A Touch Too Much by Chris Lange Read Free Book Online Page A

you’ve been in my world for almost twenty-four hours. You don’t seem to need refreshing.”
    “I never do. I don’t know why—it could be a flaw of nature or a very rare disease in the vampire ranks. Our scientists have been researching my case, and they haven’t found out the cause either.”
    Like she was supposed to be different, could Rogan be special in his own way? After all, her touch should have killed him, not saved his life. As much as the idea needed some pondering, Liv wanted to know more about the brute who had trashed her apartment.
    “Khord came after me. Do you mean he’s a hunter?”
    “No, he’s a warrior assigned to protect his partner if need be. Warriors and hunters always pair off when it’s time to cross over and find nourishment. I got Khord yesterday, not my lucky day!”
    His face remained impassive as he stated the obvious. Without pause he went back to the subject at hand.
    “After the truce, we needed some kind of order so the council established a system resulting in three divisions—the civilians, the warriors, and the hunters who can specialise in tracking.”
    “I’m amazed. I had never heard about all that. I find your story very hard to believe, even if the war occurred a long time ago.”
    “The knowledge has been either lost or forgotten because the human mind doesn’t like, let’s say, complications. It’s much easier and more convenient to keep believing vampires are nothing but fictional characters.”
    He might’ve been right. Another universe filled with blood-suckers purchasing walking food did seem frightening. Wouldn’t it be so much better to deny it, and to forget about it after a while? Probably, but the forgetting didn’t solve in the least her immediate problem.
    Every time he moved, Rogan reminded her of a solitary hunter, a dark animal ready to pounce on prey. His very animality aroused her way more than any man ever had, and keeping his sex out of her mind was getting more difficult with each passing hour. At the cost of startling him, she had to make him understand she didn’t fear him.
    “You won’t bite me.”
    Although Liv had spoken in a hushed tone, Rogan looked taken aback for a second. Only for a second, then he was standing right beside her before she had a chance to see him move from the armchair.
    “I will. With you, the impulse is overwhelming, impossible to contain. I tried, but to no avail.”
    “If you did bite me, what would happen?”
    The words had barely left her mouth when Rogan’s lean features froze, and his unwavering cold look scared her for the first time.
    “I would have to kill you, or you’d turn into a vampire.”

Chapter Nine
     
     
     
    Sunset.
    As soon as Rogan was able to step outside, they avoided the reception hall and headed straight for Liv’s car. Moving away from her familiar places appeared to be the safest course of action for the time being.
    A few vehicles were parked in front of the motel, but nobody seemed to be hanging about. Very conscious of Rogan’s hand wrapped around her forearm, Liv walked with him to her car. As she opened the door and dropped her bag on the seat, a rough tone raised goose bumps on her arms.
    “I’ll be damned if it isn’t lover boy and his new girlfriend!” Khord guffawed, his voice coming from the shadows.
    Liv felt Rogan’s arms around her, then a sickening whoosh. Next thing she knew, she found herself in an empty warehouse at the back of the motel, concealed behind a stack of cardboard boxes.
    “Stay here!”
    With that, he was gone.
    She stayed put for a few seconds, a little queasy from the super-speed trip, heart beating too fast. Yet she was no man, and curiosity soon won over. Keeping a low profile, she edged quietly towards the entrance.
    Both warehouse and motel were surrounded by fields on all sides, so she had an open view, lit by the rising moon. The dark border of a forest loomed in the west. Khord and Rogan stood facing each other, two bloodthirsty