“Get on,” he ordered her as his hands curled around the handlebars. “I’m not in the mood to deal with the cops.”
She glanced back at the human. “Simon…”
Was that the bastard’s name?
She bit her lower lip—a full, plump lip. She had such a gorgeous mouth. She was gorgeous. Heart-shaped face, killer cheekbones, and a body made for pleasure. Damn, but he’d missed her.
Rose brushed back a lock of hair that blew toward her eyes. “Are we going to just leave Simon Lorne here?”
Yes, they absolutely were. If Simon was smart, he’d high tail it far away from the Keys. “Get on,” Julian gritted again. “Simon’s boss may have reinforcements coming. He wants you in the collection.” Something that would happen over his dead body.
He could see the flash of police lights. They’d run out of time.
Rose slid onto the motorcycle behind him. Her legs pressed against his and her arms wrapped around him.
About time. “Hold tight,” he told her. “Because it’s going to be one hell of a ride.”
Then he took off, racing into the night, and the sirens screamed after them.
***
“Sir, sir are you all right?”
Did he look fucking all right? Simon Lorne squinted up at the cop above him. Blood was dripping in his eyes. His forehead had slammed into the steering wheel on impact, and broken glass had rained into the car. “Need…ambulance.” Something that should be obvious. That freak had cut his throat, and Simon had burns on his arms.
“It’s coming. Just stay still. Help will be here soon.”
Not soon enough. The vampire was gone—taken away by that bastard on the bike. The bastard with the claws and with the promise of death in his eyes. Simon couldn’t even hear the roar of the motorcycle any longer.
The EMTs arrived a while later. Fucking finally. They loaded him onto a stretcher. Put him in the back of the ambulance. Then they started hooking him up to tubes—an IV and some other kind of monitor. They wrapped his burns. They bandaged his neck.
“Didn’t realize…she had a protector,” he said as he stared straight up.
The EMT—a pretty brunette—frowned at him as she leaned into his line of sight. “Sir?”
The ambulance lurched forward, leaving the scene.
The brunette was in the back with him. A man—thin, balding—worked at her side.
“Rose having a protector…that makes it…harder…” So much harder.
The brunette leaned closer to him. “Sir? I think you’re confused.”
No, he was very, very focused. He had to get back to the top of his game, and a pit stop at the hospital wasn’t going to help him. Science never helped.
Magic did.
His hand flew out and locked around her throat. “Harder,” he allowed. “His presence will definitely make things harder, but not impossible.”
Before the woman could scream, he snapped her neck.
Chapter Three
“Stop the bike!” Rose yelled. She tightened her hold on Julian. He’d driven for miles, and he hadn’t spoken a word to her during that ride. She had no idea where he was taking her or what he planned, but she wasn’t just going to disappear into the dark.
He didn’t stop.
How typical of him.
Eyes narrowing, she leaned even closer to him. “Stop the bike, Julian,” she said, nearly purring the words into his ear. She wasn’t sure if a compulsion would work on another paranormal creature—she’d actually never tried to work her power on someone like him—but she figured she had nothing to lose.
Only the guy just kept driving.
Her breath blew out in a huff as the wind whipped against her. Fine, if that was the game he wanted to play…
He didn’t have on a helmet. Neither did she. No helmet, no leather jacket. He had on a t-shirt, and the back of his neck was exposed to her. Truly, in that instance, what was a hungry vamp to do, but take a bite?
Rose leaned forward. She put her mouth to his neck. Her lips feathered over his skin, then her tongue slid out and lightly licked him.
The motorcycle jerked to the left.
Then Julian was braking the bike. Swearing up a storm, but braking and then he whirled to face her on the motorcycle. Their faces were close, their mouths just inches apart.
“What in the hell kind of game are you playing?” His voice was a low, dangerous growl. “I pulled your sweet ass from one wreck tonight. Are you in the mood for a second?”
“My kiss distracts you enough for a wreck?” She let her brows climb. “Interesting. Now I certainly do wonder what my bite would have done.”
But, before he could reply, she jumped from the motorcycle. All she’d wanted was for him to stop and she’d gotten what she wanted. Now to get away from him as fast as she—
His hand flew out and locked around her wrist. Stupid lightning-fast shifter reflexes.