Page 159 of Hunters and Prey

Chapter 13

The bar was still full of patrons when I arrived. Clive and my other bartender, Kendra, were hard at work refilling drinks and offering a listening ear. I waved a hand at them as I passed by, not feeling up to talking.

I pushed my way through the crowd, ignoring the few lingering looks I was getting from some of the vamps. Normally, I’d have talked one up and brought him back to my apartment, but not tonight.

Tonight, I just wanted to crash.

Besides, after Remington, everyone else would just be subpar. I closed my eyes briefly at the memory of his mouth on mine, his hands in my hair, and his hard length between my thighs.

Fuck, could that vamp kiss.

I slugged up the stairs but paused half-way to pull my heels off. Carrying them in my hands, I reached into my clutch and pulled out my keys. When I slid it into the lock and found the door already unlocked, I froze.

Reaching under my skirt, I grabbed my knife and brandished it in one hand while the other shoved the door open. When my eyes landed on the dark figure sitting on the edge of my bed, I sighed.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, moving over to my island and setting my knife down before propping my foot up on a chair to unstrap the sheath.

Remington stood from my bed and approached me, his hands replacing mine as he made quick work of the leather. I didn’t fight him, I was too tired to care, and I switched legs for him to undo the other sheath.

“We never finished our talk.”

His words were soft but nevertheless irritating. “Can’t we finish this later? I’m beat.”

Brushing his fingers against my cheek, he murmured, “So, fragile and yet so strong. No wonder you’re such an enigma.”

I let out a bitter laugh and pushed his hands away. “Okay, whatever you say. I think you just have a death wish.” I paused for a second and then shook my head. “I guess that means I do too.”

Rem allowed me to walk away from him, but I could feel his eyes on me the entire time. “That makes us two of a kind. It’s destiny.”

I snorted, stopping by my bedside. “Destiny. Fate. I remember my dad saying something along the same lines right before he killed Bruce.”

Remington was there then, his fingers the barest touch on my back. “I am sorry for what they did to you, but surely you see what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

I sucked in a breath as his hands found the zipper of the dress. My words came out stuttering as he undid my dress. “I don’t know what you want me to do about it. They don’t care about the grey area. If you don’t have a heart beat or you’re even slightly not human, you’re evil. I had a hard-enough time keeping them from messing with Mary.” I caught the front of the dress before it fell to the floor and turned to face him.

“I could understand their apprehension. An archangel unbound by the laws of heaven can have the potential to be quite dangerous.” His eye lashes fluttered against his cheeks, his gaze on my exposed skin. “Which is why she and the rest of us would be much safer if someone else took the guild in a different direction. A more understanding, less how do you say,” he grinned at me, “shoot first, ask questions later direction.”

“And you think that’s me?” I scoffed. “I left the guild for a reason. I have no intentions of going back.” I stepped away from him and shooed him. “Now, get out. Deal’s over. You played your hand and loss.”

I expected him to freak out or demand me do as he bid or he’d take my dad again, but he simply smiled. “Very well. As you say, the deal is off. I would like my payment back then.”

I frowned. “What? I’m not giving you my dad.” When his eyes flickered to the dress, I let out a disbelieving laugh. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“I never kid.”

We stared each other down as I contemplated calling his bluff. Then in a moment of pure recklessness, I dropped the dress, letting it pool at my feet. Remington let out a sound, a mixture of a growl and a moan of pleasure, as his eyes took in my body only clad in panties.

Not giving him long to look his fill, I kicked the dress at his feet. “There, you have your dress. Now, get out.”

With a smug grin on his lips, Remington picked the dress up and brought it to his nose, inhaling while locking eyes with me. “It’s still warm.”

“Get out, or do I need to light a fire under your ass?” I held my hand up and let my flame pool in my palm.

Remington inclined his head and walked toward the door. I slipped under the covers and didn’t watch him leave. A ghost of a kiss touched my cheek and a whisper, “See you soon,” brushed in my ear.

And then he was gone, leaving me alone in the dark. Just the way I liked it.

I don’t remember if I dreamed. If I did, my mind wasn’t letting me remember it. I just knew that I had a new determination when I woke just after ten.

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