But her eyes were wild. Not just with lust but with fear. Her lips trembled and he knew, better than others, what demons rode her.

“I’m not going any place.” Not yet.

Fuck the dawn.

Forget.

He’d make her forget all right. And make her always remember him and what he could give to her.

His fingers caught the edge of her panties. Plain white cotton. Serviceable. The panties shouldn’t have been sexy. On her, they were.

He eased down, lowering his head, and kissed her through the fabric. Her hips shot up at the sensual touch.

“Easy.” His eyes lifted to hers. “Trust me.”

I can’t. He could read the words on her face though she didn’t speak a word.

“You’ll have to,” he said and meant it. Sooner or later, there would be no choice.

He licked his lips and knew he couldn’t stop. Didn’t want to stop. His cock was nearly bursting, so full he hurt, and the woman who’d crept into his mind and twisted his fantasies into nightmares quivered beneath him. His to pleasure.

His.

For the moment, anyway.

Her scent was so much richer now and the hunger inside had only grown stronger. His teeth caught the band of elastic. He jerked his head and the fabric tore.

“Chase!”

His head shot up. “Simon.” No distance here. No walls. He wouldn’t allow them.

His fingers ripped away the torn panties and tossed them across the room. Then he touched her. Easing his fingers into the blond curls between her legs, he found her plump, wet, and hot.

Just the way he liked a woman.

Her breath hissed out when he touched her clit. A hard press with his thumb then a slow caress with his fingers. He’d learned long ago how to pleasure a woman. How to make her moan and beg. How to make her scream.

He wanted Dee to scream for him.

His index finger found her opening. Pushed inside. Tight. Sweat beaded on his brow. So tight.

The back of his zipper was going to be permanently indented on his dick at this rate.

Another finger thrust inside and stretched her. Dee’s neck arched.

Don’t tempt.

His fingers wrapped around her thighs, and he opened her even wider to his touch and his stare.

To his mouth.

Pink flesh, moist and waiting.

His lips touched her first. A light caress. Gentle and easy.

“Simon, more!” No gentle and easy command there.

His tongue swiped over her clit and she jolted. His fingers tightened around her thighs, clamping down harder and he pulled her flush against his mouth.

He took.

His tongue tasted, licked. His mouth worked the tight button of her desire. He felt her stiffen, felt the coil of her muscles, and he learned what she liked.

What she loved.

Her thighs shook. Her fingers latched onto his shoulders—the better to hold him tight. Not that he was going anywhere. No damn place right then.

His tongue stabbed into her sex. Her taste, that sweet and spicy blend, filled his mouth, and he knew he couldn’t get enough. Not now.

Not even close.

The tremble began in her sex, a telling tightening that he knew came right before orgasm.

Scream for me.

He freed her thighs. His thumb pressed onto her clit. His tongue thrust into that tight slit—

Dee came against his mouth, her body bucking, her fingernails biting deep into his flesh.

But the woman didn’t make a sound.

His gaze lifted and he saw her eyes go blind. The perfect lash of pleasure covered her face, but she bit her lip, holding back the cry of pleasure.

Screw that shit.

He rose, licking his lips, tasting her and wanting to fuck her so badly that he burned. A bead of blood appeared on her lip. Small, so red.

His mouth lowered toward her. Easy.

She turned her head away and his lips skated over her jaw.

Dammit.

Her nails retreated and he missed the bite immediately. Her hands curved over him, hesitant now that the fire was slaked. “That was…ah…nice.”

What?

His eyes narrowed as he lifted his upper body. Simon caught her chin and forced her to look at him. Her tongue slicked over her lower lip, taking away that drop of blood. “Nice?” He repeated.

No, the woman hadn’t just said that to him.

Her smile came then, a slow curl that lit her face, then her eyes. “Maybe better than nice.”

A tease. Should have known it.

Her bare legs shifted against his jean-clad thighs.

“A lot better,” he told her definitely.

One blond brow rose.

“The best you ever had,” he continued, keeping his lips flat when they wanted to lift in response to the furrow that appeared between the brows.

Dee blinked, a long, slow blink. “You don’t know what I’ve had.”

He bit back the sudden fury that rose in him. “Don’t want to know,” he gritted.

Her fingers slid between them and reached for the button on the jeans. “Let’s see what happens when we have—”

His jaw clenched. Now this was the painful part. His balls would be blue all day long. “I’ve got to leave, babe.”

“What?” Surprise there. Hurt?

Maybe. A good sign.

He rose from the couch and didn’t bother dragging his gaze off her naked body as he straightened his own clothes.

She didn’t bother to cover up. “Where are you going?”

“To take one very cold shower.” Honesty, finally. Kind of felt good to be honest with her.

Her brows pulled low in confusion as she asked, “Why?”

Because sex right then wasn’t the way to gain her trust. The way to gain some hard, fast pleasure, hell yeah, but not the way to get to his end goal. “Because we’re going to be more than a fast fuck, Sandra Dee.”

“Dee.” Her breasts heaved as she straightened. Gorgeous. Maybe he’d have one more taste.

He bent toward her and swiped his tongue over her nipple. Yes.

Could have been his sigh. Could have been hers.

Leave.

A hard suck on that nipple, then he pulled back. “The hours before dawn are hard, aren’t they?”

Her breath came fast. “Wh-what are you doing to me?”

Everything he could.

“You needed me to fight the dark. You called, I came.” Well, not quite the coming he would have liked. “Remember that. I gave but I didn’t take a single thing from you.”

Next time, he wouldn’t be so nice. Especially since being nice wasn’t really in his genetic makeup.

His gaze dropped to her sex. He could still taste her. His teeth snapped together.

She rose but didn’t bother reaching for her clothes. What was she trying to do to him?

He could lift her up, shove into her, and take the woman right there. Dee was so light, he’d hold her and thrust and make her scream.

Pleasure, not pain.

Because he could do that, too, no matter what the whispers said.

“I don’t understand you,” she said.

“I think you understand me better than anyone else.” He let the words fall between them and managed to drag his gaze up to hers. “I did my research, Dee, just like I know you did yours.”

Not even a flicker of expression. But she reached for her shirt. Tugged it on with steady hands.

“We both know what it’s like when the monsters come.” He wouldn’t say anything else. Couldn’t.

Simon turned away and marched for the door. Dee didn’t stop him. He didn’t expect her to. That was, after all, part of the plan.

When he yanked open her door, the first rays of sunlight hit him.

Dawn.

He glanced back. “More than a fuck, Dee.” So much more. “When you need me, you know how to find me.”

Squaring his shoulders, he headed into the light.

And not once did he glance back.

Chapter 4

When night fell, coming with its thick, hot darkness and moonless sky, Dee headed back to Onyx.

There’d been no sign of the woman since their last encounter, and she’d spent all day using every one of Night Watch’s contacts in hope of finding Sunshine.

No luck.

So Dee figured she’d better let the woman find her again.

And that was why her butt was parked once again at the bar.

Her gaze scanned the crowd. Pretty light since it was only a little past nine. The heavy hitters would come in later.

Her stare tracked across the room, not lingering too long, looking for the tall, muscled length of—

“Hell.” Dee ground her back teeth together as she caught herself. The object was to find the woman from last night, not Chase.

Not the man who’d given her a fast, hard ride straight into one of her better orgasms, then walked away.

Walked away.

What had been up with that?

More than a fuck. She spun toward the bartender. “A beer, Mike. The cheaper, the better.” One drink, that was all she ever allowed herself when she hunted. A big, long glass mirror ran the length of the bar and Dee stared at her reflection. Wow—was that her hair? Maybe she should—

Her eyes locked on a man. Black hair. Broad shoulders. Tall, strong. Don’t-give-a-damn swagger.

Chase.

Her breath eased out.

The man was double-timing it to the exit.

Running from her?

Or chasing something? Someone?

“Hold the beer.” She shoved away from the bar. “Be back in five.” The exit door had already swung shut, but Dee rushed forward. If there was a hunt, she’d be in on the action. And if there wasn’t…

Well, she had a few things to say to Mr. More Than A Fuck.

Her fingers clamped around the door knob. Just in case, she went out silently, armed, ready.

But no one was there. Just an empty back lot.

What the hell?

“You did well.” The vampire stared into the human female’s eyes, enjoying the soft ebb and flow of her blood. Her heart raced as he crossed to her. With every step, the blood flowed faster.

She smiled at him. “She was right where you said she’d be. All alone.” A quick swipe of her tongue across those ripe red lips. “I-I could have killed her for you. I would have.”

Such an eager little helper. “I know.” He trailed his fingertip down her cheek. Lisa. He didn’t remember her last name. Didn’t care.

“I’d do anything for you,” she whispered and her eyes were so wide and blue. “Anything.”

Because she wanted to live forever. Because Lisa, with her thin thighs and her big breasts and her perfect face, was aging. Slowly. One faint line at a time.

“I’m not afraid to kill.” Her chin lifted even as she swayed toward him.

His fangs lengthened. He’d love to have one more taste of her. Fresh blood was always the best. “No, you’ve proven that.” She’d brought prey to him that very first night. His fingers trailed down her throat and curled over that frantic pulse. “But are you afraid to die?”

Hope lit her eyes. “You’re going to do it? You’re going to change me?” Her smile stretched her face. “I’m not afraid, I want—”

“Good.” Then he lifted the weapon he’d kept hidden and stabbed her. Right in that laboring heart.

She choked at first, probably on her own blood because he saw the trickle of red slide from the corner of her mouth. Those wide eyes filled with pain and shock because this wasn’t the death she’d expected.

Because he hated for all that good blood to go to waste, he bent toward her, and licked those sweet drops away from her lips.

Then he let her body fall.

Time to get the other bitch.

Now this was just…weird. Dee shoved the stake back into her ankle holster. She tilted her head, straining to pick up some sound to indicate movement, but she just caught the muted beat of music.

“Chase?”

Maybe he’d circled back around to the front of the building. Possible. But that fast?

Her gaze darted to the row of cars nestled on the left. She didn’t see anyone over there, but…

Dee stalked to the vehicles, aware of a growing tension in her body. Last night, a woman had told her she’d die here.

Being back now, okay, that would make anyone nervous.

Narrowing her eyes, she caught sight of a small, red vehicle. Wait—that was—

A rush of wind behind her.

Oh, damn. Dee froze. She didn’t need to look back to know she wasn’t alone anymore. “I was wondering when you’d show up,” she muttered. Her fingers were just a few inches away from her gun holster. So if she was right and a vamp had just closed in on her—damn but they were almost as quiet as shifters these days—then a gunshot wouldn’t kill him.

But it would still hurt. A lot. And it would give her the precious minutes she needed to stake the asshole.

“I have been watching you,” he said, his voice clipping a bit with an English accent.

“Have you?” She turned, slowly, to face the vampire. Her fingers brushed the holster. “And I’ve been waiting on you.” Dee shook her head. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s wrong to make a woman wait?”

His fangs were out. Long and sharp. As she watched, his blue eyes faded to black. Great. Dee swallowed. A vamp in full hunting mode.

“I’m not here to play with you.” That black stare raked her.

“Oh?” This was it. “Then I guess we better skip the fore-play, huh?” No way to tell if this was the Born Master or one of his minions because the Borns, they always had freaking minions. “Maybe we should just get around to the death part.” Dee jerked out her gun and fired, six times, dead center in his chest.

Flesh and bone torn away, blood splattered around them. Dee stood so close that the bastard’s blood rained on her.