The Lion and the Lamb

He cocked his head to the side and stared at her throat. Tatum’s face heated, and her hand instinctively went to the mark Leo left where her shoulder and neck met. It wasn’t anything overly flashy, more like a mix of a hickey and a scrape.

Just thinking about what they had been doing when he gave it to her had Tatum’s heart racing.

Slade inhaled deeply and made a deep noise in the back of his throat. “You know, when you think of him, the most intoxicating scent leaves you.” His fingers tapped a rhythmic sound on the arm of the couch as he watched her. “I can’t say I’m pleased it’s Leo who causes that reaction in you, but given time, I have no doubts that aroma will be all mine.”

Tatum’s heart beat faster at Slade’s words. “I don’t understand what you want with me.” She looked at Peaches, hoping the woman she had grown to call her friend would come to her aid. Why Tatum thought the same woman who hit her over the head and knocked her out would save her was beyond her, but she was desperate. Whatever fucked-up delusions Slade had about her, this would not end well.

“Has Leo told you who and what he is?” Slade looked smug, like he was just itching to reveal some deep, dark secret.

“Leo told me everything.” Whether that was true or not was beyond Tatum, but she wasn’t going to give Slade the advantage that he knew more. Besides, how could she believe anything he said when his intentions were nefarious?

“Oh, he did, did he?” Those damn fingers tapped a quicker tempo on the leather. “Tell me, Tatum, what did Leo Castill tell you?”

She didn’t know if he was trying to fish information out of her, or if he really wanted to see if she knew anything. Instead of revealing something that might ultimately hurt Leo, Tatum clamped her teeth together and straightened her shoulders. Slade chuckled deeply and snapped his eyes to Peaches.

“Get the fuck out of here.”

A small almost hurt sound left Peaches, but she left without making a scene.

The finality of that door closing sent a wave of dread through Tatum.

“Come here.” Slade’s voice was deceptively soft, but she could see right through it. He patted his lap, his grin speaking of painfully ugly things.

Shaking her head, she placed her back farther into the couch. The air around him shifted, and a flash of white beamed from behind his green eyes. The creature staring at her right now was no longer human. “Come. Here.” His distorted voice sounded deep and crazed.

“No.” Shaking her head, she whispered that lone word. The door was to her left, close enough that if she sprinted, she might be able to make it. The look in his eyes told Tatum he knew what she thought.

If she could just get out of the room, she could make it to the main floor. It seemed everything in the room slowed until only that one moment mattered. Jumping off the couch, she raced toward the door. It felt as if she was in a dream, one where she ran and ran to get away from her unseen attacker, but no matter how fast she ran, she didn’t make any progress. It was a slow-motion reel, one where her legs kept moving and moving, but she didn’t advance. That was exactly how she felt at that moment.

Her fingers curled around the handle, and she could taste freedom, but just as she would have wrenched the damn thing open, he grabbed a chunk of her hair, his laughter filling her head.

Pulling her back, her feet came out from under her as he yanked her backward. The ground met her in a rush of concrete and pain. In the next instant, he hauled her back like she was the caveman’s prize.

Clawing at Slade’s hand tightly wrapped in her hair, she cried out. Kicking at the air, Tatum tried to grab something to give her leverage, but he made sure everything was just out of her reach. Slade suddenly let go of her hair, and sweet relief from the searing pain filled her, but that was short-lived as Slade hauled her up with his hand on her throat.

Toes barely touching the floor, Tatum gasped and gripped his hand that clenched tightly around her neck. Green eyes bored into hers.

“I could have been gentle with you, Tatum, but it’s clear Leo’s hold on you is far too strong.” His other hand lifted, and he smoothed it over her cheek. Before she could react, his lips were on hers and he kissed her.

Twisting her head away, bile rose in her throat as the taste of cigar smoke and liquor filled her mouth. Gagging, Tatum sucked in air when he pulled away. His smile showed elongated canines, and it was then, as she stared at the wicked sharpness, that she tasted the metallic flavor of blood.