A world of demons and shifters and dark shadows that would always hide some of the light. “Yes, it is.”
“I’m trying to do the right thing here, Holly!”
“Screw right,” she said, and felt the happiness swell inside her. “I just want you.” She knew life with him wouldn’t be easy. The guy wasn’t an easy man.
Demon.
But with Niol by her side and in her bed, she’d be a happy woman.
He caught her face in his hands. “You love me?” Niol seemed a bit stunned.
“More than any damn thing.” He didn’t think he deserved love, she knew that. Tough. The man was going to get all the love she had to give.
“I’ll want forever-if you make me think- I’ll want forever. ”
Ah, now that sounded like the demanding demon she knew and loved. “I wouldn’t expect anything else.” And forever for him, if the stories were true, would be a very long time.
Maybe she wouldn’t have as many years as he would, but she’d enjoy the time they had. Every. Single. Day.
And night.
The nights-she’d enjoy them the most.
The lock clicked behind them. Niol’s warm hands slid under her shirt and crept up to her breasts. What I want. Holly arched toward her demon lover.
Forever.
In darkness and in light.
Detective Colin Gyth headed toward the holding cell. There were a few questions he still had for Michelle Ridgeway, questions that he wanted answered before he went home and crawled in bed with Emily.
No guards were around when he approached. Colin tensed. Not right.
He ran forward-
And found Michelle in her cell. Her body lay sprawled on the floor, a bedsheet tied around her neck.
Fuck.
His gaze scanned the area, noting the placement of the sheet. One end wrapped around the woman’s throat. The other knotted high in the bars.
Looked like a suicide.
Looked like one…
His teeth snapped together.
But it sure as hell isn’t. I’d stake my badge on it. Too many demons around. Too many with powers that would let them slip right into a human’s mind.
But he’d never be able to prove it.
Sonofabitch.
It looked like the demon-hunter case was closed.
The next night, Niol sat at the bar and waited for his reporter. She’d promised to meet him after her last broadcast.
She chose me. That fact still managed to shock him, and little shocked him.
He’d take it slow with her, make sure she understood just what his life entailed. Then, when she was ready, he’d let her know that when he said forever, well, he meant it.
No way would he spend any days without her. There were ways to extend a life-ways he’d share with Holly.
As he’d share everything with her.
A young blond woman walked into his bar. He watched her, vaguely curious. Not demon. Human.
Not there to play.
Interesting.
He glanced at his watch. Holly would be there soon. Five minutes, ten tops.
He’d have her naked in his office three minutes after that.
“I’m looking for a vampire.”
Niol blinked and found the blonde in front of him. Terrible haircut. Short and shaggy.
He motioned to the bar. “Take your pick.”
Her hands balled on her hips. “His name’s Lane. Lane Mims. Asshole with a habit of hurting women.”
Niol stared back at her. “Haven’t seen him.” Who the hell was this woman?
Holly walked into the bar. He caught a glimpse of her over the blonde’s shoulder, caught her scent-sweet lavender. Niol rose.
The human put her hand on his chest. A hand that pushed a small business card against him. “Yeah, you have.”
When her hand moved, he caught the card. Bounty hunter.
Behind her, Holly cut her way through the crowd.
“If he’s dead, I’m wasting my time here.” Blunt.
Holly saw him and a smile lit up her face. Her dimple winked.
My life.
So fucking simple.
The card turned to ash in his fingers. He stepped to the side and reached out a hand to Holly. “Guess you’d better head back to-” What address had been on the card? “Louisiana, then. Because that vamp isn’t around here.” Well, pieces of him could be.
Lane had made another attack. Barely left a teenage girl alive.
The cops hadn’t caught him, but the demons had.
The woman’s lips thinned.
Holly took his hand and glanced at the other woman.
But the bounty hunter just turned and walked away.
“Who is she?” Holly asked.
To her, he wouldn’t lie. Ever. He’d told her all his secrets in the hours before dawn. Every black deed, and she’d stayed with him. “Bounty hunter. Looking for a vamp-”
“Lane.”
He hadn’t given her the name, but if there was one thing he’d realized about his Holly-the woman had some damn good sources.
“I saw the girl. Kennedy . I talked to her when I went to the hospital to check on Kim.”
“Kim’s awake?” He hadn’t heard that-
“Yeah-yeah, she’s awake. Doesn’t remember anything about the attack. The doctors don’t understand how she’s survived, but they think she’s going to make a full recovery.”
Good.
“Kennedy-she wasn’t doing as well.”
Because she was a human.
“I-I called Dr. Drake. Asked her to stop by and talk to her.”
Smart. Emily would help the girl. All the other doctors would just think she was crazy when Kennedy started talking about men with fangs and claws. Emily would understand.
Yes, the Monster Doctor would help her .
Just like she was helping the King boy.
“Lane-he’s been stopped, hasn’t he?” Not a question, too much certainty there.
“Yes.”
“Good.” A dark understanding was in her eyes, the kind one only got after living in the Other world. “Prisons just can’t hold some people.”
They sure couldn’t hold vamps. But in this case, it didn’t matter. Lane wouldn’t be a problem for anyone, not anymore.
He’d have to check on the girl. He’d ended the vamp’s attacks, but-too late. Kennedy’s assault was on his shoulders. He’d left the vamp in such a hurry to find Holly. There hadn’t been enough time then to-
Holly nodded. “You did what you had to do…”
And he’d do it again.
“I saw what he did,” she continued. “I saw.”
No judgment against him. No fury. Understanding.
The woman had his heart in her fist.
“You don’t have to fight alone anymore, Niol. You’ve got me now.”
Holly didn’t look at him with fear or revulsion or disgust.
She just looked at him as if he were-a man.
Every dark secret. Every black spot on his soul. She knew .
Fuck if she didn’t make him want to be-hell, better.
Maybe he could be, for her.
Her slow smile spread over her face. The smile that made his cock jerk and his control weaken.
His woman.
One that wouldn’t run away, one that wouldn’t fear him.
One that wouldn’t break, no matter how fierce the danger flowed around her.
She’d shot her ex-lover for him. Put herself in front of death, for him.
A woman like her, if she offered herself, a smart man held as tight as he could.
“I love you,” Holly whispered.
Niol knew he was staring at his weakness and his strength.
His heart… held in her fist .
Screw doing what was right. Holly wanted him, he wanted her, and he’d make sure he gave her every single thing she desired in this life. He’d love her every night. He’d give her as much pleasure and passion as she could stand, until she screamed for him to stop, then screamed for him to start again. He’d protect her. And he’d fucking destroy anyone who ever tried to hurt her.
Fate could be a cruel bitch, but sometimes, sometimes , she could take pity on a demon.
She’d sure given him a real taste of Paradise.
Reading Order
1. Hotter After Midnight