Crimson Highlander (Onyx Assassins 2)

"Which one was Owen?" she asked without looking my way, as staking out a house on surveillance was commonplace. “I thought I knew every vampire in the Order.”

"The fact that you know there is an Order is infuriating. And, you didn't see him," I answered, taking a sip of the hot, black coffee from the stainless-steel travel mug. "He's my talem. Pale hair. Brown eyes. Scottish accent. Talems are—”

"Immortal servants," she interrupted, a slight smirk playing at her lips. "I bet I know more about you than you do about me."

"I highly doubt that. I’m well-versed on all things Valor Moorehouse. And yes, they are immortal, but Owen will tell you he's more valet, less servant." I smiled at the thought. "He’s been at my side since I was thirty, so he can call himself whatever he damn well likes." Sergei ran the house, but just like I was the general of Alek’s armies, Owen made sure everything in the house ran on time at Serge's order.

"So, the coffee?” she questioned, leaning forward on the passenger seat of my rover and narrowing her eyes at the house. "I know caffeine doesn't have any effect on you. No human drugs do."

"I like the taste." I also liked that she kept her eyes on the target as if she might notice something I wouldn't in the house ahead of us.

"Something we have in common." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Look at us, being civil."

"That doesn't mean I trust you."

"Something else we have in common. It looks like we’re on our way to a glorious, temporary partnership.”

I nearly laughed but merely shook my head. Beautiful, smart, and a sense of humor? She might have been the perfect female if she hadn’t been human. But she is.

She rubbed her hand over the back of her neck, and the hairs on my forearm prickled. “Avianna said I can’t get the mark removed.” Her brow puckered, but she kept her gaze firmly on the house.

The living room light went out, and the silence stretched between us, the air in the Rover growing thick with tension.

“It doesn’t work like that,” I finally answered, putting my coffee into the cupholder now that it had somehow lost its flavor. “You don’t want this.” It was part revelation, part question.

She snorted. “Like you do?”

“Hell no.”

Her posture straightened with a jerk. “Well, you don’t have to be a dick about it.”

A corner of my mouth lifted. “Oh, lass. You’d love me to be a dick about it.”

“Like you have any idea what I’d love.” Her scent flared as her cheeks flushed. “There is nothing about being linked to a vampire that I love or even like. Trust me.”

Now that brought on a full grin.

“What?” she snapped.

I shook my head.

“Oh for fuck’s sake, just say it.” She shoved her mug into the cupholder.

“Lass, do you know the benefit of being hundreds of years old?”

“You qualify for the AARP discount?” Her gaze shifted to mine.

I ignored the jab. “Experience. I know about a hundred different ways to get you off, all of which would leave you screaming my name and loving it.”

She sucked in a breath. “Yeah, well that’s not going to happen. You’re keeping your hands to yourself.”

“Who said I needed my hands?” My tongue skimmed the tip of my fangs, which ached a little more with each passing minute I spent in this damned car with her.

She noticed, her eyes widening and her lips parting before she jerked her attention back to the house. “Don’t tell me you’re…hungry.”

“I’m always thirsty. Doesn’t mean I act on it.”

The light in the dining room vanished, then the kitchen.

“You just ate someone last night! Remember? You raced off to some brunette.” She spat the last word like a curse as three men emerged from the house.

“Careful lass, or you’ll start to sound like a jealous mate.” An unwanted thrill shot through my veins. Stop it. I quickly memorized the faces of each man before they crammed themselves into a late model Honda Civic and pulled out onto the road.

My finger hovered over the ignition button, waiting for the Civic to turn the corner—

Valor bolted out of the car and sprinted toward the house.

“What the fuck?” I dematerialized and reappeared right in front of her.

She skidded to a halt, and I gripped her shoulders on instinct to keep her from falling. Damn, she felt good under my hands.

“How?” She sputtered as she caught her balance.

“Get back in the car!” I hissed.

“Fuck off.” She moved to the side, and I moved with her, blocking her again. “I’m going in.”

“No, you’re not.”

She rolled her eyes at me and sidestepped again, so I matched the move, frustration exploding in my gut and locking my jaw.

“Don’t you ever do what you’re told, Valor?”

She smiled.

My heart clenched. Beautiful.

“Nope.” She shrugged. “So you may as well come with me…unless you’re not struggling with that whole overprotective male thing Lyric told me about last night. I’m sure you’d be super comfortable with me going in there alone.”