Free Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole Page A

nymphs,” he said.
    “We heard you across town, Rune!” the blonde said. “It sounded like you lost your ever-loving mind.”
    His wide jaw clenched. Well, he didn’t like that comment at all. In a nonchalant tone, he said, “When it’s good, it’s good.”
    Good?
Dick, please.
Her ears were still ringing from his yells.
    The redhead added, “If you’re in such a desirous mood, we can tag out with her.”
    Hello?
He was obviously taken. Clue one: she was panties-less, with her legs wrapped around him.
Not a chance, freaks.
    “Of course, doves. Later.”
    He did
not
just say “later.”
    “We’ll find you after some trysts,” the redhead called. “We’ve got something we know you’ll like.”
    “Come back at sunrise,” he told them.
    Four nymphs at sunset. One vampire at midnight. A couple more nymphs at dawn?
    They blew him kisses and sashayed away.
    He returned his attention to Jo. “Nymphs: can’t live with them . . .”
    She’d just gotten this guy off—his dick was still wedged between them—and he was making a date with other women! With . . . with nymphs!
Asshole!
    Why would he do that? He’d reacted to her far more strongly than he had to those others.
    Even more confusing? His expression toward Jo was tender. She could almost pretend he was
seeing
her. Except for the fact that he was planning to see others.
    “Now, where were we?”
    “You were just arranging a couple of hookups for later.” Her claws sharpened.
    He cast her a disappointed look. “Jealousy? You’re already possessive of me.” He too was coming out of a lust haze, seeming to wake up. “I don’t do
jealousy
. Great gods, vampire, I’ve known you for a total of fifteen minutes.” He dragged his hips back, then all but dropped her. “I haven’t even swived you yet.” He yanked up his pants, dressing so fast his movements were a blur.
    She swatted her skirt down. “Possessive? As if I’d want you for my own.”
I’d kind of wanted you for my own. I want
someone
for my own!
“You’re just a blood bag in a big-dicked package. Who didn’t last long enough to get me off.” Story of her life! Her lips drew back from her fangs.
    With a growl, he pressed her against the wall again. “You’re baring your fangs at me? Defying me again? You have no idea what I could do to you!”
    “Do to me? Other than leave me hanging?”
    “I fed you, did I not?” He trailed his fingers over her bite mark, and a look of realization dawned on his face. “You
bit
me, drinking my blood straight from my flesh. Something I have never had to worry about. Blood-taking has consequences, female. Which you well know.”
    No, she didn’t!
    For the briefest moment, his expression morphed into one of intent. Deadly intent. “Such plans . . .”
    Then he flashed her that grin, even as his free hand discreetly inched toward his blade. Shock radiated through her. He was going to knife her because she’d taken blood from his neck?
    Lady-killer, literal.
    Dickwad!
    Too bad he could never hold her.
    “Oh, well. What’s done is done.” His words were light, but the timbre of his voice had changed.
    As hers did when she was about to kill someone.

TEN
    R une inwardly cursed. A vampire had drunk from his flesh, taking his blood—and possibly his memories.
    After all these years of protecting the secrets of the Møriør, he’d allowed a security breach.
    Of epic proportions.
    Eliminating the breach was the only alternative. He knew this, and yet he hesitated, his desires warring with his duties. Josephine had given him the most blistering pleasure he’d ever experienced.
    She’d somehow tolerated his poisoned blood. It had pleasured them both, and nourished her.
    Naturally he wanted to investigate this, at least until he’d tired of her—or discovered another who could drink him. If one such creature existed . . .
    It only took seven thousand years to find this one, baneblood.
    And even if he came across another, no such female could trump