My appetite still hasn’t returned, but I take a few bites of the barbecue shrimp I ordered. Truthfully, I’m more interested in splitting a bottle of white wine. My emotions have been drawn tight as a bow since lunch.

  The evening started that way, at least. Us relaxing, watching the characters sing-off in a drained swimming pool, when without warning, my friend hops off the couch and starts pacing the room wringing her hands.

  “What’s the matter with you?” I frown, watching her.

  “Something happened to Patrick,” she whispers. “He’s been hurt.”

  Pushing myself up straighter on the couch, I watch her walk. Her hand flutters to her forehead, and her eyes close. A little frown, and I know she’s straining to get more information.

  “If he’s a shifter, he’ll be okay,” I whisper, wanting to comfort her but not wanting to interfere with whatever she might be hearing or seeing. “Don’t they have super healing power?”

  Suddenly she stops. She pauses a few moments, and she exhales loudly. “Oh my god.” Her fingers spread wide, and she starts shaking her hands. “He’s okay. Oh my god, he’s going to be okay.”

  Jumping up, I go over to her and catch her hands, pulling her to the bed. She blinks and focuses on my eyes. “Are you going to be okay?” I ask.

  A nervous little laugh shakes her shoulders, and her chin drops. “I don’t know.”

  I survey our small, dark room and make a decision. “Let’s go out.”

  She frowns, watching me as I go to the closet. “But I thought… You said you felt bad. You wanted a quiet evening.”

  “Patrick knows what he’s doing, and we need to get out of this room.” I take out a silky red dress with spaghetti straps. “You’re about to go crazy cooped up in here, and if you go crazy, where does that leave me?”

  My best friend shakes her head and steps to the closet. “If you’re sure about this.” She takes out a yellow dress similar to the one I’m holding.

  “We’re supposed to be having a girls’ weekend in New Orleans.” I say, as the fabric slides over my head. “What kind of lame girls are we sitting in this room watching movies?”

  “The kind that had some pretty heavy information dropped on us at lunch.” She slips her dress over her slim hips and pulls the zipper. “I’m fine staying in with you.”

  “I think wallowing is the worst thing we can do. Besides, I know you want to find him.”

  She doesn’t argue.

  A quick look in the mirror, and I see my makeup from earlier is still in place. A dusting of powder, a little lipstick, and we’re heading down, into the night.

  Twenty minutes later, the bottom falls out. Rain pours down, and we dash, shrieking into the closest bar for shelter.

  “Lafitte’s!” Elaine is breathless as we look around the dark, brick-interior of the ancient blacksmith shop-turned bar.

  The place isn’t wired for electricity, which still blows my mind. Candles in small glass bowls are the only lights in the very dark establishment. It doesn’t matter to my new eyes. I easily see a few patrons sitting at the bar, and we walk slowly past the large, brick fireplace to the center of the room.

  “I’ll order us some cocktails,” Elaine says. “You find a table.”

  Walking slowly through the semi-crowded place, I try not to make eye contact with anyone. Lafitte’s is supposedly haunted, and while communicating with the dead is old hat to Elaine, I’m still adjusting to being something other. I don’t want to mistake a ghost for a patron.

  I easily locate an empty table in a back corner and go to it. Several minutes pass, and I hear the sound of rain growing stronger on the roof.

  The patrons’ loud voices create a wall of noise in the background. Further back, someone is playing a piano, “House of the Rising Sun.” I trace my fingernail along the lines in the tabletop, doing my best not to think about Derek.

  After discovering his true occupation this morning, I’ve done my best to suppress all memories of last night. Still, when I’m alone this way, it’s impossible to keep my mind off the intense rush of pleasure I felt when I bit him. It eclipses everything that’s happened before or since. No orgasm compares to the euphoria of his strong blood filling my veins.

  With a little growl, I scrub my hand roughly over my forehead. Looking up, I scan the dark bar again, straining my eyes for my friend. More patrons have filtered in to escape the downpour, and I’m afraid if I leave our table to find her, we’ll never get another one. What’s taking so long? I’m back to wishing she could hear my thoughts, because they would be a stern. Hurry up, Lainey!

  I’m still leaning forward in my seat, trying to see the front of the bar when my eyes meet his. An onslaught of emotions throws me back—desire, dread, longing, lust, need.

  Derek is walking straight to me, and I can’t move. My heart thuds rapidly at the sight of him. I can’t catch my breath. Something’s different about him, but I don’t have time to consider what it might be. He reaches down and takes both my hands, pulling me to my feet and into his arms.

  His strong arms surround me, holding me tight against his firm chest as his face presses into the side of my hair. My heart beats painfully, my hands clutch his shoulders, and I can only hold him with my eyes squeezed shut, my face against his chest until our breathing gradually becomes one.

  “Melissa.” His warm voice against my skin soothes me. He’s holding me. I’m holding him, and his blood burns hot under my skin.

  Mine. The word appears in my mind, even though I know it’s not true. I can’t call him that when I stole what little of him I possess.

  After a few moments, he lifts his head and looks into my eyes. “I was so unhappy this morning when you were gone.”

  “I’m sorry.” My voice is soft and high. “I had to leave.”

  One hand stays around my waist, holding my body firmly against his. The other moves up to smooth my hair off my cheek. “Why did you have to leave me?”

  His beautiful eyes are so full of the longing I feel. My heart aches, but I can’t answer him. Instead, I press my face into his chest again, inhaling deeply of his woodsy scent. Only now, it’s slightly different. That foreign thing is back, stronger than before. He nudges me out of those thoughts.

  “Tell me why you’re afraid.” I love the sound of his voice, the warmth and comfort of it. If only…

  “There’s so much you don’t know,” is all I say. We’re still a moment, holding each other. Then I realize. “How did you find me?”

  I step back to see his face. He gives me a little smile. “My partner Patrick is… well, he’s in love with your friend. It’s hard to explain.”

  “Patrick is here?” The words are barely passing through my lips when I’m hit with the most powerful wave of nausea I’ve ever felt—even worse than before.

  “Oh!” My hand goes immediately to cover my nose and mouth, and I push out of Derek’s arms, staggering back toward the wall.

  I expect to see Patrick, but I’m surprised when it’s a different man. He’s as tall as Derek and equally intimidating, but he’s leaner. He looks like Patrick, but he’s darker with brown hair and hazel eyes. All these thoughts skitter through my mind as I struggle to get away from the man’s fierce glare. His presence is overpowering.

  “Melissa,” Derek’s voice only glances off my misery. “What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, god,” I gasp. Reaching out, I push through the tables. My hip catches one, and it scoots forward against the people sitting around it, spilling their drinks. They complain loudly, but I’m far enough away from that person to have a clear shot at the door. I take it, practically running. The darkness is not a hindrance to me.

  “Melissa!” Derek is behind me, but he’s having a harder time navigating the dark room.

  I barely notice Patrick and Elaine cuddled nose to nose at the bar, grinning in their blissed-out state. The milder repellence of his aura drives me out into the pouring rain.

  I’m soaked immediately, my red dress clinging to my body, but I can’t stop. I’ve got to get away. Moving quickly, I head west in the direction of my hotel, block after block. The street is still littered with people either too drunk to care about the pouring rain or committed to turning the sudden deluge into a game.

  I dodge them, pushing past, onward until I’m at the corner of Bourbon and Conti Streets. A car rumbles past, hitting a puddle and sending an arc of water waist-high in my direction. With a little cry, I jump back, and SLAM! right into Derek’s firm chest.

  His strong arms are around me again, pulling me under the awning of a daiquiri shop. We’re out of the rain, but he isn’t speaking. My back is to the wall, and he catches my chin, forcing me to look at him.

  Drops of rainwater drip from the ends of his dark hair. We’re both soaked, but our physical condition is secondary to what’s happening now. The muscle in his square jaw moves, and I stare into his steel blue eyes. All the longing, the lust, the desire is there, but I see something new as well—confusion and disbelief. Anger.

  My breath hitches faster, and he pulls away, dragging me behind him the remaining block to his hotel. We push past drunken tourists, and he strides through the lobby, barely noticing the doorman, who mutters Monsieur and holds out a thick, white towel.

  Derek’s expression is resolute as we enter the elevator. It’s so different from last time. My heart thuds loudly in my ears, and my anticipation level remains high. I have no idea what’s coming or why he’s so angry. My dark hair is heavy and wet on my shoulder, and the air conditioning inside the building makes me shiver.

  My nipples peak, and he notices. Lust smolders dark in his eyes. Still, I quiver under his stern gaze. A little ding, and the doors open. He takes my hand roughly and moves faster to his room. Door card in, chirp!, the door is open, and he practically throws me inside while he stops to remove his wet boots.

  I cower against the wall, unsure whether to speak. I can’t stop shivering in the cold air, and with the thud of the second boot hitting the floor, Derek comes to me with determined strides.

  His eyes are on my mouth. I’m breathing so fast, I can see my chest rising and falling as he slams my body against the wall. Pinned again, he looks hard into my eyes before claiming my mouth roughly, forcing my lips apart, and finding my tongue.

  A little noise squeaks from my throat. I don’t know why he’s treating me so roughly. I grasp his shoulders, following his movements with mine, hearing his heart beating faster like mine. His blood heats in my veins and moisture pools between my legs. Even frightening and angry, I want him so much.

  Without speaking, he takes my hand and leads me to the bed. He lifts my wet dress over my head and steps to drop it in the empty tub, pausing a moment to quickly discard his own wet shirt and jeans. I watch him mesmerized as he takes an oversized towel off the ledge and returns to me. He’s gloriously nude, the low light deepening the lines on his chest and stomach, his enormous cock fully erect.

  Touching my hair with the towel, he gives it a few squeezes then spreads it on the bed behind me. Anger mixed with desire is in his eyes.

  He lifts me and pushes me onto my back then grips my thighs, shoving them open. Immediately, he begins to kiss and lick my center. His soft lips and velvet tongue move slowly over my clit as his beard scrapes the delicate skin of my legs.

  “Derek!” My cries join the low growl coming from his throat as heat rockets through my pelvis down to the arches of my feet. Adrenaline is so high in my veins I start to come.

  “Oh, god!” The tingling sensation spreads over my gums.

  My mouth! He has me trapped on my back against the mattress, his strong arms looped around my legs, large hands holding my hips.

  “Derek!” I pull his hair, trying to twist away, to turn my body so he can’t see me, but I’m trapped.

  He lets out another low growl, the vibration right against my clit, and he gives me a sharp suck. It’s too late. The muscles in my core tighten irresistibly in response to him. His blood in my veins magnifies everything about him, making him a drug to me. My back arches involuntarily as my teeth shoot out.

  “Aaaah!” I let out a long wail, my eyes squeeze shut, and I come hard and shuddering on his mouth, unable to stop the ecstasy.

  He doesn’t waste a moment. He’s up and plunging deep between my thighs just as fast, not waiting to see what I’ve become. Both of my wrists are clasped firmly over my head in his iron grasp as he surges on, harder, deeper, groaning as his rocks into me again and again. The friction of him stretching and filling me shudders my body with pleasure. His eyes are closed as he makes his final thrusts again and again as his orgasm reaches its crest.

  “Melissa,” he groans low as he comes, pulsing in me, holding me down.

  I’m trapped beneath him, tears filling my eyes, uncertain what all of this means or what happens now. He saw what I am, but he didn’t pull away. He held me, watching me writhe in desire and agony, as if he knew what would happen.

  Oh, god. A wave of dread tightens my stomach at the thought. He knew what would happen. He knows what I am.

  His head drops onto his forearm, but he’s still inside me. I wait until he finally lifts it, again. His eyes linger on my mouth a few desperate moments before he looks straight into my eyes. He’s so beautifully mouth-watering. Sweat mingles with the rain on his cheek, and a little drop runs into his beard.

  I know my eyes darken at the sight of him. A whimper escapes my chest as the irresistible hunger burns in my throat.

  His brow lowers. “You want to bite me?”

  My eyes squeeze closed as a flood of fresh tears fills them, spilling out of the corners and down my cheeks. I take a shuddering breath, unable to deny the truth.

  “Can you control it?” His voice has changed. The anger is replaced by curiosity.

  Opening my eyes slowly, I study his expression, still stern, trying to understand. I don’t answer. I only watch him, my hunger aching in my gums.

  His steel eyes hold mine with such determination. “Do what you have to do, but only for a moment.”

  I’m confused by his permission, but I’m too weak to resist him. His grip on my wrists relaxes, and I slowly lift my hands to his broad, muscled shoulders, holding his eyes with mine as I carefully rise to lick a little bead of sweat off his neck.

  A noise rumbles in his throat, and inside me his erection returns. My breath picks up as the flavor of him spreads through my mouth. Rising higher, I press my nose against his heated skin, inhaling fresh rainwater mixed with his delicious man-scent.

  I’m on fire. My moan is matched by his low growl as I trace my tongue along the line of his jaw to the ridge of muscle in his neck. I’m acting by instinct, grazing my razor-sharp teeth lightly across his skin, touching him gently with my tongue. His hips begin to move, thrusting again, and I feel the muscles in his shoulders tightening as his orgasm builds.

  At last I’ve found it—the place from before, the little pin pricks. Like before, it’s so easy, a warm knife through butter. I penetrate him, and the hot, thick taste of his life spills into my mouth.

  Instantly, we’re plunged into that orgasmic place, tumbling down the rabbit hole, lost in a whirlpool of giving and taking inexorable ecstasy.

  “Fuck!” He groans as he comes inside me, pulsing long and hard, over and over.

  My eyes are closed, my mouth attached firmly to his skin as I drown in the tsunami of pleasure, life flowing into me from all sides.

  It’s harder to stop this time. I want more of him, more and more of this. He seems unable to pull away as well. He’s still in me, throbbing and gripping my hips so hard, I think they’ll break.

  I might have kept going. I might have… but a beacon of light cuts through the quick thud of his heart beating strong in his chest.

  STOP! The voice I recognize as mine echoes through my transformed state. It reminds me what I want. I want this man to live. I don’t want to drain his life and doom myself to living alone as a monster. I want to live with him in the light.

  It takes all the strength I possess to pull out. I break my seal with a moan of regret, licking my lips to be sure none of him is wasted.

  Dropping back on the bed, I close my eyes to savor the sensation of him swirling inside me. Derek… my Derek… so strong… my fighter… my hunter…

  Only like before, the strange, foreign element is back. It burns longer this time before ultimately disappearing into my bloodstream.

  It’s not him. It’s something else. What have you done, my love?

  My brow lines with confusion as I try to understand what I’m feeling. At the same time I realize his head is down, pressed against my shoulder. He’s inside me, but his breathing has slowed and his heart rate has returned to normal.

  Slowly, he lifts his head, but his expression is unreadable. His eyes move around my face, and I know my appearance has changed. I know taking his blood makes him weaker, more susceptible to my powers.

  He blinks those beautiful blue eyes at me, and his next words break my heart. “I wanted to give it to you. But you’d already stolen it.”

  A wave of sadness covers me, and I’m sure I’ve lost him. I betrayed him, and now he knows I can’t be trusted. I’m the same as all the rest of my kind. I’m the thing he’s dedicated his life to destroying.

  Despair tightens my chest, and I close my eyes, wishing for death.

  9

  Discoveries

  Derek

  Melissa’s eyes close, and silent tears slip down her temples into her hair. Her small body is locked in my arms, and I can’t let her go. I’m still trying to come down from what just happened between us, by the realization it happened before, last night.

  Stuart told me what she is before I left Lafitte’s. His shifter senses detected her immediately. I didn’t want to believe him, but it answered every question I’ve had since we met.

  The riddle is solved. She’s a hybrid. A vampire has bitten her, and she’s drunk its blood. All that’s left is for her to make her first kill. Only as far as I can tell, she seems to be fighting that last step.