Claws and Fangs Read online

  A real vampire. She resisted the urge to faint. She’d been half joking, but the laugh was on her.

  “I’d like to repay you. Name what you want.”

  She hadn’t dated in the five years since her attack, and it definitely made her lonely. It had also made her socially challenged. She was aware of that, even if the one thing that came to mind wouldn’t have been wrong to ask of him.

  She shook her head, refusing to ask him to show her what he wore under that kilt, despite the curiosity she’d had since she’d laid eyes on him. Totally inappropriate and don’t go there.

  “I should be going home now. I’ll leave you to deal with your intruder.”

  Chapter Two

  Blaron regarded the woman, inhaling the scents inside the room. The hunter on the floor wore cheap, offensive cologne and stank of sweat and fear. It nearly masked the sweeter, tempting feminine fragrances of his neighbor. He hadn’t seen her before but he believed her reason for being there. His gaze traveled down her well-worn robe, her shapely legs peeking from beneath the thigh-length material, and her bare feet. She wouldn’t have gone far dressed that way.

  Her face intrigued him. A scar ran down the side of her jaw, another at her temple, and at her cheek near her ear. They didn’t distract from her delicate, attractive features. Her big blue eyes stared at him with a mixture of awe and wariness. He didn’t pick up fear coming from her but her heart raced. He could hear the fast beat, tormenting him just a little. He wasn’t hungry but she tempted him all the same.

  He’d been showering, oblivious to the happenings inside his home until he’d turned the water off. The noise of someone moving around the floor below him had been alarming. The hunter surprised him—Blaron had been careful to hide his identity—but the female stunned him. He knew humans fought crime by watching their neighbors’ homes, but he’d never thought a woman would take on a criminal in her bathrobe. Most would dial for the police.

  She had mentioned being the neighborhood watch. That meant she must have some sort of surveillance to have seen the hunter. It worried him that his senses had failed to notice her scrutiny.

  She took a hesitant step toward him, her intent to flee, but he didn’t budge from blocking the doorway. He wasn’t allowing her to leave until he assessed the threat she posed to his future safety. It was odd that she hadn’t called for assistance.

  His study switched to the hunter on the floor.

  The male lay on his side by the bed, awake now, his arms and feet bound at the center of his back and his terrified gaze on Blaron. He noticed the pile of weapons, and his lips pressed firmly together. The male had intended to kill him.

  He glared at his enemy. “Who are you?”

  “I have friends,” the guy whined. “They will come, evil demon.” The guy twisted his head to shoot a murderous glare at the woman. “They’ll kill your minion too.”

  Confusion made Blaron frown. “My what?”

  The hunter jerked his head at the woman. “Her. Your lover who guards you while you’re in your death sleep. Release me, son of Satan! It’s my duty to send you back to hell!”

  He hid a wince, glanced at the woman, and knew he couldn’t just allow her to stroll out of his home. She’d seen and heard too much. “Good luck with that, hunter. You’re the one who has been caught.”

  “My friends will come, and they’ll kill you and that hideous bitch who feeds you! I can see why she’d sink so low as to protect a monster. She’s one too.”

  Blaron instantly noticed how the woman’s features paled. She lowered her head to allow some of her curly blonde hair to drop forward to hide the worst of her scars, and her shoulders sagged a little.

  Anger hit him instantly that the insulting words had made her courageous spirit withdraw. Only a strong female would attack a larger male and come to a neighbor’s defense, both of which she’d done for a stranger. He admired her for that. She was probably sensitive about her flaws, and he moved before he allowed his temper to cool. His bare foot nailed the rude bastard in the side.

  The hunter gasped from the pain. The sharp kick knocked him against the bed and he blacked out.

  The female raised her head, realized what Blaron had done—and she stared at him with a mixture of amusement and, finally, fear.

  “I detest rudeness from a guest, especially an uninvited one.” He paused. “My apologies, lass.”

  She held his gaze confidently and licked her lips. The sight of her pink tongue darting out did something to his body that stunned him. His cock twitched, filled with blood, and he lowered his sword in front of him to rest the tip on the floor. The flat metal hid his response by keeping his kilt from lifting in the front.

  “Five years ago, I awoke to a burglar who decided to try to rape me at knifepoint. I fought, he sliced my face a few times and stabbed me.” She paused, emotional turmoil making her voice tremble. “I kept fighting. He ended up dying while I survived.” Her eyes glinted with pride. “I’m not so pretty anymore but I’m still breathing. I count that as a win.”

  “I’m sorry for what was done to you. Why did you try to save me?”

  “It sucks being awoken to some jerk intent on causing harm. I’ve had that done to me. You haven’t eaten anyone on the block, I assume you’re bag-fed since you get those nifty deliveries, and we sleep during the same hours.” She hesitated. “I have a live-and-let-live policy. I don’t care what you are as long as you’re not hurting anyone.”

  Shock tore through him once again. She knew what he was, or at least suspected. He could see it in her wary regard. He wondered if she figured it out after disarming the hunter of the weapons used to kill a vampire according to myth, or if she’d guessed long before.

  “You added a bathroom in your attic?”

  Her question came out of nowhere. “That’s what you wish to know?”

  “You sleep up there. I don’t leave my house, so I watch the neighborhood a lot. You come home and go up there before the sun rises. I didn’t see any contractors do work on your home.”

  She did intrigue him. “The last owner had a bedroom and bathroom created up there. It’s why I bought the house. I added a steel door at the top to protect me.” There was no harm in answering her question.

  “Oh. So this jerk wouldn’t have been able to reach you?”

  He glanced down at the hunter. “It’s possible he might have set my home on fire once he realized it’s where I spend my days. Most of us stay underground for extra protection against the sun. I don’t. I would have been trapped. Burned by fire or by daylight if I jumped out a window to escape the flames.”

  “None of these homes have basements.”

  “True enough.”

  “You probably should have bought a home with one, then dug out an escape tunnel in case of fire. I would if I were you.” She gave him a tight smile. “Do jerks like him come after you often?”

  “No. This is the first time in some years since I was found.”

  “You grew lax. I mean, I figured it out, and obviously this guy did too. You don’t want to die.”

  He reevaluated what she said. She knew about the blood deliveries to his home and had taken note of the fact that he hadn’t fed on anyone on the block. Yet she still came to my aid and is giving me advice on how to stay safe.

  It made his cock stir more, the blood he’d drunk before his shower flowing there, and he wondered how vampire-friendly she would be if she guessed how attracted he was to her.

  “Even if you aren’t technically alive, the motto still applies.” She took another hesitant step closer. “Could you please move? I’m up past my bedtime, and I assume you are too. I’ll leave you to deal with him. As far as I’m concerned, I never saw him, this didn’t happen, and you’re just a regular guy. I’m not going to tell anyone about you.”

  “Is that why you didn’t call the police?”

  “I figured they’d find you if they searched the house. I planned to babysit him today until just before the sun went down, t
hen leave him for you to deal with. I won’t have a moral dilemma over this guy’s fate. I see my mirror every time I’m in the bathroom. I wish someone had taken out the jerk who attacked me before he broke into my home. You’d be doing the world a favor. What if he tries to stake someone else, or even makes a mistake by going after someone who just likes to act as if they’re a vampire? There’s a kid a block over who dresses like one. She’s totally into Goth but I’ve seen her during the day. I should leave now.”

  “Nay,” he murmured. “You can’t go yet, lass.”

  She backed up, alarm registering on her face as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t make me regret what I did. I’ve heard no good deed goes unpunished, but it would suck if that’s true.” She grimaced. “Forget the suck part. Bad pun I didn’t intend to make, considering the circumstances.”

  Blaron really liked her. He managed to stifle a grin. “We’re not safe. My home has been invaded and his friends may be watching it. They tend to travel in groups. You’re a target if you leave. They believe you’re in cahoots with me.”

  He didn’t believe it. Group hunters traveled in packs but they also attacked in them. They’d have arrived already if the hunter had friends watching his back. Blaron wasn’t willing to allow the woman to leave yet though. She intrigued him. Spending a little more time around her proved too tempting to resist.

  He’d release her when he was ready to. She’d pose no real threat to him once he abandoned his home. He’d have to move; he’d no longer be safe where he lived after one hunter had found him. And no one would believe her if she decided to rant about vampires once he was gone. No one ever did.

  “I’ll not hurt you.” He wanted to assure her, feeling the brute if he frightened the wee bonny lass after she’d shown such bravery. “I wouldn’t be able to live with knowing you were harmed because of me. I also wish to know why you came to my aid. It was very courageous of you to help, knowing you’d be facing me.”

  “I actually thought you’d be sleeping.”

  “I don’t fall to my death sleep when the sun rises, as they portray in movies and books. I’m able to move around, but I do need to avoid the sun.”

  Interest sparked in her pretty eyes. “Really? So the whole dead body thing while you sleep is false? That’s interesting.”

  “Truly.” He glanced at the water gun. “Holy water is just wet, the spike would’ve hurt something fierce, but I doubt that scrawny wretch would’ve gotten close enough to do me any damage. I tend to be a light sleeper.”

  “I bet.” She shifted her stance. “So what happens now?”

  “I need to call some friends. They’ll come get us. I need to go somewhere safe.”

  Her gaze flickered to the thick drapes covering the windows, sun lighting the edges. “The sun is up.”

  “That’s unfortunate but I’m old enough to withstand a little of it before I suffer any real damage.”

  He didn’t miss the curiosity in her gaze. He guessed she wanted to ask him his age but refrained. It was a question all vampires suffered.

  “I have a gun in my pocket. I’ll be perfectly safe returning home. I just live across the street and I have no qualms about shooting idiots. It’s even registered so I wouldn’t get into trouble if a neighbor sees me shoot someone. The cops would come, I’d say I thought I saw an intruder sneaking around my house, and my butt is covered.”

  He grinned, unable to resist. She was brave and cute. “Thank you for not pointing a weapon at me.”

  “I doubt bullets would hurt you. Besides, I came over here to save you. Not take you out. Live-and-let-live motto, remember?” She glanced at the hunter and anger sounded in her voice. “I just get pissed when someone like that goes after another person to do harm. Been there, survived that.”

  Bullets would hurt all right, but he wasn’t about to admit that. She wouldn’t be able to kill him but if she shot him enough times, she’d sure slow him down enough for her to flee outside. He wouldn’t dare pursue her into the sunshine across the street. He kept that information to himself.

  “I’ll make that call.” He backed up for the phone on the bedside table, lifted it, and his body tensed in case she attempted to dart past him. He glanced away to dial but she remained still. The phone rang a few times and someone at the club answered.

  “I’ve been compromised,” he stated softly. “A hunter is tied up and I need an evacuation for three immediately.”

  “Yes, sir,” the male growled. “We’re coming.”

  He hung up and adjusted again to keep his kilt from lifting, his weapon once more pointed down in front of him so as not to alarm the lass.

  “They are on their way.”

  “For three?”

  “You should come with me. My people will scout the neighborhood to make sure he’s alone and you can be returned later, when it’s safe.”

  “Who are your people?”

  He hesitated. “Friends.”

  “Not vampires?”

  “No.” He made sure to keep his sword in place even as his body started to cool. He noticed a discoloration forming on her cheek, having missed it before, and realized she’d been harmed. “He hit you?”

  She reached up and rubbed the spot, her fingertips brushing tenderly over the area. “It’s okay. He flopped around a bit when I tagged him with the stun gun and he got in a lucky slap before he fell down.”

  Blaron moved before he considered she might feel threatened as he advanced. Her arm dropped and she instantly backed up. He paused but continued to get closer.

  “Easy. I’m just going to take a look.”

  She bumped into his desk, not having anywhere else to go, and he paused just a foot in front of her. He noted her much shorter height, realize she really was a wee bit of a lass, and he reached up to gently trace her skin with his fingertips. She was soft, warm, and peered up at him with a mixture of fear and curiosity. His body responded to her appealing scent and her lovely eyes.

  “I’ll not harm you.” He dropped his voice to a husky tone.

  His gaze lowered from her eyes to the mark on her pale skin. It was slightly warmer and he inhaled, picking up a very slight hint of blood scent coming from her. He wanted to groan as his body tensed and his fangs began to ache under the gums where they were hidden, matching the awareness of his equally affected cock.

  “He cut the inside of your mouth.”

  Her eyebrows shot up with surprise. “How did you know that?”

  His fangs grew longer and he muted the groan he nearly uttered. “I can fix it for you.” He traced his tongue over one fang, careful to keep them hidden from her, and lowered his head. “Will you trust me?”

  “I don’t know.”

  She was too damn cute. “Close your eyes, tilt your head back and open your mouth.”

  “No way. I had a boy tell me that once and he tried to kiss me.”

  “That’s what I plan to do. I can heal you with my tongue.”

  She strained against the desk. “I think that’s a bad idea, and I don’t even know you.”

  “You came to my aid. I owe you, lass. Allow me to heal what that wretch did. It won’t hurt. I promise I won’t be biting you.”

  Chapter Three

  Kilt was absolutely the sexiest guy, in Matty’s opinion. His eyes stared deeply into hers and she had the urge to allow him to do anything he wanted. She wondered if he had an ability to control someone’s mind but she didn’t feel any different. The inside of her mouth did hurt, and the coppery taste of blood wasn’t her favorite. The fact that he promised not to bite or hurt her made her less afraid.

  A gorgeous, half-naked man wanted to kiss her to fix her boo-boo.

  He’s a vampire. Don’t forget that, she warned.

  Too bad I wasn’t hurt in a more interesting place.

  That thought made her want to wince. The mental image of the tall, muscular vampire dropping to his knees to place his lips on other parts of her body assured her that she’d spent way too many ye
ars dateless without sex.

  Matty decided to do something rash. She’d learned how short life could be after she’d nearly lost hers. Regrets were a bitch. She wanted him to kiss her, wanted to feel alive for once, and Kilt was too much of a temptation to resist. You only live once, and what do you have to lose? Your life isn’t exactly exciting.

  “Okay, but only because you haven’t eaten any of our neighbors and you haven’t even tried to disarm me. I’m willing to trust you.”

  He smiled. Then his lips pressed together and he lowered his head until their faces were a mere inch apart. His eyes were beautiful and something she could stare into for hours without getting bored. She remembered he’d wanted her to close her eyes, which would totally screwed up that “look into my eyes” movie stuff if he were trying to control her mind.

  She closed them, tilted her head back and slightly parted her lips. Her body tensed, waiting to see if she’d just made a horrible mistake or if he was as honest as he seemed. He got credit for not denying what he was. He could have flat-out lied, denying being a vampire.

  He wasn’t a butterfly kisser, a man who just tenderly brushed his lips over hers. The vampire was more direct. He dominated with force when he took possession of her mouth by firmly covering hers lips with his. His tongue invaded, delved inside and explored. He tasted sweet, and he knew what he was doing.

  Her hands splayed on his bare chest for something to cling to, another surprise, because for a dead guy, he was literally hot. Firm muscles were just under his skin and his arm wrapped around her waist to tug her tightly against his solid body.

  Matty felt something hard press between their bodies but it was shoved to the side, and she realized it must be his sword, or perhaps the weapons in her pockets. Then she barely noticed the sound of the sword bumping the wood of the desk and the soft thump when it hit the carpet.

  His arm around her waist adjusted her a little until her butt eased onto the top of the desk and his hips pressed against her thighs. She spread them slightly, lost in the passion that surged between them, and didn’t care that it should have alarmed her to respond so strongly to a stranger when he deepened the kiss.