Page 106 of Bound by Vengeance
“I’m guessing you’re one of Ronan’s men, atrainee.”
“Hardly a trainee, little dolly. I’ve been aDefender since before your grandmother was a thought.”
“Well, goody for you.” Whoa, she’d surprisedherself with that response, but something about this man made itimpossible for her to retain her years of training. She’d had a badenough day without having to deal with this arrogant jerk too. “Youvampires are idiots.” Oh, darn it, now shesoundedlike atwo-year-old. “And it’s none of your business what I’m doinghere!”
“It is my business when it affects my lifeand the lives of my friends. It’s not exactly intelligent to betromping around alone when three of your strongholds have fallenand you’re in hiding, or have you forgotten? Wait, do they stillnot tell you delicate little female hunters the perils of theworld?”
“Who are you?” she demanded instead ofanswering him.
His scarred right brow lifting in amusementinfuriated her more than Nathan’s rebuttal of their engagement.
“Killean,” he replied. “And you are?”
“Simone.”
Killean surveyed the beautiful hunter oncemore. He’d never seen her before, but then, he’d seen few of theirwomen. As soon as he could get away from them, he’d gone far fromthe hunters to keep watch, until she’d come stomping into histerritory.
The knowledge she was a hunter made hisblood boil, but he couldn’t deny she was gorgeous. Her refreshingscent of eucalyptus wafted out to ensnare him, and for the firsttime in years, he found his cock stirring as her presence awoke apassion he’d believed doused by blood and death. Unable to stophimself, he stepped closer to her.
He expected the docile little hunter to tucktail and run. He terrified men twice her size and had caused morethan a few to piss themselves with one look. Instead, herclover-colored eyes widened, but she held her ground. When hertongue darted out to nervously lick her lips, his gaze fastened onit and blood engorged his shaft.
He almost groaned aloud as the simplepleasure of an erection returned to him. Would he be able to getoff again, or would it be like the last few times he’d tried toease himself only to discover nothing worked?
When his gaze dipped to the swell of herbreasts, barely visible beneath her plain, baggy blouse, he knewhe’d have no problem coming between them.
For years, his more primitive instincts hadruled him, and they did so now. Before he could think, his handlashed out and wrapped around the back of her head. He pulled heragainst him and claimed her mouth with his.
Simone cried out as she stiffened againsthim. She hadn’t been expecting the ill-tempered vampire to touchher, let alone drag her against him andkissher. They wereall brutal monsters, ruled by their filthy urges and uncaring ofwho they hurt, but he’d seemed about as interested in her aspumpkin pie.
Her hands flattened against his chest toshove him away, but when his tongue touched her lips, the heat anddisbelief flooding her froze her movements.What is he doing?That can’t be….
Oh!Her entire body went limp whenhis tongue slid into her mouth. She’d never been kissed before,didn’t understand what to do, but when instinct had herhesitatingly meeting his tongue with hers, she thrilled at thecarnal sound he emitted.
Simone melted against him as unfamiliaremotions and sensations came to life within her. He was a revoltingvampire, but for the first time in her life, she feltpassionfor something.
Then, reality returned, and she pushed athis chest. She couldn’t lose herself to one of them. She was to beahunter bride.
She shoved at him again and tore her lipsaway. His head rested against her temple as his shoulders heavedand his warm breath tickled her ear. She should step further awayfrom him, but she didn’t trust her wobbly knees to support herenough to do so.
Killean’s lips skimmed back when realizationover what she was to him slammed home.
Ahunter!AFUCKINGhunter! Life had been exceptionally cruel to him over theyears, but this was the cruelest blow it ever delivered him.
“Get back to the hotel, Simone!” he snarledas he abruptly released her.
Simone staggered back when red bled into hisgolden eyes and he bared his lethal fangs at her. She was morehumiliated by him than frightened of him. For a second, she’dactually thought he desired her, but she was so horribly wrong. Itwas one more slap in the face today.
She wanted to scream at him, to punch himand tell him he had no right to treat her this way, but years oftraining surged forth to bury her indignation.
Folding her hands demurely before her, shedidn’t acknowledge him as she turned to walk back the way she’dcome. She felt his eyes burning into her back with every step shetook, but she didn’t give him the satisfaction of looking back orscurrying away.
Killean stood on the beach, his hands fistedas his body shook with the rage battering it. He’d never expectedto find his mate, and in his life, he had no room for a woman, buthe certainly hadn’t expected his mate to be ahunter.
And he knew from the lingering taste of heron his lips, and his compelling need to go after her, that’sexactly what she was to him—his mate.
No. He would not allow it.Neverwould he crawl into bed with one of them. He’d die first.
Turning, he stalked back to where he’d beensitting on the rocks. He had to kill, to shred, to feel the bloodpouring down his throat and easing the hunger burning his veinsevery day since he’d reached maturity.
