Taming the Hunted Read Free

record, pal,” she
snapped, crossing the room and jabbing a finger in his chest. “No more watching
me. My dreams are my business.” She knew she talked in her sleep and shuddered
at the thought of what he may have heard.
    “So you intend on staying here again?” He grinned, showing a
wide mouth full of almost sharp, white teeth, cased in broad lips.
    Marian felt her face heat and took an unconscious step back.
His eyes sparkled in the artificial light of the city and she noticed for the
first time that they were yellow, not light brown, but yellow like a lion. She leaned
toward him, coming within inches of his face. Realizing what she was doing, she
shook herself. His hands were faster than her resolve. Before she could move away
from him, he grasped her face, pausing for just a moment before pressing his
lips hard against hers.
    His mouth tasted like ripe peaches. His kiss moved against
her lips as he parted them with his tongue. She resisted at first, but her body
gave in to the need for physical contact. She groaned and allowed her urges to
take over as she climbed forward onto him, lowering herself to straddle his lap
like a grown-up kid on Santa Claus, with her legs folded on either side of his
against the armrests. Her hand fell from her clutch on her blade and rose to
cup his rough, stubbled chin, drawing his mouth harder to hers. His large hands
slid across the concave of her neck down to the curve of her hip. His hands
rose again, and he slid her shirt up her waist. She shifted and felt the
growing bulge that was his warm cock stirring against her crotch.
    His teeth nipped her neck in a gesture that was all too
familiar and arousing. The sharp pain brought her back to her surroundings.
What was she doing! She pushed him away and stood, pulling her shirt down and
thanking the gods he hadn’t gotten it high enough to reveal her concealed
blades. She assumed he knew she had them, after all, the man had all but
carried her there. Still, she wanted what was hidden to stay hidden.
    “So, um. What are you all doing up after nightfall anyway?”
Her words came out breathless and rushed.
    He chuckled, that fire still in those yellow eyes, which
watched her as she tried to shift the feelings he’d awakened in her just
moments ago. “You can hardly judge all of us by me and Kennard,” he replied.
    “There are more of you?” she asked.
    “Yes, most of my pa—um, friends live here.”
    “How many is most?”
    “At last count, there were ten people living here, including
myself.”
    “Ten!” The back of her neck prickled. She could take on one,
but ten...
    “Is there a reason you live with a vampire?” she asked,
needing to know what she was up against here. His expression did not show
surprise that she knew what Kennard was.
    “He was kicked out of his coven in a rather elaborate
fashion. I stepped in and now he feels he owes me.”
    “You’re not nervous having him around?” She watched his eyes
for some indication of whether he told the truth or not. Vamps and wolves were
notorious for their feuds; hunting the same prey resulted in turf wars. She was
sure now, after that bite, that he was a werewolf. The last one to try and mark
her had been Lione. She shuddered at the thought and pushed the memory away so
she could focus on the situation at hand.
    “He thinks we taste bad,” he replied, grinning.
    He stood, unfolding like a great panther, and stalked past
her to the door. She breathed in as he passed, his scent lingering, making her
heart give an extra beat. He held the door open and gestured for her to take a
look out into the hall with a sweep of one broad hand. She made sure to stand a
little behind him where she could see any move he might make, taking the
opportunity to admire the curves and dimples of his ass through his tailored
trousers which sat a little too snug around his hips. She always appreciated a
man who took care of himself. Realizing where her thoughts were leading, she
cast the