Vamps in the City

A Total-E-Bound Publication

www.total-e-bound.com

Vamps in the City

ISBN #978-0-85715-514-6

©Copyright Crissy Smith 2011

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright April 2011

Edited by Stacey Birkel

Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.
 
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing.
 
Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning:
 
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers.
 
This story has been rated
Total-e-burning.

VAMPS IN THE
CITY

Crissy Smith

Dedication

For my husband, who is behind the scenes in every book.

Chapter One

Paige sensed the moment she was no longer alone. She could also sense that the person coming up the street was not human. Paige kept her head down and her hands buried deep in the coat pockets. If she could sense him, he would be able to sense her.

She kept her steps the same. She didn’t speed up nor slow down, and neither did he. She clutched the dagger she kept in her pocket—it wouldn’t kill him but it would help give her time to get away. She could stab him and, while he was temporarily stunned, turn and run like Hell.
 

As he reached for her, Paige ducked her head and swept her foot out. This one was faster than the rest and managed to avoid her effort to trip him. He was also faster than she, because in the next instant, her arm was twisted painfully behind her back and she was slammed face-first into a brick building.

He used his legs to imprison Paige’s lower body while one hand held her arm in place. When she felt his other hand feeling down her leg, no doubt searching for weapons, she used her free elbow to try to strike a blow, but he immediately blocked it. He tightened his grip on her arm, and she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out.

“Stand still,” he demanded in a low voice.

He pocketed both her daggers from her jacket. And the long retractable knife from her boot.

Damn it.
Those things were expensive. She had to get them back.

Paige found herself being turned around and pushed back into the wall by her shoulders. He started at her feet and took his time until he’d gazed at every inch of her. Paige hated the feelings he raised—the helplessness, the certainty he would take what he wanted just like all the others.

“Who are you?”

She didn’t answer but brought her knee up violently. He easily blocked it with his leg. It had been a stupid attempt, but she wouldn’t quietly give in—she would fight like she always did.

He shook her hard once before slamming her into the wall again.

Paige’s head snapped back and she bit her tongue.

Fuck!
She so didn’t need this shit tonight.

She started to taste copper, and knew that if she could smell the blood, he certainly could. She had just a few minutes before he went into blood lust.

He smiled and Paige was shocked to see how handsome he was. She gave him the same thorough once-over he had just given her.

Handsome wasn’t the right word. Ruggedly beautiful fit him better. He stood over six feet tall to her average five six. He had dark hair and dark eyes, but it was his face… He was gorgeous. Strong jaw with just enough stubble to be sexy, his nose perfect, and his lips…full and plump. Just begging to be taken. Paige was sure he used his looks to his advantage in luring his prey.

But Paige wasn’t on the menu tonight. No pretty face would get her to let her guard down. Well, at least never again.

She may only be half as strong as the weakest vampire, but she had street smarts. She’d learnt to make it on her own and had for years now. This man…no, this
monster
would not end her.

There was no way to beat him. And now she was bleeding. It was already healing, but the damage had been done. She had to use her strong will and every dirty trick she knew if she wanted to get out alive.

As he leaned into her, Paige readied her hands to defend herself. Once again proving he was faster and more skilled than she, he didn’t give her a chance to do more. Paige found her arms up over her head as he pressed into her, holding both wrists in one hand. The warm, hard body that pressed into hers made her come instantly alive. She had known to expect the reaction but it still hit hard. Paige became light-headed and her knees went weak as he rubbed against her and nuzzled her neck.

“Young. Young and strong blood. Smells so sweet,” he murmured into her ear and she shivered. And it wasn’t all from fear.

He ran his mouth from her temple down her cheek, nipped her ear, and travelled down her jaw line.

Paige gasped out a breath, trying to fight the emotions he was bringing alive inside. It was a natural attraction she had to fight every day. But it had never been as hard as it was now.

Never before had she wanted to press back and for just a moment know what it was like to willingly give into her desire.

Still leaning against her, he slid his free hand up her hip. She moaned and he chuckled.

She hated him. Hated the disease in her body that she couldn’t control. And hated herself for opening to him when his mouth covered hers.

The kiss was hot and brutal. He forced her mouth to stay open as he assaulted it and settled more completely between her legs. The feel of clothes separating them was torture, but she wasn’t so far gone that she wished them removed.

When he stiffened and pulled away, she tilted off balance. Reaching out with one hand, he caught her elbow and she was abruptly pulled into the mouth of the neighbouring alley.

Paige fell to the ground as soon as he let go. She would never get used to being blinked from one place to another. She couldn’t move as fast as they could. It made her dizzy.

He picked her up off the ground and pushed her once again against a building. She slapped at him, trying to get him to back off. He looked amused for a split second before putting his hand over her mouth.

“Shh,” he whispered. “Someone’s close.”
 

Paige didn’t sense anyone, but then his power would be far greater than hers was. She nodded.

He released her and Paige drew in a deep breath. She reached for one of her daggers before realising he still had them.
Great, I’m unarmed against two of them now.
Not that she knew it was another vampire, but she didn’t think he’d worry about a human.

He stood in front of her and she could see his muscles straining the back of his clothing. She was wearing a long black coat to protect against the wind and cold. He was wearing only jeans and a black T-shirt. Paige knew temperatures didn’t bother his kind, but he could have at least pretended better.

She almost laughed out loud at her thoughts. What was she going to do? Give the big bad vampire a lecture on successfully pretending to be human?

The moment she felt a familiar tingle down her spine, she forgot about everything except getting away. Her feet started to move forwards before her brain could even process.

Every instinct within her was screaming to run.

Sensing the movement behind him, the stranger turned and barely caught her arm in time to push her back behind him again.

A shadow moved into the alley with them, and Paige started to really panic.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” someone taunted.

Paige’s hands unsuccessfully groped the wall for any kind of weapon. The stranger motioned for her to stay where she was and crept forwards. He had to be kidding! As if she was going to stay there. But she was smart enough to wait until they were busy with one another. It might be her only chance to get away from both of them.

When the new vampire dropped down in front of them, it caught her off guard. She screamed and slammed her own back to the brick. She had no idea where he had come from. But the man in front of her didn’t seem surprised at all.

At the sound of the first blow, she covered her ears. Violence may keep her alive, but she didn’t have to like it. As they continued to fight, she caught the smell of blood.

Paige didn’t know who was bleeding and wasn’t waiting around to see who the victor was. Without looking at either one of them, she took off for the mouth of the alley.

She had surprised them both, and they broke apart long enough to look in her direction. The vampire who had first held her evidently took advantage of the distraction she had provided, and as she turned the corner, she heard the howl of death come from the other.

Well, at least she knew who’d won.

Paige still continued to run.

It would take the vampire time to get to her. Not that she expected him to come after her when he had his hands pretty full and dinner right in front of him.

She was wrong.

He came for her, or more precisely, was waiting for her a couple of blocks away. He stood in the middle of the sidewalk and without slowing down, she ran right into him. Paige managed to knock him backwards while throwing herself towards the street.

She hit the asphalt and skidded to the other side.

Paige healed quickly, but not as quickly or completely as an older vampire. He was beside her before her head stopped ringing from hitting it so hard.

The vampire reached down and ran a finger over her side. With half-opened eyes, she saw him bring the bloody finger up.

It was her blood staining his flesh. When he licked her blood from his finger, she had enough time to be grateful she wasn’t going to be conscious when he sank his fangs into her. He reached back down and pressed his hand against her side, causing her to cry out before everything went black.

Grant leaned over the young woman after she passed out. What a pleasant surprise he’d found while he was out for a quick bite.

He had been able to feel the presence of the woman from a mile away—it had been that strong of a pull. And he had known the moment she felt his own presence. Her heart had sped up and terror had surrounded her. He wasn’t sure why she had been so afraid, but she had been too perfect to resist.

He could admit he had come on a little too strong. Hell, he never acted like that. But instinct had taken over and he had been high from the need to claim her.

The interruption from the rogue vampire pissed him off, but he had been easily taken care of. There was no way he would have allowed anyone else near his woman. And she was his.

Headlights washed over him. He leant down and easily picked her up, shielding both of them with his power so the passengers in the car wouldn’t be able to see them.

Keeping the invisible cloak around them, he made his way back home—his room at the compound anyway.

As a hunter, he had to report his kill and he wanted to get the woman settled.

Once in front of the brick building that served as the safe compound for his kind, Grant dropped his shield and nodded to the security guard.

Mitch nodded back with a smirk and held the door open for him. Grant didn’t care how it looked. He wasn’t going to let go of his special cargo.

There were a few vampires roaming around the front entrance and they all stopped and stared. He knew he must look a sight, covered in blood and carrying his precious bundle, but Grant ignored them all.

His partner and best friend started towards him.

“We don’t usually bring our food back with us,” Sam said with a great big grin.

Grant rolled his eyes. “Just get the damn elevator.”

Sam chuckled but did as Grant asked. Once the doors opened, they both stepped inside.

“Want to tell me about it?” Sam asked more seriously.

Grant tightened his hold on the woman. “She’s mine.”

His friend held up both hands. “That’s cool, but why is she unconscious?”

“She had an accident,” Grant stated vaguely.

Sam lifted a brow.

With a heavy sigh, Grant reluctantly filled him in on the past half an hour. Sam listened without interruption. When Grant finished his story, he waited for the fall-out.

The two of them had been friends for a long time, a very long time, and Sam never held back on his opinions with Grant.

“Well man, all I can say is it sounds to me like you’ve got your hands full with that one,” Sam finally replied, just as the elevator opened to Grant’s floor.

Grant stepped out and turned to look back at his friend. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Sam nodded. It was understood. This woman was Grant’s and anything belonging to Grant was protected by both of them.

The doors to the elevator closed, and Grant was once again left alone with the woman.

“
Well honey, let’s get you settled. You should be waking up soon.”