Page 16 of The Vampire's Thirst
Rein swung his boots off Kole’s desk. “You’re not tough enough to fire her. Face it, she’d take you down, fangs buried in your neck before you could lob a fireball.”
“Straight up. Nico and Sabine are still running point on the Arisen Dawn watch. They’ve confirmed Gold Dust drug money funds Cerberus’s insurgents. Maybe our Firebrand lovebirds will fetch intel on him and his larger base of operation.”
Kole glanced at the stacks of paper on his desk. “Cadmon says he’s got a special agent in deep with Cerberus.”
“Who?” Rein paused in the doorway.
“Dunno. Claims the male has creds.”
****
Daxgrowled when the female bolted for the outside door, stumbling in her fear.
He shook the remnants of the binding off his wrists, his fangs biting into his lower lip, his feral eyes glowing hot red. She should have used chains. As if they would have held him. Still, it was stupid of her. She should be more careful.
Despite a nagging hunger, he shivered with the anticipation of the chase. Stalking and catching the spry little black-haired gypsy with the long, torn skirt and blouse which dropped seductively off her shoulder would be exciting.
Stalling, he gave her a fighting chance. Even with a head start, she was doomed. He’d catch her with ease, draw her tight against his body while he sank aching fangs into Chiara’s delicious pale neck. His cock stiffened just thinking about the game.
She was fragile. He’d have to be careful. Did he have that much control? The O blud was weak in his system now. But years of fulfilling his depraved pleasures still shaped him. He vowed to manage his urges with the little chit. Afterward, he’d leave her in good shape and with no memories of his visit.
With stiff muscles, he ambled through the kitchen, opened the screen door, and stepped onto the porch where he stretched his arms above his head. To test his leg, he shook it out. Though it wasn’t fully healed, an infusion of blood would do the trick. He fingered the wounds on his bare chest while he glanced at the raw burned flesh on his side. With no shirt and his favorite leathers torn, he shivered in the chill air.
When dogs charged to the steps, growling and snapping, Dax flipped a savage glare toward them, beast to beast. He snarled. Message received. Whimpering, the animals stilled, perhaps not content to let him chase their mistress but acknowledging him as the most brutal among them. With his hand slicing downward and his teeth gnashing, he said, “Stay.” His gaze flipped to the woods while he bent to rub one of the hounds behind an ear.
Dax twisted his head left, right, straight ahead. “Where are you, kid?”
He sniffed the air.Delicious. Her scent was a sinful mixture of lavender, honey, and vanilla, laced with fear and adrenaline.
Would she taste the same?How long has it been since I’ve fed from a clean female? Decades? Centuries?
His hearing was sharp. Bare feet crunched leaves and forest detritus straight ahead. Dax set a comfortable pace, ignoring the pain in his throbbing leg.
No reason to hurry.
He brushed aside a leafy branch hanging across the path, not letting it stop his forward movement.
Splash. Squish.
She had obviously stepped into a puddle of water.
He would make the feeding painless because she deserved the kindness for saving his life. He wasn’t a complete monster.
Not yet.
Spying her colorful skirt through the bushes ahead, he jogged toward her. When his hunger cut like a blade through his gut, he broke into a run. If he waited longer, he risked losing control.
Chiara’s thick hair swayed with each bouncing step. Her arm tangled in a vine, costing valuable time.
Not that it mattered.
Panic widened her lovely orchid eyes as she glanced over her shoulder.
When he snared the female, he flung an arm around her waist, lifting her off the ground. While Chiara kicked against his shins, her arms flailed like a bird caught in a downdraft. She threw a fist over her shoulder, striking his face.
Dax laughed. “Love pat, kid.” He grabbed both of her hands as he shifted her into a horizontal position, squeezing her arms between their bodies. “Now, kick and hit all you want.”
With his fangs throbbing while Chiara still fought, he footed it toward the house. Dax’s desire ratcheted to the next level. He growled. “Stop or I’ll take you right here.”
