The Wicked Kiss (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #2)(31)

“Cut that out.” I grinned and poked him playfully in the ribs. I wanted to lighten the mood. “Or, I might have to give you a smack or two myself.”

He grabbed my finger and pretended to bite it. “I’m sorry, babe. I know you’re not happy about this. I can’t imagine that Ky is either.”

I shook my head but said nothing. I couldn’t wait for it all to be over. It was just another thing for me to stress over. As if Harley lurking around wasn’t enough.

“I just want time to fly so I can hit up the Halloween party at Lucy’s Lounge and unwind. For once.” I kissed the end of his cute nose. “And, you better not have to work that night, either.”

He laughed and caught my hand in his, pulling me closer so our bodies were pressed together. “Oh, don’t you worry. There is no way in this world that I would leave you alone for every guy in the place to drool over. Especially if you’re dressed as a Playboy bunny.” He gave my ass a light pinch, and I squealed in surprise.

“You know, I think just for that, I’m not going to tell you what I’m dressing up as.

You will have to wait and see.” I smirked because I had no idea what I was going as. I still had plenty of time to shop.

“Well, if you’re not telling, then neither am I.” He flashed me that mischievous grin that I so loved, and my knees weakened.

“I guess we’ll both have something to look forward to then. I’m actually excited at the thought of getting out. I haven’t had much of a social life lately.”

“All kill and no thrill, huh?” Shaz pulled back to nibble my bottom lip before giving me a light nip on the neck.

“Well, a little thrill.” I threw my head back and embraced him tightly. “Not nearly as much as I’d like.” I gave in to the urge to slip my tongue teasingly along the curve of his ear. It caused him to shudder as the nerves tensed and spasmed down his back.

“Stop that! You know I’ve got to get going right away.”

“Yeah well, I’ve got to leave you with a lasting impression. I need to know how bad your wolf craves me.” I wiggled against him briefly before pulling back. I wanted to tease him but not cause him any extreme discomfort.

He groaned and resisted when I went to move out of his reach. “There isn’t a time when I don’t crave you, Lex. Hot damn, you are such a tease. God, how it drives me wild.

I love it.”

He immediately closed the space between us so that my hands came to rest against his hard, alluring body. When he kissed me again, the taste of pine and wolf overwhelmed my senses. It stirred the animal inside, and I had the sudden desire to be furry. Everything felt right with Shaz, natural and serene.

When he broke off the kiss, it was with extreme reluctance. “Be safe tonight. Call me when you make it home so I know you’re safe.”

The genuine affection that he had for me never ceased to blow my mind. There was no question that I loved him, and really, how could I not? He was a dream come true, everything I thought I’d never find. He accepted me in every way, flaws and all.

“You know I will.”

Shaz’ embrace was the best, most perfect embrace that I’d ever been in. He had this way of holding me just tight enough so that I felt nothing but love and security. The emotion I sensed from him when he held me was one of the most powerful energies that I’d ever felt.

After I’d kissed him goodbye another half dozen times, I sent Jez a text to say I’d be ten minutes late but was on my way. Chances were good that she would still be later than I would anyway.

I went to my bedroom and dug through the closet until I found a red, form-fitting, long-sleeved shirt. The stretchy material it was made from was both body hugging and comfortable. My favorite pair of blue jeans made it a great outfit for fighting and running in. Hopefully, that wouldn’t get excessive.

After brushing my long, poker straight hair and staring at it undecided in the mirror, I opted to leave it down but bring a hair tie just in case. Aside from my usual smoky eyeliner and blush, I wore little makeup. I didn’t generally go out all dressed to kill someone unless it was part of the plan.

I took a moment to just sit on my bed and feel the pure energy of the earth. It hummed all around at all times but required concentration and willpower to truly experience it. I used my connection to the earth for many things. Right then, I used to it to ground my own energy and attempt to center the combination of wolf and vampire in my core.

It was somewhat of a metaphysical reset button. I was able to cleanse any negative or excess energy or acquire more should I need it. It wasn’t always the optimum power source, but it was pure and steady. Of course, my energy bond with Arys gave me my very own power source, though, that too had its limits.

Kylarai was softly humming a song I didn’t recognize when I re-entered the kitchen.

She looked up at me with a bright smile as she stacked clean glasses in the cupboard.

“Are you taking off now?”

I grabbed my shoulder bag from the counter beside the fridge and rifled through it to make sure I had everything. “Yeah, Jez and I have a new Were to put down. There’s no second chance for this one. It’s been slaughtering prostitutes downtown.”

Kylarai pursed her lips and shook her head solemnly. “That’s terrible. And yet, sadly typical.”

It certainly was. The chances of being turned by a werewolf were incredibly slim because, in most cases, victims don’t survive the attack. Of those that do, less than ten percent made it through without succumbing to the urge to kill and to have fun doing so.