Eternal War Rising to the South: The Beynok Vampire Series by Erika Bradshaw Page B

injuries had healed, except for some deep slashes on my back. I figured those might take until the end of the day or so.
    It’s been a few hours since Sorin and his friends had retreated to the basement, I wondered if anyone would notice if I went down there for a minute. I needed to see Sorin and make sure he was okay. Of course, I knew the answer to the question. Since I had almost healed, he was more than likely healed of any injuries before he even went down to the basement. I had to think of something to tell myself so it would be okay if I went down to see him. I surely couldn’t go down there without a good reason. And that reason couldn’t be because I wanted to be near him.
    I chanced it, hoping no one would notice. As I traveled down the steps to the basement I could feel my heart thumping harder and my body becoming anxious. The lights were off in the sparring room, but I was able to make out two silhouettes lying on a mat together. Jealousy hit me. Was Sorin spooning Serenity? What the hell? What did she have that I didn’t have? I hadn’t even heard her speak a damn word since she arrived, so I figured her personality must suck. Before I could go any further with my Serenity bashing, I heard Corbin say, “He’s in the shower stalls, Anya. Serenity and I were trying to get some rest in before nightfall.” Well, I guess Corbin and Serenity are not brother and sister as I originally thought. They just look so much alike.
    I only had a few minutes before the others noticed I wasn’t upstairs with them, so I would have to ask questions about those two later. I needed to see Sorin. When I walked into the shower room, I saw his hooded leather jacket hanging over the bench along with his clothes. He had rinsed the blood off his clothes, and now they were hanging over the bench to dry.
    Shit … shit. This meant he was naked. I had to get out of there. I heard the shower shut off and footsteps coming in my direction. I was headed toward the door when I heard my name.
    “Anya. What are you doing here?”
    “I just wanted to thank you for what you did for us before we become enemies again at dusk.” There was no way I was going to give him a face-to-face thank you since I knew he was naked.
    “No you didn’t. That’s not why you’re here.” I could hear his heavy breathing, and he sounded a little angry with me. I wanted to open up to him, but I knew where that would get me. “Anya, turn around and look at me.”
    “No, thank you. That’s quite all right.” I started to leave.
    “Turn and look at me, Anya. You will not leave until I’m done with you.” The commanding anger was exploding through his voice.
    Without a thought, I turned to argue with him. He was naked, and his body was gorgeous. The heat from the shower was radiating off every hard muscle he carried. His erection was large, and he made no effort to hide it. With every stride he took toward me, I could see the muscles flex under his skin.
    Before I could turn and run…yes run, we were standing face to face. I could almost handle this. I only had a view of his face instead of his whole body. An intimidating half smirk crossed his mouth showing his dimple, and he leaned in just a touch further, and I felt his erection touch me. I was not going to look down. No way.
    I said as stern as I could, “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but this is not going to happen. Only over my dead body am I allowing you to come any closer to me.”
    His smirk was now a full sly smile. “Oh yes, you are.” I could feel his cool breath on my face, and the scent of lavender filled my nose. “Anya, I know you want this. I can smell you. Your body wants me in every way, and your mind can’t change that.”
    I backed away, and he followed until I hit a wall. He was right. My heart and descending core of my body wanted him in every way possible, but my brain couldn’t comprehend the idea of lying with a vampire.
    “Say it. Say you want me. I