AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He pulled out his wallet and handed it to her. "Means you get to pay, because I don't want to show my arm."
"But the cuff?" she asked.
"Isn't as big as the tattoo," he explained. "If they know what they're looking for - and they do - they will recognize it. Let's just get this and get out of here."
Of course, it couldn't be that easy. They moved into one of only two open lines to a register. Up ahead of them, the woman decided to trade something out, holding the line up. Thane felt every second they were in the store slamming into him, as if a spotlight was about to shine down on him. He knew better, but he was also braced for the worst.
Because why were they here? In this state, this city, and this neighborhood! Were they just passing through? How many hunters were there, and would any be someone he'd met before? Thankfully, the guy looking at pizza wasn't, but hunters never went anywhere alone. The Church liked to work in groups. A pair might be used to check something out, but a unit would be sent if they found anything.
Nikki, on the other hand, was good at this. The girl giggled at him and flirted like she was his girlfriend. He smiled back at her, feeling like it was a little too forced, but when the hunter chose the line beside him, Thane couldn't help but look over.
The man wasn't alone. Beside him was a guy a few years older than Thane. The hunter looked to be younger, likely in his early to mid-twenties. The second man wore a black shirt and crisp jeans. Neither one had any visible weapons, thankfully. But, when the older guy turned, Thane saw the pin at his collar that marked him as a priest.
They made it to the register at the same time as Thane and Nikki. It felt like the cashiers were racing, trying to get both of them checked out at the exact same moment. Proving she was calm under pressure, Nikki asked if she had the right credit card, making him choose between two, and then took her time about paying. The woman managed to delay just long enough for the priest and hunter to get their things and make it out of the store before Thane's receipt was printed.
"Thank you," Thane said, his words directed at the cashier but meant for Nikki too.
They made a point of putting the cart away, getting their bags out of it, and putting enough of those plastic handles on Thane's arm to hide what little bit of the cross actually showed around the leather cuff Roarke had given him. Then, and only then, did they head out for his truck.
"Relax," Nikki said. "We're invisible."
Then they were crossing the parking lot. The only other person out here was the hunter. A second glance showed the priest sitting quietly in the passenger seat of their dark SUV, but it wasn't close to Thane's truck. Still, he chose the opposite side of his vehicle to put the bags away in the back, and Nikki tossed the case of beer on the floorboard, making the bottles clank.
"Easy there," he teased just as the SUV pulled away, leaving them safe and alone in the parking lot.
Nikki just pushed out a heavy breath. "Believe it or not, I'm scared of them too. That whole end of immortality thing," she admitted. Then she rocked her head around like that wasn't the whole story. "And I haven't fed in almost five days."
"What?!" he huffed.
She shrugged. "I was going to when we bought the crosses, but that didn't go well, and now we're all being so careful, and the night life around here is pretty dead, so... Yeah, it just didn't happen."
"Nikki, how low are you?" he asked.
She licked her lips and looked up at him. "Low enough that hiding would be better than running."
"Fuck." Shutting the back door of his truck, Thane stepped into her. "Stop trying to take care of Dahlia all the time, and start taking care of yourself, ok? I promise you, she's a survivor. I'd kinda like you to do the same."
Nikki nodded. "I'll try. I've just always been a caretaker type, and - " Her words cut off when he cupped the side of her face.
"I'm going to kiss you," he warned. "You are going to take what you need, and neither of us will feel guilty about it because sex is not love and love is not pie. Just tell me you're ok with men?"
"As much as I am with women," she admitted, lifting her chin a little more.
So he leaned in. Nikki's mouth was soft, pliant, and willing. Her delicate hand raised to press against his chest, but not to push him away. It was more like she was bracing herself. And when her lips parted, his tongue took the invitation, making this something a little more enjoyable.
The witch leaned in more, not quite melting into him, but definitely surrendering. There was something so feminine about it, something primal that spoke to him, so he pushed his fingers deeper into her hair. Their tongues swirled, but she took. Like a slow tease, she sampled his life and accepted what she needed, kissing him back over and over, taunting his mouth in the most alluring way.
Until she leaned back, breathing just a little too hard. "Yeah, now I know why she won't let you go."
"Extra vitality, huh?" he asked, doing his best to make a joke of it - and forget how his dick was trying to wake up.
"No," Nikki said. "Because you've found the perfect balance between being very gentle and being all man. You, Thane Keegan, are almost as addictive as your wife."
"Just trying to take care of my friends," he assured her, stepping back before turning and walking around to the driver's side of the truck.
And with every step, he did his best to convince himself that friend was the word he wanted to use. With her, with Roarke, and with all of them, it was the best thing he had to describe this insanity. It also fit really damned well, because kissing her made him feel a bit like a hero.
ChapterThirty-Six
