Shae rubbed her shaky palm down her short skirt, her mind all over the place, too rattled to think clearly. “I want to more than anything, but it’s been an exhausting day. Work and other stuff, you know”—like strange dreams of a man kissing her throat—“Tomorrow night would bebetter.”
“Okay. But I’m working tomorrow. I get off at eleven. How about I meet you at Club Nocte around 11:30?”
“Sounds good, I’ll see you then.” She ended the call. Looked up. “Dammit!” She jumped back, her heart crashing against her ribcage, her cell falling to the asphalt with a sharpclatter.
Hestood right in front ofher.
The urge to run grew. Instead, she scrambled after her phone. Thankfully, it had stayedtogether.
“Amoment.”
At that low, accented voice, something inside her stirred awake. Muscular, leather-clad thighs filled her view as she straightened. Even with her five-foot-eleven height, the man towered over her. Her gaze trailed up, up, up. Dressed entirely in black, he appeared as if he belonged to thenight.
Dark. Mysterious. And very, very dangerous, the realization seeped intoher.
Stubble darkened his jaw. Inky hair woven into several ropey braids hung past his waist. But his sculptured features appeared as if cast in bronze, his expression about as readable as the same metal. Yet a raw sensuality etched every line of his cold, handsome face. His compelling magnetism slithered around her like a net slowly reeling hercloser.
However, the piercing stare of those cold, citrine eyes had her thoughts skidding back to reality. Yellow was supposed to be warm, but his were like frozen fire.Other.
Shae shifted back a step, her cell clutched tightly to her chest.Leave—get-out, the warning whopped around in her head. She’d never been one to disregard her sixth sense. Without speaking, she stepped around him but found him in her path.Crap!
Warily, she eyed him. Instinct warned her that he wouldn’t leave until he had whatever he’d come for. His nose flared slightly as if breathingherin?
“Shae?”
He knew her name? No, no! Her heart slammed violently against her ribs, it actuallyhurt.
She tended to avoid Others. Uncle Lem said it was safer because most usually came with a crap-load of trouble one could not avoid. Thank God she hadn’t told him aboutAza.
“Who’sasking?”
“We need totalk.”
There was intent to compel behind those cool words. It pushed through her mental shields, urging her with gentle force to agree. Hurriedly, she tightened her mind’s defenses. She had to get out of there before Ash came looking for her and got caught in the crosshairs of whatever thiswas.
Shae tried to cut past him again but he moved so incredibly fast, blocking her way once more. Uneasiness crept into her. Demons could do that, Harvey had shown her so she’d be aware of what she was dealing with. But this man’s eyes didn’t possess any tinge ofred.
“I don’t have time, my date will be here any second,” shelied.
“We can do this here, now, or the hardway.”
“Are you threatening me?” she snapped, despite fear crashing throughher.
Those yellow eyes became slits of irritation, like he hadn’t expected her to…what? Fight back? She had so little control of what was happening in her life, she’d be damned if she allowed a stranger to take away her choices, too. She became then aware of how quiet the alley had become—just him and her—when he suddenly grabbed her, hauling her tohim.
“What the hell?”She yanked at the arm holding her against a wall of rigid muscle and breathed in his warm, masculine scent…sandalwood with a hint of leather and cherry tobacco. Her blood warmed, and desire stirred, unsettling her—no. She fought harder, shoving at hischest.
“Stop.” The low, clipped order halted her struggles like nothing else did. He wasn’t looking at her, but appeared to be scanning the gloomy thoroughfare. Then she felt it, an eerie slide against her skin. Her stomach churned, the urge to flee tearing at her. Danger was closing in onthem.
“Let go!” she cried, hitting and clawing like some wild animal. A sharp, whizzing sound echoed. The man spun her around, slamming her against the wall, and hejolted.
Shaegasped.
His furious gaze glowered like a living flame as they pinned hers. Pain shimmered in her mind. Then everything wentdark.
