Free Evil Red by Nikki Jefford Page A

bit you.”
    Valerie looked into Fane’s mouth. She hadn’t noticed
the two teeth sharpened to points on either side of Fane’s back
molars. At least there were only two of them and they were hidden,
unlike Roger’s.
    “What’s with these?” Valerie asked pointing from one
side of his mouth to the other.
    Fane smiled, giving her a better view. “They help
break through the skin. Makes things easier on everyone.”
    “Okay,” Valerie said slowly. “You bit me, but aren’t
you going to suck my blood?”
    Fane
smirked. “You didn’t mention sucking.”
    “I did just now.”
    “Come here,” he said, motioning with his finger.
    Valerie leaned into Fane. He pressed his lips to the
wound on her neck and gently sucked on her skin. His warm breath
set off pinpricks of electricity inside her head. Valerie moaned
softly.
    Fane sucked harder then stopped and pulled back,
giving Valerie another one of his strange looks.
    “What?”
    “ I don ’t
usually date other vampires.”
    “I’m not a vampire,” Valerie said.
    Heaven help the poor fool, she was the exact
opposite. Why did he suddenly think she was a vampire? She was
about to demand just that when Fane caught her eye.
    “You sure about that?”
    “I wish,” Valerie said, pulling her hair forward to
cover her neck. “I’d make a damn good vampire. The boys would be in
trouble. I’d suck them dry.”
    “Good thing you’re not a vampire,” Fane said.
    Valerie leaned forward, inches from his face. Most
people found this intimidating, but Fane didn’t move a muscle or so
much as blink. “Why? Would that scare you?”
    “I’m undead. Nothing scares me,” Fane said, leaning
closer. “But draining humans would be the surest way to get a
vampire hunter on your case.”
    Valerie snorted. “There’s no such thing.” She sounded
so convincing she almost believed her own words. Eat your heart
out, Hollywood.
    Fane made a similar sound and regarded her with
increased amusement. “You believe in vampires, but not vampire
hunters?”
    “You run into one or something?” Valerie asked.
    “Heard rumors is all.” Fane glanced toward the
windshield. “Sun’s coming up.”
    Valerie turned her head slowly to the east. The
surrounding environment slowly changed color. Valerie opened the
car door and got out. She wrapped her arms around herself, taking a
stand near the bluff’s edge. Another door opened and closed behind
her. Soon, Fane was at her side. He put an arm around her, and
together they watched the sunrise.
    Cook Inlet rippled a dull gray below. Valerie had
never seen the ocean that color. It was ugly and beautiful at the
same time, sorta like Fane. The air was electric, her body calm as
though she were going into a trance.
    She’d never realized how alone she felt, not until
Fane’s arm went around her.
    Valerie kept her own arms folded and, looking out
over the ocean said, “If any vampire hunter ever tried to hurt you,
I’ d kill him. ”
    Fane pulled her against his chest in a tender
embrace.
    And if Fane Donado ever hurt her, so help him, she’d
hurt him back.
     
    FADE OUT.
    THE END
     

 
Acknowledgements
     
    I’d like to thank The Ginger Pimps (Ali, Janice,
Laura, and Lynsey) for their enthusiasm, encouragement, and bad ass
author services. Team Red rules!
    A lifetime of thanks to Seb for all the weekends he’s
given up to format my ebooks and paperbacks, keep track of
expenses, do my taxes, and listen to my book related ramblings for
miles on end during our weekend hikes. I adore this man like no
other.
    To my butt kicking copy editor, S.M. Boyce, who I
swear has editing super powers. Once more her suggestions and
observations were dead on and this story is stronger for it.
    I am pleased to add Rachel Joyce of Bright Side
Editorial to the Aurora Sky editing team. Not only does she have an
eagle eye, but it turns out she used to live in Anchorage… and even
partied at Koots!
    To Naj Qamber for nailing the cover of Evil Red. It
turned