Free Kraven (VLG Series Book 2) by Laurann Dohner

tiny bite. Her eyes closed as she savored the food. She finished it and opened her eyes, almost jumping when he offered her another piece by waving it right in her face.
    “Thank you.” She passed him the first stick back, accepting the next one.
    She blew on it and ate. They were big chunks. He cooked a few more, letting them cool a little on another rock. He looked at ease in nature, as if he hunted and cooked his meals on a daily basis over an open flame. It would be kind of sexy, if she didn’t know how unstable his sanity was.
    His muscular thighs and legs were displayed nicely from his crouched position. His pretty gaze flicked her way, and she again found it unfair that he had to have a major flaw.
    “More?”
    “No.” She passed back the stick. “I’m full for now. Thank you. Aren’t you going to have some? You haven’t eaten.”
    “VampLycan men take care of women first. You won’t find that trait much in the human world. I wouldn’t touch the food until I made sure you’d had enough to eat.”
    Interest sparked inside Bat and part of her softened. “You’ve romanticized your fantasy world. It’s kind of sweet, and a nice change. Most guys would make up more barbaric stuff that degraded women.” She smiled. “You aren’t so bad, are you? You just need meds.”
    His head snapped in her direction as he bit down on a piece of meat. He chewed, swallowed, and rose to his feet. “I’ve lost my appetite. I’m tired of your insults. Stay by the fire, Bat. I need some space.”
    As he stormed away, regret hit her when she glanced at the rest of the strips he’d left behind. She should have just kept her mouth shut.
    A low growl sounded close by and she knew it had come from Kraven. He hadn’t gone far. Her belly was full, but he had to still be hungry.
    “Damn it.”
    She rose to her feet, ready to apologize. The guy had fed her. Guilt had her walking carefully over dirt to find him.
    He may be delusional but he thinks it’s real. Believing he’s some creature with a hero complex is better than some of the nutjobs I’ve dealt with. He needs to eat. I’ll go play nice to bring him back .
     
    Kraven hands fisted at his sides and he fought the urge to howl out his rage. Bat’s insults weren’t far off the mark when she’d accused him of being nuts. She was driving him crazy. It was her fault.
    How in the hell could she have survived to her age without knowing she wasn’t fully human?
    Her traits must be almost nonexistent for her not to have learned what she truly was. It meant she was vulnerable and without defenses. The sight of claws growing from her fingertips every time she lost her temper would have clued her in. She obviously didn’t have the ability to shift. He’d pissed her off plenty and her eyes hadn’t even responded by changing color. Her body was human.
    He softly groaned. Not completely though . She smelled good to him, enough to tempt his lust. It was bad timing, considering he was giving women a good long rest after Violet had tried to kill him.
    Bat had no clue what kind of danger she was in. Her mother had been wrong to keep secrets. She’d probably figured she had more time to warn her daughters, and instead had died suddenly. At least he hoped Antina had planned to warn them.
    He pondered if Decker had been behind that so-called accident that killed her parents, but he’d never mention that to either sister. The pain in Bat’s eyes when she’d spoken of the loss had been too fresh. It didn’t sit well with him, the thought of emotionally hurting her that way.
    His hands itched to touch Bat. There was something about her that got to him, beyond her scent. It wasn’t just her way of pissing him off. She was strong-willed and ornery. It was oddly arousing.
    He sat on a wide rock and removed his jacket, tossing it over another. The cooler air felt good against his heated body. Lust rolled off him just thinking about Bat. Maybe he was losing his mind, or he’d gone far