Page 16 of Shadow Hunter

He glanced over her, assessing her once more, his icy gaze devoid of any heat she may have previously imagined there. “You’re no hunter.”

She frowned. “And what qualifies you to make that judgment? I could say the same thing of you, after all.”

He shot her a look that saidDon’t make me laugh. “Why are you here, Shortcake? Are you a Host?” A look of disgust crossed his face.

She shook her head. “Hell no. I would never let those leeches feed off me.”

The side of his mouth twitched slightly at that. The closest he’d come thus far to a smile, at least since he’d finished toying with her. Apparently, whoever he was, he appreciated a distaste for the undead.

That made two of them.

“Caius wants me as a Host,” she admitted suddenly, surprising even herself, “but he’s not going to have me.” She met his eyes. “Other than that, the reason I’m here is none of your damn business.” She wasn’t even certain why she was sharing as much as she was anyway, but something about that icy gaze made her uncertain.

Made her feel like a trapped animal pacing the length of its cage.

Made her desperate to break free.

He didn’t respond, only scanned the length of her body like he knew exactly what she was thinking. Watching his irises as he drank her in was like watching fire flicker beneath crystals of ice. So breathtaking she couldn’t bring herself to look away.

He wrenched his gaze away from her, giving them both a much-needed reprieve. “You’re right. It isn’t.” He pushed away from her, before he finally stood.

The distance he placed between them shouldn’t have made her so uneasy.

So eager for him to return.

She sucked in a deep breath. “Who are you and why are you hunting on my turf anyway?” she snapped.

Straightening his clothes, he ignored her question, but his spine stiffened as she stood. She could practically see him training his senses on something like a lethal animal.

“What is this room usually used for?” he asked.

“What?”

He lowered his voice, his harsh gaze spearing her. “I said, What. Is. This. Room. Used. For?” he growled, punctuating each word.

She glared at him. What the hell was he getting at?

“People come in here to have sex and drink from their Hosts in private. But why—”

“Shhh.” He shoved his hand over her mouth to silence her, but with her hands now free she quickly wrenched it off.

“No way are you—”

Before she could comprehend what was going on, they were nose to nose. With gentle but strong movements, he cupped his hand behind her head, pulling her into his arms.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Making my choice.”

Her eyes widened, circling back to their banter once more.

You going to kiss me or kill me, asshole?

As if he knew what she was thinking, he smirked, his lips brushing against hers. “Now, play nice, Shortcake, and don’t ever say I’ve never done you any favors before.”

All her thoughts came to a screeching halt as suddenly, his mouth was on hers. The force of his kiss overwhelming her to the point that she wasn’t entirely certain who had kissed whom. All she knew was the feel of his warm tongue tracing the seam of her lips then, the wicked way he gripped her neck, pulling her close as he urged her open, and how she let him in, almost eagerly, his warm body moving against hers in a way that instantly made her moan.

The things this man could do with his tongue.

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