by Beverly Rae
Like you really give a damn. Mari scowled at him, unable to find words harsh enough to express her contempt.
“Damn, what the hell happened?”
Tucker’s back. Thank God. Mari turned to him, her mind whirling. “I-I’m not sure.”
The clamor continued for several minutes as the spectators rehashed what they’d witnessed and event coordinators tried to calm everyone down. Mari and Tucker took their seats, brushing off the media who tossed questions at them.
Had she heard what Bascom said to Judge Bean? Did she think Ramona was ill? What were her chances of winning against the champion? Mari shook her head, refusing to speak. Instead, she studied the evil man who had returned to his chair and was stacking his chips, acting as though nothing had happened.
“Ladies and gentlemen, would you please take your seats?” The announcer’s face was flushed with excitement, but he did his best to maintain a professional attitude. “Due to these unforeseen circumstances, we’re going to take an unscheduled break. Play will resume at three o’clock.”
Tucker took Mari’s arm and led her to a corner of the room. “We have to talk.”
She shook off his hold, then needing support, rested her back against the wall. He stepped closer, glanced around at the crowd and tucked his head next to hers.
“We have to talk.”
“You said that.” Her nerves were raw, and she wondered if she could handle any more surprises. “So talk.”
Tucker met her gaze. “You have magic.” He tilted his head as though daring her to lie. “You’re a witch, right?”
Fear whipped through her as she wondered whether to admit the truth. Could she trust him not to expose her? But she couldn’t deny it any more than he could deny the powerful energy she sensed coming from him. “I am. But what about you?”
He looked away for a moment, then back at her. Did he think he wouldn’t have to answer?
“I don’t have magic.”
“Okay, maybe not magic. But you have power. An energy. I can feel it.”
He glanced around, checking for anyone who might overhear. “Have you ever heard of the Cannons of Colorado?”
“No. Should I have? Besides, what do they have to do with—” she waved her hand outward, “—this craziness?”
“The Cannons are a group of people who all have the same, uh, condition.”
She blew out a breath, then ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t understand. What kind of condition?”
He studied her as though deciding what he could or could not say. At last, he took a long, slow breath and released it. “Lycanthropy.”
Her mind blocked out the noises around them. “Lycanthropy? Wait. Are you talking about werewolves?”
“Yeah, werewolves. I’m a member of the Cannon pack.”
His blue eyes twinkled. Was he kidding? Irritation burned in her gut. Enough was enough. “You’re telling me you’re a werewolf?”
He shushed her, putting a finger on her lips. “I don’t want everyone to hear. Do you?”
His touch ignited the low embers that had started the day they’d met. Unable to control her urge, she darted her tongue just past her lips to wet the tip of his finger. Tucker looked at the dampness glistening on his skin, then with his blue eyes flecked with bits of amber, he licked the tip of his finger and moaned.
“Damn, if only we had time right now.”
Mari swallowed, wanting the same thing he did, but she resisted—for now. “Don’t lie to me, Tucker. Werewolves don’t exist.” The image of his mouth, long teeth sticking over his lips, his eyes changing from blue to amber flashed across her mind. Could he be telling her the truth? She’d heard stories, but they were only stories, right?
Tucker snorted, then pushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. “You witches always amaze me at how little you know. Werewolves do exist. Trust me on this one.”
She accepted his answer with an imperceptible nod, her gut telling her what she’d seen was real, but she still couldn’t ignore the lingering doubt stiffening her spine. He was different, all right. But a werewolf? She closed her eyes, letting the impression she received from him soak into her. The dark energy she’d felt earlier floated beneath the surface. It wasn’t black like Bascom’s darkness, and it was pushed down, layered with the light of a purer energy on top. She just hoped Tucker had more light than dark inside him.
“Have you used your powers here?” If so, how had she missed it?
The corners of his mouth twitched upward. “Other than changing into a werewolf, I don’t have magical powers like you. Besides, I could ask you the same thing.”
“You could.” She bit her lower lip, her nerves still frayed. “No. I never use magic in poker. I prefer to use my natural skills. It’s not fair to the humans.”
“I agree.” He reached out to touch the spot he’d touched before, and once again, an overwhelming urge to suck on his finger trembled through her. “For your sake, you should stop biting your lip. It’s a major tell that you’re nervous.” He darted his hungry gaze between her eyes and her mouth. “But it’s one hell of a turn-on, too, so if it’s up to me, I hope you keep doing it.”
“I guess it depends on whether I want to play poker or play with you.” Kiss me, damn it. She closed her eyes, willing her pulse to slow down. Keep your mind on the game.
She sensed that he’d edged closer and she opened her eyes. His face was so close she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. “You know what, Mari Thornton?”
“What?” Her breathless question floated in the air between them.
“If a hundred or so people weren’t hanging out around us, I’d throw you on top of the table and fuck you like you’ve never been fucked.”
Her first thought was to act offended. But that would’ve been an act. She inhaled, drawing in his scent, and decided to take a risk. “You know what, Tucker Manning?”
“Yeah?”
“I’d let you.”
The wicked flash of his dimples weakened her knees. Running her hand along his shoulder, she struggled between what she had to do and what she wanted to do. “Unfortunately, we have a problem to solve first.”
Tucker’s frustrated reaction echoed her own. “You’re right.” He dipped his gaze to her lips before taking a deep breath and bringing his attention back to her eyes. “I think it’s pretty obvious Bascom’s using powers.”
“I agree. Did you see the way Ramona acted when he stared at her? She seemed like she’d lost control of her mind and her actions. Why else would she have bet the way she did?”
“Judge Bean didn’t behave the way a seasoned pro would act either. I’ve seen him in pressure situations, and he’s one of the coolest men around. For a human.”
“What does that mean? Don’t you like humans?”
“I like them well enough. But they don’t always have the coolest heads.” He regarded her, bringing butterflies to her stomach. “Still…I’m starting to like witches a whole lot.”
She blushed, could feel the heat in her cheeks. Tucker glanced behind him, drawing Mari’s attention with him.
Bascom sat at the table, his legs stretched out in front of him, his feet locked at the ankles, arms crossed. His face was a composed mask as he grinned into a television camera. The woman reporter interviewing him was entranced, her focus squarely on him. If she became more enamored, she’d probably end up drooling on his boots.
“Bascom must’ve cast a spell on Judge Bean and Ramona. I didn’t see it happen, but I can’t explain it any other way.” When Tucker didn’t respond, she added, “Tucker? What is it? Do you know something I don’t?”
“No. It’s just a feeling I’m getting. The answer’s at the back of my mind, but I can’t make it come to the front.” Tucker’s face closed up, concern etching lines in his brow. “He didn’t use an incantation. At least, not in the way you’d think. You didn’t see him utter a hex, did you? I sure didn’t.”
Mari studied Bascom again as though
she could see the answer on his face. But when he returned her appraisal she wished she’d never laid eyes on him. “No. He’s not using magic. At least not any kind of magic I know.” She shuddered. “I couldn’t like that man any less if I tried. He’s so cold, so unfeeling. And his eyes. Urgh, his eyes see right through you.”
Tucker went rigid, staring at her hard. “What did you say? Something about his being cold?”
“I said he seems so cold. Like if I touched him he’d feel like ice. Shoot, a cold wind swept over me when he looked at me.”
“Okay, let’s think about this. Bascom’s cold, and he has a power about him. Not a magical power, and he’s definitely not a werewolf.”
Mari nodded, intent on keeping her eyes off Bascom. “Right. Plus, when he was looking at the other players, he seemed to have a weird control over them. Like some kind of mind control.” She paused, dragging in a breath. She stiffened as an idea started forming. An uneasy part of her didn’t want the thought to come.
Tucker’s smile was anything but happy. “Okay, he’s cold, has some kind of power and can exert a strange kind of control over people. Plus, he’s the palest dude I’ve ever seen. Hell, the man looks like he’s never seen the sun. When you put all that together, what do you come up with?”
She glanced from Tucker to Bascom, running everything Tucker had said through her mind. But the answer she came up with didn’t make sense. At least not to a rational person. “Come on, Tucker. You’re not saying what I think you are.” She widened her eyes, hoping he’d laugh her fear away. “Are you?”
Tucker lifted an eyebrow. “You tell me, darlin’. I think we’re on the same page.”
“I know everything points to that conclusion, but they don’t exist except in fairy tales and scary movies. I’ve been all over the world, and I’ve never met one.”
Tucker took her by the arms, forcing her out of her denial. “You mean like werewolves and witches don’t exist? I’ve never met a ghoul before, but I know shifters who have. Not to mention demons and other supernatural beings.” He ran a hand through his hair. “So why not…vampires?”
“Can this be for real?” First a werewolf and now a vampire. And other supernatural beings existed, too? Hell’s bells.
“If I were a betting man—” Tucker’s grin grew wide, “—I’d go all in and bet he is. Worse, judging from the way he speaks, I’d say he’s an old one, which means he’s strong. Still, if what I’ve heard is true, most vamps, unlike our friend over there, prefer not to come out in public, much less put themselves in the limelight. He’s got to be mucho powerful to handle the scrutiny.”
Panic flowed through her even with Tucker nearby. “He’s using his vampire powers to win.” The alarm she’d felt before came to an abrupt end as fury took its place. “He glamoured them, didn’t he? Damn him. Will they be all right?” She glared at Bascom, the fury inside her boiling to the surface.
She pushed at Tucker, determined to make her way to the champion and do something, anything to prevent him from hurting someone else. “We have to stop him. I don’t know how, but we have to do something.”
Tucker’s fingers dug into her arms as he whirled her around and took her face between his hands. “Mari, calm down.”
“But we have to try.”
“I know and I agree. But going off on him in front of all these innocent humans would be dangerous. You don’t know what he might do. To you or to them.”
Mari’s heart pounded as she drew in one harsh breath after another. Bit by bit the anger subsided, but her resolve didn’t fade. “Then what do you suggest we do? Should we ask him very politely if he’ll please play nice?”
Tucker’s chuckle was just what she needed. “Damn, but you’re amazing when you’re angry. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true.”
Again, she felt her cheeks heat, but she had to keep her mind off the pleasure he could give her. “Stop it. We can’t think about things like you-know-what while that beast sits over there, free and clear after hurting people.”
“Look, Mari, I think you’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, but I realize what we’re up against. Can I help it if you still turn me on even during a crisis?”
The laugh burst out of her before she knew it was coming. “Tucker Manning, has anyone ever told you you’re crazy?” Those enticing dimples made another appearance, and her pussy tightened in response. The man might have been crazy, but he made her want to ride him anywhere, anytime.
“More times than I can count. So you’re just now figuring that out?” He slid his hands along her arms, then pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss, tender at first, deepened, growing from warm to blazing hot in seconds. Mari leaned into the kiss, then brought her arms up to clasp her hands behind his neck. He enclosed her in his arms, cocooning her from the outside world and all its problems. Their tongues danced together in her mouth, then she slipped hers out to tickle his lip and tease the corners of his mouth.
“Tucker? Mari? Are you two a couple?”
Surprise broke through the hazy fog of desire, propelling Mari away from Tucker. She rubbed her swollen lips and used the gesture to hide her grin. The reporter who’d asked the question thrust a microphone in front of her, but she waved her hands in front of her to ward him away. Tucker came to her rescue again, stepping between them and stating that they both had no comment to make.
He swept his arm around Mari and bent closer to whisper in her ear. “Stay cool, darlin’, and don’t look him in the eyes when he removes his glasses. I don’t know how, but we’ll figure out how to take this damn vampire down.”
Vampire. She hadn’t said the word, as though not saying “vampire” out loud would make everything Tucker had said untrue. Mari bit her lower lip, glanced at Bascom who sat grinning at her, then slid into her chair.
A vampire. Hell’s bells.
Chapter Four
Keep Your Damn Eyes off Me!
Relief swamped through Mari as the end of play was called. Thankfully, the earlier disruption had shortened game time. Otherwise, she doubted she would’ve been able to keep from going out. Keeping her head bowed and her eyes on her cards had kept her in the game—barely. But she had the short stack and a long way to make up tomorrow.
Blowing out a long breath, she stood, ready to forget the usual pleasantries at the end of a day’s play in favor of dashing out of the room. Anything to get away from Bascom.
“Mari.”
She couldn’t help herself. She had to look at him.
Ty Bascom locked his silver gaze on her, forcing her attention. The cold shiver she’d experience earlier shuddered through her again. But this time the chill grew even colder, freezing her until she had to clench her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering. A sense of foreboding overwhelmed her, enveloping her in a darkness that was almost tangible. She tried to move, tried to step away, but found her body wouldn’t respond. Panic gripped her, ripping thought away.
“Do forgive me for the familiarity. I should have asked your permission first. May I be so bold as to use your first name?”
She nodded, slowly, stiffly. Just let me go.
“Wonderful.” Bascom tilted his head to her. “And please, do call me Ty.”
Ty? The name didn’t fit. Not like Bascom did. Not like the word evil did. Yet she nodded again, unable to do anything else.
“I thought perhaps you would like to get a drink with me.” The corners of his mouth lifted as he arched an eyebrow at her. “Would you like to join me, my sweet? Perhaps even for a bite to eat?”
Mari wanted to shout at him, to tell him she didn’t want to be anywhere near him, much less sitting across from him at a dinner table. But her voice was lost.
“Mari.” Tucker’s hand on her arm jolted her out of the trance. “Let’s get out of here.”
Bascom’s cold, dead eyes shifted toward Tucker. “Let the lady speak for herself.”
She stepped closer to Tucker, relieved to be able to move again. But she still
wasn’t ready to confront Bascom. Fortunately, Tucker was ready to do it for her.
He let out a low growl and slid his arm around her waist. “Mari, what do you want? Do you want to go with Bascom?”
Tucker growled. Like a wolf. “No.”
Bascom’s eyes darkened, and Mari’s throat closed up. Frightened by his intense stare, she attempted to soften her answer. “I mean, I appreciate the invitation, but—” Her brain froze, unable to finish the sentence.
Once again, Tucker came to the rescue. “But she’s already accepted an invitation from me.”
Thank you, Tucker. Feeling like a bobblehead doll, she nodded again.
Bascom’s eyes lightened. Although his face was a mask of composure, fury intensified his stare. Mari leaned into Tucker, needing the extra support.
“Very well then.” The tiniest of sneers lifted the corner of his mouth. “Perhaps another time.”
Tucker pulled her away, giving her an excuse not to respond. Bascom’s look had shaken her more than she’d thought possible. Men had looked at her in many ways, but she’d never seen the type of hunger she’d seen in Bascom’s eyes. A hunger that wanted more than mere sex. He wanted her body and her blood. She clenched her fists, fighting off the bile rising in her throat. But she sensed he wanted more. Yet what more could he possibly want? Her soul?
She struggled to keep up with Tucker as he strode toward the exit. Once in the lobby, he pushed her against a wall, then flattened his hands on either side of her head. “Are you okay?”
The pounding of her heart thudded in her ears, and for a moment, dizziness swept over her. As though finding a life preserver in a turbulent sea, she found Tucker’s eyes, saw the worry in them, and met his gaze.
“Take slow and easy breaths. Don’t worry about doing anything else. I’ll take care of you.”
A whimper escaped her, but she didn’t care. The only thing she wanted was to feel safe in Tucker’s arms. Safe from the evil she hadn’t known existed until a few hours ago. She did as he’d told her, drawing in one breath, then releasing it in a long flow, until at last the cold left her body and her pulse returned to normal. Or at least as near to normal as it could get standing close to Tucker.