He also worked out. Sure, he sometimes lifted weights with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, but he did it.

Abel could still tear him limb from limb.

“That won’t be a problem. I haven’t known him very long, but so far he’s been pretty good at taking care of me.”

Abel turned and aimed his eyes my way.

I felt the look in them in my nipples, at my clit, and curving around my heart.

When Dad spoke again, I tore my eyes away and looked at my lap.

“All right, precious girl, gotta kick Charlene’s ass out, rally the boys, and get on the road. Hang tight. I’ll call you tonight and let you know when to expect us tomorrow.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

“Love you, Lilah.”

“Love you more.”

“Love you most, baby.”

He did.

I tried, I tried hard, but he definitely loved me most.

“’Bye.”

“Later,” he replied and I heard him hang up.

The microwave sounded and I looked that way.

“You drink bagged blood?” I asked.

Abel pulled out the bag and turned to me. “You gonna be squeamish?”

“I, um…well, probably.”

I mean, it was blood.

“Can drink it in the hall,” he offered.

“It’s your house, Abel,” I pointed out, though it wasn’t a house so much as a room.

“Can drink it in the hall, Delilah,” he repeated.

I didn’t repeat like he did. Instead, I told him, “People I care about call me Lilah.”

He gave me that look again that I felt at certain very good parts of me.

“Drink your blood,” I said, wondering how on earth I was saying that in a serious way when it was total insanity. “I’ll start the bacon.”

I pushed up from the chair, avoiding looking at him and moving to the kitchenette.

I found a frying pan in the cupboard and I already knew where the knives were, so I nabbed one and sawed open the package.

I was laying the strips in when I felt him move, so I looked to the side and watched him use the toe of his boot to open a trash can I hadn’t noticed on the other side of the oven. He dropped the empty bag in.

That didn’t take long.

A shiver slid up my spine.

“Blue is blood, Lilah,” he said quietly, and I focused again on him. “White is regular trash. Yeah?”

I leaned back and saw there were two trash bins, one blue, one white. I righted myself, pressed my lips together, and nodded.

He moved my way and stopped close, looking down at the skillet.

“More,” he declared.

“What?” I asked.

He looked to me. “More bacon. You’ve only got four strips in there and I’ll eat four at least.”

I felt my brows shoot up. “You eat human food?”