Free Kissing with Fangs by Ashlyn Chase Page A

keep up with you sexually. Do you think a mere mortal can do all that? If only you’d give me a chance…”
    â€œI did give you a chance—many chances—and we drove each other crazy. Face it. We’re just not good together.”
    â€œThat was before. I’ve grown since then.”
    â€œYeah, right. You’ve grown into a bigger pain in my ass than ever.”
    Over the last century, he had tried reasoning with the volatile vampiress, threatening her, and putting thousands of miles between the two of them.
    Inevitably, he got sick of failing to banish her from his life and would work around her. As it turned out, that was his mistake. She knew she could wear him down and wouldn’t stop until he let her hang around.
    Eventually, the attention she demanded would drive him to distraction again. If he didn’t come up with some kind of permanent solution to Ruxandra’s interference, it would go on for eternity.
    â€œRuxandra, you’re driving me into the sunshine.”
    â€œIs that the vampire’s equivalent of ‘You’re driving me to drink’?”
    â€œEssentially, yes.”
    â€œBut that makes no sense. If you want to drink, we should be together. We can drink from each other or share our thralls.”
    Logic was wasted on her. She had her own, and as much as he hated to admit it, in some ways she made sense. It would be more convenient to be with another vampire. No need to hide what he was. Hunting with a lookout was infinitely easier. Or they’d have twice the chances of finding a willing thrall.
    Unfortunately, logic was also wasted on his heart. Claudia was the only woman he felt right with. He totally trusted her, relaxed with her, enjoyed her company. And it didn’t stop with companionship. The sexual attraction was overpowering. Claudia was the only woman in decades that his traitorous body had demanded he take to bed. It was all he could do to keep his pants on until he could figure out what to do about Ruxandra.
    His own resources weren’t enough, but how could he take out a restraining order on a vampire without putting innocent law-enforcement officers in mortal danger? Perhaps Sadie could use her psychic insight to help him think of a solution.
    â€œAre you listening to me?” Ruxandra shouted.
    â€œHuh? No. I can’t hear you when you yell. Besides, I’ve heard it all before, Ruxandra. We have nothing else to say to each other. I think it’s time to call it a night.”
    She lunged at him and pinned him to the ground. “We’ll ‘call it a night’ when I say it’s a night.”
    Anthony simply sighed. If he wanted to, he could toss her into the bushes easily. But he’d done that before—and she’d clung to his retreating back before. They’d done it all before.
    And he was thoroughly sick of it. He was almost ready to lie there and fry when the sun came up, but she’d fry too. He didn’t think she was willing to kill them both, but who knew?
    â€œWhat are you going to do? Anchor the two of us here until dawn?”
    â€œIf that’s what it takes for you to see the light.”
    Seeing the light . Anthony snapped out of his despair. Didn’t Sadie or Kurt or somebody mention a vampire who could walk in daylight?
    He’d heard the story months ago. The humans at his bar had discovered the existence of paranormals, and before all hell could break loose, Kurt had frozen the room. Because this happened early in the afternoon, Anthony was in his death sleep. Nick knew of another vampire he could call. A vampire able to arrive before the sun went down and compel everyone at the bar to forget what they’d heard.
    If only he could discover that vampire’s secret. He could be with Claudia during the day, and Ruxandra would be powerless to stop them.
    Then he remembered he’d have to protect both of them during the night, and his pleasant fantasy went