Page 43 of The Vampire's Thirst
While most demons’ bodies bore runes of their ancestry, Kole’s markings did not record a complete lineage. He’d had them painfully removed.Screw them all.Except those of his mother and father. Now runes depicting Skyler and Kae were on his chest near his heart. As far as he was concerned, they were his history.
Cadmon cleared his throat, casting a silent message to Jarek and Nace which warned them to stop grinning at Kole’s antics. “We want new portals opened to be used only by Firebrands and trusted members of the Alliance.”
Boden’s lips puckered. “Oh. That will be extremely difficult.”
The animus demon commander’s fire-gold eyes flashed a message to the director.
“I’m not saying impossible. Just difficult. We would have to build the infrastructure Earthside. Garages, storefronts. Buildings like that. We can’t have you popping up in the middle of a crowded street. What would the humans think?”
“We’re already outed, you pompous…”
The ylve high commander held up a hand to interrupt Kole. “We don’t care about hiding from humans anymore. What I care about is having access to Earth when our other gateways are compromised. So, I suggest you build a shitload of new ones. Screw the infrastructure. And do it now.” Cadmon rose to his full height and threw back his shoulders, his military bearing unquestionable, his rare temper on display.
His companions raised their brows, looking shocked at Cadmon’s uncharacteristic outburst.
Boden’s hands trembled. “Right away, High Commander.” He whipped out a tablet. “Would you like to tell me where you want them?”
“No. I’ll leave Kole to the task.” Cadmon strode from the room.
The director swallowed hard when he twisted toward Kole. “Commander, I am sure we can work together to complete the task.”
“I’m sure we can, too. If we can’t, I’m gonna toast your balls.”
Skyler laughed. “You’re incorrigible.”
“But you love me, Frisca.”
“True.”
When they got down to business, Boden was more accommodating.
Chapter Ten
Finleysnuggled into the soft mattress, drawing the fluffy pillow to her cheek. This was sure better than the sleeping bag on the hard, cold ground.
Wait.
She shot upright, tugging the clenched blanket up to her neck. Where was the tent? She peeked under the sheet. Naked. She sniffed. Coffee. Biscuits.
A door swung open, and one of the biggest guys Fin had ever seen prowled into the room, a towel wrapped low around narrow hips, a dark goody trail starting below his navel but disappearing before revealing the prize at the end of the rainbow. Droplets clung to his tanned skin, and water splattered the walls as he shook out shaggy chestnut-brown hair. He grinned, no doubt aware of his deliciousness.
The guy approached the bed, and Fin bent her neck to look up and up and up. Claw marks stood out on his jaw. Amber irises, more pronounced because of jet-black pupils, made him feral-looking but sexy.
Wolf.
“Good. You’re awake.”
Was that a growl?
While the man mesmerized her, the blanket glided down Fin’s breasts. Her nipples hardened, exposed to the cool air and a hungry, animal gaze. She snatched the cover up to her chin. “Who are you and where the hell am I?”
Standing over her like a hulking, wild presence, he growled again. A warm, throaty sound. The wolf version of a purr. “You were in the woods fighting off two men last night. Remember?”
Her heart pitter-patted against her chest as she stared at the tented towel. Fin resisted licking her lips at the evidence of the hunk’s erection. Big body. Big cock. Natch. She dipped her chin, closing her eyes to shut out the fully aroused male within touching distance. The scene was coming back to her. “Right. Two guys attacked me. You … killed both of them. Ripped their heads off. One with your teeth and the other with your bare hands. Which, by the way, were clawed.”
“Blood loss, darlin’. You imagined it.”
“Nuh-uh. You mentioned a demon.” The comforter slipped again as she scooted away from the tempting man-wolf.
