“It’s nothing your kind doesn’t already know. And after you told me about your kind, why not? Besides, I thought we decided we were now friends. Both our kinds have coexisting for centuries. We might not necessarily like or understand each other, but we’re not at war either.”
Devon parked the car qand opened the door for me and I entered the cottage. Although it was what you’d call charming. with a worn sofa and old armchairs covered with throws, I had to focus on more pressing concerns. What could we do to block out the sun?
The drapes were heavy, but would they be enough? As if reading my mind, Devon said, “I have trash bags, tarps, whatever we need to block the sunlight. That should do it, right?”
“Yes.” I felt the drapes. They were insulated so they should work fine. Even if some sun came through, as long as it didn’t directly shine on me, I’d be okay.
“Can we hang up some tarps where I’d sleep, just in case?”
“The bedroom,” he said hopefully. “With me?”
My voice came out with more of a hiss than I intended. “Yesss.”
Then it was Devon’s turn to choke up. “Uh, um, uh—excuse me one moment,” he said. “I have to make a call.”
“Everything all right?” I asked when he came back into the room.
“Yes. Just a little business I had to take care of.”
When he didn’t elaborate, I sat down on the overstuffed sofa. “So now what do we do?”
“I can think of one thing.” The look in his eye was purely devilish.
“Really, Devon. Is that all you can think of?”
He looked up at the ceiling as if considering the question. “Let’s see. We’ve spent the past several days traveling, fighting, on the run, trying to track down stolen money and fighting vampires. To the death, I might add. I hung up the tarps in the bedroom to keep all sunlight out. We haven’t stopped moving for days. And now we’re in a cozy little cottage and we don’t have to do anything,unless we want to. It’s fantastic.”
I looked around the cottage. The sitting area where we were had a fireplace and some books and magazines. Compared with the sparse furnishings of his London flat, I could see why he called the cottage home. A small kitchen with a dining area was on the opposite end of the room. And off to the left was Devon’s bedroom and a loo.
If Gayle and Jon came after us, we didn’t have too many places to hide. “Shouldn’t we prepare or something? Build up some defenses in case they come?”
“What do you mean, like Home Alone kind of traps?”
“No!” Then I considered it. “Well, yeah. Something like that.”
“I got it taken care of. Don’t worry about it.”
“How?”
“I just spoke to my family. I can’t always get a signal on my mobile phone here. There’s a landline in the bedroom. They’re spreading the word to other shifters in the forest. If Gayle or Jon enter these woods, they’ll be taken care of before their filthy bodies contaminate these grounds.”
“Oh. I guess you do have it taken care of.” Then I thought about what he said about all we’d gone through this week. And it was over. Well, almost.
Not to mention, he’d taken his shirt off and he looked delicious in just a pair of jeans. My eyes traveled over each indentation in his abs. I’d run my tongue over them one by one…
“It’s what I do, Layla. And right now my primary concern is keeping you safe.”
“Nobody’s paying you now. You could’ve just left me back there and we would have gone our own ways.”
“I know.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Nope.”
“Can you give me more than one-word answers?”
He laughed and I couldn’t help but join in, even though it distracted me from the sight of his abs now rippling with his laughter.
“What do you want to know?”
“Why you’re helping me.”
“I want to.”
“Because you want to sleep with me again?”
“Of course I want to sleep with you again. But that’s not why I’m helping you. There’s something about you that makes me want to take care of you.”
For some reason, this riled me up. “Why does every man I run into want to take care of me? Am I that vulnerable that I can’t take care of myself? Stefano, Joey and now you!”
“Sorry, Layla, that’s not what I meant. I’m not good with expressing myself. I know you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself. You’ve started a life over twice now, completely on your own. I admire that. Deeply. You destroyed a very powerful vampire.”
I slowed my breathing down. “Thank you.”
“What I’m trying to say is that the thought of any harm coming to you drives me crazy. I want to protect you from anything—or anyone—who even thinks of it.”
This time, his words had the opposite effect. “Devon, you’re right. We’ve done all we can. Gayle and Jon won’t attempt to come now this close to dawn. Enough talking. I’m tired of talking about myself.”
“What are you in the mood for?”
“Sit down on the sofa and I’ll show you.”
Devon
Layla crawled over to me on hands and knees with such a smoldering look in her eye, I forgot any coherent thought other than how much I wanted her. All my focus now went to my mounting desire, which concentrated right between my legs.
“Something that doesn’t involve talking,” she purred.
She reached me and knelt in front of me. Then she leaned forward, rising in between my legs, until she reached my eye level. Seeing the sensuality burning in her eyes, only inches from mine, made me dizzy.
“I can think of something else.” She ran her hands over my chest. “Like this.” Then she caressed my thighs. “And this.” She pressed her lips so lightly against mine, I wasn’t positive if she’d even touched them or if I wanted her to so much that I imagined it. “And most of all, this.” She kissed me deeper this time and I responded instantly. I captured her lips with such passion and claimed her mouth with my own.
“Sometimes talking can be fun.”
“Oh yeah?” she teased. “When?”
“When it’s dirty.”
I kissed her again and pulled her up and toward me. She straddled her legs on either side of me as she sat down. Her sweet spot settling onto my lap elicited a low growl from deep within, not to mention a raging erection.
“Do you like it dirty?” she whispered.
“I love it.”
“I can feel your excitement.” She giggled. “Do you like this?” She kissed me again.
“Yesssss.”
She kissed from my lips down to my jawline and then over my neck. I moaned involuntarily as her lips left a warm trail of pleasure against my skin.
“How about this?”
“Mmmmmmm.”
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? I thought you liked to talk dirty.”
“Yes. I like it!” I protested. “For the love of God, don’t stop what you’re doing.”
“As you wish.”
She ran her fingers down my chest, following the trail of her touch with soft kisses that burned right into my core. I inhaled as her lips moved down my abs, yearning with anticipation as she paused at the top of my pants.
She smiled like a vixen when she asked, “Want me to stop?”
“Good God, woman. No!”
“Then tell me what you like.”
She unbuttoned my pants.
“I love the feel of your fingers grazing my skin. They burn me up inside just thinking of having more of you.”
She unzipped them.
“And the soft feel of your lips on me. It’s almost too exquisite to bear.”
She yanked at my pants and I lifted my hips to help her ease them down and off me. Then she followed with my boxers, and my cock sprang free of the constraints.
She kissed the tip of it and then licked the rim.
“Oh Layla.”
She took me in her mouth and I almost lost all control. I put one hand on her head, guiding her closer.
“Everything about you draws me in. Your silky hair. Your scent. Your touch.”
She took her time, torturing me as she pulled away, then running her tongue down and back up my shaft.
“If you stop, you’ll kill me.”
I reached down to feel her breasts.
“Take off your shirt.”
She removed her shirt and I reached behind her to remove her bra.
My hands cupped her breasts, stroking her hardening nipples. She covered me with her mouth again, taking in as much as she could. I leaned my head back, my hands falling as I lost all speech, giving in to her magic. Giving up all control, I let her work me as she wished. I closed my eyes to savor the feel of her warm mouth on me, listening to her soft moans telling me she enjoyed this as much as I did.
She brought me so close to the brink I had to stop her if I wanted the night to continue. Reluctantly I pulled her head away.
“If you keep doing that, I’ll come. And I’m not done with you yet.”
I pulled her to her feet and frantically helped her remove the rest of her clothing. When she stood before me naked, every part of my body fought for what I wanted to do to her next. Watch her, kiss her, taste her, touch her, fuck her…
“My turn,” I said, throwing her down on the sofa to start with her sweet breast.
“I can’t wait,” she begged. “Devon, I want you so bad. I’m ready to explode.”
When I touched her crevice, I knew what she meant, she was already oh so wet. I glided the head of my cock against her folds, teasing her.
“Now!” she demanded.
I eased the tip in slowly, but she grabbed at me so frantically with both arms and legs, I entered her warm, tight chamber in one smooth stroke.
“Fuck me hard.”
Although she was so small beneath me that I held back, careful not to crush her, her fierce hold on me reminded me she wasn’t as delicate as she appeared. I gave in to her demands as she clawed at me for more. I pumped furiously, not holding anything back as I let the cravings of the animal in me take over.
Wrapping her legs around me as I lifted her up, I flipped her over as I put her on all fours the soft white bearskin rug on the floor. I grabbed on to one shoulder as I entered her from behind. She clawed at the rug, nails scraping lines through the fur as I held nothing back, unleashing my passion into her.
I fisted a bunch of her hair in one hand and pulled it back. “Do you like it rough, my dirty girl? Like this?”
“Yesss,” she seethed, arching her back.
Releasing her hair, I reached around to find her sensitive bud. She called out as I touched the bundle of nerves and then rode against my fingers, encouraging me to explore her further. Her panting increased the harder and faster the friction rose until she cried out and fell forward onto her arms. Her walls clenched my throbbing cock and her hot fluids spread over me, sending me over the edge with her.
“Holy shit, Layla!” I wrapped an arm around her tiny waist and rolled onto the rug beside her. I lay there silent for several moments as I caught my breath. “Come on, let’s continue in the bedroom.”
“Continue?” She turned to me and raised an eyebrow. “You’re not done for the night?”
“I’m not the average human, sweetheart.”
“I noticed,” she said and kissed my lips. “And I like it. You’re a fucking animal.”
Chapter Eleven
I don’t know where I thought vampires slept before now. Coffins? I hadn’t really thought about it. But having Layla in my bed felt natural, as if she belonged here. She was in a deep sleep, out cold while the sun shone outside. So pale. But she was always pale. And so completely still. Peaceful. I couldn’t help but watch her. Then panic jolted through me when I noticed she wasn’t breathing.
She doesn’t need to breathe, remember?
So many things about her fascinated me, dispelling all my preconceived notions about vampires. They weren’t as repulsive as I assumed. Well, the others were, but not Layla. How could that be?
It’s the personality, not the species.
Perhaps.
I walked into the living room area and peeked out a window. The sun was setting, a kaleidoscope of yellows, oranges and pink dancing near the horizon. Was it natural for her to sleep until the sun completely disappeared? I made coffee and then drank it outside, watching the sun set. It saddened me that this was a moment we could never share. Her days were nights. And since I’d been on this job working for a vampire, nights had become my days as well.
After the last tendrils of pink faded away to welcome the darkness, I finished the last few sips of coffee. I watched the stars come out, wondering when Layla would awaken.
When Layla came out of the cottage, she was dressed in a cinnamon-brown sweater, olive-green leggings and chocolate-brown furry boots she picked up from the department store. Even her hair was brown and still wet; she must have just dyed it.
“Nice outfit,” I said.
“Thanks. Better for camouflage.”
“What do you need camouflage for?”
“To hunt. You coming?” She raised her eyebrows in a challenging invitation.
“Hell yeah, you sexy bitch. Let me get undressed.”
“Undressed,” she asked, furrowing her brow. “Don’t you mean dressed?” Then the reasoning dawned on her—I’d transform. “Oh yes. Of course. Can I watch?” she asked with an irresistible pout.
“If you look at me like that, we’ll never leave the cottage.”
“Okay, I’ll wait out here.”
While I took off my clothes inside, I thought about what animal to shift into. I grabbed a knife, just in case, and returned to Layla outside.
Her eyes raked my naked body in a way that made me swell with pride. Then she noticed the knife.
“What’s that for?”
“Protection. Just in case.”
“I thought you had it covered. That we had a bunch of shifters covering our back.”
“Always have a backup plan,” I said and handed her the silver knife in the sheath.
“Why are you giving it to me? I can’t use it, it’s silver. It will render me almost powerless. You have to carry it.”
“I can’t carry it after I’ve shifted. How would I hold it when I’m on four legs? Besides, I put a rubber grip on the handle for you. That should diminish the effect if you need to use it.”
She looked unconvinced, but let me fasten the strap around her thigh.
“You look unbelievably good out here right now. Naked in the moonlight.”
“Maybe you should take off your clothes too.”
“You’re going to change into an animal though, aren’t you? One with fur I hope.”
“I’m thinking mountain lion. Not as conspicuous as a lion. A few have been spotted here. We suspect they’re shifters though. Let’s stay close to my land to avoid being seen.”
“If a human sees us, I’d erase their memory,” she said with confidence.
“Who would have thought?” I said with a grin. “There are perks to hunting with a vampire.”
“You bet there are,” she said before her eyes widened with anticipation. “Can I watch you change?”
Without another word, I visualized myself as a mountain lion and my body went through the transformation almost instantly. If I hadn’t known who she was, I would have pegged her as danger in this form, a species I should be wary of. Back at Stefano’s when I’d changed into a lion, it all happened so quickly and I had been focused on getting Stefano. Now all my focus was on Layla. I knew her; she wasn’t a threat.
Through my feline eyes, I could still gauge she was impressed by the excited expression on her face.
“It’s really marvelous how you can do that,” she said. “Go on. I’ll follow you. This is your forest.”
I bounded into the forest and she followed me. I ran to see if she could kee
p up. She stayed right on my heels—she was fast. I took off again to outrun her. Then I heard her laugh as she passed me. How did she do that on two legs?
I ran at full speed and passed her. But then I saw something ahead that made me stop. Deer drinking from a stream.
I hoped she wouldn’t keep running and scare them off, but she must have figured it out some way because she stopped. When I turned to her, she nodded. Then she pointed to herself and to the right, indicating how she was going to flank them on the right. She pointed to me and to the left. I walked softly into the weeds, using the trees as camouflage.
I lost sight of her as she disappeared into the woods. When I was close enough to leap, I focused on the deer, watching each one to decide which would be easiest to capture. Was she doing the same thing on the other side of the trees? I’d never hunted with anyone other than my species before. The excitement of the new experience with this woman combined with the adrenaline of the hunt tested all my patience as I waited for the right moment.
One of the deer looked up, as if it somehow sensed danger. Before it ran off warning the others to do so as well, I seized the moment to attack. I leapt into the air and pounced on top of a smaller deer that had not yet caught on to the danger. Layla moved too quickly for my eyes to see, but she was right there beside me and sank her teeth into the deer’s neck.
The rest of the deer had dispersed into the forest, but we had more than enough sustenance for the two of us. She took her fill of its blood while I devoured some of the meatier flesh. This experience was one I never could share with a human woman.
“That was—interesting,” Layla said.
Blood dripped down her chin and she wiped it with the back of her hand. I walked over to her and rubbed my head against her leg. She petted the top of my head and then under my chin.
“Isn’t this sweet?” a female voice said. I turned to see Gayle and Jon approach.
Layla
“How did you find us here?” I asked.
Gayle took a couple of steps forward and Devon stepped in front of me, shifting back to human form.
“Don’t get any closer,” he warned.
Gayle opened her mouth to answer. Before she could do so, a male with shoulder-length blond hair ran to us and said, “Devon, I tried to call and warn you they were in the forest. The signal is so bad out here. But I told the others. They’re coming.”
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