Demons of Desire by Debra Dunbar Page A

ran through the door and bent in half, heaving air in and out of my lungs. Checking to make sure no one else came through, I headed to the back, pretending to check out the available snack food options.
    Where was I? I’d completely lost my bearings in my mad dash across the city. Plus my feet were killing me in Jordan’s borrowed boots. Eyeing the cashier, I unzipped them and eased them off, stretching my poor, mangled toes. What a complete cluster–fuck this evening had turned out to be. My easy score had wound up being a vampire. Yeah, he seemed as willing to fuck me as he was to drink my blood, but my elven half had objected mightily. I reached up a hand to rub my neck, and it came away streaked with red. Hopefully the cashier wouldn’t notice and call the cops.
    “Shoes,” the clerk commented, pointing to the sign on the door.
    It was a clear testament to my distress that I couldn’t charm my way out of that rule. I picked up my boots and limped out, carefully looking both ways before walking aimlessly down the street. I had Darci’s address on my cell phone in my pocket. I was completely lost, but with modern technology, I should be able to find my way back with just a few clicks.
    Setting my boots on a bench, I pulled out my cell phone and felt a hand on my arm.
    “Wait. Just wait. Don’t run off again.”
    There was something needy in his voice, and his eyes shown with sincerity. Still, I had blood trickling down my neck, and he had the tips of fangs peeking out from beneath his lip. I threw my cell phone in his face and frantically tried to wrench myself from his grasp.
    I may be fast and agile, but I’m not physically strong. I twisted and pulled, screaming at the top of my lungs. He held on, trying to drag me behind a grouping of magnolias, out of the view of passing traffic. I dropped to the ground, hoping my dead weight would prove to be an impediment. Evidently not. He dragged me with ease across the sidewalk, adding road rash to my other injuries.
    “Hey! Let her go! I’m calling the cops right now!”
    Thank heaven for good Samaritans. Someone had pulled their Prius over to the side of the road and was jumping out, cell phone in one hand and what appeared to be a tire iron in another. Psycho–chain–guy dropped my arm, and without a word of thanks, I bolted.
    Ten blocks later, cowering behind a parked car, I finally convinced myself that I’d lost him. I’d also lost Jordan’s platform boots and my cell phone. My feet were bruised, my clothing was torn, and I probably had blood all down my neck. The few bars that I passed were not ones I felt comfortable walking into as a solo female. By the sky lightening on the horizon, I assumed it was early morning. My hope was to find a convenience store that I could ask directions, but I found myself wandering through a residential neighborhood. I was on the edge of tears when ahead of me I saw a familiar figure, perched crossed–legged on the roof of an old Cadillac.
    “Way past your deadline, sweet cheeks.”
    The relief I’d felt upon first seeing him fled, replaced by anger. The thought of his ultimatum should have had me quivering with anticipation, but right now, not even Irix could put me in the mood. All I wanted was a hot bath, a warm blanket, and my pillow. I didn’t want sex, and I especially didn’t want to be berated for my procrastination and my failure to “get it done”.
    “I tried,” I snapped at him. “Even had his junk out of his pants, ready to go. He was a vampire. A vampire ! Fucker bit me, then chased me down and dragged me along the pavement. If some guy hadn’t shown up threatening to call the police, I’d be dead behind an Oleander somewhere near the garden district.”
    I paused by the Cadillac, under a street light, and Irix must have finally gotten a good look at my disheveled state. His eyebrows went up as he looked me over — tangled hair, torn clothes and all. Then he laughed.
    “Only you, elf–girl, would