THE HUNT

CHAPTER-NINTEEN

Kate rushed out the backdoor and began to cross through the shadows toward Adam's Mustang, she just wanted to rid her feet from the ridiculous heels. Go home, put on a pair of baggy sweatpants, and veg in front of the TV for the rest of the night. And for that matter, damn herself for fantasizing about Adam.

The brick facade of the club rose up on her right, and as she walked in the direction, it seemed as if the brick melted away into the shadows. She realized that she was passing the delivery entrance, a short, dark driveway that butted up against another door that led to the kitchen.

The ragged circle of light cast by the sputtering bulb stretched out across the alley, and she strolled toward it, prepared to step into the light. She didn't make it. An arm wrapped hard and firm around her waist, and she felt herself being jerked backward--hard.

She tried to scream, but she couldn't because of the hand clasped over her mouth. He pulled her close, pressing her body against him.
A large man, with a hard body and a spicy scent half-hidden beneath the smell of alcohol and tobacco that lingered on his clothes.

Her heart thumped in her chest as she struggled. With a violent jerk, she tilted her head up and found herself looking deep into the eyes of her attacker--Adam.

"Kate," he whispered. Then his mouth closed hard over her.

Hunger. Need.

They burned inside him, making him hot. Making him hard.

With his mouth he claimed her, with his arms he kept her, holding her tight as she struggled. Then her hands reached up, her fingers, stroking, his neck, cupping his head, her mouth as hungry as his.

Within, the vampire was rising, and he couldn't think. All he knew was desire. All he felt was hunger. All he tasted was Kate.

He drew back, savoring her moan as he broke the kiss. He pressed his hands against her face, his thumb brushing her trembling lip.

She shifted, tried to taste and suckle, and the soft movement of her lips against his flesh made his cock twitch in fervent demand.

One breath, two breaths, and another. It was all he could do. Just breathe, and try to force the demon back down as he called upon every ounce of strength he possessed to keep from descending into that crude place where nothing existed but the demon.

The hunger rose in his body as he fought, to battle his own nature almost undoing him.

Breathe, damn you. Breathe.

He breathed, and what he inhaled was Kate. She smelled sweet and floral, like a garden, after a rain. But something else. Excitement. Desire. Raw and needy, and mirroring his own. "You want, walk away from me tonight?"

She shook her head, the movement almost imperceptible. "I won't."

"I'll have you."

Her lips barely moved. "Yes."

He'd tried to walk away once already. He'd turned away from her luster and left the club. He'd gone out the back and he'd gotten as far as the alley. But the vampire had wanted, so he stayed, and his reward was finding her in the shadows. He wanted to go. But the vampire. . .

"Adam." Her soft voice urged him in, her tone like sweet candy.

He planted his feet, "Kate," he growled, the demon surging and craving to sink into her, desperate to shove his pants down and lose himself, not in the hunt, but the taking. The claiming.

Again, she lifted her face to his, her lips parted and soft. Had he bothered, he would have noticed the caution in her eyes. He didn't bother. He only grasped the back of her head, then closed his mouth over hers.