Vixen (Dark Protectors #11.5) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,29

piss her off even more.

He blinked. Once and slowly.

Never in her life would she have thought a blink could be threatening. Yet this was. Those blue eyes burned through the dusk, and that rim around his iris had darkened. She was sure of it. “You’ve lived in my world for one day, Evan. Don’t think for a second you understand it,” she said.

“I’ve lived in this world, our world, about a decade longer than you have, sweetheart. I’ve seen war, and I’ve done things for God and country that you can’t even imagine.” He moved then, headed her way.

For the first time in her entire life, Tabitha Rusko had to fight the urge to back away from danger. It was true that she’d only met the mellow detective who had thought he was at the end of his too-short life. Apparently she’d never met the soldier or the male who’d been strong enough to survive an immortal mating even while ill. He was no longer ill. What he was, she didn’t know.

He reached her, standing a mere foot away. “The marking on a demon’s hand only appears when their mate is near. Yours appeared when I kissed you the first time.”

“Yes,” she admitted. “But I don’t believe in fate and all of that.” Yeah, she sounded defensive and unsure.

“I do,” he said, his chin down, studying her like he’d never really looked at her before. Like she was now in his world, and he was trying to decide what exactly to do with her.

She threw up her hands, going for a good offense. “You seemed like a laconic cop who just wanted to help people. Even though we had this obvious attraction for each other, you stayed distant. Like I plan to do.” She couldn’t just drop everything and trust somebody right now. Not until she set herself up with enough money and power to keep safe. Maybe to keep him safe.

“I was dying,” he said, that focus becoming unnerving. “Now I’m not. Probably.”

“You’re not,” she snapped. “Mating makes you immortal. While our blood can’t cure diseases in humans, a mating does.” Although he could use some doubt in his mind, apparently. She spoke too soon. Maybe she should try to reason with him, but as far as she’d heard, that rarely worked with mated immortal males. “I’m kind of on my own mission right now.”

“World domination?” he drawled.

She grinned. “No. Just security and safety, which comes from money.”

“I think safety now comes from me, baby.” This close, power already cascaded off him—strong and sure.

Oh, crap.

* * * *

Evan hadn’t felt this strong in two years. His body felt like his own again, and he studied the female in front of him intently. Interest and a barely banked vulnerability glimmered in those eyes that had haunted his dreams, and he should probably back off and let her come to terms with what they’d voluntarily done. While he had no clue what forever meant, right now, they had to come up with a plan together. The bottom line was that even though she was the immortal being, he did have years and experience on her. “You’re naïve if you think money brings safety.” Even he knew that.

She lifted her chin, the challenging sight stirring his desire for her even higher. “It sure doesn’t hurt.”

“True.” The skin along his nape prickled, and he turned instinctively to see Richard Goncharov stride along the house from the backyard. Had he been waiting? Evan’s chest filled and his blood flowed faster through his veins, sparking almost painfully. What was happening?

Richard, his face hard, reached the other side of the vehicle. “I’ve waited long enough. The Popovs are coming, and you need to leave with me now.” His focus remained on Tabi, and he ignored Evan as if he wasn’t there.

Evan crossed in front of the BMW, coming within a foot of the demon. “She’s mated, friend. You’ve lost—leave town.” The sense of possessiveness taking him held a life of its own—strong and brutal. He forced his hands to relax and not form fists. Whatever was happening, he would handle it like he had every other challenge in his life. “Goodbye.”

Richard turned his body to face him fully, his extra inches of height making him crane his neck. “You’re human.”

“So I’ve heard,” Evan said evenly.

Richard’s nostrils flared in his pale face, and his eyes widened. “I smell her on you.” He turned so suddenly the air cracked. “You mated a human?”

“Yes,” Tabi said, meeting his gaze