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  I shrugged back at him, trying to ignore how good he looked and stay focused on the problem at hand. “Hey, it works. You don’t want to make them vampires?”

  “Hell no, I don’t want to make them vampires. Look at them. They’re monsters. That’s the last sort of human I’d ever turn. And they are just underlings. Their masters are way worse. And believe me, you don’t want to see them if they get what they want. Help me.”

  I continued pacing in my circle as I considered his request. I thought about Ryan’s snakelike eyes and shuddered as I imagined him with a vampire’s power. No doubt his masters would indeed be worse. I pondered my options frantically. I could just say it didn’t work. But even though Ryan had said I’d be paid—whether I succeeded or failed—I was starting to get the impression that failure wasn’t an option. I didn’t think he’d be pleased with me and I had a feeling I didn’t want to face an unhappy Ryan. On the other hand, I wasn’t sure he’d let me leave even if he got what he wanted. To give myself a bit of time, I clapped again, intoned more Latin, and moved inward another circle.

  “How much do they know about you?” I asked him, thinking quickly.

  “Not too much, I don’t think. They got lucky capturing me. Why?”

  “So you could work magic then? There’s no reason why you couldn’t?”

  “I could…although I can’t. I wasn’t born with the power to work spells and it’s not something you get automatically when you become a vamp,” he replied, snarling the words out at me with one eye cast on his captors. “What are you thinking?”

  I considered my idea before answering. Vampires were certainly dangerous but they weren’t animals. They had a high sense of honor. Most supernatural creatures—witches included—lived together under a sort of uneasy truce. We’d all taken turns being hunted and killed by normal people throughout history and as a result, we had something in common, a shared identity, so to speak. If I helped him, I was relatively sure I wouldn’t be in danger.

  In addition to my inclination to help a fellow magical creature, I didn’t approve of kidnappings and beatings and I thought Acayo was right. These assholes would make lousy vampires.

  “Okay…here’s the deal. When I get close to the inner circle I want you to yell something magic-sounding. I’ll release the circle and create a smoke bomb to hide your movements. Leap out of the circle and hit me. Not too hard please—I’d rather not be broken—but hard enough to knock me down and shake me up. After that, you’re on your own.”

  He stared at me, hope dawning in his dark eyes. “You’ll really help me? Are you sure they won’t hurt you?”

  “Hey, I’d like to see them try!” I told him, thinking to myself that actually, I really, really wouldn’t.

  He gave me a look of disbelief and I bristled.

  “I’m tougher than you might think. Besides, I don’t see a lot of other options. You ready?”

  He nodded, eyeing me in an evaluating way, and I stepped into the inner circle to release the wards. I nodded back at him and prepared myself. Suddenly Acayo yelled out a string of gibberish as mystical as anything I could have come up with, and I released the smoke spell. The smoke bubbled up around my feet as he leaped at me. I cried out, genuinely afraid, and he smacked me upside the head. I fell backward and hit the floor hard. Lying there on my back, I saw stars and didn’t have to pretend a thing.

  After a moment, a little less dazed, I heard a commotion and yelling through the smoke and a loud thud sounded next to me. I gasped and scrambled back along the ground, my head swimming as I moved. Eyes wide with shock, I stared at the tall man. He was very, very dead and his lifeless eyes stared back at me. I coughed and retched before turning away. As the last of the smoke wafted out of the building, I heard cursing and looked up. Ryan stormed back across the room toward me, anger distorting his features.

  “What the hell happened?” he yelled at me.

  “I don’t know,” I whimpered, playing the pitiful woman for all I was worth. “You didn’t tell me he was a warlock. You didn’t say he was a vampire either. I thought I’d be using a truth spell on a guy—on a human. How could I know he’d break the wards? I don’t even know what he did—”

  I broke off pathetically and let tears trail down my face, lowering my chin and shuddering. He snarled and turned to stalk angrily out of the warehouse. I drew a deep breath, painfully pulled myself to my feet and gathered my bag before hobbling to the door. Frowning, I murmured a few words and then hummed a few bars and every surface in the warehouse was wiped clean behind me. I glanced back one more time, grimacing at the sight of the tall man’s body, and then I left.

  * * * * *

  Back at the small apartment above my shop, I ran a hot bath and tried to stop shivering. What a horrible day. I lay there in the water and tried to think positively. What good things had happened today? I thought for a moment and really the only thing I could come up with was that I had met a gorgeous man. Granted, he was currently probably fleeing the country, but hey… I’d met him and he was sexy as anything. At least I could daydream about him in the future. I’d bet he looked amazing shirtless. Oh… Another good thing—I was still alive. Definitely a positive. For the moment at least, assuming the clients weren’t going to come after me for failing them. I shook off that thought and by relentlessly focusing on how attractive Acayo was, I managed to put myself in a better mood before getting out of the bath.

  I toweled off and slid on my silky pajama bottoms and a silk camisole. I wandered out of the bathroom, feeling calm, but had a minor heart attack when I realized there was a figure standing in my darkened living room. I staggered backward in surprise and barked a few words. A flame sprang up in the palm of my hand and I was about to hurl it at the intruder when I realized through the sudden light that it was Acayo.

  He’d reared back at the appearance of the flames in my hand and was regarding me warily. He looked ready to flee at any moment and I relaxed. I closed my hand firmly and the fire went out.

  “Don’t you know not to sneak up on a witch?” I snarled at him, my pulse racing. “I could have killed you. What are you doing here anyway?”

  He’d changed out of the dirty clothes I’d last seen him in and looked amazing in a tailored gray shirt and black pants. His expression had lost the “cornered beast” look. When I didn’t make any other movement he relaxed further and regarded me.

  “I didn’t get a chance to thank you earlier. You probably saved my life.”

  “Well, I’m not sure that breaking into my place really makes for an appropriate way of showing your gratitude but you’re welcome.”

  He looked as abashed as a vampire ever could and moved closer to me.

  “I’m sorry. It seemed like the simplest way.”

  He stared at me intently and took another step in my direction. My pulse increased and I was suddenly very aware of the fact that it had been a long time since I’d been alone with a hot man in my apartment.

  “Why did you do it? Why did you save me?”

  “I didn’t like them much,” I told him, trying to keep my voice steady as he came to a stop right in front of me.

  “It was dangerous,” he told me, placing his hands on my waist and looking deeply into my eyes.

  I stared back, trapped by his dark gaze, and wasn’t able to think of a thing to say. He tightened his hands on my waist and before I knew what I was doing, I leaned in and kissed him. He inhaled as if surprised, tensing for a second before wrapping his solid arms around me and pulling me roughly against him. He kissed me for so long I grew lightheaded and had to push against his chest to get him to release me. He did so reluctantly and I gasped against him.

  “Hey, remember I have to breathe,” I managed before he pulled me in again.

  It had been a long time and I surrendered to him ecstatically. I bit his lip as I pulled back, and he gasped and lifted me off my feet. I wrapped my legs around his waist and scratched his back. He held me up easily, one hand on my ass while using the oth
er to pull my camisole over my head.

  I cried out as he bent his mouth to my tits, and I laced my hands in his hair, pulling him against me. He moaned in turn and squeezed me. I trembled in his grip and unwound my legs to slide down his body until my feet hit the ground, before running my hand down to the bulge in his pants and squeezing. He stiffened against me, took my shoulders and tilted me back to kiss me.

  Sliding my hands up his body, I unbuttoned his shirt quickly and bent my head to his nipple. He moved his hands to my hair and stroked it, tugging gently on the ends as I sucked. I’d never been with a vampire before and he was warmer than I’d expected. Would he bite me? Did I want him to? At the moment I was undecided. I never thought I’d say yes to being bitten, but the way he was making me feel, I feared I’d say yes to almost anything. He moved his hands down my back, scratching all the way to my ass. I shivered and straightened to put my mouth on his again and he hooked his thumbs into my pants and pulled them down in one swift move. I turned my attention to his neck and sucked on it gently before tilting my head up to whisper encouragement into his ear.

  He pushed me backward against the wall and looked down at me, his eyes burning. He put one hand against my shoulder and ran the other up my thigh. I writhed and gasped, pleading with him to keep going, and he smiled at me in a sultry way before he moved his hand between my legs, flicking my clit with a finger.

  I felt flushed and hot and couldn’t think about anything but how he felt. I tried to reach for him but he caught my wrists, tugging them high above my head. I gasped and rose on my toes and he moved his hand to my nipple, pinching it hard. Pain shot through me and I gasped. He smiled, forced my legs apart with his knee and pulled me up against his thigh. I made a sound almost like a purr, rubbing myself against him.

  I moved my head toward him. He let go of my breast and had his hand around my throat in an instant. Leaning in until his mouth was inches from mine, he jogged me up and down on his leg. I moaned and he tightened his hand on my throat.

  “You’ll do as I tell you, won’t you, little witch?” He growled at me, flicking his tongue out to lick my lips and staring deeply into my eyes.

  “Yes,” I moaned softly, growing lightheaded with his hand on my neck.

  “Good.”

  He kissed me gently, his tongue soft on mine, and then pulled away, letting go so suddenly I fell to my knees before him. He laced his fingers in my hair and tilted my head back as he undid his pants, and in one swift move he ripped off his shirt and stood there before me. He was glorious naked. His muscles were smooth and hard in the soft light, sharply defined. His hips were lean and the most impressive cock I’d ever seen stood hard and proud between his legs. Pale as marble, the shaft was long and thick but not so large I couldn’t take it.

  He tugged my head forward, pushing me down on him. Resting my hands against his strong thighs, I opened my mouth. I ran my tongue around the head of his penis slowly, alternating with small, light licks. He shuddered and the hand in my hair tightened. Slowly, I took the tip into my mouth and ran my tongue over the soft flesh, sucking firmly and rhythmically. With a moan, he grabbed my head with his other hand and used both hands to force my mouth down on him. I opened wide and took him as deep as I could. He held me against him, my forehead pressed against his stomach as he rocked his hips and moved in and out of my mouth. He slowly increased his pace, moving my head up and down on him. I felt his urgency building before he suddenly stopped, holding me still. I tried to continue but he held my head firmly between his hands.

  A moment later, he pulled out of my mouth with a sigh then grabbed my arm to yank me to my feet. Turning me quickly toward the wall, he spread my legs and pushed a finger into me. I cried out in delight and he murmured his approval. I was wet, throbbing and ready and I begged him to fuck me, the words sounding desperate.

  Suddenly he thrust into me and I let out a little scream. He seemed to fill me completely and it felt so good I knew I wouldn’t last long. He thrust into me fast and hard, and I came almost instantly. He groaned as I stiffened and paused for a moment to let me recover. I felt my pussy ripple and clamp down on his cock. The pressure built and I exhaled in an explosive gasp before collapsing limply against the wall.

  He waited patiently until I stirred against him and then he slowly began moving in me with long, firm strokes, wrapping one arm around my torso to prop me up and putting his other flat against my hip. I mumbled unintelligibly and tried to keep a sense of myself as the pleasure flowed through me. He increased his speed, moving faster and faster until I thought I’d die of sensation. Suddenly he thrust hard into me, once, twice, and then he stopped. He held himself rigid against me as he came, pulling me backward against him, lowering his head to my shoulder and sinking his teeth into my flesh.

  I cried out in pain but almost instantly a pleasure unlike any I’d known replaced the sting, rushing through me, and I climaxed again, waves of heat flowing into me as I collapsed against him. I could barely lift my head, and I almost didn’t notice as he took his mouth off my shoulder and licked the small wound. He pulled out of me and I would have fallen if he hadn’t swept me up in his arms. He carried me into my small bedroom and laid me down gently. I was asleep almost as soon as I hit the sheets.

  * * * * *

  Acayo was gone when I woke up in the morning and I stretched carefully. My muscles felt relaxed and my pussy throbbed gently. Wow. What a night! I thought to myself in wonder. I dragged myself to my feet and shuffled into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. Would Acayo be back or was that the last I’d see of him? I rather hoped he’d come back, even though vampires probably came with a whole lot of baggage. No one lives for hundreds of years without making a few enemies. Especially in the supernatural world. I’d never really pictured myself with a vamp but now that I’d met one and had firsthand experience of one of the benefits, I understood the appeal. Humming to myself, I finished my first cup of coffee and had a hot shower. As I stepped out of the shower stall, I noticed the marks of Acayo’s teeth on my shoulder and lightly touched the small wound with my fingertips, remembering how good it had felt.

  Smiling to myself, I pulled on jeans and a soft, woolen sweater before returning to the kitchen for a second cup. I was happily seated at my table, glancing through a fashion magazine, when my door burst open. I scrambled back from the table as Ryan strode into the room. I had begun a spell when a small figure darted in front of Ryan and made a throwing gesture at me.

  I froze in place as the spell hit me, my words dying on my lips. I cursed, or would have if I could have moved, and frantically searched my memory for a way to break a freeze spell from within it. Nothing came to mind so I did the only other thing I could and bent my will against the warlock in front of me, pushing against the bonds of the spell and searching for weakness. He was a small man, scrawny and pale with curly blond hair. He didn’t look formidable but he was strong. Very strong. He stared back at me and held firm while Ryan advanced toward me.

  “It seems the vamp was no magician after all. My masters knew better. And that means you’ve betrayed us, little witch.” He stopped in front of me and yanked my sweater down off my shoulder. He flicked the bite mark and smiled at me sadistically.

  “It seems my masters were right.”

  Desperately I pushed my will against the wizard’s. Sweat broke out on his face and he flinched as I hit a weak spot. I pressed all my strength against it and the warlock cried out, causing Ryan to glance over his shoulder. Turning back to me with a snarl, he lifted his arm and brought it down. Everything went black.

  * * * * *

  I woke up and found I was securely tied to a chair. My wrists were firmly bound and I could barely feel my fingers. A gag was tied tightly over my mouth. A dim bulb burned overhead and I appeared to be alone in a mostly empty room. I tried to stand up with the chair but it must have been bolted to the ground and I couldn’t move it. Looking down, I saw it was nailed into the exact center of a ward circle. I tried to spit out th
e gag or work my mouth free but had absolutely no success. Not that it would matter—the ward circle would stop any spell I spoke from getting out of the circle’s boundaries. I could affect myself and anyone or anything inside with me but that was it.

  In a pure fury, I strained against my bonds and yelled against my gag though no sound made it through. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten myself into this situation. Tied to a stupid chair in a stupid warehouse. And for what? It wasn’t as if I knew where Acayo was or had any idea how to contact him. I was probably going to be tortured for information I really, truly, didn’t have.

  On top of everything, I had a splitting headache from the hit Ryan had laid on me and my back ached where I assumed I’d landed on it. I cursed the whole lot of them heartily and settled down to begin the painful process of waiting until someone came and told me what my immediate future was going to be.

  I didn’t have long to wait. The door opened and Ryan came through, smiling meanly at me. The small warlock was with him and he scuttled behind me, pulling the gag off me carefully and then darting back out of the circle quickly.

  “Well? Tell me all and perhaps I won’t torture you,” Ryan commanded me in an arrogant tone.

  I knew so little that I did as he told me, though I figured he’d probably torture me either way.

  “Seriously? You let him escape just because you wanted to?” His tone was disbelieving. “You expect me to believe you didn’t know him before this?”

  “I didn’t. If you’d told me you had a vampire, I never would have agreed to help you. If you’d told me the spell was for a prisoner and not for a friend, I would never have considered conducting the ritual. I don’t turn on my own and I don’t force my magic on people.”

  “Why didn’t you just leave then?”

  “Oh sure, as if you would have given me that option.”

  “You can’t honestly expect me to believe this nonsense.”

  “Why not? Your precious masters must have researched me before sending you back for me. Did they find any connection? No. Because there is none.”