Guarding Valentina [Paladin Protection Agency 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Susan Hayes

like,” she muttered as a slender, pale figure moved into view. His hair was blond, straight, and long enough to brush his shoulders. He moved with an unnatural grace, and Val felt her skin crawl as her instincts recognized him for what he was, a dangerous predator. Though she knew he couldn’t possibly be able to see her, it felt as though his eyes were boring into hers.
    “Easy.” Aedan reached out, his hand coming to rest between her shoulder blades in a gesture of support. Despite still being mad at him, she was grateful for the contact.
    She felt an unpleasant pressure at the back of her skull, and then the voice from the previous night uttered a single phrase within her mind.
    “Hello, Valentina.” She slammed her mental shields down hard, and the presence vanished.
    “Son of a bitch!” she cursed, and Aedan turned his head to look at her in concern.
    “What happened?”
    “He got into my head! Just for a second, but he actually got in. I thought you said he couldn’t link with his victims!”
    “I said he had almost no ability.”
    “I hate this! I hate that he got through. I hate that he’s playing games with me!” Val took a step toward the window, walking out of the protection of the shadows before Aedan could stop her. Christoph grinned at her from his vantage point across the street, and even with the distance between them, she could see the flash of his fangs as he smiled.
    “He must have gotten enough of your blood to form a link, but it will only work when he’s very close. I didn’t think he’d have been able to do it at all, or I would have warned you.”
    “It seems there are all sorts of things you forgot to tell me.” Val knew she was lashing out, but she didn’t care. This whole situation sucked.
    “If you tossed him out of your head, then you can keep him out.” Aedan’s voice was cool and businesslike, and she knew her words had struck home. “I suggest you keep your shields up. If he gets in, you won’t enjoy it.”
    “No kidding,” she snarled back at him. Christoph crossed the road, heading toward her house, and she shifted the grip on her knife. “Now what’s he doing?”
    “Not a clue, but he’s a nasty, arrogant bastard, and whatever it is, I doubt you’re going to like it. So take a deep breath and remember that no matter what, your ass stays inside this house.”
    She didn’t bother answering Aedan. Instead, she watched as Christoph walked up her driveway and stopped at the driver’s side door of her Dodge Journey, an evil smile twisting his expression into something out of her nightmares. “If he touches my car…”
    “Then Paladin can buy you a new one.”
    “I like that one.” She watched in frustration as Christoph snapped off the side view mirror and then used it to shatter the driver’s side window. “I’m going to kill him for this.”
    Aedan ignored the knife in her hand and dragged her into his arms, using his inhuman strength to force her to look away. “Don’t give him the satisfaction.”
    “But—”
    Aedan cut her off with a kiss that made it impossible for her to think, never mind argue. His fingers were tangled in her hair, holding her head still as his mouth plundered hers. Outside she could hear the scream of metal and the nerve-wrenching sound of glass shattering, but despite the noise Aedan wouldn’t stop kissing her. She tried to twist herself free, but his hand held her in place and she heard him utter a muffled denial. “Nuh-uh.”
    “Uh-huh!” she grunted in response and tried to step backward, only to feel the flat of his sword blocking her escape. She could feel the chill of the blade through her T-shirt as it pressed gently against her ribs. He moved even closer, and the edge of his half-erect cock rubbed along her lower stomach. Her thighs clenched together as her pussy throbbed in response, and she had to swallow down a low moan as desire flooded her body, pushing her anger and frustration aside.
    She twined her arms