Blood Magic (After Dark Book 7) by Sarah Bailey (historical books to read .txt) 📕

They passed the shifter again who looked them up and down with concern on his face. Jamie carefully smelled the man. Panther. Rare. Interesting. He had a scar on his eyebrow, but Jamie didn’t have a chance to look any further because Dani tugged him away.

When they got back out on the floor, she pressed close to him. He could feel the energy thrumming in her body, her skin on his was electrifying. At the very least, he had his bloodlust under control again, but seeing Dani breathing that girl was hot.

“Does this happen to you every time?” he asked.

“What? Oh, you mean the glowing. Yes, pretty much.”

She seemed very distracted, her eyes darting around. The next moment she froze, pressing closer to him.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“What?”

“Jamie, we have to go. Raoul is here. He can’t see me. He’ll recognise me and tell my father. Please.”

He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her away towards the entrance of the club. There was no way he wanted her father finding out they were hanging out together and taking her away. He wanted Dani in his life in whatever way he could. She was a breath of fresh air, although he had to admit craving her was something he could do without.

She looked back over her shoulder.

“We have to hurry. He’s coming this way.”

He pushed through the crowd of bodies harder until they reached the entrance and tugged her through the doors. They dashed down the corridor together and out into the alley. He led her out onto the main street, hailing a taxi. They slid in, Dani clinging to him as her body trembled all over. Jamie told the driver his address before he looked down at Dani.

“Are you okay?”

“No,” she whispered. “I’m really not. I shouldn’t have breathed that girl. I’m so screwed.”

Jamie eyed the taxi driver. He couldn’t have Dani talking about supernatural stuff in front of him. He managed to catch the man’s eye and the next moment, he was in. He didn’t glamour humans, but these were extreme circumstances.

“You will forget anything we say on this journey,” Jamie said, his voice low and hypnotic.

“Yes, I will forget everything.”

“Good, now just drive. You won’t remember us.”

“Yes, I will drive. I won’t recall this journey.”

Dani was staring at him with wide eyes when he looked back.

“What did you do?” she asked, her voice shaky.

“I suppose it’s sort of like putting them in a trance, not quite mind control, but almost.”

He had to be careful. His ability to influence humans was stronger than most vampires. He’d accidentally broken someone’s mind before. It was why he vowed not to use his ability unless it was an emergency.

“That’s… well, fuck, I don’t care right now. Jamie, you have to help me.”

She sat up, her body shimmering with magic. Her fists clenched and unclenched.

“Help you?”

“Look, I… fuck, this is why my father has kept me away from the world. This happens every time I breathe someone, but it’s got worse since I came of age.”

“What do you need me to do?”

Her face flushed, her eyes became unfocused for a moment before she turned to him.

“I can’t believe I have to ask you this.”

“Just spit it out, Dani.”

“I need to have sex to stop this from consuming me. I’ll go fucking mad if I don’t release this energy. I need you to help me find someone to sleep with or… or you have to do it.”

His jaw almost dropped. What the actual fuck? Did I hear her right?

“You what?”

“Sex, Jamie. You know, fucking. It’s a condition I inherited from my mother. It’s a curse really.”

She shifted, pitching forward as the magic rippled beneath her skin. He caught her, settling her back against the seat again.

“I’m not joking. I never wanted you to find out about this or anyone for that matter. This is so embarrassing.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. This is a mess. I should’ve listened to her when she told me she couldn’t breathe someone.

How could he fix this situation for her? What had she said? He should find someone for her to sleep with. There was no way he was doing that. She didn’t deserve some random fuckwit with their grubby hands all over her.

That left only one option. One option which could completely fuck up their friendship with each other and he’d be in so much trouble if Gavin ever found out. Sure, he’d thought about sleeping with her all night, but he wasn’t actually going to go through with it. There were boundaries he wasn’t prepared to cross.

“Please, it hurts. I’m so sorry.”

He reached out, pulling her towards him.

“Don’t apologise. Shit, this is my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed you into doing any of this.”

She rested her head on his shoulder, staring up at him with those ice blue eyes of hers.

“No, it’s my fault. I know better than to breathe humans.”

“How do you deal with this normally?”

“Since I came of age, my father has one of my bodyguards on hand when I have to replenish my magic. It’s only been twice, but I hate it. It’s not fair on either of us. I’m so sorry, I really am.”

He cupped her cheek. It clearly distressed her to admit this to him. He wanted to help her and a part of him just plain wanted her full stop.

“Your skin is so cool. It feels nice,” she whispered.

Her body was burning up. He could tell it was getting worse. Looking out the window, he saw they were close to his now. He looked down at Dani again. Her lips were parted, her breathing erratic. Then he smelt her. Her arousal flooded his senses, mixing with the familiar lavender and honeysuckle which encompassed her. He stifled a