Tempted by Rebecca Zanetti Read Free Book Online

onto her hands and knees. Cold tile chilled her palms as she tried to regain her balance. Panting, she scrambled back and turned her head toward the fight.
    Max lifted the Kurjan, swung his torso, and slammed the monster onto the desk. Glass shattered. Sarah ducked, yelping when a piece cut into her shoulder. She grabbed the chair and pulled herself to stand.
    The Kurjan flopped to the floor unconscious, landing between the chrome legs of the desk. Blood ran down his impossibly white face and into his thick hair.
    Max panted, blood dripping off his chin. “How many more are here?”
    Dr. Robard scooted back, pulling his legs away from Sarah’s feet before standing. He wiped sweat off his forehead. “He’s the only one. Been waiting for you two hours. Hiding in the closet.”
    Sarah rounded on the doctor. “So. Believe me now?”
    “Yes.” Sorrow filled the doctor’s intelligent eyes.
    Wait a minute. Sarah slowly pivoted to face Max. “You knew. All the guns, knives, and weapons were because you knew he might be here.”
    Max shrugged. “When your website went down, it made sense we’d come for your records. They probably sent this guy after we escaped from the motel. So, yeah, it was a possibility.”
    Sulfur scented the air. Faster than a whisper, the Kurjan lunged for Max, stabbing a blade into his shoulder and a fist into his face. Max stumbled back, fangs shooting out his mouth. He growled, grabbing the Kurjan and throwing him through the double-paned window.
    The animal screamed as sun bit into his flesh. Blisters erupted on his skin. Smoke billowed up, and he sank to the ground. Dead.
    Max slowly turned to face her, fangs out, one eye a bright pink, the other the muddy brown.
    A vampire. A real vampire. Sarah’s ears filled with a dull roar. She stepped back as a haze dropped over her vision. Then the world turned dark and she dropped to the floor.
     
    Sarah awoke as the helicopter landed and the rotor died away. She blinked. Warmth surrounded her. Strong arms held her, and a steady heartbeat thumped against her ear. The scent of fresh cedar filled her senses. Max. Her butt rested on his thighs. The desire she’d been combating flared to life again.
    Reality slammed spikes beneath her eyelids. Vampire. The man was a monster. She shoved him, struggling.
    The side door opened and he stepped out onto a rooftop. His boots crunched gravel. The wind whipped into her hair. One hand cupped her head, pressing her into his chest. “Settle down, Milaya . You’re safe.”
    A muffled sob rose from her chest. She shut her eyes. Concentrate . She needed to focus to get out of this mess. Tight muscles shifted and Max maneuvered out of the wind, quickly descending a flight of stairs and dodging through a doorway. He removed his hand and Sarah lifted her head.
    Fall-colored patterned wallpaper covered the walls, reminding her of the principal’s office at the elementary school where she used to teach. Inside the penthouse of a hotel, Max took long strides across marble to place her gently on an embroidered sofa. Then he backed slowly away.
    She scooted to the edge in case she needed to run. Vibrations wandered through her ... slow and lazy. The couch was new. The person—a woman—who’d hand embroidered the intricate leaves had enjoyed the process, humming the entire time. Sarah settled herself. “You were shot and stabbed.”
    “I heal fast.”
    The view of Mt. Rainier out the floor-to-ceiling windows caught her eye and she turned her head. “So. Vampires have money, huh?” Sarah focused back on him.
    His grin matched the humor in his eyes. His bourbon-colored eyes were much lighter and more animated than the contacts he’d been wearing. “You’re a spunky one, Sarah.” Warmth and approval coated his gravelly voice.
    “And you’re a sneaky, lying, money grabbing ... vampire.” Anger darted through her so quickly her skin tingled. She leaped to her feet. To think she’d been attracted to him. Yeah. Past