Dark and Deadly - Lynn Hagen Page 0,5

guy wanted one.

The asshole got up close and personal, right in Ryan’s face. His dark eyes were fuming, his lips set in a tight line. “I’m not someone you want to fuck with, buddy. I’m gonna alert the bouncers that—” He leaned in closely and sniffed, and then his eyebrows shot to his hairline. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Ryan opened his mouth to say something sarcastic when he felt as if he’d been slugged in the chest. The reaction felt explosive. He lost the ability to breathe as his eyebrows marched right up his forehead.

“You’re a vampire,” the guy whispered. “You’re trying to lure me outside to feed on me.”

Busted. Ryan wasn’t going to deny the fact. This guy was a shifter and knew the score, but that wasn’t what floored Ryan. “This can’t be right.”

“What?”

“You don’t feel it?” Ryan sure as hell did. He rubbed his chest and had an overwhelming urge to kiss the bastard on his full and tempting lips.

The bartender leaned in close and inhaled deeply. Once again he appeared shocked, but this time, he took a step back, looking as if he’d bolt at any second.

It seemed Ryan had zero luck when it came to mates. Why did they always want to run from him? Goddamn. He wasn’t that fucking ugly.

“But…” The guy shook his head, his brows knitted together. “I already found my mate earlier today.”

That sentence nearly knocked Ryan on his ass. “What? Who?”

This was getting stranger by the second. Ryan had already found his. Warren. Although the human was flighty as fuck. That was in part because of Ryan’s behavior, but he wasn’t going to dwell on that right now.

It seemed he had bigger problems.

“His name is Warren.”

Mind blown. Like, to another dimension of reality. They couldn’t be talking about the same person. No fucking way. What were the odds?

“Warren Prickett?”

The guy shrugged. “I didn’t catch his last name. Short human, jade-green eyes, blond hair, some extra lovin’ around his belly.”

Ryan snarled and grabbed the guy by his shirt and yanked him close. “You stay the fuck away from him!”

People at the bar turned their heads to watch the show Ryan was putting on. Ryan quickly closed his mouth, hiding his fangs, which had punched through his gums.

“Ash, is there a problem?” One of the other bartenders came closer. He was short, slim, and human. Ryan couldn’t care less about him.

Ash. So that was Ryan’s other mate’s name.

Other mate. As if Ryan didn’t have enough issues to deal with.

Ash shoved at Ryan, dislodging his hands. “Grab me like that again and you will get your ass kicked.”

They glared at one another. Ryan felt jealousy snake through his body at the thought of Ash going anywhere near Warren, of touching him, kissing him, having sex with him.

Crap. Ryan was about to lose his shit.

“I think we really do need to take this outside,” Ash said. “Follow me.”

Ryan wanted to tell Ash he could shove his command up his ass, but he also wanted answers.

And to feed. Maybe once he got his hunger out of the way, he could think more clearly. Right now his skin felt too tight and his mood was dark.

Now Ryan was also horny. His dick was hard enough to knock the ball out of the park. Hunger and horny was a deadly combination. When they reached the parking lot, Ryan slammed Ash against the brick wall.

Ash snarled, letting his canines show as he once again shoved Ryan away. “Slow the fuck down. We need to talk.”

“Not until I’ve fed. I’m starving, and soon I won’t be able to control myself.” Ryan’s foul mood was because of his hunger, and it wouldn’t improve until his thirst was taken care of.

Ash gave him a long hard look, as though he was debating what to do, and the longer he took, the harder it was for Ryan to control himself. He couldn’t stop staring at the vein in Ash’s neck, concentrating on it so hard he almost missed what Ash said.

“Not here.” Ash led him to his SUV. They slipped inside, and Ash offered his wrist. It wasn’t the most appealing vein to drink from, but desperate times…

Ryan latched on. When the first drop of blood touched his tongue, he felt ravenous. He grabbed Ash’s wrist and sucked so hard he feared he’d break a bone.

“Jeez, go easy.” There was a hint of lust in Ash’s voice, as if the feeding was making him just as hard as Ryan was.