“I like that about you.” He kissed her forehead.
She smiled and then blinked as she realized he was hardening inside her already. Wow. Just wow. “Are you a machine or what?” she murmured, her body perking up for another round.
“Or what,” he confirmed, his mouth already on hers.
Chapter 9
Raine stared at the burned-out carcass of his truck. The silver paint had bubbled into black blobs, the interior was crusty, and the windows were all shattered.
“It’s totaled,” Evan muttered, crouching down to peer beneath the sidewall.
Raine looked at the demolished engine compartment. “Yep.” He measured the distance from the truck to the front door. “The guy could’ve just as easily thrown the projectiles through the front window.” The thought that Mariana had been that close to danger the night before tightened the muscles in his neck until his head ached.
“This stalker has upped his game.” Evan peered into what used to be the back seat. “There was no hint of violence in the Dallas records.” He paused and turned toward Raine. “This is directed at you, but if he’s obsessed with Mariana, he’s going to see your new, ah, friendship as a betrayal.”
Friendship. Well, that was one way to put it. The sounds of her sighs from the night before were still running through his head, and he wanted more. A lot more. “I’m aware,” Raine said, ignoring the smoke still wafting from the engine area.
Evan dusted soot off his hands and stood to his full height. He’d filled out quite a bit since mating Tabi, although he’d been a big guy as a human. Well, he was still human but now had extra chromosomal pairs making him immortal. “I’m new to this world of yours.”
“I know,” Raine said, studying a male he now considered a friend. “How are you doing?”
Evan shrugged. “Fine, I guess. All of the secrecy and uncertainty is a pain, however. There aren’t any human males who’ve mated immortals that we can find. I’m sure they’re out there, but apparently I have to stay under the radar, so I don’t know what to expect.”
“None of us know with you,” Raine admitted. “So long as you’re not nuts and trying to take out whole cities, I figure you’re fine.”
“I don’t want to hurt anybody,” Evan said, looking like the cop he’d been for so long. “This new strength is taking some time to get used to, and I have to stop accidentally breaking cell phones or I’m going to run out of money. My senses are strong, too. I can smell Mariana all over you.”
Raine tilted his head. Was Evan going to warn him off in an effort to protect the fragile shrink? “Your point?”
The cop shrugged, looking around the quiet neighborhood. “If you’re immortal, why can’t you mate her? She obviously likes you, and immortality ain’t bad.”
Raine didn’t have time for this. “I already explained enough. My time is limited.”
Evan met his gaze directly, and a dark blue rim surrounded his normally blue iris. That was new. “Immortals don’t get sick, as far as I understand. So how is your time limited? You really are going to have to explain that.”
“I really don’t,” Raine said mildly, acutely aware of the oath he’d taken at the age of ten to protect his family. His reaching out to Faith Cooper was as close to breaking that vow as he’d ever come, and he wasn’t going to change that with this new immortal. “Just promise that when I’m gone, you’ll look out for Mariana.”
“Of course,” Evan said easily. “Tabi really likes her. I’m sure we’ll be able to find her a nice immortal to mate so she can live forever. My demoness seems to be a bit of a matchmaker, if you ask me.”
Raine rolled his eyes. “Nice try.” The thought of Mariana mating somebody else was like a kick in the balls, but he wasn’t going to play that game with Evan. He stretched his neck and looked toward the quiet home. After going all night with the stunning brunette, he should be tired, but instead he felt invigorated. Healthy again.
She had that effect on him.
Shit. She wassupposedto have that effect on him.
Movement sounded, and two police cars zoomed down the street, screeching to a stop. The sheriff leaped out of his with his gun out. “Put your hands up. Now.”
Raine looked at Evan and then back at the sheriff while the other officer opened her door and held her gun pointed at him. “What the hell?”
Evan frowned at his former boss. “What in the world are you doing?”
The sheriff ignored him. Today he’d dressed in a nicely pressed uniform, and his hair was groomed. He still had the slight beer belly going on, though. “Turn and put your hands on the vehicle, Maxwell.”
Raine sighed. “I don’t have time for this shit, buddy. What’s going on?”
Evan stepped toward the sheriff. “Baker—this is a bad idea.”
“Shut up or I’ll arrest you, too,” the sheriff snapped. “Marlene. Now.”
