Frost Burn (The Fire and Ice Series, Book 1) by Erica Stevens Page B

no, but your eyes are saying yes.”
    She almost threw her can at him, but she thought he might enjoy that too much. “You’re an ass,” she muttered.
    “I’m an ass who you’re tempted to kiss.”
    Her hand fisted on the table. “Stop.”
    “As you wish Dewdrop, but for future reference I’ve never turned down a kiss before.”
    “Oh, I’m sure you haven’t,” she retorted. “I bet there have been thousands.”
    “Not thousands, but I like that you have so much faith in my prowess with women.”
    “Ugh! Seriously how are you still alive?” she demanded.
    “Luck, plus I’ve got skills. You’ll take me to those places tonight.”
    A friction of resentment slid over her skin, goose bumps broke out across her arms. Her teeth clamped together and she hissed the words at him. “I’ll do what?”
    He must have realized what he’d sounded like as he shook his head. “Sorry,” he muttered and ran a hand through his hair. “I need you to take me to find those men, and if they’re not at any of those places, then you’ll have to let me know where to find them.”
    “What do I look like the town yellow pages?” she retorted.
    The smile slid away from his face, he stared at her for a minute before leaning toward her. “You look like a highly pissed off vampire right now. You have to understand, what I felt from that person wasn’t good, and they’re going to kill again. Soon . They’re hunting women and children .” Her stomach twisted sickly at the idea, her blood ran cold as she gawked at him. “Children are the main thing they’re hunting, and what they take the most pleasure in torturing and killing.”
    All right, she had to admit that was far more important than the fact that he was an arrogant, exasperating ass. “I’ll help you find as many of them as I can.”
    “Thank you.”
    “We can’t really do anything now anyway.” She gestured toward the blinds covering her window and the rays of sun beginning to peek around them.
    “No, but at sundown. You’ll have to call out.”
    “I have the night off.” She rose to her feet, snatched up her wrappers and walked over to toss them in the trash. “I don’t suppose I’ll get lucky enough to get you to stay out of my hallway today?”
    He grinned at her and shook his head. “Hate to disappoint. You’re stuck with me for the day again Dewdrop. Even if vampires can’t move about in the day, I’m not leaving you unprotected.”
    Uneasiness slid through her, she glanced around her small apartment. She couldn’t have him spending another night in her hallway. The neighbors hadn’t complained last night, they would if he continued to sit out there though. They may call the cops, which could become ugly if one of them tried to drag Julian outside into the day. But if he came in here, he could learn everything about her.
    He was already sitting in her chair, at her table, she reminded herself. Touching her things and yet he’d mentioned nothing of her past. There would be no keeping silent about it if he knew the truth, he would confront her on it, she was certain of that. Had he lied about his ability in an attempt to get her to spill her guts? Or was he keeping silent on the things he’d learned and just waiting for his chance to pounce on her? Or maybe touching her things didn’t give him detailed images and memories from her but only glimpses?
    Either way, the damage had already been done. She’d make sure not to touch him again, but she didn’t see the harm in allowing him to crash on her couch. It was the far better option to having the cops storming her hallway or her neighbors calling the landlord to complain. She didn’t have much money, this was the only decent place in town she could afford, and she couldn’t lose it.
    “You can stay on the couch,” she muttered.
    He did an exaggerated double take and lifted his right hand to his ear to pull it toward her. “I’m not sure I heard you right.”
    She made a disgusted noise