Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock 02)

Bruiser reversed the knife and set it on the leather seat. When he brought his hand down again, it held a bit of white. Before I could react, he wiped the blood scent along my neck and down across my exposed breast.

 

Scent-marking me. With the smell of a different mate. I hissed again. Caught his hand. But it was too late. I could see the angry amusement glinting in his eyes. "Son of a bitch," I whispered fiercely, holding the offending cloth off me.

 

He chuckled softly but there was no humor in it. The sound was cold and rigid and full of self-mockery. "Actually, Mama was an impoverished English lady." He tossed the cloth and slowly pushed up from the floor to the seat, accidentally--or maybe not so accidentally--dragging himself against my center, a cruel reminder of what had just nearly happened. He held out a hand to lift me back to the seat.

 

I fought embarrassment and a need to refuse the gesture. It would have been childish and would only make things worse. I slid my dress back over my breast and took his hand, allowing him to lift me back to the seat, leather cold through my dress. I smoothed the skirt into place over my legs.

 

Bruiser took the blade and held out his other hand, patient but demanding. I flipped back the skirt again and undid the knife sheath. He stared at my legs and the shadowed V above them, his eyes like a heated caress from ankles to the top of the dress split, only inches from where he had been planning to go. And where I had been planning to let him go. I shifted, dragging the skirt open wider. Okay, it was mean, but Beast wasn't happy at being thwarted or declawed. And neither was I. I placed the sheath in his hand.

 

"Any other weapons?" he asked, desire making his voice rough.

 

His question made me want to raise a hand to my hair and the hidden implements there, but that would have been stupid. "Yeah," I said. "Killer legs."

 

Bruiser met my eyes. Unexpectedly he grinned and the fight went out of him. He leaned across, slid an arm behind me, and pulled me close, one hand finding my inner thigh. I rested both hands on his shoulders, lips parted. Holding my gaze, he slid his hand up along my leg until the tip of his finger touched the body smoother. "Damn," he whispered.

 

I stuttered a laugh and he kissed me thoroughly. And I responded, not sure where this was going now, but pretty sure it wasn't heading to any kind of sexual satisfaction. I was right. But when he pulled away, it was with obvious reluctance. His thumb feathered over my sensitive flesh and I fought a shiver. "Killer legs, eh? You do indeed." He skimmed his hand down my leg and back up, to pause just out of reach of any kind of satisfaction. "When this is over, I'm taking you to my place and keeping you there for a week."

 

I flushed hotly and Beast purred happily deep inside me. I wasn't sure what "this" was, but I nodded and said, "Two."

 

His eyes went hot and dark. His voice dropped to a burr. "Two."

 

I sat, his hand on my thigh, and tried to figure out what to do next. The silence stretched, and I was pretty sure he was waiting for me say something else. Desperate, choosing a subject at random, I said, "Why did Madame Melisende lose her clientele?"

 

One side of Bruiser's mouth quirked and he eased me away. I wasn't sure the extra space made me happy, but I wasn't sure it made me unhappy either. "Melisende picked the wrong party in the last vampire war, and her more wealthy clients went elsewhere."

 

My instincts perked up. Leo's scions had mentioned war, as had the list of anomalies. "Vampire war?" I was suddenly aware that the limo was icy cold from the AC and my skin pebbled. I pulled my dress over my legs.

 

Bruiser glanced away from me and outside the limo. "We're almost there. No time for a history lesson." He looked at a brass--or maybe gold--bucket attached to the limo wall, filled with ice and an open bottle of champagne. Glasses were in holders to the side. I hadn't noticed it until now. "No time for champagne either, not with the time we spent . . . frolicking."

 

"Why did you agree to take me to this party? I figured I'd have to break your arm."

 

"Twist my arm?"

 

"No." I smiled and looked at him under my lashes. "Break. Definitely break."

 

Bruiser laughed but his face quickly reset itself into serious lines. "My master has a favor to ask of the Rogue Hunter."

 

"Crap." I dragged out the word, not liking the sound of this at all. "A favor? Last time I checked, the only thing he wanted was for me to get the hell out of town, under threat of a death by slow roasting or getting turned. Has something changed?"

 

"Yes. Well. There have been rumors of a realignment in the clans. Such a realignment is what began the last vampire war. Leo is asking--I am asking--for your help to stop it. Please."