Free Vampire Charming by Cassandra Gannon Page A

brothers called from the cave’s entrance.  It might
have been Val.  “Where are you?  Why don’t you come back inside and buckle your
saddle belt?  It’s going to be a bumpy night.”
    Slade
turned to answer him, but Jane slapped a hand over his mouth.  “Don’t you
dare.”  She warned.  “At least it’s not Brando this time, but All About Eve should still sue them for screwing up that quote so badly.  It just sounds
ominous and sleazy.”
    Slade
couldn’t think of a single response to that.  The feel of Jane’s fingers over
his lips sent a fire flickering through his system that shorted out his brain. 
He blinked at her, stunned by the passion that ignited when their skin met.  The
instant heat was like nothing he’d ever experienced.  He had to shift his hips
to hide the intensity of his reaction.  If she was a Witch, he’d swear that
she’d cast a spell on him.  The lust he felt for her was spiraling out of
control and all she’d done was touch him.
    Jane
yanked her hand back and gave her head a clearing shake.  “Okay.”  She
swallowed hard.  “Right.  Look… The brothers are tricking you.”  She dropped
her gaze like she was uncomfortable with the way Slade was staring at her.  “Can’t
you see that?”
    Slade
tried to concentrate on her words, but it was nearly impossible.  Did she feel
the heat between them, too?  How could she miss it?  He had to clear his throat
before he could talk.  “Success can only come through risk, Jane.”
    “You
know what else come through risk?  Death .  Taking risks is almost always
a bad idea.”
    Slade
slowly shook his head.  “You’re wrong.”  He said simply.  “Unless you take
risks, you’ll never have anything that matters.”
    Jane
looked at him again, studying his grave face.  “Okay, we’ll try this another
way.”  She gave him a tight smile.  “You think I’m your loyal sidekick, right?”
    “You
are my most trusted friend.”  He agreed.  His Dark Instincts had more faith in
Jane Squire than he’d ever had in anyone.  He had no idea why, but he didn’t
question it.
    “Then,
listen to me.”  She leaned closer to him.  “We’re trapped in some cheap
knock-off of Willow .  And Willow was already kind of a
knock-off.  If we’re going to survive this crappy movie, we need to be smart. 
Now, I don’t have your experience at potentate- ing, but I doubt the current
ruler is looking for any kingly competition.  Fang isn’t going to welcome you
with open arms.”
    It
was hard to dispute that logic.  “Werewolves are so selfish.”
    “The
point is, stealing his crown won’t be easy.”  She shook her head.  “And don’t
you think this all seems way too easy?   You just walk in a bar
andsome random hooved guys are instantly setting you up on a date with
the super-secret underground?  Even for a movie, that’s too big a coincidence.”
    Slade
pondered that.  He hated to admit it, but Jane Squire made a small bit of
sense.  Obviously, the people of this land would be thrilled to have him as
their majestic leader.  But, Fang’s henchmen would be everywhere, trying to
stop Slade’s ascension with all sorts of chicanery.  It never paid to
underestimate the duplicity and avarice of his enemies.  Perhaps, he should…
    Jane
suddenly grabbed his arm, again.  “Get down.”  She tugged him lower, ducking
behind a strange shrub with bright orange berries shaped like dominos.
    The
woman enjoyed manhandling him, but Slade didn’t mind.  In fact, it just made
him think of other ways she could touch his body.  Wicked, hot,
wonderful ways…  Jane inspired very un-gentlemanly thoughts about kings and
pretty little servant girls.  He’d never had those kinds of fantasies before,
but with Jane his mind was filled with all sorts of startling new ideas.
    “You
see?”  She hissed at him, oblivious to the fact he was picturing her fingers
stroking every inch of his skin.  “I knew it was a