Read Online Amaury's Hellion by Tina Folsom - Free Book Online Page B

body. It was truly irritating.
    “Nina. My name is Nina,” she finally admitted. “And you’re welcome.” She lifted her chin and set her jaw.
    He cocked an eyebrow.
    “Hey, I saved your sorry ass back there,” she elaborated. His short-term memory was clearly in need of jogging.
    “Only after I saved yours, so in my book we’re even.”
    He was right, but she’d rather bite off her tongue than admit it.
    “I can say thank you if you can.” His look was a challenge.
    “You first.” She wouldn’t get tricked into thanking him, if he didn’t thank her first.
    “No, you first,” he retorted and kept walking, carrying her as if she weighed nothing.
    A young couple passed them on the sidewalk and gave them perplexed looks. Nina restrained herself from telling them to mind their own damn business.
    “Forget it.”
    “Brat!”
    “Who are you calling a brat? Look at yourself, you oversized jerk!”
    Big, hunky, sexy oversized jerk.
    “Well, this oversized jerk came in handy a few minutes ago, don’t you think? And besides, you didn’t find me to be such a jerk when you kissed me last night. I remember distinctly how you were all over me.”
    Embarrassment swept through her, making her cheeks flare with heat. She needed no reminder of her wanton behavior from the night before. It wasn’t how she normally reacted to men. They were to be used just the way they’d used her—nothing more, nothing less. And it had always worked for her: no emotional involvement, no abandonment of her good senses, well, not the way it had happened the night before anyway. It was merely a slip, she assured herself. Even the most determined alcoholic fell off the wagon occasionally. Now all she had to do was get back on it and forget what had happened.
    As if it was that easy with the way her body tingled under his touch. His scent of leather and spice alone made her stomach spasm—and she wasn’t talking menstrual cramps, no, she was talking orgasmic spasms. She’d do well staying away from him.
    “Do you need a reminder?” Amaury lowered his head.
    Hell, no!
    She remembered all too well. “Don’t you dare!” Nina yelled, more at herself than at him. If she allowed him to kiss her again, she’d completely melt and turn into a lump of putty. She couldn’t afford that to happen to her. Once had been sufficient, thank you very much.
    He grinned down at her with his bad-boy charm that turned her insides to mush.
    “Maybe later?” he asked and continued walking along, seemingly unaffected by her outburst.
    Nina glanced around, trying to get her bearings. They were still in the Tenderloin and only a block from his place.
    “Where are you taking me?” She could guess, but wanted confirmation.
    “My place. I doubt you’d want me to bring you to a hospital. Am I right?”
    A hospital wouldn’t be a good choice. With her injuries, she was sure they’d involve the police. Not only was she not going to be able to explain to them that she’d been in a fight with vampires, but her own background would come up in the process. And she preferred her background to remain where is was—in the dark.
    “Care to explain to me what a girl like you was doing fighting two vampires?”
    “How about you explain it?”
    His stunned look appeared genuine and surprised her. “You’re not suggesting I had anything to do with that?”
    “Well, did you?”
    Amaury slowly moved his head from side to side. “I’m not the kind of man who sends two guys after helpless women like you.”
    “I’m not helpless.”
    He raised a mocking eyebrow. “Whatever. I do my own dirty work. I don’t hire others to do it for me.”
    “I see.”
    “I don’t see how you could.” He paused. “I was looking for you. Seems somebody else found you first. Wanna explain to me what they wanted from you, besides the obvious?”
    How much of the fight had he heard before he’d intervened? Was he aware that Johan had wanted to have his fun with her? “I