by Синтия Иден
The blonde led the guy with the thinning hair — the guy who’d just hurried out of his car and run to her — into the mouth of the nearby alley.
Jude shoved open his door.
“What are you doing? Jude—”
“She’s feeding. Come on!”
Feeding? Was that really the right word for it? Erin unhooked her seatbelt and bolted after him. Her stupid shoes didn’t make for the easiest of runs, but she kept up with him, snaking across the street and into the alley that reeked with the stench of garbage and sewage and hell knew what else and—
And the john was on the ground, head twisted to the side. The blonde was over him, her mouth working on his neck even as her fingers shoved into the front of his jeans.
Erin’s head jerked to the right. She really didn’t need to see this scene. Watching others screw wasn’t her idea of a good time.
“So what, drinking from the idiot isn’t enough? You’re robbing him, too?”
Now that had her gaze flying back toward the couple on the ground.
The blonde’s head snapped up and she glared at them with — was that blood dripping down her chin?
The guy on the ground gave a weak moan and whispered. “Don’t…stop…don’t—”
“Get out of here!” the woman screamed, her barely covered breasts heaving. Erin noticed that the hooker had the guy’s wallet in her right hand. Ah. So that was what she’d been looking for in his pants.
Jude took a step forward and a rat raced across the alley.
Not my kind of place. Erin braced her legs apart and tried to look like she wasn’t in the middle of hell.
The woman swiped her hand over the back of her mouth, leaving a red swatch on her chin. “Unless you’re a cop, you ain’t got no business—”
Jude growled. A low, menacing rumble that wasn’t human. Not even close.
The woman rocked back, eyes widening. “Wh-wh—”
“Don’t stop!” A fierce cry from the man. His eyes were open, but he didn’t seem to be staring at anything. Erin wasn’t even sure he’d noticed them.
The woman’s lips peeled back, and Erin caught sight of her teeth.
Fangs.
Vampire?
The hooker shifted, moving like a snake on the ground as she sized them up and put her prey between them.
Her eyes — why hadn’t Erin noticed the woman’s eyes before? They were black. A vamp in hunting mode.
Erin’s breath jerked out. She’d only ever seen two vampires—okay, three now—in her life. The assholes she’d seen before had done nothing to make her like the bloodsuckers, or even to have vague semi-warm feelings for them.
The first guy had jumped her in a park when she’d been in New Orleans. Her first week in the city. She’d broken his nose, possibly given him a concussion, then she’d run like hell.
And she’d run right into another vamp. The two had been some kind of sick team. Caging in their prey.
They’d picked the wrong prey.
That guy had gotten tossed ten feet. By the time he’d gotten up, she’d been gone.
But Erin had never forgotten their eyes or the stench of death that clung to them like a second skin.
“Come closer, and I’ll kill him,” the blonde grated, lifting her claws over the man’s throat.
Erin believed her. One swipe would be all that was needed to cut open his jugular and—
Jude lunged forward. He grabbed the man’s arm and jerked him away from the vamp in a lightning fast move. The vamp’s claws raked across the john’s neck and shoulders, drawing blood and eliciting screams from him.
Jude snapped, “Shut the hell up!” Then he shoved the guy away from him and away from the rising vampire.
The man’s eyes were finally open and aware. He raised a trembling hand to his throat and touched the trickling blood. His saucer-sized eyes stared first at Jude, then the vamp. After a few stunned seconds, he turned and ran.
“Now what are you gonna do?” Jude put his hands on his hips and sized up the vampire. “’Cause I doubt you’re gonna be able to take me.” Erin saw that his claws were out. “But, just for fun, why don’t you come and try?”
Well, damn.
So much for using the victim.
The vamp’s chin lifted and her eyes narrowed. “You know how hard it is to find a donor in this city? One who likes the bite?”
A donor. Nice way of putting it.
“Do I look like I give a shit?” Jude demanded. “Besides, I get the feeling you don’t care if your donors are willing or not.”
A smile from the vamp. One that probably would have been pretty, if the woman hadn’t been flashing bloodstained fangs. “No, I don’t.” Then her gaze shot to Erin.
Hell.
That toothy grin widened. “Hello, there.”
Jude’s hands flew up, and those claws were wicked sharp. “I don’t have much use for vamps, so let’s make this short.”
“Umm…and I don’t have much use for shifters.” Her gaze was still on Erin. “Even those who bring me pretty presents.”
Pretty what? Presents? And why had the blood ho been looking at her when she said that?
“She’s not for you.” Jude moved a bit to the right, putting himself between Erin and the vamp.
“Oh?” The woman’s voice was low, taunting. “And I’m to think she’s for you? Humans don’t go for shifters. Everyone knows that. They hate the beasts in you.”
Jude just shook his head. “I don’t have time for this shit.” He flew toward her. Seriously seemed to fly although Erin knew he had to have jumped or — or something. His hand locked around the vampire’s throat, and he lifted her up into the air. Her feet kicked out at him, her claws ripped at the flesh on his arms, but he didn’t even flinch. “I need information.”
She stilled, her claws buried in his arms. “And I need you”—she spat at him—“to get the fuck off my street!”
His fingers tightened.
She laughed. “Can’t…kill me…this way.” Her voice was hushed, broken, but her lips were still twisted in a smile.
Erin stepped forward. No, this wasn’t what she wanted, there had to be—
Jude lifted the vamp higher, then threw her back.
“Jude!”
The vamp twisted in midair, and landed easily, too easily on her feet. Then she charged, running fast for her prey.
Not Jude.
Me.
Jude snarled and reached for the vamp, but she struck out, swiping her claws over his chest and arms and sliding right through his grasp. She came toward Erin, laughing, mouth wide, fangs bared, eyes too dark and—
Erin punched her as hard as she could, right in the face, aiming for that wide, gaping mouth and those freakishly long fangs. There was a crunch, then a crack, and something flew to the ground.
Then the vampire fell backwards, hard.
Before she could rise, Jude was there, crouched over her, his claws at her throat. “Never said she was human,” he murmured.
The vamp stared at Erin in horror. There was more blood on the vamp’s mouth now. No, more blood coming from her mouth.
Erin glanced down at the broken cement. What was that? Was it a—
“My tooth!” At least, that’s what Erin thought the vampire said. It was a bit hard to understand her.
“It’s not like it won’t grow back.” Jude’s voice was mild.
The vamp heaved against him, but his hold was unbreakable. Erin glanced around the alley, then back at them, worried someone else would come by.
“But your head, now that’s a different matter.” His smile sent a shiver through Erin. “That won’t be growing back once it’s cut off. And if you don’t answer my questions, fast, well, I’ll just have to start using my claws.”
Erin tensed. He could do it. The surefire way to kill a vamp was to take off the head. A tiger’s claws could cut through bone and muscle so easily.
No. They hadn’t come to kill. Just to get information.
How long had she been in the city? Taking her donors — willing and not? How long?
And I never knew.
No, she hadn’t wanted to know. She’d been working her cases, taking down the humans who broke the law, thinking she was safe in her little town. Far away from the Other.
She’d been so wrong. Dead wrong.
“I’m looking for a wolf shifter.”
The vamp froze beneath him.
Her eyes gave her away instantly.
“You know where the wolf is, don’t you?” His claws broke the skin of her neck, just a bit. Blood welled.
“You…don’t want to…find the wolf.” The vamp pulled her head back, trying to ease away from those claws. “Kill…you.”
“Yeah, well, don’t worry about me. I think I’ll be just fine.” He leaned in a bit closer. “While you — you’re gonna find it real hard to keep bloodsucking without a head.”
That would be a challenge. Erin cleared her throat. “Jude…” She wasn’t going to let him do this. Couldn’t let him.
“My rules, Erin, remember?” He didn’t glance her way. The air in the alley was thick and hot and sweat trickled down her back.
“Mort’s Bar! S-seen the wolf…last Saturday.”
Mort’s Bar. Erin’s breath rushed out. She knew the place. The owner, Jacques, was old-school Cajun. And Mort…that meant death.
“Guess you get to keep your head.” Jude rose slowly, keeping his eyes trained on the woman.
“Asshole!” She scrambled to her feet. Her hand rose to her mouth and she touched the hole that had been her right fang. “Bitch!”
Erin stared back at her. The blood ho had been trying to attack her. Defending herself had been the only option.
“I hope the wolf…rips you apart!” Screamed at them. Then she was gone, bounding toward the back of the alley. Disappearing into the shadows.
Erin finally took a deep breath and tasted shit.
She choked back her gag.
“Come on,” Jude ordered. “Let’s get out of here.”
Yes, that sounded like a great plan to her.
Jude slammed the door to the motel room. He threw the lock and waited for Erin to pounce.
But she didn’t pounce. Didn’t glance his way. Didn’t speak.
Same routine she’d had in the car.
Hell, I let the vamp live. Shouldn’t that count for something?
“Erin.”
She jumped. Jumped. She’d been the one to knock the vamp’s tooth out, and, he was pretty sure she’d broken the blonde’s jaw.
The lady had a killer right hook.
He’d remember that.
“I — it’s late.” Said without looking at him. But, yeah, it was late.
Hitting close to three a.m. late. It had taken him forever to find a working girl he thought might be a vamp.
Same rules, different city. Vamps liked to get their prey in the easiest possible way.
Sex worked. Always had. Always would.
While the men were getting ready, so busy fantasizing and stroking their dicks, the vamps locked those teeth on ’em and took.
Some humans liked the pain of the bite.
Some were scared shitless.
Some fought. Some died.
Vamps didn’t usually care, no matter what the victim did.
Erin’s fingers rose to the front of her shirt and fumbled with the buttons.
Jude swallowed. Okay. She was stripping. Right in front of him. He could see the edge of her bra, dark blue. So if she was stripping here instead of heading to the bathroom, she wanted him to look and that meant—
Her fingers paused and she glanced up at him. The woman totally froze him with her stare.
It meant jackshit.
“You’re a hard man, Jude Donovan. Dark — darker inside than I realized.”
A slow rage began to simmer in his veins. He took a step toward her, then another. His hands fisted. “I’m not a man, sweetheart. You can’t make that mistake with me.”
Her lips parted. Pale and moist and he could see the tip of her tongue.
The beast inside lunged against his leash.
Maybe he’d let the tiger go. Show her how dark he really was.
“You’ve killed, haven’t you, Jude?” The top two buttons on her shirt were undone, but the striptease seemed to be over.
And the interrogation had begun.
He hadn’t lied to her yet. Wouldn’t start now. So he kept his eyes on hers, didn’t look at those sweet breasts, and left the leash in place, for now.
“Hell, yeah, I have.” And to protect himself, or her, he’d do it again. In a heartbeat. “Want to know how old I was the first time? Want to know how I did it? Want to know who I—”
She turned away from him, and he clenched his jaw, biting back the words. What the fuck did she want? She knew what he was. She’d seen everything. Every fucking thing.
Man to beast.
She hadn’t run. She’d turned to him. Taken him after the brutal shift. But now, because he’d gotten rough with the undead scum in order to help her, Erin was acting like he wasn’t good enough for her.
Because maybe I’m not.
He hadn’t told her about his folks. Not yet. With that asshole after her, he just hadn’t wanted to—
Make her run.
Make her fear me.
“I want to be normal.” A whisper that he could hear all too easily. “I want a normal life, normal—”
He lunged across the room. Grabbed her elbow and spun her back around. He was afraid, very afraid, that her next word would be—
Lover.
I want a normal lover.
He sure didn’t fit that bill. “You’re not normal. You’re damn better than normal. Normal isn’t for us. Fire, lust, the power of the beast—that’s for us. Ball games and barbecues aren’t our cup of tea.”
She didn’t blink. Just stared up at him, her gaze stark.
He fought to pull back the fury. Because she was slipping away.
Standing right in front of him, but slipping away.
No.
“I’ve killed, and if it comes to it, I’ll kill again. My job’s not easy.” Hunting freaks like Burrows sure wasn’t easy, and he had the scars to prove it. But someone had to do the dirty, bloody work. He’d been born stronger than others so hunting, yeah, he could do it. Sometimes, he needed to do it. “And yes, there’s darkness in me, but, sweetheart, that same darkness is in you.”
He’d seen it from the beginning.
Her lashes lowered.
Then, softly, she said, “I know.” She looked up at him again. “That’s what scares me.”
What?
Her hands lifted to his chest and he felt the sting of her claws press into his flesh.
“Erin, what are you—”
She rose on her toes and kissed him. Not an easy kiss. Hard and fierce, bruising in its strength.
The tiger jerked free of his leash.
They fell onto the bed. Hands ripping, fighting the clothing. Mouths taking. Hearts pounding.
He tossed her bra across the room, then caught her breasts in his hands. The nipples were tight and hard and when his fingers plucked them, she moaned into his mouth.
Fuck.
He pushed her onto her back and took her breast in his mouth. Jude sucked and licked and bit and had her arching off the bed toward him. The scent of her rich cream flooded his nostrils and the drumming beat of his heart just grew louder in his ears.
Her claws raked down his back.
His shirt was gone — hell knew where.
He caught the waistband of her skirt and yanked it down, jerking her panties away at the same time.
My turn.
Jude shoved her thighs apart. He eyed the ripe flesh just waiting for him. Dark pink, plump, glistening and—
He put his mouth on her. Jude swi
ped his tongue over the button of her need, got that taste of sweet and tangy cream and wanted more.
So he took more.
Her hips slammed up toward him as he drove his tongue inside of her. She came against his mouth, shuddering, legs trembling around him, but he didn’t stop.
No, he wasn’t even close to stopping.
More. More.
Lips and tongue took. Learned every curve. Every secret. Drank up her taste and had her twisting against him.
“Jude! Jude!”
His head lifted and his tongue snaked over his lips. Damn but she was beautiful.
Spread and open, ready for him.
She might not be his forever, but he’d take her for as long as she’d let him.
“Roll over.” Guttural.
He heard the rasp of her breath. The hitch that could have been fear or hesitation, but he also caught the surge of her arousal. The thickening of that rich scent in the air.
One thigh lifted over him and she rolled onto her stomach.
“No, like this.” He caught her waist, lifted her up onto her knees. That perfect heart-shaped ass stared him right in the face.
Damn.
Her palms pressed into the mattress and she rose up, glancing back over her shoulder. “Now.”
Yeah, oh, yeah, now.
He gripped his cock in one hand. Pushed the head toward the gleaming entrance of her sex. Sank deep.
This time, he was the one to moan.
She gripped him, squeezing so tight he thought he’d go insane and he withdrew, only to thrust deep again.
Even as she slammed back against him.
The rhythm was wild, unsteady. Deep and hard. Sweat slickened his body and the bed sagged beneath them.
Thrust. Her ass was so soft and round.
Thrust. She gripped him so tight. Fuck!
Thrust. His. She was his.
The release barreled through him, a white-hot burst of pleasure that rocked every cell in his body.
He moved by instinct. Jude clamped his mouth over her right shoulder. That sweet, sweet curve near her neck. Pleasure spot.
And he bit.
Her sex contracted around him as she came.
The power of his release seemed to double. Emotions flooded through him. Needs. Whispers of longings he’d buried years ago.
Erin.
He held her tight, held her wrapped in his arms and rode out the fury of the climax.