Night's Promise by Sandy Lynn

I refused, my parents were killed. I didn’t know who was responsible at first and thought I’d been betrayed by those I’d protected.
    “Loyalties were changed more often than clothes. I was told it didn’t matter whom I was told to kill, just that I did my job. I decided if I was going to be an assassin, at least I was going to be my own boss. I was tired of working for petty royals with fickle whims. So, I left my home and England completely, coming over to America. Here it was easy enough to find out who was who.
    “Starting with smaller jobs, I made a reputation for myself. The bosses didn’t realize that I wasn’t working for any of them exclusively. After a few years of killing for them, I left their ‘employ’—as if I’d ever really worked for them in the first place. They’d have tried to kill me, but my reputation for playing with my victims had gotten around. No one would dare try to end my life. The rest is history.”
    “Wow. From average guy to guard to mobster to professional hit man to a bouncer. No one can say your life’s been boring.”
    “That it certainly hasn’t.”
    Melissa stood up and took his hand. Duncan allowed her to lead him over to a bench. When they sat down she snuggled close against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
    Looking up at the stars, he wondered how he’d ever become so lucky.
    “Duncan?”
    Lowering his head, he planned on answering her question, but she didn’t give him the chance. Her lips were on his. Desire flooded his body. Duncan pulled her closer, his tongue thrusting eagerly into her mouth as she sucked on it.
    He trailed kisses down to her neck, his teeth scraping against her flesh, but he was careful not to taste her blood, never to break skin or scratch her.
    Cupping her breast in his hand, he wanted to carry her over to a patch of grass and have sex with her beneath the stars. He wanted to give her another happy playground memory, but it wasn’t the time.
    Forcing himself to slow down, to pull back slightly and cool off, he resumed their conversation.
    “You know I still won that game, right?”
    “Why are you acting like this?” she asked without looking at him. “One minute you’re all over me and the next you’re talking like we didn’t—like nothing happened. Didn’t you feel…”
    “Angel, I promised we would go slow.” Gently grasping her hand, he put it on his jean-covered erection. “Yes, I felt it, but I won’t let myself get so carried away that I say ‘fuck it’. You deserve better than to be tossed down on the grass and fucked.”
    Nodding her understanding, she elbowed him gently. “Now that I know the rules of bowling with you, I’ll be more prepared the next time we play.”
    “Uh-oh,” he teased. “Prepared how?”
    “Nothing big. I’ll just make sure I’ve thought up all kinds of ways to distract you.”
    “Note to self, I’m gonna need steel-toe bowling shoes.”
    Melissa laughed and leaned against his chest.
    “So when do you want to go again? Cause I can be free tomorrow night…” Duncan told her with a smile.
    Still laughing she shoved him playfully. In the darkness, Duncan wondered yet again what he could have done to deserve a treasure like her.
    They sat there talking and occasionally making out for most of the night. As dawn slowly crept closer, Duncan hailed a taxi and took her home. He took her in his arms and kissed her good night as the taxi driver waited.
    “Did you want to come in…” she asked shyly.
    “More than you know. And that’s why I’m gonna go home.”
    Melissa sighed. “Then I guess I’ll see you later.”
    After one more too quick kiss, she entered the house, and he returned to the taxi. Giving the driver the address, Duncan leaned back and thought about Melissa.
    He could already tell he was growing attached to her. He didn’t want to hurt her, and the thought of her with another man made his fangs lengthen.
    It was wrong of him to continue seeing her, but he