his chest. Adam stared down at her, eyes glittering with anger. No, not anger. Rage.
“I’m strong enough to fight them,” she said. Well, usually. When she hadn’t been bleeding out all night. “They’d make a meal of you.”
She wanted him to understand. This wasn’t some kind of game. If they went after the ones who’d taken his niece, he could die.
He had to follow her orders. To. The. Letter.
His teeth clenched as he gritted, “I’ll do what you say.”
So he wasn’t pleased with that deal. Too damn bad. “I’ve taken on retrieval jobs in the past.” She hadn’t been helping anyone or doing the jobs out of the kindness of her heart. Because there wasn’t any kindness left in there.
She’d done it for the cash. Even vamps needed money. There was the little matter of needing money to pay for the safe houses.
Ah, money. “My fee is two hundred grand.”
“Done.”
Maya blinked. Okay, so she had a rich boy on her hands. Now for the second payment requirement. “And I’ll need your blood.” No sense in her having to go out and hunt for food when she had a perfect source right in front of her. If he wanted her help, well, then he’d have to bleed for it.
Now there was hesitation. And struggle. She saw it in his eyes.
Doesn’t like the idea of a vampire tasting him.
Not that she particularly blamed him. Back in her human days, the idea of a vampire tasting her blood hadn’t been on her top ten list, either.
But times had changed. She had to keep her strength up if she was going to be chasing vampires—especially considering the fact that those vampires would have access to fresh blood.
“How much?”
Maya lowered her arm, but didn’t step back. Even this close to him, she still couldn’t catch his scent. Damn odd. “As much as I need.” She didn’t plan to drain him, or even take enough to weaken him. “Don’t worry. You won’t even notice it’s gone.”
His head jerked in a brief nod.
Maya took that for the agreement it was. “You’ll have to stay with me,” she said, already making plans. “And I’ll need to know every detail about the vampires who took your—”
“Why do I have to stay with you?”
The man sure liked to interrupt. An annoying trait. “For your safety, of course.” He probably didn’t realize it, but just by going into that feeding room and talking to her, he’d already captured the attention of many in the vampire realm. If one of the vampires who’d taken his niece happened to find out about their connection, well, then they’d both be in for a bloody fight.
“Um, of course.”
She waited for him to argue, but he just said, “I’ll need to stop by my hotel. Pick up some things.”
Whatever. As long as they were fast, he could pick up his goodies.
She stepped back.
Adam rubbed his chest. “I’m surprised.”
“By what?” Maya’s head cocked to the right.
“I mean, I’m surprised you trust me enough to bring me into your home.”
Home. Right. She didn’t have a home. They were going to the last safe spot she knew, and the place was closer to a hovel than a home.
But she knew what he really meant. Taking him with her was a big step. Generally, she trusted two humans in the world, and one of them was currently unconscious back in his hospital room. But, once she’d tasted Adam’s blood, she’d be linked to him.
Trust wouldn’t be an issue then.
“Before I sleep, I’m gonna need to drink from you.” Her mouth grew dry at the thought. “After that, trust won’t really matter.” Because if she wanted to, then she could control him through their blood link.
He nodded once, curtly.
“Don’t worry. I promise, it won’t hurt…much.”
His gaze fell to her lips. Lingered.
A curl of heat rose in her stomach.
What the hell?
Maya shook her head. She was covered in blood. Weak with hunger. And the sun would be rising soon.
Time to go.
“Come on. I need blood.”
His hand lifted to his throat.
She growled. “Tempting. Very tempting. But if I drink from you now, I’ll drain you.” Since she hadn’t actually drained anyone dry, yet, she’d rather try another option.
They were in a hospital. Blood was nearby, right down the hall, actually. Just waiting for her.
Time to break into the blood bank.
Adam stalked the small interior of Maya’s safe house. The place was shabby, too small, and covered in dust.
She’d taken him there after their brief pit stop at his hotel. She’d driven too fast, speeding over the deserted streets and traveling past the edge of town.
This wasn’t the house she’d used when he’d watched her for the last few days.
This place was a dump.
But a very, very secure dump.
There were a grand total of three rooms in the house, but the whole place was wired with state-of-the-art security. Cameras outside the house. Motion sensors. Steel doors and windows with automatic locking shutters.
The little vampire obviously believed in being prepared.
He figured as far as backup houses went, it could be worse.
It could also be a hell of a lot better.
The shower stopped, the crashing of the water dwindling to a faint trickle. He heard a rustle of sound. Muttering. Then Maya opened the bathroom door and stalked toward him.
Adam stared at her, a bit surprised. She’d finally gotten rid of all the blood. Her smooth skin was shining, glistening with drops of water. She’d secured a white towel loosely between her breasts. The bottom of the towel barely skimmed her thighs. When she moved, the terry cloth shifted, revealing and concealing in tempting flashes.
Adam swallowed and realized with a bit of shock that he was getting aroused by a vampire.
When she’d touched him on the street, rubbing her body against his and drifting her fingers over his throat, he’d felt a stirring in his groin. When she’d put those red lips on his flesh and licked, his cock had jerked
