Page 19 of Shadow Hunter

“Who said I was only going to play?” She shot him an annoyed look, holstering her gun at her back as headed toward the door. “I’m a vampire hunter, not some princess who needs to be rescued.” She paused, glancing back toward him. “Sorry to disappoint.”

She cast him one more furious look, before she strode off toward the dance floor.

Damon swore.

Reckless, infuriating woman.

She was just as stubborn as her older brother.

Mark had always refused help when he’d needed it most.

Muttering a string of profanities, Damon followed her, trailing her out onto the main floor. His eyes locked onto herfigure in an instant as she nudged her way through the sweat-covered bodies on the dance floor. The pulsing red lights cast shadows on her hair, tinting the gorgeous brown shades of red and purple. Even from behind she was breathtaking. The sight of her like nectar, sweet and addicting.

So sweet he never wanted to look away.

He pushed through the crowd until he reached her.

Before she knew he was there, he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her against his body. Using his leather jacket as a cover, he placed the Desert Eagle against her spine, before he leaned down and growled into her ear, “Walk toward the back door quietly, Shortcake, or I won’t hesitate to make you moan more.” His lips brushed against her ear.

“And blow my cover?” She stiffened against him, but he didn’t miss the rapid flutter of her pulse at her throat, or the way she stilled for him. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me,” he purred, pulling her close.

Close enough the round curve of her ass pushed against him. Close enough she could feel what she did to him. He felt himself grow heavy and hard.

“Is that what you call protection?” she teased.

“If playing dirty is what it takes to get you to listen. Now walk.” Damon nudged her with his gun, and she walked forward. As they moved together through the club, he battled the urge to suck on the delicate skin of her earlobe, to kiss his way down the length of her neck and collarbone. The smell of her skin, her hair was intoxicating.

“I’ve never had a man threaten me as foreplay before,” she said, as they reached the club’s rear entrance.

“Don’t get used to it, Shortcake” he grumbled. “Though I’m honored to be your first,” he teased.

She sucked in a sharp breath, cluing him in that maybe those words meant something more to her, but he didn’t have time tofully consider it before he said, “I’d rather take you to the E.R for a bullet wound than scrape your insides off the pavement because some demented vampire attacked you. At least with the gun you’d have a chance of survival.”

She scoffed. “Aren’t you a gentleman.”

“Believe me when I tell you no one has ever called me that before.” He forced her to march ahead of him until they reached the back of the club. He pushed open the door and corralled her into the dimly lit street alley. A burst of cold air hit his face, giving him the wake-up call he needed. The door to Club Fantasy closed behind them and Tiffany let out a long sigh.

“Are you going to take the gun off me now?”

“Are you going to stop being reckless now?” Damon patted down the sides of her jacket and he confiscated her Smith & Wesson. His hand slid over the stake inside her coat pocket.

“Who areyoucalling me reckless?” The pitch of her voice dropped as tucked her gun inside coat pocket. “I thought you wanted to protect me.”

“You keep the stake for protection, but I can’t have you wielding a gun at me.”

She huffed, giving him a once over. “I thought you liked it rough.”

He lowered his gaze, fighting away the grin that rose to his lips. “Not that rough.” He patted down her jacket again. “Any other weapons I should know about, or can I trust you, Shortcake?”

“You tell me.” Her jaw clenched. “I haven’t shot you yet.” From the way her mouth pursed into a perfect angry pucker every time she looked at him, she was seriously ticked off. Obviously, she didn’t like being stripped of her weapons one bit.

But she hadn’t run away from again. Yet.

Her gaze fell to his lips once more.

Damon grinned.Good girl.

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