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"No"
"Mother? Father?"
"No They died decades ago"
Decades Wow So he’d been on his own his entire, clearly too-long life? How … sad Everyone needed a friend Even eine what it’d be like if you did have someone in your life Just one person you cared about Noelle is that one person to me She’sor anyone else in the world"
"And yet you call her names Hell, she calls you names"
"One, we’re coh in our affections to be honest with each other And three, soth" Ava flattened her hands on his thighs, knocking the kit out of the way To balance herself while crouching That was all Really God, he was strong And hot All those muscles … Concentrate "But anyone else who says an unkind word is punished for doing so"
"I still don’t understand Where I’m from, you treat your loved ones with deference"
"Even when they’re bugging you?"
Silent now, he popped his jaw
She’d take that for a yes That had to be hell, to never be allowed to express your anger at the person you loved Pent-up resentment, thy name is McKell No wonder he hadn’t attacked Ava after she’d stabbed hi from her Clearly
She was not disappointed "Why are you here, McKell?"
His fingers wrapped around her wrists, once again holding her hands in place "We will discuss that After"
"After" How sensually he’d said the word … She licked her lips, hating the way her heart sped into an unending hyper-beat "After the biting?"
He arched a brow "You would let"After the bargaining"
"Oh, really?" Would that bargain involve nakedness? Moaning? She wouldn’t say yes, of course, but it was flattering that he--
"AIR wishes to speak with me, yes?"
Wasn’t after her body Disappointment rocked her, undeniable this time "Yeah So?"
"So I will finally talk with theh her AIR wouldn’t go easy on him just because he turned himself in "And all I have to do in return is…?"
"Helpon the surface"
"Help you track other vampires? Why?"
"Because" His mouth was a stubborn, et what you wanted froed your talents I thought you’d be an excellent hunter and--"
"I can track them no problem," he snapped "But that used to be one of my jobs I would co our underground world"
Score one for Ava An answer, freely given But … wait Would another va for McKell to execute him? She opened her ht h I only wish to question the vas"
"Well, no wonder your wound wasn’t healing Moron! Injuries require rest"
His grip tightened on her wrists, ale of pain "Yes, but soet for every vampire in the area They scented me out, kneeakened and they’d never have a better chance to defeat ht of thishurt, and she scowled She was the ain? "Did you kill theruhed As if McKell would be helpless, even buried ten feet underground with his hands and feet tied Still Those vaot "I didn’t realize so many bloodsuckers lived up here"
"They’ve learned to hide their race"
And noanted to do so? Was that why he wanted to talk to them? To learn how they did it? "So you want me to question them for you, is that it?"
"No Just … distract the in McKell, as ordered, and look like a hero She would also learn the names and locations of the other vampires, just in case Mia wanted to test their blood, as well That wouldn’t be a betrayal to McKell Okay, it would, but she barely knew him, and he was the enemy The sexiest, most erotic enemy of her acquaintance, but whatever Her loyalty was to AIR
"I agree I’ll help you find and distract other vampires, and in return you’ll talk with Mia Snow So do we need to seal this deal with a kiss or what?" she asked flippantly Or ave her away Longing … so… since the very first
For several seconds, he si, shaky She tried to pull away, to end the madness To destroy the minefield of awareness
"Yes," he finally said, and hauled her onto his lap
Six
Holy hell, McKell thought
As Ava gasped in shock, hands slapping against his chest to find balance, knees straddling his thighs, he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth Warm, wet, sweet That’s what she was, and she utterly slayed hi as much as he did