Page 7 of V for Vindictive

Chapter 3

Every Part of You

My gaze slid back over to the man driving the luxurious, rich-person car. It wasn’t but five minutes ago when his lips were on mine and a kiss that could only be classified under heavenly took my mouth by storm.

I touched my still-wet lips, the phantom sensation of his kiss tickling along the surface. It teased the senses, and I’d been so eager to kiss him back that my arms had quickly wrapped around his neck and dragged him closer.

His smile against my lips had been lost in my eagerness to devour his mouth, and for minutes we battled, his tongue joining mine, his hands bringing our hips together, my fingers sinking into his silky dark hair.

I traced the path his tongue took when it licked my bottom lip, and I could feel the squeeze between my legs, arousal reigniting. It was shameful how wet I’d gotten with just one kiss. I still felt the evidence of it whenever I shifted. But guilt was a real bitch, and I closed my eyes and swallowed the terrible burn of shame creeping into my throat.

What would Kate say right now?

I could almost hear her voice whispering for me to go all in and sink my claws into that hot piece of “Yes, oh God, yes!” She’d nudge me with her elbow. She’d tell me I was being stupid to think about Phillip when hemade it clear that what we had together was casual, no strings. And then she’d cleverly argue I needed to live a little.

Hadn’t I made a promise to myself that I’d actually go out there and live my damn life after nearly dying at the hands of Eros twice? Or how after the uncertain fate of my Grams damaged a good night’s sleep for weeks I wouldn’t give myself any more excuses? Or more importantly, how I had every right to live the way I wanted after I realized I was nothing but a weapon created with the genetics of the very thing I hunted?

When I lifted my eyes, fired up, Sloan chuckled beside me. “The expressions you give way to in silent moments are, I must admit, enormously refreshing.”

Weight hit my stomach the second he said so. “Expressions? Shit.”

Ialsopromised myself I’d keep all emotion from showing on my face, and here I was, repeating the same mistakes.

It fucking figures.

Sloan’s lips slanted upwards. “Try not to be too hard on yourself. Most Hunters are given plenty of time to train out in the world before being tasked the way you have been with high-level missions.”

“Or before being chased by ancient, death-defying assholes bent on killing them?”

Sloan’s chest-deep chuckle made my stomach do an odd flip. “Or that.”

I nodded, in no mood to continue the discussion. “So, what kind of restaurant are we going to—and do they accept Mistresses of Evil as patrons?”

The way Sloan’s delight reached his face and broadened his smile was worth the redirection I took, and I internally celebrated the smooth transition from uncomfortable work talk to something a little lessworld-ending. “I think it’ll make you happy, and to hell with anyone that turns away a beauty like yours.”

Shit. I’d never be as smooth as Sloan.

Never.

After an awkward dinner and shopping excursion around town, where every person stared at us like we were up for auction, and a few women even found a reason to talk to Sloan, the other Hunter drove us to a secret spot on a hill that overlooked the city.

The sky was clear, stars brightly gleaming and scattered along the nightscape, and I’d never seen anything quite like it. Really, my life had been one fast maneuver to the next, and I rarely got to enjoy an evening out.

I mean, not like this, anyway.

Most of the nights I spent out were overshadowed by vampires with glinting fangs and the screams of the innocent townsfolk they lured into their traps. That, or the taste of blood in my mouth after a sound kick or punch to my body by a strong-as-fuck creature of the night. Followed by an explosion of ash when my vengeful, well-aimed stake sunk into the bastard’s chest. That was how I spent most of my nights before meeting Phil.

Don’t think about him.

Moistening my lips, I flicked my eyes towards the window, suddenly very uncomfortable with all the silence presently occupying the car. Unfortunately, the rumbling hum of the sportscar and the loud chirp of bugs outfor the evening weren’t loud enough to drown out the racing thump of my heart. It was all very romance movie, if I was honest, and I fidgeted in a way I never had with Phillip.

I clasped my hands together, determined to smother out the quaking in my body. “This is a nice spot,” I whispered, internally berating my awkwardness. “Where did you even find it?”

Sloan cut the engine. Then the leather of his seat creaking reached my sensitive ears when he artfully leaned it back, giving me his full attention. “I have my ways.”

My heart was an erratic pound in my ears, and the muscles in my body were pulled tight in anticipation. But it was anyone’s guess what I could possibly be anticipating.

“Nigel probably told you,” I struggled to say.

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