The Dark-Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon Page B

about me, Grace. I don’t break and I seldom bleed.” This time, there was no mistaking the bitterness in his voice. “It’s a gift of the curse. The Fates forbid I should actually die and escape my punishment.”
    She flinched at the anguish she saw in his eyes.
    But his survival wasn’t the only question she had. She wanted to ask him about the child, about the way he had looked at the boy as if reliving some horrible nightmare. But the words lodged themselves in her throat.
    “Man, he deserves a hero cookie,” Selena said as she joined them. “Upstairs to the Praline Factory!”
    “Selena, I don’t think—”
    “What’s a praline?” Julian asked.
    “It’s Cajun ambrosia,” Selena explained, “something that should be right up your alley.”
    Against Grace’s best arguments, Selena led them inside, to the escalator.
    Selena took the first stair, then turned back to look at Julian, who stood between them. “How did you do that thing where you flipped over the car? It was awesome!”
    Julian shrugged.
    “Oh, man, don’t be modest. You looked like Keanu Reeves in The Matrix. Gracie, did you see that move he did?”
    “I saw it,” she said softly, noting just how uncomfortable Selena’s praise was making Julian.
    She also noted the way the women around them gawked.
    Julian was right. It wasn’t normal. But then, how often did a man like him appear in the flesh? A man who oozed such raw sexual attraction?
    The man was a walking pheromone.
    And now a hero.
    But most of all, he was a great mystery to her. There was a lot about him she was dying to know. And one way or another over the next month, she was going to learn it.
    When they reached the Praline Factory on the top floor, Grace bought two fudge-pecan pralines and a Coke.
    Without thinking twice, she held a praline up for Julian. Instead of taking it from her hand, he leaned forward and took a bite while she held it.
    He savored the sugary confection in a way that drove heat through her body, while those searing blue eyes stared at her as if he were wishing she were what he feasted on.
    “You were right,” he said in that low tone that sent shivers over her. “It is delicious.”
    “Wow,” the female clerk said from across the counter. “That’s some accent you got there. You must not be from around these parts.”
    “No,” Julian said. “I’m not.”
    “So where you from?”
    “Macedonia.”
    “Is that out in California?” the girl asked. “You look like one of those surfer types who hang out on the beach.”
    He frowned. “California?”
    “He’s from Greece,” Selena supplied for the girl.
    “Ah!” the girl said.
    Julian arched a censoring brow at her. “Macedonia isn’t—”
    “Buddy,” Selena said around her mouthful of praline, “around here you’d be lucky to find anyone who would know the difference.”
    Before Grace could respond to Selena’s harsh words, Julian placed his hands on her waist and brought her right up against his steely chest.
    He leaned down and caught her bottom lip between his teeth, then gently stroked her lip with his tongue.
    Her head swam from the tender embrace.
    He deepened his kiss an instant before releasing her and stepping back.
    “You had sugar on your bottom lip,” he explained with a devilish smile that displayed his dimples to perfection.
    Grace blinked, amazed at how hot and cold his touch made her. “You could have just said something.”
    “True, but my way was far more enjoyable.”
    She couldn’t argue that.
    Quickly, she stepped away from him and tried to ignore Selena’s knowing smile.
    “Why are you so afraid of me?” Julian asked unexpectedly as he fell in by her side.
    “I’m not afraid of you.”
    “No? Then what scares you so? Every time I come near you, you cringe.”
    “I’m not cringing,” Grace insisted. Damn, was there an echo?
    He reached out to put his arm around her. Grace quickly sidestepped him.
    “You’re cringing,” he said pointedly as