Up in a Blaze Read Free

teaming with vampires had adopted their by-laws.
    He walked into the room and stopped. Whatever he had been expecting, this was surely not it. Although Donte had seen a picture of Cassandra Vicors, seeing this young woman for the first time was a far different experience than he had ever dreamed.
    After a moment of not moving, he realized her eyes were glaring at him as she frowned, and he was openly staring at her. He dropped his gaze to the floor immediately, in an effort to make her more comfortable, because holy moly, Cassandra Vicors was his mate.
    He slowly made his way to the side of her bed, avoiding eye contact. “Umm, I am very sorry about that. You caught me off guard. I’m Donte Chaverez from the Texas Rangers. I’m here to escort you back to Texas for your friend, Betty.” He whipped his ID out of his back pocket again and held it out in front of him.
    Her voice a moment later left little doubt that he had managed to piss her off. “Well, Mr. Chaverez, I am sorry if I was not what you were anticipating. I realize I don’t look the greatest, but you don’t have to be so rude about it.”
    He jerked his head up so fast he heard his neck pop. “What? Wait, I don’t think you understand.”
    She cut him off from continuing. “Oh, I think I understand very well. I am sorry I’m a disappointment to you, but for your information, I have been through hell in the last forty-eight hours. The bruises that obviously disgust you, were not by choice! I have been beaten trying to protect a friend, hospitalized, and now I am supposed to accompany a stranger to Texas who obviously can’t stand the sight of me, all because some psychotic a-hole won’t leave me alone…”
    He was standing directly in front of her, her chin lightly resting on his fingers, before she could even blink. “I happen to think you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Those marks on your face don’t turn me off, sweetheart, they only tell me what a fighter you are. They represent how strong you are. Don’t let that jerk-off win, baby.” He ever so lightly ghosted his other hand down the side of her face.
    He watched as she narrowed her eyes up at him. “How many times have you used that line on a woman?”
    He looked down at the tiny woman sitting on the bed in front of him. Other than Walter’s wife, Sissy, no woman had dared speak to him in that tone of voice in too many years to count. Damn if she wasn’t the cutest thing when she got her feathers in a ruffle.
    He flashed her his million-dollar smile. “That one was all for you, babe.”
    His fingertips were still brushing down her cheek until she reached up and slapped his hand away. “I am not your babe, and I believe I’ve changed my mind about going to Texas with you. You may leave now.”
    She attempted to cross her arms over her chest, but squeaked in pain as her ribs protested the movement. Donte sighed and pulled up the chair next to the bed to sit down. “Look, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot, and for that I do apologize. What caught me off guard was your beauty. And yes, while I am bothered by your bruises, it is not for the reason you think. Men like the one who attacked you need to be hunted down and done away with, and the fact there’s another one out there to be found is the only thing that bothers me. I can assure you your inner strength and beauty come shining through, and I’m not just spouting off at the mouth. No, I don’t make it a habit of going around telling women they are beautiful two minutes after we meet. As a matter of fact, you may have a hard time believing this, but I rarely have anything to do with the finer sex.”
    He watched as she rolled her eyes, as if she didn’t believe him. Her words a few seconds later affirmed just that. “Right, a total hottie like you, who has lines as smooth as silk, and able to put a woman into a trance, and I’m supposed to believe you aren’t a player? Pulease, Mr. Chaverez. I wasn’t