Page 22 of Angel Of Darkness

His jaw clenched. He didn’t need handcuffs to keep her by his side. Soon enough, she’d realize that he was the only thing standing between her and the monsters on her trail. Now he understood the whispers he’d heard—the stories about the Other who were tracking his runaway teacher.

He reached for her shirt. One pull and the fabric ripped. Her skin was stained red with blood, but the wound had started to close. Good. He’d clean her up, let her sleep and figure out just what he was supposed to do with her.

Her lips were parted as her breath gently eased out. She was so pale. Far paler than she’d been back in New Orleans. Back then, she’d had sun-kissed skin and laughing eyes.

Now, her skin was like every vampire’s he’d ever met. Too pale. And her eyes, when she fed—pitch-black.

His fingers skimmed down her arm. The skin was as soft as he’d imagined. Smooth. Chilled.

She was?—

Her lashes flew up. Her eyes were green. The deep green he remembered so well. “I don’t want to die,” Nicole whispered, her voice fretful.

“You won’t.” Not that day. He’d make sure of it.

Her left hand rose to her throat. “Don’t…hurt me.”

Did she even know what she was saying? Doubtful. Her eyes were already starting to sag closed again, and her voice had slurred on her words.

But he leaned close to her anyway and let his mouth hover near her ear. “I won’t.”

At least, not any more than he already had.

It seemed that nearly everything had been taken from him. Even the life—her life—that he’d meant to save.

Vampire.

Chapter Four

It was the thirst that woke her. The pain of her parched throat and the grumble of her stomach trickled through her consciousness. Thirst/hunger—for vamps it was one and the same.

Then the other sounds registered. The soft expulsions of breath in the air. The squeak of beds, close, probably within one hundred feet. The rumble of cars on a highway.

She licked her lips. The move didn’t help the thirst any. Nicole opened her eyes. He was beside her. Keenan’s long lashes cast dark shadows against his cheeks.

His chest was bare. His muscles strong and toned and his skin tanned a golden brown. The thin sheet lay just over his hips, barely covering his waist and legs.

Nicole glanced down. Her clothes were gone. Right. She’d figured that when she felt the cold air on her breasts. She grabbed the sheet and yanked it up.

And that thirst had her teeth stretching. Burning.

He was still asleep. So close. If she was careful, he wouldn’t even realize what she was doing.

Maybe.

Nicole leaned over him and her hair fell forward to brush against his arm. She could hear his heartbeat drumming. Such a strong, powerful beat. He’d tasted so good before. If she could just get a few more sips of blood, she’d have enough strength to head back into the night and disappear.

Her mouth lowered toward his throat. Just a few drops.

“So I had to promise not to hurt you, but as soon as you wake, you go right for my throat.”

She froze. Her gaze lifted, and she saw his lashes slowly rise.

He turned his head a fraction and met her gaze. “Hardly seems fair, sweet.”

She swallowed—or tried to, anyway. “You don’t understand the thirst.” For a human, it would feel as if the person had gone a week without food. So consuming. Overwhelming.

“I understand more than you can imagine.”

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