“Do you understand?”
“I understand that someday I’m going to shove a stake up your ass.”
A golden brow flicked upward. “That would not kill me.”
“No, but it’ll be funny as hell.”
Something that could have almost been a smile touched his mouth before swiftly disappearing.
“Not nearly as amusing as seeing you try.”
“Jackass.”
He regarded her for a long, silent moment, almost as if he was searching past her defensive aggression to the terrified woman beneath.
It was unnerving as hell.
“Will you behave yourself?” he at last demanded.
She blew out a sigh, knowing she would never get the aggravating man off her until she agreed. And she really needed him off.
Her mind might be contemplating the best means of kicking some vampire ass, but her body was still enjoying the sensations of his hard parts pressing against her soft parts.
“Fine, just get off,” she muttered.
With one smooth, fluid motion, the vampire was on his feet, looming over her. She had a brief moment to appreciate the faded jeans that molded to his powerful legs, and the motorcycle boots that covered his Shaq-sized feet, before he reached down to grasp her hand and jerk her upright.
With a gasp at the electric charge that jolted up her arm, Regan wrenched her hand from his grasp and backed away. She didn’t give a damn if it made her look weak. She needed space.
And maybe a wooden stake.
“How did you find me?” she demanded.
He folded his arms over his chest, appearing even more dangerously beautiful now that he was upright.
“It wasn’t difficult.” His low, mesmerizing voice filled the room. “Once I reached St. Louis, I simply followed the trail of the imp, knowing you wouldn’t be far behind.”
“And how would you know that?”
The ice-blue gaze regarded her steadily. “As I said, you aren’t the only one familiar with suffering. And I know when a demon, no matter how tiny, is released from captivity, the only thought on their mind is revenge. You want the imp dead.”
Her chin tilted. What the hell would this vampire know of suffering? He lived smack-dab on top of the food chain.
“If you’re so smart, then you know I have no intention of allowing Culligan to escape. You can go back to Chicago and tell my sister thanks, but no thanks.”
“There is nothing that would please me more than to return to my lair and leave you to your business. Unfortunately, that’s not an option.”
“Oh, it’s an option. Just turn around and walk out the door.”
“I was commanded to bring you to Chicago, and that means I’m not allowed to leave here without you. Not unless I’m willing to face the wrath of my king. Which—” His gaze seared a path down her tightly clenched body, lingering a terrifying moment on the pulse fluttering at the base of her throat, before returning to her wide eyes. “I’m not.”
Great. Her Knight in Shining Armor had not only showed up thirty years too late, but he was only there under threat of some horrible retribution.
It was enough to make a woman feel all warm and fuzzy.
Not.
“Then we have a serious problem, Hulk freaking Hogan, because I’m not going.”