* * * * *
One Week Later
Eve looked at her packed suitcase and fought the sadness welling up inside her. She should be happy. Tara and a man named Oscar Perez were both going to jail on so many charges it made her head spin. They’d both tried to make deals but with murder, kidnapping, breaking and entering, distribution of narcotics and a whole mess of other stuff they were being charged with, neither one of them was walking away without doing some serious time. Tara had given up the location of Martin’s body, which she’d left abandoned in the desert in the back of her father’s ‘stolen’ car.
It also looked like the cops would be making more arrests they hadn’t planned on. Oscar agreed to testify against some of his thugs in exchange for a shorter sentence. Eve didn’t think he’d last very long in prison once word got out he’d flipped on his own guys but that was his problem.
Now that she was safe, she could move home. She and Mac had spent every night together at his place since the cops had arrested Oscar Perez breaking into her home, but after a week she knew she couldn’t stay here indefinitely.
Mac hadn’t said anything about a future and even though she knew this wasn’t casual, she couldn’t very well move in with him. It was way too soon. Not for her, but he’d been a bachelor for a long time. If they moved too fast she’d probably scare him off and that was the last thing she wanted.
She rolled her suitcase into the foyer and left it there before heading to the living room. It was Friday night, which meant Mac’s cook wasn’t coming in. The guys who were off for the night would likely head into town to one of the local bars. Mac hadn’t said it, but she guessed he probably wanted some guy time. They’d practically lived and breathed each other for the last week and she didn’t want to smother him. Even if her heart ached at the thought of leaving, she didn’t want to screw up the best thing that had ever happened to her by forcing her way into all aspects of his life.
While she waited, she flipped on his giant flat screen television. She shook her head as the surround sound came on, nearly deafening her. He might be a roughneck rancher but the man sure liked his toys.
As she turned the volume down she heard the door to his kitchen opening. Fighting the dread that burned through her, she pressed the mute button and went to meet him.
Wearing a long-sleeved flannel shirt, dirty jeans and dusty boots, he looked good enough to eat. His face broke into a smile when he saw her. “Hey, darlin’.” He dropped a brief but searing kiss on her mouth before grabbing a beer from the fridge. As he popped the top, he frowned at her. He looked her over from head to toe and suddenly looked nervous. “Did we make plans to go out tonight?”
Smiling, she shook her head. She wore a formfitting V-neck sweater and tight jeans that showed off all her assets because if she was headed home tonight, she wanted to leave him with a nice picture of her. “No. I figured it was time to give you your house back. I appreciate you letting me stay here all week. The thought of sleeping in my house after that man was in there creeped me out, but knowing he’s going to jail makes me feel better. I cleaned up your bathroom and I think I got all my clothes but if I forgot something I can grab it later.” She snapped her mouth shut when she realized she was rambling.
Nervously, she cleared her throat. He stared at her with those icy blue eyes, not saying a word. She’d thought he’d be relieved to have his space back, but he looked almost angry. Finally he spoke. “Have I made you feel not welcome here?”
“No.”
He set his beer on the counter next to him and took a step toward her, his expression growing darker. “Do you want to go home?”
She shrugged. Of course she didn’t want to. “I’m sure you want your place back to yourself.”
“That’s not an answer.” His words were a soft growl that sent a shiver down her spine.
“I…what do you want me to say? I didn’t think you’d appreciate me shacking up at your place indefinitely. I thought I’d save you the trouble of having to awkwardly ask me to leave.” She figured he’d be relieved she’d taken this step but his face said otherwise.
He stepped closer until they were a foot apart, his blue eyes blazing. His spicy, earthy scent surrounded her. “So you’re walking away from us?”
“No. I’m going home.” She crossed her arms over her chest defensively.
He made a strangled, annoyed sound. Then he cursed, loudly and abrasively. She stared at him as he let loose a string of words she’d never heard him utter before.
“
Stay
, Eve.”
She bit her bottom lip, unsure exactly what he meant. “I’m not leaving for good or anything. I still want to date you and—”
“Fuck that. I want more than dating. Move in with me.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “What?”
He pushed out a long, frustrated sigh. “I thought you understood how I feel about you. I don’t want to do the back and forth thing with you, especially when I know you’re
it
for me. I don’t want to just date because I don’t want to see anyone else. I want to see you every morning when I wake up and every night when I come home. I don’t live that much farther from town than you do. You can keep your house if you want. Hell, I’ll pay the mortgage on it. Just don’t leave.”
At his declaration, all the air sucked from her lungs in a whoosh. Mac had never been particularly vocal about anything except in the bedroom. Of course she hadn’t said anything about the future either so maybe she was to blame too for assuming he’d want his house back to himself.
For a moment she wondered if it would be a mistake, but she knew what she craved from him. She’d wanted the man since she was too young to even know
what
she wanted. Her attraction and love for him hadn’t waned in over a decade. A slow smile broke out over her face. “I have a lot of clothes and shoes. You’ll have to make room in your closet if you’re serious.”
At her words his face relaxed. He grabbed her hips possessively, pulling her tight against him. Through their clothes, his erection was hard and insistent. “I’ll give you the whole damn thing if you’ll move in here. I love you, Eve. Have for a long time. This past week I’ve been working up to telling you and hoping you didn’t throw me out on my ass.”
She snorted softly. “I love you too, Mac.”
She’d barely gotten the words out before his mouth crushed over hers. His fists clamped tighter around her hips and he lifted her until she wrapped her legs around his waist. As their lips and tongues danced in a hungry erotic rhythm, she felt him walking them back to his room.
No doubt they were in for a long night. And she couldn’t wait.
* * * * *
Katie Reus fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she'd pilfered from her mom's stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn't always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors too many times, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. For more information on Katie please visit
her website
.
* * * * *
Keep reading for a preview of author Cynthia Eden’s new sexy paranormal romance novella, BOUND BY BLOOD. Available Now.
BOUND BY BLOOD
Copyright © 2011 by Cynthia Eden
The sexy little vampiress walked into the bar as if she owned the place.
Since Howling Moon was a low-rent dive hidden on the shadier side of Miami, a bar that catered to werewolves, well, the lady was very much out of fucking place. And, if she wasn’t careful, she might just become the night’s entertainment.
Jace Vaughn tensed when he saw her. He wasn’t as drunk as the other wolves, not yet anyway, so he recognized the deceptively delicate woman instantly.
He could see the hint of her small fangs peeking out just behind the plump fullness of her too-red lips. Vamps’ fangs always came out when they were about to fight or fuck.
So which one was the vamp about to do?
She stilled inside the doorway of the bar. Her long blond hair tumbled behind her as her gaze raked to the left. To the right. Huh. Looked like she was hunting for someone—or something. In this place, the only thing she’d find was a pack ready to rip her to pieces.
Vampires and wolves weren’t exactly playing nice these days. Or any days.
She
should
know that.
But then her gaze swept by him. Swept by, then came right back. Her blue eyes—bright with a vamp’s power—caught his. She stared at him, and Jace found he couldn’t look away. A vampire’s trick of compulsion?
Nah…more likely just his own lust. Because the lady was hot. Most female vamps were, those pureblood ones anyway. And Jace knew he was looking at one of the elite pureblood Florida vamps.
A pureblood, in a werewolf hell.
He smiled. Fate must be laughing her ass off somewhere.
Then,
she
smiled too. A lick of heat shot straight through his body, and the beast that he kept chained inside stretched and growled.
Want.
She started walking toward him in her high, fuck-me or fuck-off black boots. Jace shoved away from the bar.
But the others had noticed her now, and they were closing in.
Three males. Big and hulking because that was the way of the beast.
“
Vampire…”
The snarl floated in the air, and the males reached for her.
“
No!”
His roar broke a second too slowly.
Two of the males crashed into nearby tables. They’d made the mistake of actually touching her. You didn’t touch a vampiress who didn’t want to be touched. Fools should know that rule.
Purebloods were especially strong.
Excitement had the beast inside yanking on his leash.
Every person in the bar froze for a moment, then instantly turned their attention on her. The vamp had the third wolf on the floor in front of her. He hadn’t shifted, not yet, but his claws were already lengthening. She had one small hand at his throat while the other held tight to his hair, yanking his head back to better expose his neck.
Vampires always went for the throat. So predictable. Their hunger made them weak every time.
“Kill the bitch…” Ah, that mutter came from one of the guys she’d tossed a good ten feet. He was already rising with his claws out and blood dripping from his busted cheek.
Jace lifted his hand, staying the men even as they rose. “Not…yet.”
He knew no one would disobey. They couldn’t. He was alpha, and if they tried, he’d be the one kicking ass.
Even the shitty band stopped playing as he crossed the room. The few human females in the bar glanced around curiously, and he saw a couple of the shifters push them toward the back. The women came to play at Howling Moon. Or rather, the wolves played with them. Those women knew the score about the supernatural world, and they
knew
to keep quiet about the paranormal society.
The vampiress didn’t release her grip on her prey. Jace took his time stalking toward her. Like most vamps, she had pale, ivory skin. Her features were…damn, pretty perfect. Wide eyes, high cheeks, small nose. Her chin was pointed a little, giving her a slightly stubborn edge, but then, bloodsuckers were not exactly known to be easy going.
Neither were wolves.
She wore all black. Tight black shirt, a
very
short black skirt, and those boots that oozed sex.
Sex and violence. Yeah, that was pretty much how vamps and wolves rolled.
As he closed in on her, Jace picked up her scent, separating the light perfume of her skin from the booze, sweat, and the cigarettes in the air. The vampire smelled sweet, tempting.
Her kind always did. The better to lure their prey in for that deadly bite. But she was—
More.
He inclined his head toward her. “Let him go.”
“Of course.” Her voice rolled lightly, soft, sensual, but had no accent. He knew the rougher edge of the south coated his own words. She dropped her hold on the wolf instantly.
But then Mike made the mistake of lunging back up and slicing at her with his claws.
Bad mistake. Rage exploded inside of Jace, and he leapt forward even as his own claws broke from his fingertips.
Don’t hurt—
She stepped back, ducked, then shoved her fist right at the wolf’s heart. Her punch threw Mike back against Jace.
Jace grabbed the wolf and twisted him around. He lifted the other guy off the floor and glared into his eyes. “I don’t remember giving you permission to attack, Mike.”
He heard vamp’s breaths panting lightly and knew she wasn’t as controlled as she appeared. No scent of fear, not yet, but it would come.
He’d make sure of it.
“B-bloodsucker…comin’ in here…” Mike began. “She can’t just…walk in…”
“I was invited here,” she said smoothly and Mike’s eyes bulged.
Still trapped in Jace’s grip, Mike twisted and glared over his shoulder. “Who the hell…would be dumb enough to invite a vampire here—”
“Your alpha.” Her answer came with a shrug and her gaze lifted back to Jace. Then she inclined her head in the smallest of subservient gestures.
Submission.
“I was told of your offer, and I’m here to accept.”
Mike’s head swung back toward him. “Jace?” His voice was stronger now. Wolves always healed fast. “What bullshit is she talking about?”
Jace slammed his forehead into Mike’s nose. Bones crunched and blood spurted even as the smaller wolf howled. Then Jace threw the guy against the nearest wall, one that was about fifteen feet away. When Mike crashed, he didn’t get up.
Silence. So thick it covered the whole bar. Jace stared at the vamp, trying to keep all emotion from his face. Then, slowly, he closed the remaining space between him and the woman who was going to change everything for him.
He caught her hand and lightly turned her palm over. Hell, yes, the mark was there, cradled inside her left hand. Just like he’d known it would be. A blood-red rose.
This wasn’t just some vampire looking for a bite to eat and hoping to power up by taking werewolf blood.
He stood close enough to see the circle of gold in her eyes. The faint gold that marked her just as her hand did. She was something far more than an ordinary bloodsucker.
She was a fucking vampire princess. His key to power, immortality, and she was the perfect weapon that he needed to kick the ass of the demons who’d come to town looking to wipe out his people.
Her lips parted as she stared up at him. He glimpsed her white teeth and those delicate fangs.
And he caught the scent of fear as it swept through her.
She was right to be afraid. Now that she was there, within his grasp, and he’d never let her go.
Never.
“I’m Jace.” He let her see his own fangs. “And you’re mine.” A claim made before all the wolves in the room. From now on, any wolf who touched her would face him—and death.
She swallowed and tilted her head back to meet his stare. “Hello, husband.”
The wolf within growled…
Yes.
Mine.