Demons of Desire by Debra Dunbar Page B

manage to pick a vampire for your target. Of all the red–blooded human males in this city, you somehow decide a stodgy old vampire would be a better choice? Babe, they want your blood, not your body. It would have been easier to seduce a dead man.”
    “Oh, trust me, he wanted my blood and my body. I think he was looking for a package deal.”
    That earned a look of respect from the incubus. “Good show! That’s not an easy thing to do. Why didn’t you finish the job?”
    The anger fell from me, and much to my dismay, I started to cry. “He was going to kill me — suck all the blood out of me. I might have been able to finish the job, but then I would have been dead. You have no idea how strong those things are. I even jolted him with electricity and it hardly slowed him down.”
    My last words were barely coherent, because I’d begun to sob in earnest. Irix leapt off the roof of the car with the grace of a leopard and pulled me into his arms. I buried my face against his shirt, not caring one bit that I was smearing mascara all over it.
    “Hush, hush. You’re all right. He didn’t kill you. Hush.”
    Irix’s hands smoothed over my hair. It made me cry even harder. I’d expected him to laugh at me, make fun of me then haul me off somewhere to seduce me — not comfort me in this very un–demonic display of sympathy. When I’d finally calmed down enough, he pulled back and gave me his charming, crooked smile.
    “Amber, vampires don’t usually kill their victims. They’d quickly run out of food sources if they did, and they’d attract some very unwelcome attention from the human law enforcement. It doesn’t hurt, and can be kinda kinky. You should have just gone with it.”
    I sniffed, wiping my nose on the back of my tattered lace gloves. “I’m part elf. We’re mortal enemies. He would have killed me.”
    His smile deepened, adding a faint dimple to the equation. “They haven’t had contact with elves for millions of years. I doubt any surviving vampires even know what elves smell or taste like. And even if this guy did, you have enough power to take him down. Unless you’re facing a full demon, or an angel, don’t doubt your ability to defend yourself. When it comes to predators in this realm, you’re right at the top of the food chain.”
    “That might be so, but I’m not having sex with any vampires.” My voice sounded much stronger. I actually felt better. Well, except for my feet.
    “You have got to be the pickiest little half–breed I’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting.” He shook his finger, scolding me, but his tone was teasing. I couldn’t help but smile. “You won’t have sex with vampires. You won’t have sex with women. You won’t have sex with me. This one’s too young. This one’s married. You don’t like guys who wear socks with sandals. There’s got to be someone in this whole city who will appeal to your discerning tastes.”
    There was. Right here in front of me. But there was no way I’d ever tell him that.
    “Can I have one more day? I know that I agreed to this, but I’m tired, cut and bruised, and I’m lost.”
    To my surprise, he leaned over and kissed me on the forehead. It wasn’t his usual sexy move, it was … kind.
    “Yes. One more day, because I find I can’t say ‘no’ to a barefoot half–elf who has smeared her makeup all over my shirt.” He put an arm around my shoulders and urged me forward. “Come on, waif. I’ll take you back to your friend’s house.”
    He wound up carrying me, complaining that it would take us two weeks to walk there if we had to limp along at my pace. By the time we made it to Darci’s, I was practically catatonic. Instead of leaving me at the door, Irix brought me inside and plopped me down on the sofa while he disappeared into the bathroom.
    A few moments later he’d emerged with a first–aid kit and helped me clean up the worst of my cuts, even washing the smudged makeup off my face. While he put away the