by Mary Abshire
"They're violent," I said.
"Yes. Whoever is killing them has a serious problem." He scooted closer to the desk, then placed his hands over the keypad. "I found something else interesting. None of the victims had stab wounds on their hands or arms."
"That's odd. If someone was coming at me with a knife, I'd fight them, and probably get cut on my arms."
"Exactly. None of them had any marks."
"Do you think they are after something from the victims? Did the demon know them?" I took a step back and shifted my weight from one leg to the other.
"I don't have enough information to make a good guess. The reports say the victims were stripped of cash, but not credit cards or jewelry."
"Were the bodies harmed in any other way?"
Drake's brow rose. "Harmed?"
"Did the demon do anything else to the victims?" I tried to avoid words such as played with, mutilated, or raped. The thought sickened me that a person would do such things, but I knew sickos did.
He shook his head. "No."
Lightly biting my tongue, I paced in the room. A violent demon stabbed people, then stole their souls and money. Why would a person—no, a demon—do such a thing? How long had they been killing? Did they just start, or was it an addiction? And why weren't people fighting back? Was the demon taking their souls first? No, that couldn't be the answer since the demon stabbed some of the victims in the back.
"You still have not told me what is on your mind," Drake said.
I stopped pacing near the door. "I'm thinking about the kind of demons who steal souls."
"You know what I am talking about," he said, smiling. "Our agreement from earlier. You owe me an answer and I intend to get it."
Get it? Oh, I could give it, but why not make him work for it? "And I seem to recall telling you to give me what I want and I will tell you. Well, Mr. Dark Eyes, you still owe me."
"Mr. Dark Eyes?" Drake slowly rose from the chair. "I owe you?"
I took a step back, placing myself in the doorway. Any closer and I'd run. He'd have to catch me and work for the answer.
"I fulfilled my obligation," he said, his head slightly tilted to the side. His pupils swelled.
I licked my lips. "Only to an extent. We were interrupted."
"You are teasing me." He took a step toward me.
Grinning, I darted down the hall, then raced down the stairs. Footsteps came fast behind me. I had no hope of escaping him, but that was all part of the fun. And he knew it.
Drake caught me two steps past the staircase. He picked me up and my legs flew in front of me. He carried me into the bedroom, all while I laughed, screamed a little, and wriggled in his arms. Reaching the bed, he let go and I fell onto the soft mattress.
I quickly twisted around to face him. Below his curled upper lip, two sharp teeth said hello. Amusement played on his face. He grabbed my legs and yanked me toward him.
"Do you refuse to tell me after we agreed—"
"Refuse is such a strong word. I don't refuse. I simply want something in return," I said with a playful smile.
He lowered his body over mine, then rubbed his solid cock against me. Damn, he felt so good and ready.
"I intend to get my answer," he said before he pressed his lips to mine. He kissed me tenderly.
I raked my fingers through his soft hair, brushing it away from his face. "Show me how badly you want it."
After a quick tug, my shorts came off. He showed me how much he wanted my answer, repeatedly, until my body was sore, throbbing with ecstasy, and totally exhausted.
****
A loud, deep rumble from my belly woke me from my slumber. Movement underneath me prompted me to open my eyes. Blinking the sleepiness away, I lifted my head, but only enough to rest my chin on Drake's chest. Like most times when I awakened, he was watching me.
"I never tire of hearing your body make such sounds." He brushed the hair from my eyes, dragged his fingers down the side of my face, then grazed them under my lips. "Nor do I mind your drool."
If I had been fully awake, I would have laughed. What kind of man said they liked body noises and drool? He was either nuts, or insanely in love. I wagered on the latter.
"I must have dozed off," I said, voice scratchy and hoarse from all the screams of elation earlier.
He offered a warm smile. "You did, and I was not going to wake you." He glided his cool fingers along my back, sending little chills over my flesh.
"What time is it?"
Drake turned his head to the nightstand next to him. "Almost one. I have a few hours before my plane leaves. That is, if I am going to leave."
"What do you mean, if?" I asked, worried.
"You have yet to tell me what is bothering you."
I inhaled a deep breath, realizing I couldn't delay it any longer. "Will you promise me that you will still go if I tell you?"
Drake's expression hardened, looking serious. "No, Jessie. No more deals. No more promises. Not when it concerns your safety."
I lowered my eyes, knowing I couldn't delay telling him about Gabe any longer. "Someone recognized me when I was with Donnie and Gail."
"Who? A demon?"
I traced the tip of my finger around Drake's nipple. "No. A werewolf."
He snatched my finger and squeezed gently. "Who, Jessie?"
"Gabe."
Drake rolled me over onto my back. He gripped my arms. "The werewolf who kidnapped you and nearly killed you? Are you trying to end up dead? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you are reacting exactly the way I knew you would."
He growled, twisted, then leaped from the covers, shaking the bed. "I can't believe you hid this from me for this long."
I sat up and watched his naked body head toward the bathroom. His butt cheeks jiggled ever so slightly.
"It's okay—"
"No, it's not!" he snapped.
I blew up a puff of air, fluttering my bangs. Yeah, I should've told him, but his reaction would've been the same. I was certain of it.
He strode out of the bathroom carrying a pair of dark slacks and a sweater. "I should not go. I should stay here." Anger laced his tone as he threw the clothes on the bed.
Should, but he was going.
He ran his fingers through his hair and pierced me with his dark eyes. "Do you know how angry, how utterly devastated I would be if something happened to you?"
"Nothing will happen," I said in a calm voice.
"But you cannot guarantee anything. How did you even make it out of that bar?"
"Another demon, Leon, saw Gabe was starting trouble. He stopped Gabe, and forced him to get out."
Drake placed his hands above his hips. "I don't like this one bit. Someone who tried to kill you is in town and you want me to fly off to rescue your best friend. I must be a fool."
I leapt to my feet on the bed, then walked across the mattress. From his words and tone, I sensed he doubted his decision to go. Somehow, I had to convince him I'd be okay while he was gone. I threw myself at him. My naked body slapped against his as he caught me.
"You are not a fool," I said as he set me on my feet. I kept my arms around his neck. "You are the love of my life and I want to spend every day with you. You are the most gracious, loving, honest, and devoted man I have ever met. I'm the idiot for not telling you sooner about Gabe."
Drake captured my face in his hands. "I cannot fathom a world without you. Knowing that I am leaving you alone here with him in town is acid to my soul. It pains me in the worst way possible."
I swallowed hard. "I will stay here. He doesn't know where we live. When you get back, we can find him."
"No, Jessie, I will find him. You will not leave the house until I have removed him. If he has territory here, he can have everyone in his pack looking for you."
My heart pumped so strongly. The heavy thumps vibrated in my throat. An entire pack looking for me with their keen sense of smell? I would be riding the express train to Hell in a few days, if that
long.
"You're right. I should stay here for now." I covered his hands with mine. "I'm not going anywhere."
He slid his arms down, then closed them around me.
I pressed my ear to his chest and embraced him. "I'm sorry, Drake." I listened to his body and heard only silence. No heartbeat. No breathing. No whines or gurgles. How could such a creature vow their love to me? What did I do to deserve his affection?
Tears bubbled in my eyes. I was such an idiot for not telling him about Gabe sooner. He destroyed a member of an organization he valued and risked everything for me so we could be together. And here I was, taking it for granted. I didn't deserve his love.
"I'm so sorry. I was wrong, so very, very wrong not to tell you." A tear escaped from one of my eyes.
Drake lifted my face and wiped the moisture with his thumb. "You are by far the most dangerous, yet passionate woman…"
I chuckled. Dangerous? Yep, danger followed me like flies seeking shit.
He kissed my lips. "I will return in twenty-four hours and I expect to see your loving face waiting for me."
"You can bet your soul I will be waiting for you."
He threaded his fingers into my hair and held me. "I love you, Jessie. Give me eternity and I will make every day special."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Eternity was a long time, but I couldn't think of life without him. Love was more than a feeling of the heart and soul.
"All right," I said softly. "Eternity it is."
Chapter Twelve
Drake nearly squeezed the life out of me as we said our goodbyes standing in front of the door. The smell of his leather jacket seeped into my nose, overpowering his rosemary cedar wood scent. Although he would only be gone twenty-four hours, the weight of his leaving crushed my heart. I wanted my vampire lover home with me.
He released me from his embrace and kissed my lips. "I will call you as soon as I settle into the hotel." His black hat covered his head, hiding most of his brown locks.
"I will be anxiously waiting to hear your voice," I replied before I kissed him back. His energy, calm and cool, soothed my anxiety.
"You make it extremely difficult to leave," he mumbled with his lips still touching mine.
Sighing, I unlocked my arms from around him, then took a step back. "Hurry home so we can begin spending eternity together." And I meant every word.
As I gazed into his loving eyes, a small part of me feared becoming a vampire, if I could even become one. In my heart, I knew I'd made the right decision, knew I'd be happy with Drake, forever and ever. The question I had yet to decide was when did I want to become a vampire? I'd turned twenty-five two months ago. Did I want to wait until I was thirty? At least I had time to think it over.
Drake touched the side of my face with his gloved hand. "You can be sure I will not waste a minute away from you." Grinning, he bent over and grabbed his overnight bag. When he rose, he faced me. "Promise me you will stay here." His strong eyes revealed a hint of worry.
"I promise," I replied without hesitating.
We kissed one last time, then he strode off into the cold air. Watching from the small windowpane next to the door, I saw Anthony's sedan idling in the driveway. Steam from the exhaust swirled around the tail end of the vehicle. Drake walked around the car, tossed his bag in the back, then settled into the passenger seat in the front. I held my hand to the window as the car backed out, taking my lover away from me.
A heavy feeling pressed on my heart as I strolled down the steps. The loss of him saddened me. He would be away one day, just one little day. I could survive one day of loneliness, couldn't I?
After turning the corner, I ambled into the living room, heading for the kitchen. What was I going to do until Drake called me? I could do laundry, surf the web, apply for that job I was interested in, snack some, and watch television. Hell, I had plenty to do. Yeah, but I was doing it all alone. What fun was that? All along, I'd thought I needed a little time to myself, but now that I had it, I didn't want it.
I stopped at the refrigerator and opened the two doors. Frozen entrées, ice cream, and meat filled the freezer. Below, the shelves were packed with various condiments along with coffee, soda, cheese, butter, packaged meat, fruit, and yogurt. My belly rumbled, telling me it was hungry, but nothing appealed to me. On second thought, I shifted the container of ice cream to see the flavor. Oh, Snickers—my favorite. I snatched the container, shut both the doors, then grabbed a spoon from the drawer. Ice cream always cheered me up.
I ascended the stairs for a change, having decided to spend time in the upper part of the home. Pausing at the top, I realized for the first time just how big the house was and how small I seemed. To my left was another living area with a big screen television, mini-bar, and a fireplace. A hall extended to my right, which led to four open doors. Plenty of room for Dani, Drake, and I to live comfortably.
I rounded the corner, then plopped myself on the sofa. Getting comfortable, I curled one leg underneath the other. In a day I'd have both my best friend and my lover back. Maybe my life could return to some form of normalcy.
I picked up the remote control from the coffee table, then pressed a button. The television made a quirky digital sound as it came to life. Holding the ice cream between my legs, I slowly flipped through channels. Given the lateness of the day, I found a plethora of news. I set the remote next to me, leaving it on a local channel.
As I devoured the Snickers ice cream and stared at the TV, I became acquainted with all the local happenings, good and bad. The hockey team was on a winning streak. The weather called for more flurries. Dog sled races were starting in a week. In Anchorage, someone had broken into another thrift shop, and a large fire had destroyed a small outlet center. Halfway into the next news program, I scraped the bottom of the ice cream tub. Melancholy returned with the reality I was stuck alone in a house for the next twenty-four hours.
At the top of the hour, I set the empty container with my spoon inside on the coffee table. Slouching back on the sofa, I thought about the conversation Drake and I had before he left. He mentioned Gabe might have a pack here. At the bar, Gabe had told me I was in his territory. What if he did have a pack here? Drake couldn't take on a whole pack by himself any more than I could hide inside a house forever. What were we going to do?
A dog sled team appeared on the screen. The owner of the dogs—rather, wolves—spoke about training them, caring for them, and his plans for traveling across the state. Close-up shots of the beautiful animals held my attention, especially the one with green eyes and light brown fur. I'd seen beautiful green eyes on a werewolf before.
I sat up, pulse beating faster. Alan, the werewolf I'd helped in Phoenix, had green eyes. He expelled Gabe from his pack and owed Drake a favor. Alan nearly died after the challenge, but Drake had saved him on my request. Maybe Alan could help us.
After I shut off the TV, I grabbed my empty bucket, then jogged down the stairs. I tossed the container in the trash, then dropped my spoon in the sink, where it clinked against the stainless steel. Spinning around, I headed for the office.
Though I hadn't spoken to Alan since the challenge, I held confidence he'd speak to me. The werewolf and I had hit it off during the short time I'd stayed in Phoenix. Alan was kind, generous, and damn hot with his tattooed, muscular body. Since Drake had been gone for six weeks at the time, I’d questioned our relationship. Alan tempted me, but I rejected him, as my heart yearned for Drake. Alan respected my feelings. He also left the door open for me if I ever changed my mind.
I flipped the pages of my notebook until I located the one with all my numbers listed. Finding Alan's number, I entered the digits in my phone. As I held the cell to my ear, my anxiety got the better of me. What would I say? Hello, Alan, remember me—the half-demon you almost made out with? How corny did that sound?
"Vandett Trucking, can I help you?" a female voice asked.
I assumed the female was his secretary. "Hi, my name is Jessie Garrett.
I'm calling to speak with Alan. Is he available?"
"One moment, Ms. Garrett," she said before the line became silent.
Spotting the chair, I lowered myself onto the black leather.
"Ms. Garrett?" she asked.
"I'm here."
"Hold on while I connect you," she said.
More silence carried over the connection. My heart pumped harder while I wondered what Alan would say. I swiveled in the chair, waiting to hear his voice.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Alan, it's Jessie. I'm not sure if you remember—"
He chuckled in a soft and arousing tone. "Jessie Garrett, how can I ever forget you? Gorgeous blue eyes, dark hair, beautiful smile, and a body I would love to—"
"Okay, I guess you might remember me." I fanned myself with my free hand. Hearing his sexy voice talk dirty was enough to make my temperature rise.
"I never forget such a unique creature. How have you been these last several months?"
Seeing how I had plenty of time on my hands, I leaned against the chair and told him everything about the VETOV, distancing myself from Jeremy, and running off with Drake.
"I'm glad you separated from Jeremy," Alan said.
"He had his issues, but he was a good man."
Alan chuckled. "You are too generous. We both know what his agenda was."
Oh, I was quite familiar with Jeremy's personal agenda. The demon never stopped trying to get me into bed with him. Still, he taught me how to fight and protected me with his life. He was a good friend. As much as I hated to walk away from him, our separation was the best thing for both of us.
"Well, I'm with Drake and he is caring for me. The VETOV are undoubtedly looking for us."
"You can be sure I will not tell a soul I have spoken to you," he said, his voice strong and commanding.
"Thank you. I know you will keep hush about us."
"Of course," he said. "Now, why have you decided to call me?"
"I thought you might like to know that where I'm staying, I ran into someone who worked for Vandett Trucking. You might remember him."
"Oh? Who is it?" he asked, curiosity in his tone.
"Gabe."