Night Moves (The Night Songs Collection) by Kristen Strassel

empty clubs, shitty reviews on the new songs, so anyone wanting to shower attention on us was music to our ears. We were all over that party. Of course, we didn’t know Drake had set us up.”
    “We got locked in a room, they drugged the booze we think, and when we woke up days later, welcome to the afterlife.” Ryder finished the story, his words clipped. “We have no idea what happened.”
    “No explanation, no nothing?” I couldn’t hide my disbelief.
    “Not even a thank you,” Ryder answered.
    “In fact, Drake expected us to thank him,” Josiah added, “for giving us the gift of eternal fame and him the gift of eternal fortune.”
    “What an unbelievable bastard. No wonder you’re so angry.” I looked back and forth between the two men. Neither had anything else to say. “Why doesn’t anyone ever tell Drake no?”
    Josiah looked a little uncomfortable, then smiled, as if he was looking for Ryder’s approval. “There’re some plans brewing,” Ryder finally said.
    “Oooh?” I shifted, lying across the bed, my hands propping up my chin.
    Girls’ night turned into Gossip Night with the Boys. My mind went back to Erin. I’m sure she was having a hell of a time right now, but just the memory of the sound of the belt cracking against her skin still made my stomach turn.
    Ryder started. “Well, we’re booking recording space to put together an album—”
    “Ryder’s solo album,” Josiah interjected.
    My eyes got wide and Ryder smiled, relaxing before he continued. “I’ve been in touch with our old manager, and he’s putting together press and a small tour for next year. We’ll be on a break from Soul Divider, so it’s the right time.”
    I clapped my hands together in excitement. Ryder’s voice blew Drake’s away. I always hoped someday this would happen. “This is like, the best news ever.”
    “Really?” Ryder looked genuinely surprised.
    “Yes! And not because I want you to stick it to Drake. Because I want you to be happy. And I want the world to realize how talented you are.”
    “Come here.” Ryder pulled my body over to his, kissing me passionately.
    “You know what?” Josiah said a little too loudly. “I’m going to go see what Tommy and Adam are up to. Give you two some alone time.”
    If he said anything else, I certainly didn’t hear him.
    I needed to feel Ryder, now. I ran my hands up under his shirt as my lips worked down to his neck. I licked along the strong line of his carotid artery, imagining what it would be like to sink in and drink his essence.
    Ryder placed his hands on my shoulders, gently pushing me away. I gasped as the shock waves rolled through me.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked.
    He shook his head, looking down. “You’re curious about the blood, aren’t you?”
    “Of course I am.” Not that I wanted to trade my self-respect for sexual gratification, but damn, I wanted to know what this was all about. “Aren’t you?”
    “It never ends well, Melanie.” Ryder sighed. “Look at your friend. She’s making a fool of herself, hoping to get a couple of sips of blood. That poor girl from the other night is dead. I’ve seen this happen over and over again since we became vampires. I like you just the way you are.”
    “So you don’t trust me?” I pouted.
    “Are you proud of every single thing you’ve done when you’ve been drunk?” he asked.
    “I’m not an addict.” I got up off the bed, defensive. Once I was up I realized I really didn’t have any place to go, so I paced back and forth. “I just want to see what it’s like.”
    This was ridiculous. I shouldn’t be begging anyone to have sex with me, no matter what kind it was. Either they wanted me, or they didn’t. Heart, body, soul. And blood.
    “It’s not that easy,” Ryder said.
    I rolled my eyes. “I let you sink your fangs into my damn thigh! You don’t think I was scared? You’re a vampire. You could have killed me. But I trusted you. And it was fabulous. You can’t do