Captivated: An Anthology (The Deep in Your Veins Series Book 6)

1421 Pages·2021·0.34 MB·english

by  Suzanne Wright

CAPTIVATED
A Deep in Your Veins Anthology
Suzanne Wright
Copyright © 2021 Suzanne Wright
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or
dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written
permission of the publisher.
Cover design by: J Wright
To the readers of the series, who've all so patiently waited for the next instalments.
SHATTERED
Max and Paige
If there was one thing Paige West thought she knew for sure, it was
that Max Kincaid did not like her. So when an argument between them ends
in an explosive kiss, she’s more than stunned. Even more shocking? He
proposes a deal—she’ll spend three nights in his bed, they’ll burn off the
relentless sexual chemistry, and then they’ll each go their own way. Sounds
simple. What could go wrong? Nothing, providing she can walk away
emotionally unscathed. The trouble is … she’s not so certain she can.
CHAPTER ONE
(Paige)
I paused in bopping my head to the music as my friend sidled up to
me, looking rather red in the face. “You’re blushing,” I said. “Why are you
blushing?”
Ava glanced around, ensuring no one at the afterparty was close
enough to overhear. “You can’t tell anyone. I mean, the guys probably
wouldn’t care, but they are kind of shy and likely wouldn’t be making out in
a dark corner if they were happy to go public.” She twiddled her fingers.
“What do you think?”
I turned to fully face her, now the height of intrigued. “I think you
need to tell me who’s getting it on.” But the small brunette hesitated. I
groaned. “Come on, Ava, you can’t let something like that slip and then
clamp those lips shut. Tell me who you saw making out.”
She leaned toward me and whispered, “David and Denny.”
My brows flew up. “Really? My, my, my.”
She smiled. “I know, right? I’m kind of excited, because they really
suit each—Dude, no, you can’t go look.”
“Oh, I only want a little peek. Guy-on-guy action can be hot.”
“Don’t be a perve.”
I snorted. “Like you don’t want to go watch more of the show.”
Ava tried stifling an impish smile but failed. “Okay, I kind of do. We
can’t, though. It would be wrong.”
“So very, very wrong. Which makes it hotter.”
“Girl, you’re in dire need of getting laid, aren’t you?”
Undeniably, but ... “We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about
David and Denny.” The two males were part of the Grand High Vampires’
legion made up of over a hundred vamps. There was only one female squad
—Ava and I were both part of it. “I’m not really surprised that this happened.
Something’s been brewing between them for a while.”
“I know. I hope it’s serious. They’re so cute together.” She let out a
dreamy sigh. “Let’s not say anything about it to anyone else. It’s their news
to tell. I know it’s hard keeping secrets on such a tiny island, but we can at
least let them be the ones to spread the news—or not.”
I nodded. “Agreed. We say nothing.” The aforementioned tiny island
was privately owned by the Grand High Pair and set in the Caribbean on
which our gated community known as The Hollow had been built. There was
no way to get bored here, because there was plenty of entertainment,
including a nightclub, cinema, and bowling alley.
Hearing a loud laugh, I looked over to see another of my squad
members, Alora, leaning into her mate, Evan, while chuckling at something
one of the many party guests was saying. I nudged Ava and tipped my chin in
Alora’s direction. “She looks so happy. And Evan looks so smug.”
Ava snickered. “Well of course he does. He’s been pressuring Alora
to Bind herself to him for a while now.”
I understood why Alora had hesitated to rush into anything with Evan.
It was no small thing to enter into a Binding considering a psychic link
formed between the couple that was so invasive your partner would feel your
emotions, hunger, mood, and even be able to sense your location.
For a long time, it was believed that such connections could only be
broken by death, but my best friend and fellow squad member, Imani, had the
ability to sever such links, including blood ties. Still, no one would ever make
such a commitment lightly.
Bindings were week-long celebrations that culminated in a beautiful
ceremony. The festivities featured everything from fancy dinners to
paintballing, depending on the couple. And as Evan was the Grand High
Pair’s Heir, master vampires had come from far and wide to attend.
The grand garden was decorated beautifully with butterfly lights,
torches, and candles. Many tables circled the man-made dance floor, which
was currently far from empty. Most of the dancers were vampires, but a few
were intoxicated humans—feeding from them was the only way our kind
could get drunk. Many vampires were blitzed at this point. And since such
celebrations could go on past dawn, most would be absolutely hammered
when the afterparty came to an end. It wasn’t unusual for some to crash on
the beach and sleep the day away after such events. Contrary to popular
belief, sunlight didn’t hurt us.
I was ever so slightly on the tipsy side, but I hadn’t fed from more
than one drunken human tonight. Mostly because I was still bloated from the
Binding feast. Vampires didn’t need solid food to survive, but we certainly
indulged.
“Evan’s looking mighty fine in that tux,” Ava commented. She slid
me a mischievous look before tipping her chin toward a particular cluster of
guys. “Max is looking rather dashing, too.”
I ignored the flutter in my stomach. It didn’t matter what the male in
question was wearing—he always looked like he’d just stepped right out of a
‘Sexiest Men Alive’ article. Long and lean and muscled, Max Kincaid was all
kinds of delicious. His watchful eyes made me think of a mountain lake—
cool, calm, startingly blue. His mouth was nothing short of carnal; it could
curve into a warm, sexy as shit smile just as easily as a cruel, you’re-so-
fucking-dead grin.
He’d recently traded his military haircut for a classic short back and
sides … and damn if I didn’t have the occasional urge to run my fingers
through the rich brown strands he’d allowed to grow. I also wouldn’t mind
doing a personal inspection of his rock-hard abs, or maybe giving that epic
ass of his a little squeeze.
At Ava’s expectant look, I sniffed and said, “He scrubs up well.”
She gave me a look that said she was not buying my apparent
disinterest. And so she shouldn’t. It wasn’t my fault that he was so alarmingly
seductive. He possessed the kind of appeal that any woman would be
susceptible to. Especially with that air of complete control that held just a hint
of wildness—it was totally bad boy.
More, he walked with the smooth stride and undauntable composure
of any apex predator, like a jungle cat prowling through the underbrush. My
hormones honestly didn’t know what to do with themselves around him.
“He’s not sleeping with Ursula anymore,” said Ava.
Yes, I’d heard. The female had apparently thought he intended to
commit to her. It seemed that she was wrong. And I’d be lying if I said a part
of me wasn’t relieved about it. Which was a little unfair of me, but there was
no changing it. “Hmm.”
“Ooh, are we pretending you’re totally unaffected by the news and,
more, that you don’t want to jump his bones?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what we’re doing. So glad you’re on board.”
She sighed. “Fine. Just know you’re not fooling me. I see how much
you like him, and I’m thinking it’s a two-way street.”
Okay, now she was just confusing me. “Perhaps you haven’t noticed
that he actively avoids me.”
Ava’s brow creased. “No, I have. While he never really sought you
out in the past, he also never went out of his way to not be around you …
until recently. There’s this weird, thick, crackly tension between you now.”
There was. It felt unstable and precarious and filled with things left
unsaid. I had the feeling that was why Sam and Jared—a couple who were
not only the Grand High Pair, but also the commanders of our squads—had
forced Max and me to train together several times. They were probably
worried that the aforementioned tension would somehow translate into
something bad on a battlefield.
“I thought you guys had a disagreement or something,” Ava added.
“That would require us to actually talk to each other, and we don’t do
that outside of legion situations. He might occasionally say hi to me in
passing, but I usually just get a nod or half-smile.” He was uber social with
everyone else, though.
All charm and confidence, Max was the kind of guy who could walk
into a room and talk to anyone about anything. He had a way of sucking
people in, putting them at ease, and making them feel good about themselves.
“He’s not rude to me,” I went on. “Just indifferent.” Which kind of
hurt.
“I’m not so sure he is truly indifferent to you.”
“Give me one good reason why he’d fake aloofness towards me. He
doesn’t play mind games with women. If he’s interested in a woman, he has
no problems letting her know. But he’s never once flirted with me. Not even
when drunk off his ass.”
“But he did defend you when Stuart badmouthed you.”
“If Max hadn’t, one of his other squad members would have. They
look out for our squad, just as we look out for theirs.”
“Stuart accused him of having a thing for you. Max didn’t deny it.”
“He also didn’t confirm it, and he’s never done anything that would
suggest Stuart was right.”
Ava’s shoulders drooped, and her face set into a mask of
disappointment. “I can’t deny that. But don’t be so sure Max isn’t interested
or that you have him all figured out. He isn’t quite as one-dimensional as he
seems.”
Oh, I already knew that. He came across as so open and outgoing that
it was easy to miss that he held back parts of himself and never fully let down
his guard. “Did you know he never feeds from his bedpartners? I’m not just
talking during sex, I’m talking at all. He doesn’t let them drink from him
either.” I wondered if it felt too intimate to him; if he felt that he needed to
keep something of himself back and, in turn, wouldn’t take too much from
them.
“It’s unusual, but some vampires are like that. Ursula didn’t seem
pleased that Max is one of them. Speaking of Ursula, she keeps casting you
very unfriendly looks.”
I tracked Ava’s gaze and sighed inwardly. Ursula stood with a few of
her friends, muttering to them angrily. I’d caught her glaring at me a few
times, but I’d ignored it. I was not going to start shit at my friend’s party.
“Before you ask, I have no clue what her problem is. She’s never been all that
nice to me, but she’s never been uncivil or downright hostile either.”
“Weird, huh?” Ava pursed her lips. “I never got the impression that
Max was serious about her. Did you?”
“I’ve never gotten the impression that he’s been serious about anyone.
I don’t think he wants to be. He seems out to have fun. That’s why I wouldn’t
have made any moves of my own even if he had shown interest in me. I want
a partner. I want what you and Salem have,” I added, referring to a member
of Max’s squad.
“You’ll find it.”
“Given we live on an island where the ratio of men to women is like
60:1, you’d think it wouldn’t be too hard for me to find a guy. But once they
realise I’m not just looking for something sweet and shallow, they get wary.”
“Because you’re not just any woman. You’re part of Sam’s personal
female squad. They’re terrified she’ll kick their ass if they hurt you. Also,
you’re a total badass yourself. Some guys find that intimidating.”
Deadpanned, she added, “Max doesn’t.”
No, he didn’t, but … “Max isn’t an option.”
“Well, is there anyone you have your eye on? Personally, I’d turn my
attention to Damien. He’s a total hottie.”
I hummed in agreement. “He also keeps staring at that cute little
human waitress. Reuben and Ian seem to be teasing him about it.” While
Reuben was a member of Max’s squad, Ian belonged to another. He and
Reuben had been dating for a while now. “Ah, your very own hottie is
heading this way.”
Salem was big and badass and gruff. But then, most Pagori vampires
were moody. They were also the strongest and fastest of the three breeds, but