NIGHT PLEASURES by Sherrilyn Keynon Read Free Book Online Page B

was no reason for her to hold his hand. He'd barely spoken a civil word to her, and yet she reached out to him when no one else would have. It made him feel strange toward her. Protective. Tender.
    More than that, her simple touch scorched him all the way to his caged heart. He swallowed, then stiffened. He couldn't let her close to him. She was a creature of light and he was one of darkness.
    The two were not compatible.
    "So, how long have you been a vampire?" she asked.
    "I told you," he said, his jaw tight, "I'm not a vampire. I'm a Dark-Hunter."
    "What's the difference?"
    Kyrian gave her a hard glare. "The difference is I normally don't kill humans, but if you don't stop quizzing me, I might make an exception."
    "You are one seriously testy Creature of the Night."
    "I love you, too."
    Amanda dropped his hand. "Oh, that's it," she said. "I was just trying to comfort you. God forbid, you should let anyone actually be nice to you."
    Irritated, she met Tate's surprised gaze. "Can you just saw his arm off while we're here and get me loose?"
    Tate snorted. "I could do that, but he needs his more. I'd cut yours off before I did his."
    "Oh, great, what are you, his Igor?"
    "Wrong movie," Tate corrected. "Igor was Frankenstein's flunky. Renfield is the one you're thinking of, and no, I'm not Renfield. Name's Tate Bennett. Parish coroner."
    "I'd already guessed the coroner part. Rather obvious since we're in a cold lab full of
dead
people."
    Tate arched a brow at her. "And you call
him
sarcastic."
    Hunter jerked as Tate pulled too hard on the sutures.
    "Sorry," Amanda said. "I won't distract him anymore."
    "I would appreciate it."
    Once Tate finished, Hunter put his shirt and coat back on. He slid off the stretcher with only the slightest hiss to reveal his side was sore.
    Tate's pager went off. "I'll be back in a few minutes. You kids need anything?"
    "I'm fine," Hunter said. "But she probably needs breakfast and a phone."
    Amanda quirked a brow at his words. Why would he let her have a phone now?
    Tate quickly cleaned up the mess. "The phone is against the far wall, just dial nine to get out. I'll grab something in the cafeteria and be back as soon as I can. Stay in here and keep the door locked."
    As soon as they were alone, Hunter moved so that she could sit on the small stool by the phone.
    Blinking, Hunter rubbed his hand over his eyes as if they were sensitive to the fluorescent lights. "We need to make plans," he said quietly. "You wouldn't happen to know anyone in this city who might have a way to break handcuffs made by a Greek god?"
    Getting used to his sarcasm, she smiled. "Actually, I think I do."
    His face instantly lightened. Gracious, the man was gorgeous when not scowling or barking. "One of your sisters?"
    "One of their friends."
    He nodded. "Good. We need to do that, preferably before sunset, or at least not long after it. You also have to call Tabitha and tell her to lie low for a few days."
    "You know, for the record, I hate to take orders. But!" Amanda said interrupting him before he could pull rank. "I realize I'm in over my head. You have no idea how much I hate all this supernatural garbage. So I'm willing to listen to you, but you better start acting like I'm a person and not some mindless blow-up doll."
    She pulled his ring out of her pocket and returned it to him. "And another thing, I really have to go to the bathroom."
    Hunter laughed out loud.
    "It's not funny," she snapped at him as he put the ring back on his finger. "Any idea how we can do this without my dying of embarrassment?"
    "More than that, any idea on how to do that without my getting arrested for being in the ladies' room?"
    She cut a sharp glare at him. "If you think I'm going into the men's room, forget it."
    "Then I hope you can hold it."
    "I am not going into the men's room!"
    Five minutes later, she was in the men's room and cursing Hunter under her breath. "You really get off on being a bully, don't you?"
    "It's what I live for," he