places the takeout bags on the counter with furrowed eyebrows. “Now, I have to find someone to replace her, which takes too damn long.”

  His frustration weighs on me as he runs his fingers through his hair, giving it a sexy, mussed look.

  “Is there anything I can do? I’d like to help if possible. I can fill in temporarily, just until you find someone else.” I avoid looking in his eyes, not wanting to see the rejection there, and instead start pulling food containers out of the bags. I’m not new to rejection, but the thought of him telling me I’m not good enough would be a bigger blow than from anyone else.

  He lets out a breath. “That's a great idea. Can you start tomorrow?”

  My hands pause, and I jerk my head up to meet his gaze, eyes wide. “Really?”

  He leans against the island. “Yes. It's the perfect solution. You get a job and I get to spend more time with you.”

  My heart skips a beat. This man is the sweetest. How did I get so lucky to meet him? I pinch my arm.

  He frowns. “What was that for?”

  I open the cabinets and grab a couple of plates and cutlery for the food. “Just making sure I'm not dreaming.”

  “No need to do that. I’m right here.” He steps closer and runs his fingers down the side of my face, brushing my hair behind my ear. Lifting my face, his lips whisper across mine.

  My arms circle around his neck, and he picks me up, placing me on the counter and pushing between my legs. Our kiss becomes frenzied, and I pull at his suit jacket, jerking it off of his shoulders.

  I loosen his tie. We separate long enough for him to pull my shirt off, and our mouths meet again. The buttons on his shirt take too long to undo, so I grab both sides and rip. Buttons fly everywhere.

  My hands rub down his abs of their own accord, and I lean forward, circling my tongue around his nipple and biting it.

  He groans, pressing his erection into my core and then pushing me back. I lean on my arms to support my weight as his mouth travels down my neck. He unclasps my bra and runs his hands up the expanse of my back to remove the straps from my arms.

  I moan, my arousal stronger than it's ever been. I'm ready for him to claim me, to make me his like no man has before.

  The door leading to the back patio flies open.

  I jump and lean into Drake.

  His eyes are murderous. Taking off his ruined shirt, he wraps it around my naked torso before looking at me with regret. Looking up at the person who interrupted us, his words are terse. “What is it?”

  I never want to be on the receiving end of that tone.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation,” a deep voice says from just inside the door.

  What is he talking about?

  Drake nods at the man before turning back to me. “I'm sorry. I need to go take care of something. Go ahead and eat. I'll be back when I can.”

  “Okay. What's going on?” I pull the shirt closed, suddenly feeling exposed.

  “I'll answer your questions when I get back. I owe you a few. Maybe we can resume this later.” He winks.

  My tongu
e darts out, wetting my lips.

  He watches it with lust-filled eyes.

  Leaning into him, I whisper in his ear, “It’s a possibility.”

  With one last look, he leaves, not bothering to grab a new shirt.

  I dish up some curry chicken and rice then take a seat at the island to eat dinner by myself.

  There’s a knocking on the glass of the back door. When I turn around, Eli is standing outside watching me.

  His eyes take on a red tinge, his anger palpable. “Come join me outside.”

  Like hell. He has a crazed-psycho look going on, eyes wild. “What do you want?”

  His desperation saturates the air, but he doesn’t show it. “I need to feed, and it can only be from you,”

  “What? Why the hell is that?” My hands go to my hips, and the shirt falls open.

  He stares at my chest and neck then at the shirt I’m wearing.

  My pulse beats faster.

  His fangs elongate more. “You dare to give yourself to another man when you’re mine? I’ve bonded you and now you belong to me.”

  Hell no.

  There’s howling off in the distance.

  The skin on my arms pebbles. Sensible thought must leave my brain, because I take a few steps closer to the door and the psycho who draws me in.

  Eli’s eyes remain locked on me as I make my way over, but he turns around as a massive black wolf comes into view from the woods. Its amber eyes are familiar.

  I recognize that wolf. What is he doing here? Please, don’t let him get hurt.

  The wolf lunges at Eli, snarling and growling as it tries to take a bite out of him.

  Eli holds it off as if it’s a puppy nipping at his heels.

  What the fuck is going on? I step back further into the kitchen, but I’m too enthralled to run.

  “Stop, mutt. She’s mine. Don’t play stupid to the laws of our kind. I should end your life now and save us both the trouble,” Eli snarls.

  The wolf lands several blows, but the wounds heal just as fast as they are made.

  My eyes widen and my breathing becomes shallow.

  “She's coming with me this time.” He grabs the wolf by the neck. “There's nothing you can do about it.”