Free Blood Kiss (Savage Security Series Book 1) by Karen Tjebben Page A

flowed into the tub, and the cascading water swirled at her feet. She did her best to let the warm water dissolve the tension of the day.
    Forrest looked up at her from beside the tub, his tail wagging. She lifted her hand out of the tub and sprinkled some water on his head. He barked and continued to wag his tail. She did it again. He seemed to enjoy their little game. She stopped when his hair drooped into his eyes.
    Once the water started to turn cold, she opened the drain and got out. She slipped into her warm pajamas and headed towards her bed. She was exhausted, and the bath had done its job. She was relaxed and ready for bed. She pulled back the covers and slipped beneath their warmth. Forrest hopped onto the bed and settled by her feet. She looked one last time at the Glock on her nightstand and turned off the light.

7
     
    Pacey continued to glance at the clock on his dashboard as he drove towards home. Was there enough time? He’d done the grocery shopping, so that was one task completed, but he needed his Alisha fix, especially after seeing her with that brute.
    He gripped the steering wheel tightly and debated what he should do. Nausea had overwhelmed him after watching the dumb oaf grip her tiny hips with his meaty hands and crush his mouth to hers. He hadn’t been able to get that image out of his head. Pacey fought back the bile that threatened to rise in his throat.
    He needed to check on her, make sure she was alone and safe in her house. If he moved quickly he could see her one last time tonight. He did a U-turn at the light and headed towards her house. He’d already clocked the time it took to get to her place from several points in the city. As long as he didn’t hit traffic, he’d get a chance to look in on her. 
    He rolled his car to a stop several houses down from hers. He was in luck, there were a few cars parked on the street. His car would easily blend in.
    He grabbed a box of Tic Tacs and wandered down the sidewalk that ran the length of her yard. The first time he followed her home he couldn’t believe how lucky he was. She lived on a corner house that backed up to a tree protection area and bordered the sidewalk. The tiny wooded area between the houses provided a fantastic location for his observations. He could ensure she was safe from the cover of the trees.  
    He crouched and scooted along the wooded area until he came to his favorite spot. The first night he watched over her, he’d found a large bush. He’d broken a couple of the branches and formed the bush into the perfect viewing spot. He could nestle himself between the branches and disappear.
    Many nights he’d chuckled silently to himself as neighbors passed by on the sidewalk. People talked about bizarre things when they thought they were alone. One night he got a special treat when two teens invaded his area and literally had sex a few feet away from him. Not once did they notice him. He’d watched the whole thing with delight. He figured anyone who had sex in public wasn’t concerned with privacy, so he didn’t feel bad about relishing their intimacy. If they wanted privacy, then they shouldn’t have sex outside for the world to see.
    But tonight he wasn’t interested in anyone’s shameless talk or sex play. Tonight he was focused solely on Alisha. He needed to get the image of the oaf kissing her out of his head and replace it with her sweet image smiling for him alone.
    The first floor of her house was lit up. Pacey could tell she was watching television from the way the light flickered around the blinds in the family room. He figured Forrest was cuddled up beside her. He’d have to do something about the dog. He didn’t relish that idea. He was fond of animals and knew that she would be disappointed if she lost Forrest. But a man had to do what a man had to do. He wouldn’t let a dog get in the way of their love.
    Pacey slipped his hand into his coat pocket and pulled out the box of Tic Tacs. He flipped the