Feral Hunger (2010) (7 page)

He closed the distance. His mouth covered hers, possessive and demanding. His tongue probed the recesses of her mouth, seeking the remnants of his blood. It should bother her. A week ago, it would have. But the way Dante kissed her made her feel wanted and loved. And his blood coursed through her veins, making her strong.

That strange feeling of being cared for brought a sudden rush of tears to her eyes. She gasped for breath. He pulled away.

Xandra?

Shh. She placed a finger against his lips to silence further questions.

He studied her carefully. If we're moving too fast for you here

She shook her head. No. How to explain this strange flood of feeling that touched places she'd kept hidden since her mother died? She didn't even think she could summon the words.

Rising, he held her against him while he pulled down the bedspread. She looked around the room, suddenly taking note of her surroundings.

Where are we?

In a motel off the highway.

Danger brushed at her senses. She stiffened in his arms. A motel? Why?

I couldn't run the risk of taking you back to your place. Or mine.

Or the hospital?

The hospital would only have made things worse. Not to mention they'd probably call your boss.

Memories of Jeremy's dressing down rushed to the forefront of her mind. It's probably not a good idea to involve him. She wondered how Jeremy had gone from a father figure to an enemy in less than a week. But I don't understand. Why does your blood make me better?

He brushed his lips against hers again, setting off little bursts of pleasure all down her spine. We'll talk about that later, he whispered. He settled her back against the sheets.

Dante stripped off his jacket and tossed it onto a nearby chair. He pulled his T-shirt over his head and added it to the pile. Then he strode to the bathroom and returned with a wet wad of tissue. Don't use the towels, he said, pulling up the leg of her pants and wiping the blood from the back of her knee. He tossed the tissue into the toilet and flushed it. Not until you've showered.

Xandra nodded. The last thing they wanted to do was to leave DNA evidence in the motel. Evidence Jeremy could use against her. She unhooked her torque and put it on the night table with her cuffs.

I haven't done anything wrong, she protested. Three times now I've been attacked and Jeremy's making me feel like I'm a criminal.

We need to find out why that is, Dante said softly. Then he added, Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, she agreed.

He reached for her. His callused hands slid down over her arms until his fingers located the hem of her gore-splattered shirt. Gently, he pulled it over her head and added it to the pile of clothes on the chair. Then, he lay down beside her again.

She felt strangely vulnerable and exposed in just her bra. She nuzzled against him, burying her nose in the soft tangle of hairs in the center of his chest.

Hey, he teased. Grasping her chin, he raised her head and kissed her again. His hair caressed her cheek, a contrast against the roughness of his beard. She buried her hands in his silken curls and returned the kiss. He moaned low in his throat.

Hooking one arm beneath her neck, he lowered her back against the pillows. His body covered hers. His chest pressed against her breasts, still confined by the lacy material of her bra. She pulled away a little to peruse him more fully.

Aside from tangle of downy curls, his chest was bare. Blond hair covered his forearms. With his head of unruly hair framing his face, he looked like a lion at rest. The light caught the earring in his left ear and the medallion around his neck.

Dante was busy with his own study of her. His gaze centered on the pale peaks of her breasts nestled in her bra, then continued down the line of her ribcage to her hips. His hands followed in their wake as if he wanted to memorize her contours.

His free land slipped behind her back and deftly undid the clasp of her bra. She let him pull the material away. He gazed down at her with those golden eyes and smiled.

He kissed her lightly over the pulse point in her neck. She felt the touch of his lips down to her very core. He rained little kisses and tiny nips over her collarbone and then took the peak of one breast in his mouth. Xandra moaned.

Dante raised his head and gave her a smile that promised far more of such pleasure. His even white teeth gleamed in the dim light. Not a fang in sight, she thought in relief, as he bent his head to taste the other.

She threaded her hands through his curls again, demanding more of that caress that seemed to touch on every pleasure center in her body. And Dante complied. He moved lower, painting her ribcage with kisses and then dipping lower toward her navel and the waistband of her jeans.

Abruptly, the motel door slammed open.

A powerful attraction is the last thing these arch enemies need. Or is it?

The Trouble with Curses

! 2008 Anara Bella

Selena Tremayne is different. For one thing, how many vampires do you know faint at the sight of blood? Despite the problems her differences cause, she's grateful. It means she's not an all-out-evil killing machine. It also means she can't afford to let anyone get too close. And a guy like Rafe, delicious as he is, is to be avoided at all costs.

Rafe Hunter is a vampire slayer, an odd job thrust upon him by dint of birth. And with his augmented abilities, no one else does it better. Those abilities run into a major short-circuit, however, when he meets Selena. The mysterious beauty clouds his every instinct something he can ill afford in his line of work. Because of her, his quarry has somehow slipped out of his grasp. Twice.

Coincidences are piling up, and he can't help but wonder if simple lust is the culprit. Or if it's

something deeper with dangerous repercussions that extend beyond anything either of them imagined... Warning: Explicit, sizzling-hot slayer/vamp sex. Please note: No vampires were harmed

during the writing of this book.

Enjoy the following excerpt for The Trouble with Curses:

Okay, Rafe. I know you're back there. You may as well show yourself.

Nothing.

I have no intention of letting you find out where I live, so you have nothing to gain by following me. I'll wander around all over town all night long before I'll show you where I live.

A dark shadow separated itself from the wall. How did you know I was here?

His rich, deep voice shivered down her spine in its usual intoxicating way. I have a sixth sense about these things.

Has to be something like that because I'm damned good at what I do. No one's ever caught me tailing them before.

She threw him a quizzical look. You do this often, do you?

He chuckled. Actually, I do. I'm a private investigator.

Well, that explained it. If she hadn't felt him behind her, she wouldn't have known. Just my luck.

I didn't intend for you to ever find out I'd followed you home tonight. I was just going to make sure you got in safely and leave.

That would have been great except he'd still have found out where she lived. That's really nice, but I already told you that I'm fine. I don't need you checking up on me.

She heard rather than saw him shrug. One of the perks of having amazing hearing.

Sorry. My father always taught me that you took care of a lady. Made sure she got home safe and sound.

But I wasn't your date, so I'm not your responsibility.

Doesn't matter. Look, Selena, whether you like it or not I like you, and I want to get to know you a helluvalot better. I won't give up on you anytime soon, it's just not my way so you may as well give in and give me a chance.

And I have no say in the matter?

Yes and no.

Despite herself she laughed. Meaning?

You've already decided. Your heart and body have already said yes. It's only your mind that refuses to give in.

Unfortunately for you, it's my mind that's got the deciding vote. The second the words passed her lips she wished them back. She'd as much as admitted to what he said.

He shook his head. Stepping closer, he reached out and cupped her cheek. No, it doesn't. This is the real deciding factor.

She felt his sweet breath on her face just moments before his lips gently brushed across her own. They were feather-light and warm, at first coaxing, then growing more insistent as her response became evident.

She knew she should push him away, but she couldn't seem to make herself do it. She'd been fantasizing about kissing Rafe from the moment she'd first heard his voice trickle over her senses. Now that it was happening, the last thing she wanted to do was stop him.

Her hands developed a mind of their own. Happily, they explored everything they could reach, from his hard biceps to his strong neck and finally ended up clutching his tight ass for everything she was worth.

She was right in her initial assessment he was most definitely sex-on-legs. And right now, with his erection nestled between their bodies, she wanted nothing more than to traverse the very path that led to what felt like his very impressive sex.

She moaned into his mouth and ground her hips against him, feeling him return the exquisite pressure. Their tongues danced along each other, questing, exploring, enticing. Her breath caught. Blood pounded in her ears, all but igniting in her veins. She tried to tell herself it was just a kiss, nothing more, but who was she kidding? She'd never felt anything that came close to this kiss before.

Everything about him struck a chord with everything she was, and everything she wanted for herself, but was too afraid to take.

With an answering groan, his mouth started eating at hers, their tongues now melding together. Tasting.

Needing.

Wanting.

Oh Lord, how she wanted. She wanted it all with this guy. Sex without a doubt, but the terrifying thing was she wanted more than that. She could deal with just the physical. In fact, Anne was probably right that all she needed was a good, long night of hot and heavy sex.

But with Rafe, she found herself dreaming of the happily-ever-after, and there was no happily-everafter for her. There couldn't be because of what she was.

Pushing him away with a determination she didn't even know she possessed, she stepped back. Did she have the same stunned expression on her face he did? With disgust, she realized she must.

Neither said anything. They couldn't. Both of them were breathing so hard you'd have thought they'd been running for their lives. Then again, maybe they had. Rafe, because he was chasing after her. Her, because she was striving to get away from his magnetic attraction.

The whole thing was ridiculous.

Why can't you just leave me alone? Damn her voice's quavery betrayal.

He reached out and skimmed his thumb across her lips. Because I can't.

She shook off his touch and his hand dropped away. That's not an answer.

It's the only one I can give you.

Selena threw her hands up in frustration. What am I going to do with you?

An utterly wicked chuckle erupted from him. I can think of a few things.

I'll just bet you can. So could she, although she'd never let him know it.

Despite her resistance, he pulled her into his arms and held her close. Stop fighting this, Selena. At least give us a chance.

It felt so good to be held in his arms. She felt warm, secure and cherished. She nuzzled into his shoulder and inhaled his comforting scent.

How was it was possible to feel so comfortable with a man and yet be so turned on you wanted to screw him senseless at the same time? It didn't make sense.

She sighed and snuggled in closer. You need to go away.

His arms tightened, drawing her even closer. Whatever you say. Just as soon as I see you home. You're not going to give in on this, are you?

He kissed her forehead. Nope.

Bastard.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

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