Page 75 of Nightshades

“I love your rage. It thrills me.”

“I’ve seen your tattoo,” I growl, wanting to see it again.

Lula blushes, breaking our gaze in embarrassment. “I got that when I was nineteen. I thought I was so clever, but it still fits.” She nibbles her bottom lip, grinning.

My fingers slide under her chin, forcing her to look at me again. “It does. I can smell when you’re scared and underneath that delicious scent that feeds me—” My voice deepens at the thought “—there’s the delectable aroma of lust. Like when you were in the alley that night looking to save someone, I could smell how aroused you were.”

She inhales a sharp breath, eyes wide, her scent shifting to embarrassment that has a strong sharpness to it. It almost hurts to breathe in.

“That was you? You’ve been following me since that day?”

“I discovered you that night,” I answer, tugging her against me. “The moment I scented you from the woods, I knew I’d follow you to the ends of the earth.”

To my surprise, she wraps her arms around my neck, her eyes once again falling to my lips. “You broke into my house?” she asks.

“I broke into your house,” I growl in satisfaction. “I’ve climbed into your bed. I’ve fucked you with my roots. I’ve studied the cases you’re working on and took care of them for you. I’ve filled your fridge.” I wrap a hand around her throat, bringing her face closer to mine. “And I’ll continue to kill the people from your case files. I need to feed, Lula. My nightmare demands fear.”

“What if I helped you?”

To my surprise, her lips find my neck in a bold move I wasn’t expecting. My eyes roll to the back of my head when she places a gentle kiss on my jugular.

“Help me?” I rasp, tilting my head back to give her more access to my throat.

“I can’t have you go hungry. My fear won’t be enough, will it?” Her fingers play with the bone ring piercing my nipple.

“Your fear is the best I’ve ever tasted. You fuel me like no other.”

“So you don’t need more?” She pulls back with a smirk. “Am I enough? Or does my lust cloud my fear?”

“I might need more,” I admit. “But I can live without anyone else’s fear as long as I have you.”

“But what if you had more?”

“Why would a detective help me?”

“Bad people don’t hold any sympathy from me. I’ve seen what the worst of the worst can do. I don’t mind feeding you. It’s what you need.”

I tighten my grip on her neck and pull her back, keeping her sinful lips from toying with my body. “How about we find out?”

“What do you mean?”

“Run,” I growl, shoving her away from me before I lose control. “Run as hard and fast as you can.”

“You’ll chase me?”

I chuckle at the childlike word.

“No, Little Dream.” I lean forward, licking a fang. “I’m going to hunt.” I can’t hold in the growl.

Her eyes widen, fear permeating the air, followed by the delicious perfume of her desire.

My eyes roam her body up and down. “You don’t seem to mind that idea.”

“But, I-I-” She spins around, stretching her arms out. “I don’t know where to run. Everything is dark except this yard and house.”

“Afraid of the dark, are we?”

“A little,” she admits, taking a step away from me.