Craving Her (The Bloodlust Duet Book 1) Read online

  CRAVING HER

  THE BLOODLUST DUET

  Book One

  INTERNATIONAL BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

  KAY MAREE

  Contents:

  Copyright © 2020 by Kay Maree

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  EPILOGUE

  Also Available

  About the Author

  Author Links

  CRAVING HER

  Copyright © 2020 by Kay Maree

  The right of Kay Maree to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

  All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical or mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  PROLOGUE

  Draven

  Looking out at the city lights, it begins to fade away— sounds, smells, everything disappears as I search the recesses of my mind for the image of my mate moving through a thick blanket of hazy smoke. Her movements like a siren— smooth, slow, elegant— drawing me in, caging me and so irresistible.

  The scent of her blood makes my mouth water, inky black hair like midnight flowing around her like a veil begging to be twisted around my wrist, stormy gray eyes with a tinge of violet bewitching me, pleading with me to submit to the power she holds within, and I’m starving and willing to bend to her will for just one taste, one touch. I reach out to touch her sun-blushed skin but she tries to resist the pull, resist the intensity. Her pulse falters then speeds up knowing she is trapped, a slave to the feelings engulfing her.

  Finally, after what feels like forever, she begins to take cautious steps toward me, but her face shies away as if having second thoughts as her white teeth bite into her red bottom lip that’s just begging to be bitten. I wait for the transfer of red lipstick to stick to her teeth when she releases that plump flesh but there isn’t anything there, just natural red lips.

  Those stormy eyes are slightly hidden by dark strands of silky hair drawing me in, casting a spell over me but it’s the broken smile that kisses her lips that has me falling to my knees.

  I may be King but this woman is my Queen and I would hunt a thousand more years till I have her in my arms and replace that brokenness that seems to shatter through her.

  I crave everything about her but yet, I have never met her. One thing I know for sure is I will never stop searching for my broken Queen that deserves to stand by my side.

  She is my every craving and I will make her crave me just as much . . .

  CHAPTER ONE

  Shaya

  “I cannot believe you talked me into this,” I hiss under my breath to my best friend Lorna as she nudges me in the shoulder to take another step toward the club doors. I’m assuming it’s the club doors since a small sign lights up neon blue stating Midnight Veil and a burly bouncer stands in front of the set of dark double doors. If it wasn’t for those two things, I don’t think anyone would even give this place a second glance or even come down the alley it’s in. A coolness sweeps through me as we get closer to the doors. Blowing out a breath, I try to shake it off.

  “Will you just relax,” Lorna chastises me like I’m an errant child. Maybe I am since I feel the need to poke my tongue out at her. “And stop fidgeting. They are gonna think you’re drunk.” Blowing out an exaggerated breath, she rolls her dark-shadowed eyes while pursuing her blood-red painted lips at me.

  “I feel like this dress is sucking the life out of me,” I huff pulling it down a little more as the silky material begins to slide up the back and I’m sure my ass is hanging out at the bottom— and nobody needs to see that shit. The dress is gorgeous and soft but not something that I would usually wear. Especially being nearly two sizes too small for me. Lorna said it fit like a glove and this is the way clothes should fit not like the baggy clothes I choose to wear making me look bigger than I actually am.

  I didn’t bother arguing that my clothes were just fine ‘cause it’s a never a winning battle when she gets it in her head that she’s right. Story of my damn life. Ever since I lost my parents in high school, I tried to curl in on myself. I became quiet and hid away from the world but then it just so happened I couldn’t get my hands on a book I wanted to read, so during my lunch period at school, I went to the library and that’s how we met. I love her like a sister but damn, when she gets it in her head she is right, I tend to just let her win. She is the only lifeline I have, otherwise, I would probably be holed up in my apartment with ten thousand cats waiting for me to die so they could feast on me.

  So, I let her dress me like a bloody Barbie, turning me this way and that, doing my hair and makeup but at the moment, all I want to do is crawl into bed with a good book. Looking down at the dress again, I try to pull it up a little. With no straps to hold the top, I feel like this is a losing battle as well. Huffing out a breath, I swipe my dark hair out of my eyes and try to forget about the dress altogether.

  Looking toward Lorna, she bounces on her toes with excitement as we get closer to the doors. Taking in the short black skirt she is wearing, that could only be described as a belt and knowing her it probably is, matched with a short crop top singlet also black that only covers her boobs, a niggle of envy zaps through me at how comfortable she is. We are complete opposites with me standing a foot shorter than her with the top of my head just reaching her shoulders, her blonde curly hair free-flowing down her back just like mine but where hers is blonde mine is pure black and straight. I don’t even think the hair curler she attacked me with earlier did much.

  We are day and night in looks but with personality, most days I’m the light and she is the dark, especially in the past year. The girl I knew all those years ago that took me under her wing when I felt like my life was falling apart has slowly vanished and in its place is someone I don’t recognize. Don’t get me wrong, I get mood swings like the best of them but hers are darker, angrier. I try to be there and help her but I think I just make the situation worse.

  It’s hard because we live together so even if we wanted a break from each other, one of us usually has to leave or we end up locking ourselves in our rooms. Just this morning, we had it out and it was so stupid I don’t even remember what the hell we were arguing about. So, to say I was shocked when she stormed into my room this afternoon begging and pleading with me to come to this club tonight is an understatement.

  She said she needed me and that should have struck a chord because she never needs me for anything, and I should have told her no then and there but I couldn’t bring myself to argue with her again. I was bloody exhausted and I know I am easily led especially when she throws it in my face that she has been there for me through the years when I felt like I just couldn’t get out of bed.

  Guilt hit me when she used to say that to me but now, every time she throws that at me lately, it’s having the opposite effect. Instead of guilt, it’s starting to piss me off but for the sake of keeping the peace, and I’m curious to see where she has been hanging out the past year, I said yes. But right now, I wish I had said no because I feel lik
e a lamb being led to the slaughter.

  The first feeling I should be feeling is fear and that I should be running away screaming but something is gripping me, holding me here, a pull so strong, daring me to cross the threshold. Right now, I'm a moth being drawn into a brilliant flame and I’m willing to let it happen, wanting it to happen. My limbs feel like they are shaking with each step closer, my breaths pick up speed to the point my mouth feels dry as the desert.

  “You wanna run, don’t you?” Lorna's words circle around me along with a laugh that doesn’t seem real and all I can do is nod my head. “You’re stuck now, just embrace it. But remember what I said about the King of this place, he’s mine.” A dreamy sigh catches on her words and now it’s my turn to roll my eyes.

  If I have to hear about the guy that owns this club one more time, I’m likely to shoot myself. I’m not even sure if she actually knows his name the way she calls him King all the time. I've heard all about the tattoos that cover both arms, his dark hair, and the way it sometimes hangs a little over his forehead, but she never calls him by his name— plus, it’s been a year since she met him and nothing has happened between them. Either this guy is blind because she is gorgeous or he simply really isn’t interested and has someone already.

  “I got it,” I murmur for the hundredth time since this afternoon as we finally make it to the door, fishing through my clutch purse for my photo ID. I might be twenty years old but every time I go out, I get asked for it.

  “ID?” the bouncer grunts out as if reading my mind.

  Passing it over, I finally see the guy standing in front of me. “Holy shit,” I gasp slamming my mouth closed when his eyes snap to mine, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth. But that’s not what has me entranced. His eyes spark, seeming to change color from brown to gold, and I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from them.

  A nudge to my side has the hypnotic pull they seem to have on me breaks, and I quickly look anywhere else but directly at him. Instinctively, I hold out my wrist for a stamp to say I can enter, and I quickly swipe my ID back out of his hand, ducking my head, taking longer than necessary putting it back in my purse. As I begin to head inside, my skin vibrates as his deep chuckle follows me. Shaking it off, I try to breathe.

  Electric static seems to shimmer through me with every step I take closer to another set of double doors at the end of the semi-dark hallway. The ground dips downwards as if we are heading further underground, muffled music vibrates behind the closed doors at the end only adding to my already jumpy nerves. Sucking in a deep breath, my heart kicks up as a gasp leaves my throat as the scent of something wild, sweet and smooth slides through me. My body relaxes at the sensation of it running through my veins.

  What is this feeling? I know it. I have felt this before but I can’t put my finger on it right now.

  “What is wrong with you, Shaya?”

  Snapping my head toward Lorna, I try to formulate some words, English, anything, but nothing comes. What is wrong with me? If I don’t have a clue then I sure as shit can’t explain it to her, so I just shake my head.

  Shaking her head back at me, her brows pull together and it’s a look I'm used to. She gives me this look right before we get into an argument. Not wanting to argue with her right now, I give her a smile and that seems to push away her mood. Something crosses her face as she mumbles under her breath so low I can’t hear it above the thumping music on the other side of the doors.

  “Ready to party.” She laughs, staring at me, matching my smile and just like that, her mood has flipped again. Not wanting to start something here, I just nod, still smiling at her. Pushing the doors open, a hundred emotions flash through me as the thick sweat laden air engulfs me but one emotion slams me straight in the chest making my breath catch in my throat.

  Home.

  Damn, it’s a feeling of home. I have not felt this sensation since my parents were alive. My eyes glass over and my vision blurs. Taking a few deep breaths, I suck the tears back willing them not to fall not here, especially not now.

  “Damn,” I whisper as comfort wraps around me, helping soothe the sharp ache in my chest whenever I think of my parents. After a few seconds, the tears wanting to fall dry up and I’m left to take everything in. My heart picks up speed, building to a crescendo in my ears. Sweat forms in my palms, dance lights flash above a huge dance floor, with a DJ is stationed in a far corner on the other side of the room. Dim lights mix with the party lights and cascade over dark red and black walls. Some of the lights are a warm white and flicker, casting shadows like burning candles across every surface creating a sensual, warm feeling that draws me in.

  “Don’t just stand there staring like a deer caught in headlights,” Lorna calls out snapping my attention back to her. Taking my hand, she pulls me toward a large wooden bar that wraps around one side of the room. Squeezing through sweat coated bodies, some cold and hard as ice, sends my mind spinning. I’m trying to breathe as my brain tries to catch up to my heart. Something weird is happening to me and I have no will to stop it and I don’t even know if I want too. But how the hell can a loud ass club with sweating bodies have me feeling like I have come home?

  “Two bloodlust daiquiris please, Marco,” Lorna calls out when we make it to the bar, catching my attention again.

  “Miss Lorna, so good to see you again, you bring me something,” Marco says smoothly placing two bright red drinks on the bar.

  Shit, that was quick, I think as his eyes seem to change as well looking hungry as they take Lorna in. Lorna nods down to me and his words finally register, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end as his eyes catch mine— but he doesn’t hold my stare for long. Something seems to force his gaze away from me, his body shimmering a little as if he was zapped by static electricity making him hiss, as an echo of hisses follows behind me.

  It should freak me out with these strangers hissing all around me or maybe I should feel offended all this happened the minute his eyes hit mine, but a weird sort of relief hits me instead as that warm homey feeling rushes through me all over again, and that same scent from moments ago invades my senses. Without thought, I raise my chin a little and inhale. Marco's head seems to lower with my movement. That’s strange.

  Sweeping my eyes around the club, everyone's heads are lowered as all their eyes seem to be looking up at us. Without thought or reason, my head turns to a semi-dark corner and that’s when I catch a set of gray stormy eyes that have my skin tingling and my internal temperature skyrocketing. I’m locked in a battle of wills, my heart jumping, wanting me to go over there but my head is screaming at me to think about this.

  “Yes, it worked” Lorna's high pitched voice breaks through my head and everyone else around us seems to snap out of whatever was going on in their heads as her voice bounces around us. Snapping my head toward her, a deep loss settles through me at the broken connection but I push through it not knowing why these feelings are swamping me.

  “What worked?” I demand, slamming my hands on my hips. For some reason, her words piss me off. Lamb to the slaughter floats through my head again but I shake it off. Seeming to realize what she said, she shuts her mouth.

  “What worked?” I repeat on a hiss stepping into her space.

  “The King has found his mate. He finally realized I have been here all along waiting for him. Didn’t you see the reaction as soon as I walked up to the bar?” She beams a bright smile but there is something else there. I can feel it but she doesn’t say anything else, instead, she picks up her drink and brings it to her mouth. Leaning over, I go to grab my drink needing it more than ever before but it’s gone. Looking toward Marco, he looks apologetic as he slides another drink over to me but this one is purple.

  “The bloodlust isn’t for you Miss, try this one instead.”

  “What is it,” I ask. It looks pretty— purple but there are swirls of blue through it and it's a slushie— it may just help to cool me down.

  “It’s s
imilar to a Fruit Tingle but here we call it Midnight Shadow.” He looks worried as he says this but it only intrigues me more. Swiping it up, I take a sip out of the straw and flavors both wild and sweet dance along my tongue making me giggle.

  “I love it. Thank you, Marco.” I nod. Turning back to Lorna, my hackles rise again at the look she is giving me but after a moment, she seems to shake it off, smiling down at me. It’s darker and something niggles in the back of my head that it won’t take much for her to unleash whatever she is trying to hold back.

  “Let's dance.”

  Looking toward the dance floor, I can’t think of anything worse. I only ever dance at home, not when people can actually see me. Swallowing down another mouthful, I look down noticing I finished my drink already.

  “Damn, that's so good I didn’t realize how quickly I drank it.” Placing the cup down on the bar, the alcohol seems to tingle through me and builds me up to dance.

  “Let’s do it then.” Grabbing Lorna's outstretched hand, we head toward the dance floor. I laugh as it seems everyone parts like the red sea to let us through.

  “Everyone is so nice,” I call out above the music just as the music begins to change and I slap my hand over my mouth laughing at how loud that came out. The words to Maroon 5’s Animal starts up and I get lost in the dark lyrics and love it. For the first time in a long time, something inside me feels complete as if all those lonely, cold nights were worth it if it brought me to this place— right here and now. Smiling, I throw my hands in the air, swaying my body to the beat and letting the emotions roll through me.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Draven

  A strong pull grips me like a vice knocking me back a step as I go to sit down. Gripping the back of my chair, I hear the old wood creak from the strength of my hold. Lessening the force on the chair, I look around to see what could be doing this to me but nothing stands out. Looking back into the shadowy corner I usually sit at in my club but again, there is nothing. Shaking my head, I close my eyes and reach out in my mind trying to dislodge the feeling but it’s too powerful, refusing to let go.