Love at First Bite Read online

  He could feel her horror, panic, sadness, and longing. It was like watching an old black and white movie, her emotions were so palpable to him. He was taken aback. His mind flitted through the possibilities. Usually vamp controlled girls don't show emotion like this. They are robotic. This isn't robotic. This is hot and emotional. She is either damn good at her job, or this is real. He wasn't sure yet.

  “So, how am I supposed to believe that? You could be a business competitor sent out here to scope out my assets. You could be a burglar. You could be an ax murderer yourself. Believe me, I'm far from an ax murderer, Cupcake. You need to be worried about other things. So, why don't we start from the beginning. Tell me who you are.” He calmly propped himself against the wall.

  ***

  She pulled the sheet higher under her arms. Her mouth twisted ruefully. “A business competitor?” She scoffed incredulously. “I didn't even finish college.” She angrily wiped tears out of her eyes. “I'm definitely not an ax murderer. What's my angle? Get in your bed? Cut your dick off as you sleep?” He winced. “It’s more likely you are gonna rape me!”

  “Hey!” he held up a hand in protest. “I promise, when I make love to you, Cupcake, you'll be begging me, there will be no force. But, you still haven't told me who you are and why you are here.”

  Her eyes widened as she processed what he said. A hot flush came up her chest. She rubbed her head and grimaced. “My name is Sasha Jones. I'm here, because my damn car broke down a ways back that way,” she pointed absentmindedly behind her. “Are you going to kill me? Can we get it over with, instead of this stupid cat and mouse shit? My head hurts too bad. I feel like you are getting ready to snap my neck or eat me at any time if I don't answer your questions right.”

  His heart skipped a beat. Did she know what he was? He sneered, “Nah, I prefer to torment you with questions. So, Sasha, let's say I believe that your car is back 'that way'. Why did you come here?”

  She sighed. His eyes trained in on her breasts straining against his sheet. Her incredible scent wafted over him. He unconsciously stepped a little closer. Her eyes lowered to his shorts. His sail was at full mast, and he really didn't give a damn. Before his brain could tell him no, his hands were in her hair and his mouth pressed to hers. She didn't stop him; she moaned against his mouth, her lips parting ever so slightly and giving him the green light to slide his tongue between her lips. Her breath caught, and his hands skimmed down her mocha throat to rub her collar bones with his thumbs.

  Her tongue was mating with his. He could hear her pulse. His was raging. He wanted to lay her back on the satiny sheets and screw her brains out. Wait, some bell jingled in the back of his mind, she's a virgin. A virgin. She doesn't deserve this. Stop! He pulled back quickly. He moved like lightning down the stairs and out the door into the night. He had to get away, before he did something he would certainly enjoy, but most definitely regret. Little did he know, she was feeling the same way.

  She touched her swollen lips with a finger and murmured, “Holy shit.”

  He was tearing through the forest like a bat out of hell, mad at himself. Mad at her. Mad at whoever sent her here. He wasn't so sure he believed her line about her car breaking down. It was easy enough to find out. He went back to the cabin, and got in his Jag. The car roared to life and he tore down the road like hell's minions were on his tail. He didn't even bother with headlights. He didn't need them. The road was a one way shot, so if she really had broken down, he'd find the car. He pushed the car close to 120, gliding around hair pin turns. Half an hour into his drive, he realized he hadn't found the car yet. “Shit,” he said. She was either lying to him, or was further out than he'd thought. How far had she walked? Or, had she walked at all? Had she lied to me?

  ***

  She heard the car leave. Now she was stuck at his mercy, she realized. She decided to get up and find a phone. Wrapping the sheet around her, she started exploring the cabin. There were no phones anywhere that she could find. Smacking her hand on the counter in the kitchen, she let out a frustrated breath. She saw her clothes sitting in the washer.

  “At least after he stripped me down, he washed my stuff,” she grumbled.

  Throwing everything into the dryer, she grabbed a shirt of his out of the pile she pulled out of the dryer and slipped it on as she surveyed the fridge. Nothing but bottled waters. The cupboards yielded a piece of beef jerky and a Ramen noodle flavor packet that was so hard she figured it had been there for years. The jerky looked passable; her stomach was so empty, she could probably eat dirt. Snagging two bottled waters and the jerky, she curled up on the huge leather couch. Taking a bite of the jerky, she chewed and swallowed, chasing it with water; her repetitive motions lulling her into a mellow state. She snuggled up in the sheet and laid down on the couch. May as well sleep, she thought as she closed her eyes. No point in trying to go any farther tonight. Besides, if he was going to kill me, he would have done it by now. Plus, that kiss hand’t screamed murder, but rather lust.

  He slammed on the brakes. He wasn't going any further. No way she had walked this far. She was sent to him by someone. His fury palpable in the car, he turned around, racing back to the cabin, totally missing the little blue car on the side of the road only about five miles from his cabin in his haste. When he burst back into the cabin, he almost broke the front door right off the hinges.

  Chapter Two

  She awoke, startled, to a loud slamming noise. She was disoriented with a headache. Rubbing her temples, she groaned. This felt like the worst hangover she had ever had. Suddenly, she saw him standing over her. Was it her imagination or did his mouth look way too full of teeth. Big shiny ones? She shook her head to clear the creepy image.

  His breath was coming hard and fast. Nope, she thought, No teeth, just pissed.

  “You lied to me,” he hissed.

  Her brow furrowed. “Lied to you?” she parroted back.

  He sneered, revealing his teeth. “You lied to me, Cupcake. There was no car on the side of the road. I checked.”

  Her brow furrowed again. “That's impossible. My dark blue Honda. It's on the side of the road. The cops don't even impound it that fast. No one could have stolen it. Believe me, no one wants it. It should be there.”

  He laughed a cold, twisted little laugh that made her insides squirm uncomfortably. “You are really good, Cupcake. You really had me going. I thought it was too coincidental that a bleeding sexual napalm showed up on my doorstep on the full moon. Looks like I was right. So, did they send you here to mess with my mind? Attempt to castrate me again?” He grabbed her chin. She was quivering. “Answer me,” he growled.

  ***

  She totally shocked him by standing up and putting one hand firmly in the middle of his chest and pushing. “I don't know who the hell you think you are, but I don't even know your name. I have no damn reason to lie to you. My car is out there on the highway. It broke down. I walked in the middle of freaking August, with my ass boiling in the sun trying to find somewhere to stay for the night. I suggest you keep your damn paws off me and get out of my face.”

  He grimaced at the paw reference. Another clue that she knows exactly who I am. He flashed his teeth again in a macabre smile. She flinched visibly and paled. “My damn paws? Who sent you to torment me? Claudio? Maurice? Jezebel? Who screwed with your mind, little girl, and sent you here as my prey? How many vamp dicks have you been riding to mess that little mind up? You must have been one hell of an actress before they got their hands on you, because you are shaking like a leaf. No way in hell you are scared of me.”

  She slapped him so hard he saw stars. “Look, I don't know what the hell your problem is. I don't know who those people are. If you will just let me leave, I will keep on walking and try to find somewhere else to stay tonight, or get a ride somewhere. Or, better yet, if it will satisfy your mind, I will SHOW you where my car is. I just need a ride somewhere. You have a car. You can provide me that. Then I will GLADLY leave you alone.” She pushed at his chest again. He took a step back and she moved quickly out of his reach. “I'll give you a couple minutes to make up your mind. One way or the other, I'm getting out of here.” She grabbed her clothes out of the dryer and hauled ass upstairs. He heard her slam and lock the door. That flimsy lock wouldn't do much good if... he shook his head. Behave until you know more, Jeremy.

  Rubbing his cheek and cracking his jaw, which was still throbbing, he went to his desk and opened the middle drawer. Flipping open the cell inside, he made a quick call. There was only one person he could call; his assistant, and best friend, Trevor. Trevor had helped him out of many dark holes since he was in his teens. He was part owner in several of his companies, but enjoyed working as his assistant. Trevor was a few years older than Jeremy, and a major supernatural buff. He had helped Jeremy come to terms with who he was and find ways to make his condition easier. Two rings and it was picked up. “Jeremy, what's wrong? You never call on the full moon.”

  Taking a deep breath he replied, “Trevor, we have a problem. There is a girl..” His voice trailed off before Trevor sputtered out a few lines of choice expletives that would make a sailor blush. He scrubbed his hand down his face and took a breath, preparing for the berating that was coming.

  “A girl, Jeremy? Really? Please don't tell me I have to clean up a murder. You've never done this. Jesus, how are we going to hide this? It's not like you are an inconspicuous character. Shit, Man, there are times I wish I had a normal boss.”

  Jeremy cut him off quickly. “Trevor, there is no murder. Yet. If she slaps me again, there might be blood drawn, I make no promises on keeping my hands off. I need you to do a quick search on Sasha Jones. She’s been out here a while, so there may be a missing person’s report. I need to know if she is who she says she is. Also, fax me over any info you find on her. I need to know if she has any connections to them.” He tapped his fingers on the desk impatiently.

  “I see.” He paused. “She slapped you? Well, that's a first. Sounds like the kind of girl to take home to mother...” His voice trailed off awkwardly, realizing what he said. “I'm sorry, Jeremy; didn't mean to bring up bad memories, Man. Where is she now?” He coughed nervously and Jeremy ignored the apology and the mother comment. He fought against the ache in his chest. It was a burning ache of loneliness he had been fighting for years to keep down. He'd be damned if it came up now. He smirked. Chances are good I'm damned anyway. He could hear Trevor pecking at keys so fast he would bet the keyboard was on fire.

  “She's upstairs in my bedroom and she gave me an ultimatum on either taking her to find her car or taking her somewhere. She's got some fire like I've never seen. Have you found anything?”

  His throat was closing slightly. God, he wanted her to be a good person. He needed to know she had no connections to the vamps or wolves. He couldn't want a woman like her if she was entangled in their trap. He shook his head. He'd been down that road once. He'd be damned if he put himself through that hell again. He sucked in a slow breath, trying to calm his nerves, but it set them jangling as the nerve endings in his nose picked up her smell. He could taste it. His cock twitched and he took a long breath. He held the breath for a minute, like taking a hit from a bong, before releasing her essence out.

  “Ultimatum? And she didn't get a spanking? My my, she must be something.” Trevor laughed casually. “Yeah, she looks like a girl you'd sink your teeth into; no pun intended. You are right, there has been a few calls to the police by her mom. Need me to take care of that? I can use the voice over program to call her mother and assure her she is fine, if you need some time for damage control. I can send the guys out to collect her car. I don't see any connections to them from my end. Her email is coming up clean. No cell on record. Anything else?” Trevor paused, waiting for further instruction. Jeremy could see his fingers poised over the keyboard, enthusiasm barely held in check, like a chihuahua wanting to play.

  “No, nothing else. Just fax what info you have on her, please. I want to know everything. You are nothing, Trevor, if not efficient. Call her mother, reassure her she is fine. You can handle this. I appreciate it, Man.” He fingered the pages that were already spitting out of the fax machine, itching to know more about her. He suddenly had a thought. “Wait, Trevor. Before you go, set up for some groceries to be delivered before morning, and some clothes.. ranging in size from 10-16. I am not sure of her size. Lingerie too. Shoes ranging from seven to ten.”

  Trevor chuckled lightly. “Of course, Jeremy. Anything else?”

  Jeremy shook his head and replied, “No, that should do it. I trust you to handle this. You're the only one I can trust.”

  “Don't worry, Man, it is done. Handle the situation.” He hung up the phone, taking a deep breath, tasting her again. He hid the phone inside an urn on the fireplace. He could hear her rummaging around upstairs; looking for a phone, he presumed. Even if she found his phone, she'd never get through the sophisticated security code to make a call. Reading the pages on her, he shook his head ruefully. He slipped outside, silently, and cut a few wires on the Jag, making sure it would not start. He needed time with her. God, did he need lots and lots of slow, deep, aching time with her.

  His mouth was aching again; he'd done too much on too little blood. He loathed the weakness he felt on the full moon. No time to feed right now. Going back inside, he grabbed a bottle of water, hoping it would ease the ache in his throat. It didn’t. Especially, when Sasha came down the stairs, warily.

  “Hi,” he said, smiling charmingly. She blinked. He coughed and continued. “I just went out to start the Jag, and she won't start. The battery must be dead. I left the lights on, I guess. I usually have a shipment of food come up when I take trips up here. It's running late, but should be here tomorrow and, hopefully, we can get a call out about the car then. I apologize for my anger earlier. There are a few things that I need to explain about myself to you.” He smiled slowly, putting all the charm he possessed into it.

  She blinked. She seemed frozen. Her dark eyes were wary. Damn she looks good in my shirt and those teensy little shorts, he thought. If he didn't screw her soon, his balls were going to just fall off.

  He pulled a chair out at the table. “Here, why don't you sit? I can offer you some water.”

  She woodenly sat down and folded her hands on the table. He turned the charm, which got him into many beds and business transactions, up just a little higher, slowly walking around the table before sitting and giving her a soul devouring look of pure desire. “Sasha, I wanted to apologize for my bad behavior. My name is Jeremy Parks, I am the owner and CEO of several companies, including Securities Anonymous. I deal with high profile customers and their need for absolute privacy, so you understand my irritation and suspicion when someone shows up on my doorstep to a very private home of mine. I should have been much more gracious and welcoming to someone who was obviously hurt and I sincerely apologize for my bad behavior.” He paused and he smiled a slow, luxurious smile, putting extra charm and sex appeal into it. “I do hope you can forgive me, Sasha.”

  She sat back in the chair, visibly seeming unaffected by his charm. She folded her arms over her chest, and he tried not to stare at her ample assets. “Forgive you? For treating me like a common criminal? For yelling at me? For accusing me of being a spy of sorts and a loose woman with 'vamps', whatever that means?” She paused for effect and then continued. “For kissing me?”

  He smiled again, sex practically oozing out of his pores, “Cupcake, you kissed back... and if a few more kisses are required to acquire forgiveness, I'd be glad to oblige you.”

  He saw a flush rising up her chest. He sat back and crossed his arms. She cleared her throat. “I don't think that is necessary. I would appreciate, however, you keeping your hands to yourself.” She uncrossed her arms and put her palms on her thighs, unconsciously wiping the sweat off on her shorts.

  He leaned forward, a predatory gleam in his gorgeous dark eyes. “Cupcake, I promise, when I put my hands on you again, you'll be begging for my touch.” He smiled again, slowly.

  ***

  She hoped the heat she felt inside wasn't showing on the outside. Her pulse sped up and a low ache started throbbing in her core. She tossed her dark curls defiantly. “I can promise, that won't be happening. So, we are stuck here for the night? At least I can get some sleep and get out of here tomorrow. No offense meant to you, of course, but I have been insulted quite enough for one day, and I feel like something the cat dragged in.”

  “Of course,” he smiled with all the charm he possessed. “Why don't you go upstairs and get comfortable? I am sure you are exhausted.” He tried hard to keep the predatory gleam out of his eyes.

  She stood warily and said, “I'll be sleeping alone.” Something in the deepest alcove of her mind sounded an alarm saying, Girl, you best be running away.. don't get into his bed, even if he's not in it! She chose to ignore the goody two shoes alarm and do it anyway. One, she was too damn tired, and two, she felt she had nothing to lose. She knew he was trouble. She knew that the minute she saw him. He is entirely too damn good looking. He is entirely too wicked looking, she mused. A frisson of desire went up her spine. Oh, God, help me.

  He nodded magnanimously. “Of course.”

  ***

  He watched her go upstairs, and waited until the house was still and he could hear her breathing deeply. He had to get outside to clear his head. The cool air calmed him, and he walked the woods in circles, clearing his mind. He had to make sure she didn't inadvertently spill any information that could finger him toward vampires or wolves. He had to be extra careful. He needed blood to get through the next couple of days without sinking his teeth, or other parts of his anatomy, into the beautiful Sasha Jones. Based on how rock hard he was, it would be a challenge.

  Chapter Three