“What are you doing?”
He didn’t know. Didn’t care. Except he had to have her. Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers. She tensed, but only for a moment, before relaxing against him, and soon, she was kissing him back too.
God, he’d never had anything as sweet as her lips. He licked his tongue out to swipe at those lush petals, making her moan and part her mouth. Tentatively, he brushed inside her mouth, past her teeth, to touch his tongue with hers.
One hand moved up to her neck, caressing the soft skin there, making her moan into his mouth. The Demon roared, wanting him to do more. Take her. Claim her. Black claws extended from his fingers and he raked them gently down to her collarbone. She didn’t seem to notice as she was eagerly opening her mouth to him, her tongue dancing against his. His cock hardened instantly in his jeans, straining against the seam so hard it was painful.
His claws moved lower, to that damned blouse. She had buttoned it up all the way, maybe because of what he said. In any case, it wouldn’t stand a chance against him. He slipped his claws between the slit in the front and snipped the buttons off, one by one, until her skin was bared to the cool evening air.
Then another set of memories flooded into his brain.
The Demon slipping from his control.
Muscles stretching and contracting.
Claws ripping out.
A scream.
“No!” He snarled and pushed away from her. “I can’t …” Not again. The air in his lungs rushed out, leaving an ache in his chest. Slow breaths. Slow breaths. The oxygen slowly returned, and he pushed those memories away. “I … Anna Victoria …”
To his surprise, she didn’t run away right then and there. But she was still pushed up against the wall, her hands clutching her ruined blouse together.
“Fuck!” he growled. No, he couldn’t do this. Not to her of all people. “Damn you!” he said to The Demon. “Ruined my life …” He glanced back at her again, and this time, he could smell the fear from her. See what you did? You can’t keep doing this!
His animal roared back in protest, and pressed its claws at him.
I’m a bastard. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Life was unfair, he knew that, but he hadn’t hated how unfair it was until this moment. To have what he wanted within reach, but knowing he could never have it.
The Demon clawed at his skin from the inside, and he knew there was no turning back now. “Get away!” he screamed at her. “Go!”
She let out a yelp, then ran past him. He wanted to follow her, make sure she was okay, but it wouldn’t be safe. So, he ran in the opposite direction, through the line of trees, making it just in time before The Demon tore out of him.
Chapter Six
Anna Victoria tossed in bed for what seemed like the thousandth time. She had tried everything to fall asleep—a hot bath, drank some milk, counted sheep—but nothing worked. Her mind refused to shut down, and her body … well, it was like it had never felt more alive after Damon touched her.
I shouldn’t have gone to the party.
But J.D. had invited her to go, and since it had been a long week, she deserved some R and R. It seemed strange to celebrate the birthday of someone who had passed away, but she understood that you never really got over losing a parent. Her own mother had died of breast cancer when Anna Victoria was only ten years old.
Besides, J.D. said it was only going to be a few people who had been close to her father, but she should have known Damon would be there. The smart thing would have been to turn around and leave after she saw him, especially after the hurtful things he’d said that afternoon. How dare he imply that she invited unwanted male attention because of the way she dressed? What kind of chauvinistic bull crap was that? Oh, why did he have to be so awful?
But then … that kiss …
She’d never believed in such things as earth-shattering or soul-shaking, but nothing else came close to describing it. It was like her world had turned upside down. One moment, she was enraged at Damon and telling him off, and the next, they had had their mouths and hands all over each other. The feeling was nothing like she’d felt before, and even now, thinking about it got her hot and bothered.
But then he’d acted like a jerk again. No, he wasn’t even close to jerk-like. He’d acted like a monster.
Damn you.
Ruin my life.
Get out.
Go.
Did he hate her that much? The thought of it made her chest ache something fierce. Tears sprang in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. If it wasn’t apparent before, Damon obviously despised her. He probably kissed her to scare her away.
It should have worked too. Except her stupid, hussy of a body wanted more.
I’m hopeless.
Flopping onto her back, she gave up trying to sleep. Outside, the sky was turning pink. She slunk out of bed and headed to the bathroom. After finishing her business and washing her face, she reached for her sports bra, spandex top, and leggings hanging on the hooks behind the door. At least she had her gym clothes in her car when she left. Exercise would help her clear her thoughts. Endorphins were the one thing she could count on.
She tied her hair up in a ponytail, put on her running shoes, and then headed out of the bathroom, making a beeline for the front door.
“Hey, where’re you going?”
“Jeez Louise!” Anna Victoria jumped back, clutching her hand to her chest. “J.D.? Are you okay?”
J.D. sat on the couch, still wearing last night’s clothes, her arms stretched out over her head as
