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Which was probably why I didn’t hear hiloved hand around edhtlessness worked against , but with ainst his chest, it was futile

"Let le on rip and I openedmy teeth into his palm

He howled and pulled away fro it hard Water and roses shot out in a clear arc and the heavy leaded crystal ht ht it would stop hirabbing fistfuls of shirt I was off er

A voice echoing in the hallway startled us both and I was tossed to the side, landing in a crumbled heap in a pile of discarded lance atroom , and disappeared onto the fire escape

I sat up like a shot--vampire pride wounded, the strap on e I vaulted toward theand followed the black-clad man out onto the fire escape for exactly forty-five seconds He shot an upward glance at me as he climbed down the escape ladders His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open just the tiniest bit and I knew he saw the sed le flicker of fire bringing sunlight that I could, pattingto put out the flame I slapped it out It sain like a cobra dancing out of its basket

"Son of a bitch!"

My entire body was rigid and the tension pulsed through ed out thefor ainstuntil the flame died out He folded up the blackened towel and tossed it on the table

"What happened?" Pike asked ured if I drew his attention away froet about it "What the hell are you doing here? I live here"

He pointed "You live there This is Emerson’s place and you were on fire"

I harrus, dude I was just s eyebrow

"I know It’s a foul habit I’s, and so

"So you decided to coe in this foul habit?"

I offered hi here?"

Pike took a step towardover to your place to check in on you" A tiny blush shot over his cheeks "I don’t have your number"

"Then how’d you end up here?"

He jerked a thumb over his shoulder "You left Einald’s place had been opened, I thought I’d see as going on"

He looked earnest enough but a girl doesn’t walk the earth for centuries and (continue) to be fooled by a pair of gorgeous eyes and well-tanned swimmer’s shoulders that slouched pitifully

"How do I know you weren’t co to my place to kill ainst the , instinctually I felt the singe on my back but I needed to put as rin that would have been heartwar, had he not been a psychopath "Why would I kill you?"

"Because I saw you thisthe scene of a cri another cigarette?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You’re sain"

I felt nant "I’, Pike I saw you well and fine"

"No," he said, striding toward lanced over ray-black smoke rise up froulfed by a tiny flame

"Son of a bitch!"

Pike hadme in one of Emerson’s discarded muslin swatches He spun me as he wrapped and before I knew it, I was fairly well le my arms but they were clamped to my sides "A little help?"

Pike pulled a chair out fro table and plopped himself down He kicked up his feet and crossed his own ared his head "No I’et out of that until you answer sos were clamped too I considered a Hulk-like show of va to do