Nightshifters by Tamelia Tumlin Read Free Book Online

glass. The spicy metallic
blood slid down his throat, but for once it didn’t quench his primal thirst. He
had learned a long time ago how to satisfy his needs without taking another’s
life. The Voodoo Den served fresh glasses of blood every night. But this time
the drink didn’t touch his addiction. The scent of Rana’s sweet warm nectar
pumping furiously through her veins triggered a new thirst.
    A thirst for her.
    Her pale face hinted fear, but damn she was still beautiful!
Her hair flowed like a river of burnished gold, and her eyes shone the color of
a summer storm. He wanted her all right, wanted her with the intensity of a
thousand white-hot coals. Alexandru struggled to keep his carnal desires under
control. Taking her would be easy and her blood … His mouth salivated, and he
licked his lips. Her blood would be sweet as honey. Satiating in ways he had
only dreamed about for the last six years. One touch and her body would be his
for the taking if he chose. Heat rushed to his loins. His body hardened and
ignited with desire. He pushed the urges aside. First, he needed to know why
she was here. Why she had sought him out after six years.
    Rana bit her bottom lip and twisted her hands. “I—I wanted
to see you.”
    A lie.
    Alexandru knew it the minute the words slipped from her
lips. Rana didn’t want to see him. She had made that perfectly clear years ago.
But he’d take the bait. For now.
    “Why?”
    “I missed you.” The words seemed to stick in her throat.
    Another lie.
    “It’s been a long time, cara .” He reached out and
brushed a curl from her cheek. A mistake. Her skin heated beneath his touch.
Desire flared through him. He fought the urge to pull her in his arms and feed
on her nectar. The pulse throbbing at the nape of her neck taunted him. Just
one sip. One taste.
    No! Not now! Not yet.
    He jerked his hand back and steadied his breaths. Later. He
would take her later. When she was ready to give in to him of her own free
will. And she would give in. He would make sure of it.
     “It has been a while. Too long.” Her eyes shuttered,
and she smiled. The sudden change set off warning bells in his head. Something
about her actions didn’t ring true. She moved away from the bar, her body now
only a few inches from his. The black spaghetti-strap silk shirt she wore
stretched taut across her breasts. He could almost see the creamy flesh
beneath. Could almost taste her soft, salty skin. Alexandru’s mouth salivated
again. She was still beautiful and she still had the power to weaken him.
    A dangerous combination.
    Rana ran her fingers along his jaw. “I never got over you,
my love.”
    Alexandru inhaled sharply as his libido kicked into
overdrive. His resolve weakened. The scent of her blood and her citrus perfume
teased his senses. He had gone to bed many a night in the last few years
imagining her perfume. Imagining her. He’d had many other women, but none
stirred his soul like Rana.
    Careful, Alex. Falling for her again is not an option .
    It took every ounce of his strength not to touch her. Rana
leaned over, her hair tickling his cheek as she brushed her lips across his.
“Did you miss me too? Tell me you missed me, Alexandru.”
    Alexandru caught her lip with his teeth. Warning sirens
sounded in his mind. He treaded on dangerous ground. He hesitated, then gave in
to his urges and suckled. She tasted of peppermint and coffee. A delicious
flavor he couldn’t seem to get enough of. He growled softly and pulled her into
his lap. Her body, soft and supple, fell against his. Her nipples beaded
beneath her shirt. His hands caressed her arms then entwined in her hair. He
pulled her closer. She moaned, then slipped her arms around his neck. His teeth
slowly let go of her lip, and he nuzzled her neck. Her pulsating life point
beckoned him. The scent of sweet, warm blood grew stronger. He trailed her skin
with his lips, his fangs hovering just above the hollow of her neck. He could
hear her pulse