Dragon's Fire Read Free

but I was a bit too, shall we say, buxom to go without a bra of some kind. At least, in public.
     
    “Then can I get your number?”
     
    I pulled my t-shirt over my head. “I'm not the kind to stick around, Alex. If I'm back in the area, I may look you up for another go around, but I'm not going to call and chat.” I turned as I said it. I didn't want to see the hurt on his face. It would just be embarrassing for us both. “I'll show myself out.”
     

 
     
    Chapter Two
     
    Alex was a nice guy, I mused as I walked out into the warm summer night. The ranger's cabin was at the base of the mountains, a short walk from the town and my hotel. On a beautiful August night like this, it was enjoyable. Or, at least it was enjoyable until I realized that something was following me. Repressing a weary sigh, I kept my pace even and stayed on the path that leads to the main road into town. My post-orgasmic haze had dissipated and I could feel the adrenaline flowing through me again, sharpening my senses. There went my chance at getting to sleep early. No matter what happened, I'd be keyed up for at least another couple hours. I remembered the trail from the times I'd walked it over the past week and knew that there was a spot where I could act.
     
    When I reached the clearing, I paused and put my foot up on a rock. I really did need to tie my shoes to do this, but it was also a good reason to stop without rousing suspicion. Another thing I needed was the knife in the small pocket on the leg of my jeans. Because the FBI agent heading this particular hunt had been a major ass-hat, I'd had to borrow a gun from the local PD and give it back once we'd caught our suspect. Agent Ass-Hat had expressly forbidden me to carry weapons of my own. I always tried my best to go along with the rules, but I never went anywhere naked – and I'm not talking clothes. No matter what I'm wearing, at least one article of clothing has a weapon of some kind hidden in it. Tonight, it happened to be a four inch switchblade in my pant-leg.
     
    “What's a pretty thing like you doing out here this time of night?”
     
    I turned towards the voice, instinctively knowing what I was about to face. The moment I saw the mullet, I knew I was right. Only someone who'd been dead for thirty years would think that was still an attractive style. Movement out of the corner of my eye told me that there were at least four others. They were younger, probably only ten years dead. I don't have a sixth sense or anything like that, just a lifetime of experience. Most of the recently undead – less than a century is recent in vampire terms – had a difficult time adapting as styles changed. I always figured it took them that long to realize the reality of their immortality. Or their taste could just take that long for their taste not to suck.
     
    “I'm not interested in whatever you're offering,” I kept my tone even. I wasn't scared, but I also knew that if it came down to a fight, I couldn't be seen as having provoked them.
     
    “It's not an offer.” The leader smiled, flashing his fangs. He looked disappointed when I didn't shriek in terror or beg for mercy.
     
    “Look,” my voice was tired. “If you're after sex, move along. I don't fuck vampires. If it's blood you want, I'm not volunteering, so put your fangs away.”
     
    “You smell like sex.” Mullet took a step towards me. The others stayed where they were. That was good. It meant Mullet was their sire and they'd wait for him to feed or fuck before they made a move.
     
    “Last chance to walk away.” I shifted my weight onto my back foot and rested my thumb on my knife's catch.
     
    “I'm gonna have fun draining you dry, cupcake.”
     
    Did he just refer to me as a snack food?
     
    Before I had time to get properly annoyed, Mullet launched himself at me. I waited until he was only a foot away and pivoted so that he went careening past me. The fact that he kept going for another few feet told me that