I don’t love you.”
“Pig!”
“Shut up,” Shel sank his fangs into her. The need pushed away any other thought. Ava’s warm blood was the only thing that mattered. Well, that and getting one over on Sergei Romanov. Damn Helsing. Ava wailed as her orgasm hit her. He took enough to dull the edge and quiet the hunger. She went limp beneath him. Shel licked the tiny puncture wounds, sealing them with his saliva.
Chapter Two: Blue Moon
Lucy Adams stopped at the end of the dock. There should be a charter company somewhere around. She squinted in the glare. A small sign hanging from the eaves of a scruffy building a few yards away read Bait and Switch Charters. Just like the Russian woman said. A man sat on the rail of the beach shack’s tiny porch. Overdressed in his faded, ripped jeans and open white cotton shirt, he seemed more sexual than all the scantily clad beach-goers combined.
She caught herself licking her lips. To cover it Lucy opened her mouth to ask about the charter boat excursions advertised on the old chalkboard. Before she could say a word, the man slowly turned his attention from the activity down the docks and focused on her. His sightless stare his sunglasses gave him made her stomach flutter and her breath catch. She would have paid money just to see the eyes behind those dark sunglasses. This man had an air of danger about him, but she could not imagine why she perceived him that way.
* * * *
Shel saw the woman headed his way long before she saw him. He’d seen her before at Ava’s house. He remembered the tacky tourist bag she carried and the haunted look about her eyes. A gust of wind caught the skirt of her dress. Her long legs looked strong. With a faint shiver, he sniffed the air. She smelled of brown sugar, vanilla, and the tang of pink grapefruit. His mouth watered. Shel did not often take a blonde-haired woman. They reminded him too much of his past. This one had an air about her though, and he was hungry. He pushed his memories out of his thoughts with the ease of long practice.
* * * *
Lucy looked back at the man for a long moment. Why not? Wasn’t that the whole point of a vacation? To have a little adventure and forget my grief? She pushed away the images that thought conjured up. Besides, the woman was right, this man is eye candy. She tilted her head to one side and smiled. “Lucy Adams. Are you free?”
He swung one long jeans-clad leg over the railing and slowly stood. He looked at her for a long moment. Then the corner of his perfect Cupid’s bow lips curved upward in a faint smile. “We can discuss it inside. There’s a chair. It’s cooler, too,” he said as he opened the door and held it. He inclined his head toward the dark interior.
Lucy took a deep breath, walking up the two rickety steps and into the shop. As she passed him the warm scent of sandalwood and male musk brushed against her like a caress. Her knees went weak. The sound of him firmly pulling the door shut made her toes tingle.
* * * *
Shel took a deep breath as Lucy passed. He exhaled softly, then shut the door before he hurried around Lucy to pull out the plastic chair he kept for clients. There was something very familiar about her. His stomach fluttered like an inexperienced schoolboy’s.
She sat. The cotton fabric of the dress molded itself around her hips and Shel nearly lost it. For an instant, he was back in New Orleans and the past. A tiny thrill of fear ran through Shel. He shook it off. “Would you like something to drink?” I’d like to drink you.
“Thank you, a diet soda would be nice.” Lucy’s eyes met his. Shel went liquid inside. Isabel looked out of those green eyes at him.
“I’ll be right back.” He stepped into the back room where he kept the charter supplies. He took a drink out and headed back to the woman. Shel caught a glimpse of his reflection in the oven door as he opened the refrigerator. Rolling his eyes at himself, Shel carried the drinks back into the front room. She’s not Isabel, you idiot.
Her fingers brushed his as she took the drink. The shockwave rocked Shel all the way to his toes. Their gaze locked. He fell into the warm green depths of her eyes. Her lips parted in a soft gasp. Shel found himself moving closer, leaning in to kiss her.
The phone behind the counter rang. Shel cursed silently. He never should have given Alex Bell the idea for the damn thing. “Hold that thought,” Shel said as he went around to answer the call.
* * * *
Lucy stood up. She pressed a hand to her face, feeling the heat of her blush. What just happened? Her entire body tingled. To cover her confusion Lucy wandered around the shop pretending to be interested in the fishing poles and tackle. She bypassed the bait cooler in favor of the only two things hanging on the walls. The man’s voice was a soft black velvet murmur in the background. The sound made her dizzy but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. Lucy focused on Miss February with her sculpted silicone enhanced nude body and the business license made out to the Bait and Switch Charter Boat Company. She read the name, Sheldon J. Jefferson, owner.
Shel hung up and unplugged the phone line. He watched Lucy wander around the shop for a moment. The way she pulled at him was almost painful. She grimaced at the bait. He chuckled to himself softly, and then cringed when Lucy stopped in front of the porn calendar. He headed toward the door. Shel turned the open sign over so that the closed side faced the parking lot. Maybe he could convince Lucy to spend the evening on the boat. She probably tasted wonderful.
* * * *
“Sheldon?” Lucy raised her eyebrows, looking from the license to the man who was snapping the bolt home on the door beside of her. A small shiver of alarm settled in her stomach.
“Blame my parents.” He smiled. She couldn’t look away. Shel tilted his head slightly. His eyes began to drift shut as he leaned closer. Lucy fought down the urge to giggle. She was not ready for this. This stranger was going to kiss her. And I’m going to let him.
Closing her eyes, Lucy gave in, powerless to stop it. The window beside her shattered. The popping that followed made her jump. She turned toward the broken window. “What…”
Shel grabbed Lucy’s arm, dragging her away from the window. “Someone is shooting at us,” he said. Their eyes met again.
The rattling of the locked front door snapped Shel out of his trance. Lucy was still dazed. “Come on.” He pulled her along, through the back room and out the back door. Behind them, someone kicked in the front door. Shel pulled her behind a nearby palm tree and carefully peeked around.
“Shit. We need to get to the boat.”
“But I can’t,” Lucy squeaked.
Shel gave her an impatient glance. Another spray of bullets kicked up the dirt around the tree. “Yes you can, sweetheart.” He circled Lucy’s waist with his arm forcing her along with him. They ran.
She hesitated when she saw the small boat he headed for. Dammit, we don’t have time for this. “Jump!” Shel gave her a running shove and practically threw Lucy across the gap into the boat before he followed her.
He landed next to Lucy and started the outboard motor.
“Were they trying to kill me? Or you?” Shel tried to think of who could be after him as he steered around the other boats.
Lucy remained silent. Something in her eyes told him she thought the bullets were
