Hunter’s Surrender

by Anna Hackett

  Her hand moved back up his chest, skirted the wound on his neck and stroked over his jaw. Flames licked down his body

  “Why did you let the vampire do this? You could’ve killed him before he savaged you.”

  “He got lucky.”

  Her thumb brushed his lips. “I hear the lie in your voice.” Her head tilted, exquisite black hair sliding across her shoulder. Her voice lowered to a seductive whisper. “Tell me.”

  He couldn’t stop the words that tumbled from him. “I don’t care if I die.”

  “You court death?” She shook her head. “Non, you flirt with it.”

  “Say what you have to say and release your thrall.” He was already working to break her control over him. The fingers on his right hand moved.

  “I told you, I want you to take me to bed and take my virginity.”

  Instant images flooded Rand’s head. His big hands stripping away white leather. Dominique naked amongst his sheets, all marble-smooth skin and husky cries. He saw his body covering hers, her long legs wrapping around his hips.

  Sweat broke out on his forehead. “Why’s a Valois looking to slum it?”

  She lifted her chin and for a brief second, he saw a flash of something dark in her eyes. Fear?

  It couldn’t be. She could snap his neck or command him to stab the stake through his own throat.

  “That is my business. All I need is your cock.”

  Hearing the blunt words in her exotic, proper tone made his arousal thicken. His body yelled yes, the hunter in him told him no.

  The fingers he could move curled. “I told you, I’m not interested.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Really?”

  That one word dripped with feminine challenge. Rand’s nerves stretched tight.

  Her hand moved across his chest, a nail scraping over his nipple. He swallowed a groan. Her hand inched lower and then even lower.

  “I do believe, Monsieur Wilder, that you are lying again.” Her hand cupped his rock-hard erection through his jeans.

  Jesus. Pure electricity flooded through him, making his skin feel too tight and his muscles threaten to turn liquid.

  She stroked him and savage hunger sang through his system, screaming for him to touch her, take her.

  “Don’t you want me?” Her husky murmur carried so many forbidden promises.

  Her hand continued its torture, stroking the hard length of him. Her other hand curled around his neck and brought his head down. She was tall, but he was taller, and he felt her go up on her toes to press her crimson lips to his.

  That luscious mouth moved like a whisper over his, small nipping bites that teased, barely giving him a taste of her.

  But what grabbed at him was the trace of hesitancy. Like she hadn’t kissed many men.

  The thought fired through him. Emotions—hot, rich emotions—stormed through him and riding the wave was the strongest desire he’d felt.

  It’d been so long since he’d felt pleasure, enjoyed anything other than killing. It’d been far too long since he’d held another against him. He needed to taste her.

  With Dominique caught up in her seduction, Rand broke through her thrall. His hands gripped her hips, his fingers sinking into leather-slicked skin. He yanked her to him and took control of the kiss.

  He plunged his tongue into her warm mouth and swallowed her groan. She tasted of fresh and sweet, cool spring water and natural honey. She tasted of innocence and desire, a combination that stole his sense. He dragged that taste inside him.

  The force of his kiss bent her head back, but Dominique returned everything he gave. Her hand slid into his hair, clenching there. Rand slid one of his hands between them and pressed her other hand against the bulge in his jeans, crushing those elegant fingers against his heated body.

  Right now, Rand didn’t care who she was, or what she was. Right now, Dominique was a light in the darkness his life had become.

  Mon Dieu, she was going up in flames.

  Dominique felt the full force of Rand Wilder’s arousal swamp her. Was amazed to feel her own energy rise up to meet his. Her fangs sprang into her mouth.

  He tasted ruthless, wild and dangerous. What would it feel like to have him take her? To feel his muscled, iron-hard body move within her?

  Her fingers clenched on his erection. It felt huge under well-worn denim. And it made her hunger.

  She’d danced with men, kissed them, shared bold caresses, but at twenty-eight, she was young for a vampire and had been expected to keep herself pure for her marriage. She’d never felt what she felt right now. When the hunter known as The Darkness kissed her, she felt like she was necessary for his survival.

  One of his big, hot hands slid down her thigh. He gripped her leg and lifted it around his waist. In a thrust of hips, he ground himself against her softness. Her belly exploded in wild flutters.

  Energy rushed through her and over her skin. She’d always suspected there was more than the cool control she’d known growing up. She’d always yearned for more than the icy politeness of court.

  And Rand Wilder was showing it to her.

  “Please,” she whispered against his lips. She needed more. She wanted this man to show her what had been missing from her life.

  Suddenly he pushed her away. She stumbled, then caught her balance. Her head felt light, her body heavy.

  They watched each other, chests heaving. She felt her energy straining for him.

  When he lifted a hand and rubbed the back of it across his mouth, like he was wiping the taste of her away, Dominique’s stomach contracted. The rejection hit her like a blow.

  “I can’t help you,” he bit out.

  He didn’t want her. She bit down hard on her bottom lip and tasted her own blood on her tongue. The one man who could save her and her parents from Vilein didn’t want her.

  It seemed the only man who wanted her was one she was trying to escape from.

  “Why?” She hated that even she heard the hurt in that word.

  He shoved a hand through his hair. “I kill your kind.”

  Dominique pressed two fingers to her temple and worked to control the wild energy inside her. Slowly she felt her control cooling the rush. “You have vampire in you, too.”

  “Enough to make me good at killing those who get out of control.” He shook his head. “I’ve never taken one to my bed.”

  “And I’ve never taken any man to mine.”

  Even though she’d come here to ruin herself with a man Vilein would consider the worst possible choice, Dominique now wanted Rand Wilder for a very different reason. One even she didn’t understand.

  Rand’s stubbled jaw tightened. “Like I said, I can’t help you.”

  Her stomach knotted. Lifting her chin, she pushed the unfamiliar emotions away. She had some pride. She wouldn’t throw herself at a man who didn’t want her.

  She straightened her shoulders and tossed her hair back over her shoulder. “Fine.” She shot a pointed look at the dead vampires scattered around them. “Death makes a cold, lonely companion, but it looks like the two of you are happy together.”

  He didn’t say anything but his moss eyes darkened.

  Forcing a sultry smile, she ran a finger down her chest, between her cleavage. “You aren’t the only hunter in Las Vegas. I’m certain I’ll find many others happy to accept my offer.”

  She turned and walked away into the night.

  She’d find someone to ruin her. Someone with a bad enough reputation that Vilein wouldn’t want her anymore. She sucked in a breath. Her plan had to work.

  Bile rose in her throat. Cold, sharp fear ate at the edges of her sanity. Dark flashes of the things Vilein had done to her and worse, the things he’d promise to do once she was his, burst through her head.

  She swallowed back the need to be sick. She was ajna. She’d been raised to know no fear. She was tired of being afraid and now she was doing something to save herself.

  The lights of Las Vegas cast a golden glow on the horiz
on. There were plenty of vampires in the city.

  And where there were vampires, there were hunters.

  Her heart squeezed. Just not the one she wanted.

  Chapter Three

  Music pumped through the club. Multi-colored strobe lights twirled above the having dance floor.

  Rand cursed. Short, pithy and loud.

  Damn, Dominique Valois. His hand curled around the beer he’d been nursing for the last hour.

  Someone bumped against him at the glossy bar yelling out drink orders.

  Why the hell was he here? Shadows was owned by an ex-hunter and a popular haunt for those with any vishuddha blood.

  Lifting his head, he scanned the crowd. He sensed the other hunters in the place, recognized some. There were even a few vampires among the dancers.

  It wasn’t Rand’s kind of place. He preferred a quiet bar or, better yet, a solitary beer on the deck surrounding his home in the desert.

  But he’d hoped the loud music and frenzied crowd would be a distraction. Stop him from thinking of Dominique. Naked. Moaning. Crying out his name.

  He took a quick swig of the beer. Grimaced. It was hot.

  She’s a vampire. One of her kind killed your father. It’d become a mantra to him. But no matter how many times he repeated the words, his body wasn’t listening.

  Had she found some nameless, faceless man to service her? Was she right now naked and entwined with the jerk? Rand slammed the bottle down on the bar. The bottom smashed into tiny amber pieces.

  Was someone else being the first to show her pleasure?

  As he signaled the bartender over to clean the mess, a prickle started at the back of his neck. The feeling crawled upward until he felt a burn between his eyes. His back tensed.

  He opened his vishuddha senses. He sensed the mass of energy from all the vampires partying in the club. But ajna were rare and their energy strong. It didn’t take him long to find her.

  Turning, his gaze raked the mass of bodies grinding and swaying to the pumping Latin rhythm. Then the crowd parted and he saw her.

  She’d changed since the desert. Now it was black leather hugging slim legs and riding low on her hips. A tight, bloodred tank top displayed toned arms, the deep V hinted at full breasts. The bottom of it left a strip of supple belly bare.

  She sauntered toward him, her gaze locked with his. The sway of her hips made his mouth dry. Damn her for being so beautiful.

  The people crowding close to him at the bar shifted away. No doubt from a mental command from her. She leaned sideways, elbow on the glossy surface, and faced him.

  “Didn’t think I’d given up on you that easily, did you?”

  Her siren-song tones seeped into him. He pressed his palms flat on the bar, anything to stop them from stroking what he shouldn’t touch.

  She inched closer, her silken hair falling forward. “I’m used to getting my way, Wilder.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me, princess.” He hated that his voice was jagged as glass.

  Her red lips quirked. “I’m a lawyer, we hate losing.”

  So she was smart as well as sexy. “A lawyer? Figures.” Most vampires were experts at hiding in plain sight of humans. They attended colleges, owned businesses and who knew what else. “Haven’t you found someone who fits your ‘take my virginity’ bill yet?”

  Violet eyes traveled down his body before drifting back to his face. “Only one.”

  Hunger ignited deep in his belly. Why her? Women came on to him all the time. Those with hunter blood were lured by his reputation. Those who knew nothing of vampires were drawn by his dangerous aura. But none of them set him on fire like this one.

  Dominique moved between his thighs until her hips bumped against his bar stool. Her palms slid up his chest. “Have you changed your mind?”

  The music echoed around them—sultry and drugging. It’d be so easy to succumb. To give her what she wanted and take something for himself at the same time.

  “Tell me why you want me?” Because he couldn’t control it, he touched her. His fingers slid along black, shiny hair. “Why are you so desperate?”

  She licked her lips, which made Rand’s already hardening erection throb.

  “It’s best if you don’t know.” Her voice was quiet.

  His gaze traced over her perfect features. She looked like a fantasy come to life—a vixen’s body coated with an innocence he found irresistible.

  God, he was confused. He was honest enough to admit he wanted her…but he couldn’t forget what she was.

  She dropped her gaze. “I’m running out of time, Rand.”

  Yes. The word quivered on his lips. He’d made a life out of saving others. Saving those who couldn’t help themselves. Dominique was powerful. Confidence and intelligence shined in her eyes—that she was so desperate told him she was in deep trouble.

  She pushed away from him. “I’ll just have to work harder to convince you.”

  With a tantalizing swing of leather-clad hips, she headed for the dance floor. Even if he’d wanted to, Rand couldn’t have looked away.

  The crowd parted for her. She started to gyrate to the blood-pounding beat. She moved with the liquid grace of a vampire, like the music was a part of her.

  She raised her arms above her head, then turned, her violet eyes clashing with his. Her lips parted.

  Two men materialized from the dancing crowd and flanked her. Both were big, brawny and had some hunter blood. One plastered himself against her back, the other moved against her front, his hands clamped on her hips. She swayed to the music, her hips pumping in time to the beat.

  Rand’s hands clenched into tight fists, hot emotion boiled inside him.

  He knew it was crazy, but some part of him considered her his. She’d come looking for him. Not the idiots rubbing against her like randy bulls.

  The two men moved closer, locking her between them. So attuned to her, only Rand saw the flicker in her eyes, the tensing of her muscles. He stood, his hands flexing.

  She wedged a hand to one man’s chest and pushed him back a few inches. Rand released his held breath. She could take care of herself.

  When the hunter wrapped his burly arms around her and nuzzled her throat, Dominique went stiff.

  Damn it to hell. Rand walked toward her. As he neared, he sensed the tinge of her fear in the air. Who’d made her so afraid? She could slam both these men against the wall with a single swing of her arm. This fear was something deeper.

  “Wilder,” one of the hunters said, although his eyes never left Dominique.

  “Get out of here.” Rand let his ruthless order sink into his words.

  One hunter opened his mouth and Rand straightened to his full height, his knuckles burning with the need to slam into this guy’s face.

  Rand used the little compulsion he possessed. “Go now or this will get messy.”

  A muscle ticked under the eye of one man. Then they left. Obeying the command buried in Rand’s voice and not willing to tangle with him.

  Dominique moved close to him, pressing that tempting body against him. The fear on the air bled away.

  Her hand touched his shoulder, a light caress. When her fingers brushed his neck, his throat, he felt the spark of energy between them. It ran like lightning through his body, firing his blood.

  With a sigh of defeat, he put his arms around her and pulled her closer. She started to sway, rubbing against him while he remained motionless. He felt the wash of energy in the room.

  He reached out and gripped her jaw. She watched him, gaze steady. His fingers ran along her cheekbone, moving closer to her brow. Her chest hitched.

  What would happen if he touched her chakra? Rand had heard the rumors of the tantric sex of the vampires—the sharing of bodies and energy. It was said the sensations were mind-blowing. Beyond anything regular sex could promise.

  No. He dropped his hand to his side. Disappointment flashed in her eyes before she hid it.

  Her fingers clenched on his shirt. �
�I’m not giving up on you, Wilder.”

  He couldn’t look away. The way she moved made him wonder how she’d move underneath him, with his hands on her.

  Her seduction didn’t only affect him. Every man on the dance floor watched her, eyes burning. Rand knew each one was imagining being with her, touching her, and rage welled inside him.

  Dominique had no idea what she was doing. She didn’t look away from him, couldn’t know she was seducing every male who watched her.

  Couldn’t know he was drowning in her.

  Dominique was lost in the music and Rand’s dark green gaze.

  She’d followed him from the desert, desperate to convince him to help her. She needed Rand Wilder.

  Now he stood in her arms. All six foot five inches of wild male. And she was doing everything she could to entice him to show her what it’d be like between them.

  She shimmied her body, imagining they were alone, just the two of them.

  When his hands clenched at her waist, she smiled against his shirt. Mon Dieu, he smelled so good. All man. Nothing like Vilein’s cloying cologne.

  She smoothed her hands over Rand’s shoulders. “Dance with me.”

  “I don’t dance.”

  What a surprise. “Fine, I’ll dance for both of us.”

  He didn’t move to the music, but he did slide one thigh between her legs. Rough denim rubbed against smooth leather, melding them closer together. That thigh rubbed against the aching part of her, making heated desire curl in her belly.

  Dominique pressed her face against him, drew in more of his delicious scent. He was so big, so strong, and for the first time in a long time, she felt protected. Safe.

  One of his hands smoothed over her bare shoulders and she shivered. His fingers were callused, the sensation on her skin amazing. What would they feel like on her belly, on the sensitive flesh of her thighs? Damp heat pooled between her legs.

  Those fingers brushed her shoulder, shockingly hot. Then nudged the strap of her tank top aside.

  She felt his body stiffen and her own did the same. His gaze was sharp on her skin.

  “Who did it?” His voice was so black goose bumps raced over her arms.