Night Haven Read Online Free Page A

laugh.
    “You think I can’t take you?” She crouched now, the blade a bright point in the shadows. Her scent changed, mixed with the copper shade of desperation.
    Luke moved seconds before she lunged, leaned away from the knife that missed his face by inches. Her hand was still extended when he grabbed her, pulled her against him, holding her fist and the blade in front of her. Her breaths were quick jerks of her chest, her fragrance deeper now, darker.
    “You’re too slow, bloodwolf.”
    Her body trembled, her buttocks firm and tight against his cock. Luke let her wrench away before he let himself kiss the smooth shine of her hair.
    The sharp wind caressed the dying trees as she came at him once again, a snarl on her face, her blade bright and gleaming. Luke moved, let her own momentum push her to the ground. And either he was crazy, or that short second while she stayed still, he got the sense she wanted him to cover her.
    “I won’t fight you.”
    “Yeah, right.” She didn’t lunge at him when she got up. Small semblance of progress.
    Hunger forgotten, his body throbbed for her. That’s when he heard a rustling of footsteps—a vampire, maybe two, smelling wolf blood and wanting their piece of the action.
    The way she swept her gaze around her, Luke figured that she heard them as well. With a swift movement he stripped off his jacket, held it out to her while she lifted her eyebrows.
    “So I can smell like you?” Her stance was light, her face determined.
    “Better than smelling like a wounded bloodwolf.”
    It was a short relief when she finally snatched the leather from his fingers and threw it around her shoulders, dimming her scent. Since her blade was already pointed at him, he took the opportunity to split his palm, using his blood to dull the smell of hers.
    That carnal mouth trembled open in the dark. “Why—” She paused a moment, tried again. “What the hell are you doing?”
    His hunger numbed for now, as did the insane need to touch her. Those gold eyes still held his. “Damned if I know,” he told her quietly, and it was absolutely true. “I got a place a couple of blocks away. You can clean up, cover your scent.” He figured she would laugh as soon as he stopped speaking. Instead she looked around, not trusting him, not seeing a viable alternative.
    Her eyes were direct and solemn when they met his once more. “You touch me, you’re dead.”
    Relief was laced with something deeper. “I’m already dead.”

    She must have lost her mind along with all her other senses.
    The leather of his jacket touched her skin, a subtle caress that promised more if only Dina would allow her mind to go there. Even if she didn’t stink like blood, ripping it off her shoulders would show how much his scent affected her. And frankly, she would rather die.
    This whole damned thing spiraled beyond stupidity. Stupid of her trying to rescue that damned kid knowing full well she didn’t have the strength to fight a vampire. Apparently, fear and adrenaline weren’t enough to unite the mind and body. Dina still couldn’t feel the magic in her blood.
    Maybe she couldn’t shift—but she could feel the mixed traces of male and leather wrapped around her. It teased her skin as she walked with a vampire out of the park.
    He hadn’t touched her—not that night, not now, though clearly he knew she didn’t have the strength to fight him. He hadn’t touched her, and those times when she pushed herself into him, his hands were hot but they weren’t bruising. She still had enough instinct left to know he wouldn’t hurt her.
    And when she caught his gaze, hungry and hot, the shivers in her belly had everything to do with nerves and nothing to do with fear.
    “What’s your name, vampire?”
    “Luke.” Low raspy tone, as if he felt the heat pulsing inside her.
    “I’m Dina.” She didn’t know why she told him her name. Too late to take it back now.
    “Dina.” He said it slowly, as if seeing how her name