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“Okay. I’ll give you gents a moment to chew on your next move.” I walked away and disappeared into the back, bending over to catch my breath.
“Impressive.”
I looked up to find Stark, wearing a sleek black suit, standing over me in the kitchen. His dark hair was neatly combed and tucked behind his ears.
“Son of a Bisquick, though?” He arched a dark brow, his pale eyes glittering with amusement.
“You need to stop sneaking up on me, Stark.” I righted myself. “By the way, your cuddly friends are lookin’ for ya.” I pointed over my shoulder toward the front of the house.
“They are not my friends, but I did enjoy listening to you run your little mouth. Very bold, considering who they are.”
“Who are they?”
“We call them wanderers, but they are more like vermin. They roam in small groups, going town to town, looking for a good meal. Then they move on.”
My eyes widened. They were here to kill people. “What do they want with you?”
He rubbed his chin slowly. “Ah, well, I happened to wipe out their leader a few months ago.”
I wasn’t about to ask why. Mostly because I didn’t care. “So they want revenge,” I concluded. This could be good, but like I said, the last thing I wanted was to trade Stark for three other terrifying vampires.
He laughed. “That is not how things work. They are here to offer their loyalty and to serve me. If I’ll have them.”
I cringed. So we were talking about adding more vampires to town. “And if you say no?”
“Then they will stay, kill, and move on.”
Kill?I didn’t like that option. “If you say yes?”
“They will serve me. And also wreak havoc on this town for many years to come.”
I blinked. “You can’t let them just run through town and start munchin’ down on everyone.”
“What would you have me do?” He folded his strong arms over his chest.
“Make them leave peacefully? Kill them? Either or.”
“What is in it for me?” he asked.
I’d fallen right into that one. “What do you want? And don’t say to accept me as your lover, mate, boyfriend, whatever.”
“I would like you to spend the night with me.”
A sour lump formed in my throat. “Like, as in, to do sex things?”
He nodded. “Not that I would force myself on you—rape is very unsportsmanlike as a vampire—but I see no point in hiding my intentions.”
“For the record, rape is never sportsmanlike for anyone. And I appreciate your honesty.”
“Do you accept my terms?” he asked.
Holy hot tater tots.I did not want to go along with this. Spending more than a minute in his presence was distressing, let alone an entire night. The thought made my stomach churn. Still, this was the opportunity I needed. An entire night together would allow me to dig deeper and learn my enemy. There had to be some way to scare him off. Everyone had a weakness. Even my aunt Loraina. Rest in peace. She died when I was little, but I remember thinking how the woman was made of rocks and spit. Nothing intimidated her. Finally, it was a bee that got her.
“I’ll be in your presence for the night,” I said, “but sex is off the table.”
He flashed a wicked smile. “Am I allowed to change your mind?”
He could try, but I wouldn’t be changing it. I was saving myself for marriage. Preferably with a living person. “Give it your best shot, cowboy, but don’t be breakin’ out the branding iron.”
