Oliver's Hunger (Scanguards Vampires #7) by Tina Folsom Page B

bad vampire.”
    Oliver clenched his teeth. “You’re not saving her from anything! I saw her first.”
    “What’s that got to do with it? She clearly doesn’t like vampires, and since I’m the only human around at the moment, don’t mind if I try my luck.”
    “You’re not gonna try anything, do you understand me?”
    “How are you gonna stop me?” Blake challenged.
    Many things came to mind as an answer: to rip his throat out was one of them. Shocked by his violent thoughts, Oliver dropped his hand and simply glared at him. Blake knew full well that he wouldn’t hurt him and thus draw Quinn’s wrath upon him. But it didn’t mean, he’d allow Blake to make a pass at the girl.
    “Why would she go for you? You really think you’re that charming?” he mocked.
    Blake grinned and pulled his stomach in, puffing his chest out like a peacock. “Oh, I am. Much more charming than you can ever be. Plus I have an advantage: I’m human. I’m afraid, for once, you’ve encountered a woman who isn’t gonna drop her panties for the mighty vampire.”
    Fuming at his claim, Oliver opened his mouth and let out words he wanted to take back a second later. “She’s already offered me sex!”
    A gasp from the door made him cringe.
    Shit, shit, shit!
    He shouldn’t have allowed Blake to provoke him. In slow motion, Oliver turned toward where Ursula stood in the door frame, staring at him in horror. Clearly, she hadn’t wanted anybody to know what she’d said to him in that dark street. Neither had he. Not only had he told Maya about it, which Ursula thankfully didn’t know, but now he was even bragging to Blake about it. Stupid move!
    “Guess my chances just went up,” Blake murmured.
    “Shut up!” Oliver hissed.
    Ursula glared at both of them. “If you think that I’ll spread my legs for either one of you, think again!”
    “But I’m human,” Blake said.
    “So are millions of other men in this country, and I won’t sleep with them either.”
    “But you don’t even know me yet.”
    Oliver couldn’t suppress a grin at Blake’s pathetic attempt to win her favor. At least it took the heat off him.
    “I’ve seen enough!” Then her eyes shifted and she stared at Oliver. “And what are you grinning at?”
    Instantly, he put on a serious face. “Just a facial tick. Don’t take any notice of it.”
    By the indignant look she tossed him, he realized she knew he was lying. But was she at least giving him points for originality?
    She huffed, obviously lost for words, and turned, slamming the door behind her.
    One nil for the vampire . At least he still had a chance.
    “No way did she offer you sex.” Blake’s incredulous words made him turn his head.
    He wouldn’t be goaded into giving any more secrets away than he already had, such as that Ursula had kissed him—quite passionately at that. This time, his half-brother would not provoke him into saying something he didn’t want to divulge. Therefore Oliver simply shrugged.
    “Think what you want.”
    It was bad enough that Maya knew about it. He could only hope that she didn’t pass this piece of information on to Gabriel. Knowing his sense of propriety, he’d pull him off this case instantly and have somebody else watch her. Not that it was a real case yet. At the moment it was nothing more than Oliver helping a girl in trouble. Whether this had anything to do with Scanguards would unfold soon, he hoped.
    In the meantime, he should mend what he’d screwed up.
    When he put his hand on the doorknob, he felt Blake’s hand on his shoulder. “Hey, what are you doing?”
    Oliver gave him a pointed look. “What’s it look like? I’m going into the living room.” He shook off his hand. “So if you wouldn’t mind . . . ”
    “Not alone, you’re not.”
    “Don’t you have anything better to do than spy on me?”
    Blake’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t have to spy on you if you knew how to behave.”
    “That’s rich, coming from you! If I