Page 1

Chapter one

T he sleek black Nissan Z cruised to the back of the parking lot at the rear of Kings Park, in Wake Village. For late October, the weather was still warm, and Nikita blasted the AC in the car. She loved the car. It was one of the few frivolous purchases she was actually proud of. The park was scheduled to be off limits to the public after ten pm; she had plenty of time. It was a moonless night, with clouds blocking the stars. A perfect evening for a late-night picnic.

The Z’s clock blinked nine twelve. She was early, but she was always early to everything, regardless of the situation. Glancing at the rear-view mirror, she applied another coat of mascara to her eyelashes, giving them extra length. With the gold eyeliner she wore, her blue eyes were magnetic. The blood-red lipstick made her milky-white skin look almost transparent. On nights like these she could have passed for a vampire. She was grateful her magic was strong enough to block their powers from affecting her. The last thing she wanted was to be addicted to blood on top of all her other vices.

Roars filled the night and Nikita rolled her eyes. She was not a motorcycle kind of girl, but for the night she would pretend to be one. Like she pretended to be on so many other occasions. The Harley pulled up next to the Z. The driver took off his helmet, letting brown locks flow in the soft wind. Nikita couldn’t deny it. The man was delicious. Sexy green eyes, charming smile with perfect dimples, and muscles to make any model jealous. The man had everything any woman could ever want. Too bad for him, he was also a werewolf.

Nikita grabbed the picnic basket from the passenger seat as she unlocked her car. The biker opened the door and extended his arm to help her out of the car.

“Of course he had to be a gentleman,” Nikita told herself, controlling her emotions.

“Good evening, gorgeous,” the biker said in a baritone voice that fit his rugged demeanor. Nikita got a good view of his fitted jeans and motorcycle jacket as she climbed out of her car.

“Good evening, Jason,” Nikita replied. “How was the ride?”

Nikita pushed back the hood of her cape, letting the strawberry-blonde curls bounce around her face.

“It could have been better if only you were with me.” He leaned down, pressing his lips into hers, devouring them.

For a third date, Jason moved faster than most. Nikita indulged in the kiss. Running her hand through his curls. His hands found their way towards her waist, pulling her closer. For a few long moments they lost themselves in the kiss. Nikita feared they wouldn’t make it to the picnic area at the rate the kiss was progressing. Gently, she pulled away.

“I worked really hard on this meal,” she told him, pulling on the basket.

“I’m sure it won't go to waste,” he muttered in her ear.

Nikita handed him the basket and stepped away from her car. She was on a tight schedule, and these little games were only delaying the end.

“Oh wait,” she said, rushing back to the car. “You almost made me forget the blanket.”

“You don’t want to sit on the grass?” he teased.

“With this skirt, are you kidding me?” Nikita twirled around, showing off the barely there miniskirt she was wearing.

She bent over and pulled the blanket out, giving her date a full view of her ass. Not that he needed any more encouragement. The bulge in his jeans was threatening to destroy those poor pants if she made him wait too long.

“Ready,” she exclaimed.

“Are you going to be able walk in the grass with those heels?” He examined the four-inch candy-apple-red stilettos she was wearing.

“They go fabulous with this cape,” she replied.

“I completely agree, but not sure how effective they are for walking.”

“Do you have a better idea?”

Jason didn’t reply. Instead, he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.

“What are you doing?” she wailed, trying to protect her face from slamming on his back.

“Making sure you and those sexy heels don’t get hurt.” Jason marched down the grass. “Last thing we need is your breaking an ankle.”

“Aren’t you a gentleman? But do you have to carry me like a sack of potatoes?”

Jason stopped and gently put Nikita back down. “Good point. Please hold this.”

He gave her the picnic basket. Glancing around, Nikita took it. Jason winked at her, and slowly bent in front of her.

“If you don’t mind, my lovely lady, place your arm around my neck.”

Nikita giggled and did as she was told. He reached under her legs and picked her up. Facing her, he asked, “Better?”

“Much,” she replied, and kissed his lips. “This is a more dignified way to travel.”

“I’m glad you approve.” Jason marched towards the back of the park. “I was thinking about you all day.”

“Me, too.” Nikita smiled back.

“Is this okay?” Jason asked, fifty feet from the parking lot.

“Perfect.”

He placed her gently on the ground. Facing him, she looked minuscule, even though in her heels she was almost five feet ten inches. Jason was way over six feet.

Together they arranged the blanket on the grass, next to a tall pine. Nikita could see a few of the houses from their location, but none had a direct view toward them. As cautiously as possible, she sat on the blanket. Jason removed his jacket and dropped it. He had a Metallica t-shirt with cutoff sleeves that framed his abs like a second skin.

“ Does he shop at the Baby-Gap store?” Nikita asked herself. “ Can that shirt be any tighter?”

Before her face could betray her, she focused her attention on the basket. Jason sat next to her, running his fingers down her arm.

“Bourbon or beer?” Nikita asked, holding a bottle of Knob Creek and one of Shiner Bock.

“I knew you were my kind of woman.” Jason licked his lips. “Let’s do bourbon tonight. What else do you have in that little basket, my little red riding hood?”

Nikita lowered her face into the basket, then glanced up through a curtain of blonde curls. With a coy smile, she winked back at Jason.

“Let’s see.” She pulled out several items wrapped in aluminum foil. “I made us chicken salad sandwiches on croissants, extra fudge brownies, and even brought a cream cheese dip for the fruit.”

“I’m impressed.” Jason moved closer to the basket. “Cooking is not something most women do lately.”

“I’m a girl with many talents,” Nikita lied. She couldn’t cook her way out of a paper bag if her life depended on it. She did know some incredible chefs and took full advantage of their talents.

It didn’t take long for her to arrange the impromptu picnic on the blanket. After handing a sandwich to Jason, she busied herself with the drinks. Bourbon on the rocks should have taken ten seconds to put together, but she needed to have time to add the special sauce without being watched. She placed two crystal glasses on the blanket and filled them halfway up with the amber drink. While she was a tequila kind of girl, not everyone could handle a glass of it.

Ensuring Jason was distracted with his food, she dropped five drops of her special amber solution in one glass. The taste of the bourbon would mask any lingering flavor from the small vial. She pulled a couple of ice cubes from a freezer bag and dropped them in the drinks.

“How do you like it? Nikita asked, swirling the drinks around and placing one next to Jason.

“Very nice,” he said, in between chewing.

Nikita giggled and wiped a piece of croissant from his face. “Well, I’m glad I passed the cooking test.”

“There are too many places to eat in Texarkana to make cooking a requirement for anyone,” Jason replied.

“That’s a shame.” Nikita pouted. “I was hoping for extra points.”

“You absolutely get that.”

Placing the sandwich on the blanket, he leaned over and kissed her lips. Nikita bit his lower lip, but quickly pulled away.

“Cheers,” she told him, holding her glass towards him.

“Cheers,” he replied, reaching for his glass.

They clinked glasses and Nikita chugged the entire drink down.

“Okay then,” said Jason with an eyebrow raised. “Guess the lady can’t outdo me.” He followed suit and chugged his own drink.

Wasting no more time, Nikita crawled on his lap. Jason leaned his head back and stared deep into her eyes.

“Are you sure you want this?” he asked, running his hands over her thighs. “The big bad-wolf might eat you today.”

“Oh, he better,” she replied, untying the strings of her red cape.

Jason pulled the cape off, exposing her tube top to the night. With his full attention on her chest, Nikita slid the tank down over her perfect abs. The soft breeze hit her nipples, making them hard. Her breasts weren’t the only thing coming to attention. The bulge in Jason’s pants joined in as well. Jason’s eyes shifted slightly, giving a hint of his animal side. A shiver went down Nikita's spine.

“Oh God, you are gorgeous,” whispered Jason, pulling her closer.

Nikita let him take control and held her breath as his mouth engulfed her nipple. He wasn’t rough, nor was he gentle. There was no rush in his actions as he sucked on her while his hands gripped her ass. Nikita wrapped her hands behind his head and squeezed her thighs over his. Glancing quickly at her watch, she took in the time. She had twenty-seven minutes before the poison took him.

“Time to move this along,” she told herself. “ At this rate, this foreplay could take all night.”

Gently she pulled away, as his teeth scraped the tender flesh of her nipples.

“I thought you wanted me to eat you,” he teased.

“Absolutely, but how about I make us both a tad bit more comfortable?”

Keeping eye contact with the aroused man, she moved down his legs to work on his pants. With a practiced motion that didn’t involve her looking down, she undid his belt. Her fingers moved quickly for the fly, but she stopped. Nikita glared at the jeans.

“You have a button-down fly?” Her eyes were wide as she tapped her fingers on his pants. “Why?”

“I didn’t want you to think I was easy,” he teased. “Besides, I thought you were up for a challenge.”

Nikita shook her head and went to work. It took her longer than she expected to undo the four buttons on the man’s tight-ass jeans.

“Whoever came up with this crap should be shot,” Nikita mumbled, as she hoped her press on nails wouldn’t pop off with the effort.

“Oh, come on, it’s not that bad.” Jason laughed. “You almost have it.”

“You do realize this is not sexy,” Nikita informed him. “I have a barely there thong, and you have the equivalent of a male chastity belt. How is this fair?”

“I guarantee I’ll make it worth the trouble.” He ran his fingers down the base of her neck and up her hair, massaging all the way up.

“After all this work, it better be . . .”

Nikita never finished her sentence since Jason wasn’t wearing anything under the jeans. Fully erect, he was at least ten inches long and thick enough that she debated if her fingers could wrap around the whole thing.

“Impressed?” Jason teased with the confidence of a man who knew how good he looked naked.

“Not bad,” she replied and licked her lips.

Jason tried to bend over to kiss her, but Nikita pushed him back. Instead, she lowered her head and slowly licked down his shaft. It was Jason’s turn to shiver. He dropped his head back and took long, deep breaths, as Nikita licked up his shaft and indulged on his tip. A growl escaped his throat and Nikita noticed his hands shifting into claws as he held on to the blanket. She released him with a kiss and moved up his body. Reaching over his head, her breasts resting on his face, she pulled a small prescription bottle from her picnic basket.

“Ready to take it higher?” She wiggled the pills as she slid back down.

“What is that?”

“E. With your metabolism, this should enhance everything to a new level. At least, that’s what I was told.” She undid the bottle and took out two small, white pills.

“I don’t do drugs.”

“You are really not curious how it would feel under the influence in a park that we could get caught in?” She popped a pill in her mouth and swallowed. “I thought the big bad wolf wasn’t afraid of anything.”

Nikita wiggled on his lap, making the erection harder, if that was even possible. Jason could barely contain his breathing. He glanced around the park, then back at her.

“I hope I don’t regret this.” He opened his mouth, and she dropped the tablet on his tongue.

“It will be the experience of a lifetime, I promise.” She lifted his chin, ensuring he swallowed the pill.

Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back and swallowed. It would take less than five minutes for the drug to kick in. If she accelerated his heart rate enough, it could be as little as three. Nikita glanced at her watch. She had twenty-three minutes left.

“Time to get this done,” she told herself.

She adjusted herself on his lap and slowly slid down his shaft. Jason’s head popped up and locked eyes with Nikita. She winked back and bit her lip. Jason moaned as he struggled to take deep breaths. He dug his fingers into her thighs, as she increased her speed. His features slowly shifted as he lost control of himself. Nikita moaned, louder than was necessary, driving Jason higher. He rocked faster and faster.

“Oh God,” he screamed, and dropped unconscious to the ground.

Nikita opened her mouth, and from underneath her tongue, took out the small tablet. She checked her watch and shook her head.

“Are you serious? Six minutes? Why couldn’t you be like normal guys and just pass out at two?” She hopped off the comatose man and got to work. “By the way, you were right. You definitely should not do drugs.”

Cleanup normally took her ten minutes. This time she would need to make it work in seven. Not looking around, she crawled to her basket, dropped the pill inside and pulled out a pair of black plastic gloves, wet-wipes, and a trash bag. Experience had taught her to focus on the things that needed to get done, and to ignore the soon to be dead body in front of her.

She moved systematically through the scene, collecting all the food items she brought. The bottle of bourbon was wiped down and placed in Jason’s hand. Penis was also cleaned of any bodily fluid belonging to her and covered with the owner's other hand.

“Drunk boy jerking off in a park, it could happen,” Nikita remarked to herself as she analyzed her staged scene.

She took off her heels and pulled a pair of sketchers from the picnic basket. Shoes on, cape secured back on her head, she carefully stood. With all items removed and stored in the basket, she left the body on the blanket. If her calculations were correct, his heart would stop in exactly twelve minutes. Running into Death while he transitioned to the other side would be a sure way for the Reapers crew to find her. Something she was planning to avoid at all costs.

“He was kind of cute, for a were,” Nikita said as she reached the Z. “Too bad they all must die.”

She had developed the horrible habit of enjoying the attention she received during the dates. Being in control of the situation turned her on more than the act of sex. She wanted vengeance against the entire race but playing with them enticed her.

How can I loathe something so much and yet be so attracted at the same time? she asked herself. But she didn’t have time for any inner turmoil at this point in her life.

Without another glance towards the crime scene, she climbed in her car. She dropped the basket in the passenger seat and left the park.