“Because here we are, all alone on this deserted street, with me looming over you, and you fully aware of all the horrible things I’ve done. And yet you aren’t the least bit afraid of me.”
A merry laugh tumbled from my lips. “Is that what this is about? I didn’t agree to Clyde’s offer in the Pork Pit, so you thought you’d get me alone and intimidate me into surrendering? Please. You should know better than that.”
He tipped his head, acknowledging my point. “Perhaps. But I had to try.”
Another gust of wind blew down the street, ruffling his black hair. My fingers itched with the sudden urge to drag my hands through his thick locks and thoroughly rumple them, to loosen his tie, unbutton his shirt, and muss him up in some small way. Maybe cracking through that hard shell and seeing what lay underneath would finally make him less attractive and appealing. Probably not, but I was so very, very tempted to try.
“You should reconsider Clyde’s offer,” Tucker said. “It would be the easiest, safest thing to do.”
Another laugh tumbled out of my lips, but this one was more caustic than amused. “Very few things in my life have ever been easy or safe, and I see no reason to start making them that way now. I willneversell my shipping yard, no matter what threats come my way from Clyde O’Neal or anyone else.”
“You would be wise to be wary,” Tucker replied. “Clyde might be a bully and a buffoon, but he should not be taken lightly.”
A third laugh tumbled out of my mouth, this one a mix of acid and ice. “I’ve only been afraid of two people in my entire life: my father and my brother. Gin killed my father, and I shot my brother with an elemental Ice gun. I’ll do the same thing to Clyde if he keeps threatening me.”
“And will you do the same to me?” Tucker asked.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On how much you continue to annoy and frustrate me.”
A wide grin spread across Tucker’s face, as though I had just proclaimed that he was the most interesting person in Ashland. In an instant, he went from cold and aloof to warm and devastatingly handsome.
“So I’m annoyingandfrustrating? How lovely to hear. You continue to say the most marvelous things, Ms. Parker. I’m not sure my ego can take much more of the sweet nothings you so drolly dole out every time we meet.”
The low purr in his voice made sparks erupt in my stomach, although I rolled my eyes in response. “I’m sure your ego can handle just about anything. Now, are you done delivering threats? Because I have other things to do today.”
“To be clear, your refusal to listen to reason is both annoying and frustrating,” Tucker replied. “You should take the deal. It’s the best one you’re going to get.”
“I told you before. I’m not interested in any deals from Clyde or anyone else.”
I stared at him for a few seconds, letting him see how serious I was, then stepped back. Once again, I barely had time to blink before Tucker moved forward again. It almost felt like we were engaged in some complicated ballroom dance, even though we weren’t doing anything more than exchanging words and sharing a few scant inches of concrete.
“It seems we are at an impasse, as far as annoying each other goes,” he said.
“But?” I challenged.
“But perhaps we could do something about the mutual frustration.” Tucker’s voice was much lower and huskier than before, the purr far more pronounced.
His gaze dropped to my lips. I’d always thought his eyes were as black as his hair, but for the first time, I realized his irises contained a few faint flecks of silver. The tantalizing glimmers reminded me of the night sky, something with just enough light to make you risk drowning in an endless abyss of shadows.
Tucker’s gaze dropped lower, to my neck, and the silver flecks in his eyes vanished, snuffed out by a darker, even more intense hunger. My heart skipped a beat, then started hammering, the sensation so hard and fast I was sure he could hear my pulse pounding in my throat.
And howdoyou like your blood, Mr. Tucker? Ice-cold and served in a crystal flute?My own voice filled my ears, followed by his reply.
Oh, no, Ms. Parker. I like my blood straight from the source. It can bequite aheadyexperience, when both parties are willing.
The vampire had said that a couple of weeks ago, when Gin had brought us lunch while the two of us were sniping at each other in the shipping container. That conversation had floated through my mind almost every day since then, and right now, my entire body was aching to find out exactly how heady that experience would be.
Tucker slowly leaned forward, as though he was going to kiss me or bite me—or both. I licked my lips and eased up onto my tiptoes, my hands itching to pull him toward me so I could lift my mouth to his—
Pop! Pop-pop-pop!
Tucker and I both whirled to the side, spinning away from each other. Out on the street, a car sputtered by, thick clouds of smoke belching out from its tailpipe as it kept backfiring. I let out a tense breath and turned back to Tucker, but he had already stepped away, and his face was carefully blank once more.
Disappointment washed through me, along with more of that annoyance and frustration. Sometimes I thought I should just throw caution to the wind, kiss Tucker, and see where things led, even if he was working for one of my enemies.
