by Gena D. Lutz
As Ryker pulled a plastic container filled with clear liquid from his jacket pocket, he said, “That’s easy. We douse the sucker with holy water.”
Catching a chill, Sonnet pulled the ends of her jacket together and looked away.
“Will it take long? Ya know, for him to dissolve or... whatever?”
Ryker approached the body, flask in hand.
“This shit eats through a vamp like acid times ten. So no worries. He’ll be gone in a jiffy.”
She took off for the car. The moment she sat down in the driver’s seat, she could hear the sizzling and popping of flesh in the distance. Ryker had started. She flipped the volume up on the stereo. Closing her eyes, she leaned against the headrest and let the music take her somewhere, anywhere, else.
“You’re upset.”
The dark voice startled Sonnet. Her eyes flew open, and she stiffened at the sight of the mystery guy from earlier. He was lounging in the passenger seat next to her, seemingly unfazed by his own abrupt arrival—comfortable with it even, like he belonged there, sitting next to her.
He had on different clothing. A pair of dark slacks and a blue silk shirt brought out flecks of silver in his irises, which she hadn’t noticed the first time.
The shirt was unbuttoned to his navel, showing off nipples lightly dusted with hair and a well-defined, muscular chest. His hair was pulled back and tied at the nape of his neck. The style sharpened his chiseled features.
She swallowed a yelp and then whispered harshly, “What the hell are you doin’ here?”
He smiled, showing off his straight white teeth.
“I wanted to see you again. Are you against receiving male callers?”
What the hell...?
Confused, Sonnet’s words stumbled out, “I... uh... umm, what?” Her head tilted to the side of its own accord. “Do you mean caller in the courtin’ sense of the word?”
He fingered the seam of his pants at the curve of his knee, deep in thought.
“It’s been a while since I’ve found a woman remotely interesting. So yes, I guess I do mean to court you.”
Sonnet had had many men try to woo her, but never a vampire, and never out of the blue. None of that mattered, however. She wasn’t interested in dating anyone. Men took up too much brain space, especially the handsome and uber mysterious type, like the weirdo seated next to her, who kept popping up without warning.
“Are you stalkin’ me?”
Moonlight streamed across the handsome canvas of his face, making it glow.
“No, I’m not a stalker. But I do wish to get to know you better.”
The answer to that was a no-brainer.
“Listen, I’m flattered. I think. And I’m sure you’re a real nice vampire, when you’re not bitin’ people, but I’m not interested. ”
His smile widened as he said, “I’ll make it my mission to change your mind.”
“Don’t bothe—”
Before she could get the rest of her objection out, he was gone. And in the space of a heartbeat, Ryker jumped into the seat the guy had just vacated.
“You look like you just saw a ghost. Did I miss somethin’?”
Sonnet stared past his shoulder, searching the woods in the distance, but there was no sign of him. She turned the key in the ignition.
“You don’t know the half of it.”
His dark eyes fogged over.
“Huh?”
She shook her head and gave him a thin smile.
“Never mind.”
Ryker’s nose twitched.
“Man, I can’t seem to shake the stench of vampire. I musta got it in my clothes.”
“Yeah.” She looked around one more time. “That must be it.”
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