He shook his head to clear his thoughts and focus on the here and now. "He went into a bolt-hole after our confrontation."
"A what?"
"A bolt-hole. Sanctuary for the Daimons," he explained. "They're astral openings between dimensions. The Daimons can go in for a few days, but when the door opens, they have to leave again."
Amanda was aghast at what he was describing. How could that be possible? "I can't believe the powers that be would give the Daimons such a haven to escape justice."
"They didn't. The Daimons discovered bolt-holes on their own." He flashed a wicked smile at her. "But I'm not complaining. It makes my job infinitely more interesting."
"Well, just so long as you're not bored," she said sarcastically. "I would really hate for your job to ever get dull."
He cast a glance at her that set her on fire. "Chère, I have a feeling being bored around you would be an impossibility."
His words struck a painful nerve in her. "You're the only one who feels that way," she said as she remembered her conversation with Selena. "I've been told I tip the scales way into Boredom City."
He stopped at a light and gave her a penetrating stare. "I don't understand that comment since I've been nothing but amazed by you ever since the moment I woke up to you calling me 'Mr. yummy leather guy.' "
Her face on fire, she laughed at the memory.
"Besides," Hunter continued, "you can't blame people for saying that when you're the one who puts up the shield."
"Excuse me?"
He shifted into first and headed down the street. "It's true. You bury the part of you that craves excitement underneath a career guaranteed to one day replace tranquilizers. You wear drab colors and turtlenecks that hide the passion you keep harnessed."
"I do not," she said, bristling with indignation. "You hardly know me well enough to say that. And you've only seen me in one outfit of my choosing."
"True, but I know your type."
"Yeah, right."She mumbled her denial.
"And I've sampled your passion firsthand."
Amanda's face flamed even more at that one. She couldn't deny the truth. However, it didn't mean she had to like the way he seemed to see straight into her heart.
"I think you're afraid of that other half of yourself," he continued. "You remind me of the ancient Greek nymph Lyta. She was two halves of one person. The two pieces warred with each other, making her—and anyone who knew her—miserable until one day a Greek soldier came upon the two halves and joined them. From that day forward she lived in harmony with herself and others."
"What, are you saying I make you miserable?"
He laughed. "No. I find you amusing, but I think you'd be much happier if you would accept your true nature and not try so hard to fight it."
"This coming from a vampire who doesn't drink human blood? Tell me, aren't you fighting your nature, too?"
He smiled at that. "Perhaps you're right. Perhaps I too would be happier if I turned the wild beast inside me loose." He glanced askance at her. "I wonder if you could handle that part of me."
"Meaning?"
He didn't answer. "Where do I need to take you? Julian's, your mother's, or your place?"
"Well, since you're headed toward my house, I suppose there. I live a few blocks over from Tulane."
Kyrian did his best to stay focused on traffic, but over and over he kept seeing flashes of his dream in his mind. Damn, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had such a vivid dream. He'd awakened early in the morning, hard and aching for her. And he could have sworn her scent was on his pillows. His skin.
He'd spent the rest of the day trying his best to sleep, but it had been fitful at best. He wanted this woman with a need so profound that it made him shake just to be near her. Never in his life had he wanted anything more than to do what she suggested: to turn himself loose on her and devour her.
If only he dared. As soon as it had turned dark, he had gone hunting for her. It was the first time in his Dark-Hunter life that he'd pursued a human.
"You know," she said, that soft, lilting drawl sending an electric charge down his spine straight to his groin. "You didn't have to pick me up. You could have just called the office and checked on me."
Kyrian cleared his throat as he felt heat creep over his face. Dammit! She had him blushing? He hadn't blushed since he was a callow youth over two thousand one hundred and sixty years ago. "I didn't have your number."
"You could have gotten it from any phonebook or information. And of course, Grace has it." He felt her smiling at him.
"Heck, you could have probably picked it right out of my brain." Her look turned devilish, suspicious. "I bet you just wanted to see me again, didn't you?"
"No," he said a little too quickly.
"Umm-hmmm."Disbelief echoed in her tone. "Why don't I believe that?"
"Probably because I never could lie worth a damn."
They both laughed. Amanda watched him while he drove. He had his small round sunglasses back on and looked more dashing than any man had a right to.