Read Online Demon's Kiss by MAGGIE SHAYNE - Free Book Online Page B

Please.”
    â€œYou’re a mean bastard, you know that?”
    â€œ I’m mean? Could you have teased the poor kid any harder, do you think?”
    She shrugged. “I was only being myself.”
    â€œRight. It’s not your fault young men want you.”
    â€œ All men want me, hon. Young, old, humans, vampires. There are dead men who want me. Is it any surprise your young Seth wants me, too?”
    â€œDon’t—”
    She shot him a look, a dangerous one. And he knew better than to presume to tell Roxy, the most independent female on the planet, not to sleep with his pain-in-the-ass charge. She slept with whomever she wanted. And God help anyone who presumed to judge her for it.
    He licked his lips and started over. “Don’t break his heart, okay?”
    â€œI’m not planning to jump him, Raphael. He’s got important work to do, and a night of my incredible body would only distract and confuse him.”
    â€œImportant work, huh?”
    â€œHell, yeah. He’s on a mission, that one. I don’t know what it is—don’t think he does, either—but it’s practically sparking from his aura. Something big is in store for him.”
    â€œSo he keeps telling me.”
    â€œBelieve him.” She got up from the bed. “Sleep, now. At sundown, the van will be packed and ready to go.”
    â€œRoxy—”
    â€œYou don’t have wheels of your own anymore,” she reminded him. “You can’t go on foot, after all.”
    â€œI can get a car.”
    She shrugged. “Fine, get one. I’ll follow you.” She reached out a hand, as if about to lay it over his, but then she hesitated, because she knew he disliked touching unnecessarily. Drawing her hand away, she went on. “I know you hate accepting help, Raphael, but you’d damn well better believe me when I tell you that just this once, you need it. I feel it all the way to my gut. You’ll die if you don’t let Seth and me go with you.”
    â€œAnd you and Seth could die if I do.”
    â€œWe won’t—”
    He reached out and grabbed her hand, maybe just to show her how damn serious he was about this. “You know what I’m capable of, Roxy. You’re the only one who knows. Anyone who’s near me for any amount of time is at risk.”
    â€œAll the more reason to take me along. I won’t let you hurt him. Or me. Believe me, I can handle you.”
    â€œNo, you can’t.” He released her hand. The sleep was coming on strong and fast, but he had more to say. “I’d planned to come to see you while I was here. I’d planned to ask you to keep Seth, teach him until he’s ready to be on his own.”
    â€œYeah, I already figured that out. But it’s not going to work. We’re going with you. If you’re so worried that you might hurt us, then I’ll see to it we’re both armed.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t be willing to shoot me. I know you—” His eyes fell closed. He opened them again. “You’d be too afraid of killing me.” Again his eyes closed.
    â€œYou let me worry about that. As if I’d hesitate to kick your oversized ass to the grave and back if I thought you were gonna hurt me. Hell, Raphael, don’t kid yourself. Now, get some sleep.”
    He tried to reply, but the sleep was on him before he could make a sound.
    Â 
    Vixen waited in the cell, wondering what was taking so long. She still wasn’t sure she could do what they asked of her, but she couldn’t stand any more torture. Why these people delighted in causing pain, she could not fathom.
    Their footsteps came, just minutes before dawn. Briar was not alone this time. The one called Jack was with her. Longish brown hair, shot through with streaks of blond, parted on one side, so that it tended to fall over his eyes. An unshaven look that was always just that. Never more, never less. As if