The Girl Who Bites Read Free Page B

Too soon for Pete; he’d called to say he was running late. It wasn’t quite opening time either, just dark outside, but still early.
    Her heart gave a thump, Luke flashing through her mind. She knew it was too early by a day or so, but maybe…
    When she stood, it wasn’t Luke on the other side of the bar though. It was a tall stranger, wearing a battered leather jacket, faded jeans and a shirt open at the collar, carrying a faded canvas backpack.
    Amy felt the eager grin fade from her face, replaced by what she hoped was a welcoming smile that covered her disappointment.
    “Sorry I’m not who you expected.” The stranger took a step forward, setting the backpack on the counter. 
    Amy felt his eyes traveling over her body and for the first time in ages, literally, she felt uncomfortable, like she wanted to cross her arms over her breasts.
    “Um…yeah. Thought you were someone else. Sorry. Can I get you something to drink?” She forced herself to put her hands on the bar, to keep from crossing them over her chest.
    “Water, for now.” His eyes were locked with hers and something wild stirred in the pit of her stomach. Vaguely familiar but disconcerting.
    She cocked her head, a long-dead and distant image flashing through her mind.
    “Do I know you?”
    The stranger smiled, a wicked little grin turning up one corner of his mouth.
    “Not sure. Do you?” He pulled out a barstool, sliding gracefully onto it.
    “Are we playing twenty questions?”
    The man laughed, a deep rich sound. Amy felt her own lips curving into a smile, despite trying to fight it back.
    “You don’t know me. But I know you, Amy.” He leaned his elbows on the bar, his smile deepening.
    “You do? How?” Amy could hear the panic in her voice; if he was a hunter, her little gig here was up. She’d be sporting a stake through her newest blouse. He was evasive, cagey, smelled fantastic… Wait. Why do I care what he smells like?
    “Not so fast…I’m not giving in that easy. You’ll have to earn the answer.”
    “Earn? What the hell…” Amy’s anger flared, her voice rising.
    “You need help, Amy?” Riley was standing behind the stranger, his face creased with a frown. Amy hadn’t seen him come in, she rarely did. He just seemed to materialize.
    “No, we’re fine here.” The stranger flashed a look at Riley.
    “I think I’m the one to decide if we’re fine. And I’m not so sure we are…”
    But Riley was no longer standing behind the stranger. He was lying on the floor, a trickle of blood running from his nose.
    “What the hell have you done?” Amy ran from behind the bar, kneeling beside Riley, feeling for his pulse, not finding one. She was momentarily distracted by the blood on his face.
    But now, she was upset and when she was upset, she got hungry, and he was there, bleeding…she ran her finger through the blood, licking the precious liquid from her finger. It made her briefly swoon.
    She realized the stranger was standing behind her, leaning over her shoulder and watching her. She straightened, swinging her fist with all her might at his head.
    But she connected with nothing but thin air, almost falling down from the effort. She felt the stranger’s arms around her body, holding her up.
    For the briefest moment she was crushed against his chest, all heaving breasts and parted lips. And in that moment, her body went electric, an erotic current running through her like it never had. She blinked as a wave of dizziness passed through her and then shook her head. Get a grip, Amy. There’s a dead guy on the floor here.
    The stranger was smiling at her, obviously enjoying either holding her or her confusion. She pushed roughly away from him, almost tripping over Riley’s body.
    Amy’s eyes went wide. “What are you?”
    “I’m like you, Amy.”
    “You’re like…me?” She was slowly recovering her composure. “And what am I?”
    “You’re a ‘creature of the night’ a ‘blood-sucking leech’ or how about