Page 12 (2/2)

"Mickey My ferret"

"You have a pet weasel?" Said weasel poked its brown head out of the ragged hole in the cushion

"He’s a ferret" She moved into the kitchen, which could barely be called such The fridge,breath, and if the ancient stove worked, he’d sell one of his brothers into Neethul slavery He is wasn’t involved in the de, after all If they were, they could afford to pay their peoplewhat he assuarine container "How long was I in the hospital?"

"Three days"

"My poor baby" Her voice was a soothing croon but it did the opposite to him, and when she bent to place the bowl on the floor, he watched the way the scrub pants molded to her rounded ass His mind fuzzed out, and he realized he’d taken three steps toward her The way she stroked the weasel’s narrow head, yeah, if she’d touch hi the little ani flushed and hot and way too short-fused to be anywhere near any female, let alone a fe pellets everywhere Tayla straightened and turned, a s on his

He had to get out of there

She dug an orange out of a bag on top of the stove, which was prettyof marshmallows from one of the two cupboards

"Three days that felt like three years" She bit into a aze secretive, and he wondered as going on in that pretty head

He kneas going on in his, and she’d probably kill hi--"

"Like what?"

Like, for instance, help when you grow horns and scales as your demon DNA kicks in

"Your wound The stitches will need to be removed"

"I’ll do it myself"

"I’d like to folloith you" He drew a card from his pocket and placed it on the TV tray that must serve as her kitchen table "Here’s the hospital phone number Say the words on the back before you dial"

"An underworld co like that"

"Are you this dedicated to all your patients? Or am I special?"

"Both"

Under normal circumstances, he couldn’t have cared less if a hu fascinated hi to let her go that easily

Then there was the fact that just looking at her made his blood run hotter than his normal body temperature of one-oh-nine

Gods, she was thin, but as hard and sleek as a Trillah deo beneath his touch Kne her slis wrapped around him to hold him deep

And her scentda, the way cyanide smelled like sweet alet back on track and fast, because he needed to find a mate before it was too late, and every second spent with Tayla was a second wasted

"I have to go," he repeated, but his feet didn’t azed at her, at the blood sht skin everywhere else, and his own skin tightened and shrank as if it no longer fit

"Thank you for saving h to smell the es anything"

"Everything has changed, Tayla," he said softly, reaching for her He put two fingers to her throat, told hiression of her DNA transformation Told himself whatever lies he had to in order to pretend he wasn’t touching her for the sheer pleasure of it

"I hate it when you put your hands on me," she whispered, but the way her pulse ticked violently beneath his fingers betrayed her

He breathed deep, seeking her scent like a hellhound on the track of a hellbitch in heat He slid his thuile Delicate He could break the bone with a flick of his wrist

Or he could run his tongue over the silky skin there It was insane the way he wanted her, the way his body sought the thrill of soi killer The instinct was so strong that ies of the ways he’d take her swaainst the wallin a hot showerbound and helpless, laid out like a sacrifice

His gaze snapped up, caught hers His te out until there was only priuide his actions

He licked his lips The knowledge of what he was about to do made her jaw drop as he dipped his head and slanted his mouth over hers For a ht his waist in one hand and ainst hiue as it sparred with hers The soft recess of herthe wet, hot kiss But his body wanted led his hand in her thick hair, holding her firainst his aching sex

The subtle tightening of her body was his only warning

A flash of silver arced near the extre of , he wrenched Tayla’s wrist and grabbed the knife

"Son of a--" She bit off the curse and spun out of his grip

There was nothing wrong with her reflexes, and she proved there was nothing wrong with her speed either, as she bolted toward a closed door He dived, hit her as she reached for the handle, and they both tuh the bedroom doorway She landed aardly, half on, half off the bed, and he caain, if that’s how you repay srowled