Free Evil Red by Nikki Jefford

black
void. The headlights disappeared into the night sky until Fane
turned them off.
    “I can leave the car running,” he said.
    “Or you can warm me up.”
    Fane turned the ignition off. He scooted across the
bench, and they picked up where they’d left off at the club without
the music to cover their kisses and low moans. The windows fogged
around them, making the glass look like translucent curtains.
    Fane kissed Valerie with almost practiced delicacy.
She crushed her lips against his in return. Valerie had never been
the patient type.
    She pulled back suddenly, demanding. “Why don’t you
bite me?”
    And why did she have to be the one to ask again? They
were alone. Her neck was his for the sucking.
    Fane’s eyebrows slanted. “Pardon?”
    “Come on. I know what you are.”
    Fane’s jaw relaxed when he smirked. “I’m afraid
you’re going to have to be more specific.”
    Valerie crossed her arms beneath her breasts.
“Vampire. That specific enough for you?”
    “You think that I’m a… wow.” Fane’s eyelids fluttered
in mock dismay.
    “Cut the crap, vampire. If you want to play coy, you
ought to rethink your nickname.”
    Fane
chuckled. “Is that what gave me away?” His expression
sobered. “Who told you?”
    “Heard a rumor is all.” Valerie shrugged, maintaining
eye contact lest he grow suspicious.
    Fane
didn ’t look too pleased. “You heard a rumor that I was a
vampire and you believed it? Why would you believe such a
thing?”
    “Because you’re not my first,” Valerie said, feeling defensive.
    “So, it’s the biting you like? You’re a suck junkie.
Is that what you’re after?”
    Valerie sat up straight. “I’m not after anything.
You’re the vampire.”
    “Right, I’m the vampire.” Fane scooted away.
    “What did I say?” Valerie asked, lips forming a
pout.
    Fane shook his head. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.
I should get you home.”
    “No.”
    “No?” Fane raised a brow.
    Valerie pulled her knees in and faced Fane. “Maybe
the vampire thing is what first interested me in you, but I don’t
care about that anymore. You’ve shown me one of the best nights of
my life. Stop smiling. I’m serious.”
    “Now I know you’re lying. A hot chick like you from
L.A. having the time of her life at Koots in Anchorage, Alaska.”
Fane chuckled. At least his shoulders relaxed.
    “Yeah, go figure,” Valerie said. “Here’s the deal. I know about
vampires, but I’ve never been bit. I was curious.” Roger taking a
chunk out of her wrist didn’t count. It was like comparing a blow
job with intercourse.
    “How could you have known vampires before me and not
have been bitten?”
    “I didn’t want to be bit,” Valerie said honestly.
“Not until now.”
    “Why now?” Fane asked, leaning closer.
    Valerie lifted her shoulders up and down.
“ I don ’t know why.
There’s something about you. I don’t know how to explain it.”
    She’d never been good with words. Valerie was a woman
of action, but her feelings were sincere. She was no longer acting.
She’d never been acting with Fane, she realized. The man made her
feel like a treasure, not a tramp. Dating a vampire as high class
as Fane Donado was a role she’d happily play, assignment or
not.
    Fane ran his fingers through Valerie’s hair. The
gesture made her shudder and her scalp tingle in an oddly arousing
way.
    “All right, I’ll bite you,” Fane said. “But it’s
nothing like you think and I want you to be prepared for
disappointment.”
    “Maybe I’ll like it,” Valerie countered.
    “We’ll see,” Fane said.
    He brushed Valerie’s hair behind her shoulder and
leaned forward. Thrilling tingles traveled down Valerie’s spine
when she felt Fane’s teeth on her neck. She wanted him to bite her.
Hard.
    And he did.
    It took biting her own tongue not to scream. Fane
opened his mouth wider and she felt two sharp points pierce through
her skin. Once he’d broken through, he pulled away.
    “There, I