Whiteout (Aurora Sky by Nikki Jefford

like suctions over my skin, drawing blood to the sur face and into his throat. He released my neck and swallowed. I counted to three in my head. He leaned in and bit down again. A grotesque sucking sound filled my eardrums and I cringed. He sucked so hard my skin ached. This time he sucked and swallowed simu ltaneously , like a greedy newborn at his mother’s teat.
    I clenched my teeth , waiting for him to ease up and convulse. My fingers fisted. This was taking way too long.
    Oh shit.
    My blood was no longer toxic. The agency’s formula had left my body.
    Â 
    Â 

 9
    Resistance Is Futile
    Â 
    One by one, my fingers relaxed. My chest rose and fell steadily.
    Rather than alarm ed , I felt free. More free than I had felt since we’d taken flight from Girdwood. I was no longer human or hunter. I was a vampire. A full-fledged member of the undead.
    Arlo released my neck, giving it a quick lick before facing me. “You have a peculiar taste. What blood type are you?”
    My heart flipped as I considered lying . AB negative blood didn’t automatically make me a vampire. Although rare in humans, it wasn’t unheard of.
    I opted for honesty. The truth was already on his tongue.
    â€œI’m AB negative.”
    Arlo gave me a hard stare. “Ah. I thought you tasted different.”
    â€œDifferent, bad?” I asked, cupping my hand over my neck where Arlo had bitten me.
    â€œW e take what we can get in these parts,” he said. “I’d rather bite a woman with AB negative than a man with O positive.”
    I wondered how long it would take before I could tell the difference between blood types. While contemplating this, Arlo reached for th e zipper on my jeans.
    I removed my hand from my neck and slapped his hand. “What are you doing?”
    â€œSuck and screw,” Arlo said. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”
    I scooted away. “Not a chance.”
    Arlo looked me over, undeterred. “I’ll give you fifty dollars,” he said.
    â€œYou already owe me fifty dollars.” I stood up and backed away from the couch slowly, my hand slipping under my jacket , fingers touching the gun.
    Arlo stood and grabbed my arm before I could get a grip on the weapon. His fingers tightened at once and he pulled me toward the couch, not wasting time.
    â€œLet go!” I yelled.
    I pulled away and he yanked harder, forcing my body in the opposite direction from where I wanted to go. Mustering up all my strength, I leaned away, attempting to plant my feet on the g round and make myself immobile, but I was no match for a weight twice my own and all that extra muscle.
    It was maddening how easily he overpowered me.
    Arlo dragged me to the couch and pushed me down. No sooner did my butt hit the cushion than he was pinning me down with his weight.
    His heavy breath hit my face. I jerked beneath him. I made a fist and pounded him in the jaw.
    Arlo scowled.
    I pounded him two more times, followed by a head - butt.
    He grunted in pain as my own forehead throbbed from the contact. I pushed at Arlo’s chest, but the sucker’s body anchored my thighs to the couch like a steel trap.
    I twisted from side to side, but Arlo’s weight only shifted and forced me deeper into the c ushions .
    His lips drew back, roaring in outrage and e xposing the sharp points of his razor teeth. Before he had a chance to attack, I wrapped my arms around his neck and gripped him in a headlock.
    He pulled away.
    I held on.
    He stood up, taking me with him. I pulled him against me as though embracing a friend or a lover.
    With Arlo’s feet now planted on the ground and his hands free, I wouldn’t last long unless I amped up my own attack. My arms were busy holding his neck, leaving my teeth as the most viable option. At least I didn’t have to worry about catching anything. Vampirism had its perks. I leaned forward and bit through his flesh.
    Arlo screeched.
    Even as he