Marked: a Vampire Romance Read Free

breath and tamped it down. Distraction got a girl killed.
    But no, the vampire on the corner hadn’t been one of the monstrous ones. He’d been the most beautiful man that she’d ever seen in person. His muscles rippled under the light white shirt he wore as he lifted up that bookcase by himself. It was certainly too heavy for a human to lift. If it had been daylight, someone would have noticed. But if it had been daylight, the vampire would not have been out.
    His hair was long and held back at the nape of his neck like some Colonial soldier. And the scruff on his chin only enhanced the rest of his features. It was that iffy color between brown and blond, or at least appeared so under the light from the store.
    If he was human, she might have had dreams about the feel of his lips against her skin. She might have imagined his impossibly dark, sinful eyes looming over her in the night as he took her to the heights of pleasure.
    But she’d never think those things about a vampire. She wouldn’t let herself. And even if he’d been human, she’d know to stay away. No man that sexy was ever worth it. They always let you down.
    Gold shook her head, a wry smile on her lips. God, she needed to get laid. Fantasizing about a vampire ! What kind of madness was that?
    The SUV was just a breadcrumb for the vamp to follow. Gold didn’t try to hide her trail as she crossed the street to Highdale Park. She even hummed a little tune, off-key, but loud enough for any vamp in the area to hear.
    During the day, Highdale Park bustled with people. Young mothers and fathers played with their children at the small playground. Dogs and their owners ran around the wide green meadow, fenced in to prevent runaways. Runners ran, joggers jogged, walkers walked, and you couldn’t go more than three minutes without saying hello to someone.
    After dark, it was a different story. While they kept the lights on for safety and visibility, the park was closed and cops walked by every hour to make sure it stayed empty. A wrought iron gate blocked the entrance from the main sidewalk, but the lock had been broken for years.
    Gold pulled on the gate entrance and left it open behind her, another breadcrumb for her stalker. She opened up her senses and picked up his trail. He was a block behind her and quickly heading toward the park.
    But something was off. The signature she’d felt while hunting the ghoul had been slimy and grating, like broken glass dragged across her skin. The vampire behind her was as blood-soaked as any she’d ever sensed, but there was no slime. He wasn’t the same vampire she’d sensed earlier.
    Two vamps near Jasperton. She needed to alert her family immediately. But the beautiful vampire slid into the park behind her, giving Gold only two options. Face him, or run away. The chapel at the other end of the park would offer sanctuary. The combined force of the parishioners’ belief made it safe from evil creatures. But she might be stuck until sunrise.
    Face the vampire then, and get out of the situation as quickly as possible.
    “Isn’t it a little late to be wandering around the park?” he asked, walking under the light closest to her. He looked dangerous, but not the kind of dangerous that would hurt her. Not physically, anyway.
    “I think I can handle myself.” Now that there were only a few feet between them, Gold got a better look at him. The bastard was just as handsome as he’d been several minutes ago, and now she saw that he was at least six feet tall. She was weak for tall men.
    But not this one. Not a vampire.
    He spread out his hands, offering a little bow. “By all means. I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise.”
    He held himself loosely, ready to pounce on her if she took off, but trying to disguise his coiled strength. If he was looking for it, he’d see her in a similar fighter’s stance, but few men ever noticed when a woman was moments from violence.
    She needed to figure out who he was. The huntress