Chapter 6
In the desert, Skylar had never been more terrified in her life. Back in Rafe’s arms, her pulse raced again. Hot. Ripped. Wicked. Wolf.
He kissed her hard and hot, and in the moment, she reveled in the pure animalistic encounter. His lips commanded hers, his tongue dancing in her mouth. Rafe peppered kisses along her neck, trailing his lips to her breast. Her fingers grazed over his muscular back touching every hard ridge.
“Please,” she breathed, her chest swirling with emotion. There was something about this gentle giant. Her hero…saving her once again.
With primal passion he sucked her nipple. Her body writhed underneath his. Seeking relief from the aching between her legs, she tilted her hips upward, and his hardened cock brushed over her mound.
Skylar closed her eyes, her body tingling with desire. She cried out with pleasure as his fingers slipped beneath her panties, brushing through her wet folds, teasing her sensitive nub.
“Yes, please, Rafe,” she begged as he cupped her mound, teasing her.
Her body stiffened against his hand as he plunged a thick finger into her core. She bit at his shoulder, her fingernails digging into his back. “Oh God, yes. Rafe, please.”
Breathless, her body trembled as he slid another thick finger into her pussy, his thumb circling her clit. She slid her hand between his thighs and captured his rock-hard cock, stroking it.
“Yes, Rafe. Don’t stop. I need…” She sucked a breath, her body trembling as her climax rocked her. “Yes, yes—”
A knock on the wall sounded. Immediately, she stilled, aware of a presence. Her eyes widened at the familiar man staring at them from across the room. “Oh my God.”
“Jesus Christ, Greyson. What the hell?” Rafe yanked the comforter over both of them.
“It’s time to roll. I know she needs to rest but, uh, we gotta hit things before it’s dark. We need to use the light to our advantage.” Greyson smiled at her. “Hey there, neighbor. Nice meeting you again.”
“Dude. Not cool. You need to get outta here,” Rafe yelled at him.
“Five minutes. I’ll meet you both in the kitchen in five minutes.” Greyson crossed his arms.
Skylar stared at Greyson. The handsome man with a neatly trimmed beard appeared to enjoy toying with them.
Stylish, he wore a black peacoat with jeans and high-end black leather combat boots.
Yet clearly his fashion style didn’t translate to manners, as he appeared quite happy with his unwelcome intrusion.
“Five minutes.” Greyson locked eyes on Skylar and dropped his fangs.
Her heart caught in her throat and she scrambled behind Rafe. “Vampire!”
“You’re killing me here, Grey. What the fuck? Seriously?” Rafe turned to Skylar. “He’s fine. He’s not going to hurt you. He’s harmless. I swear.” He focused back on Greyson. “Apologize. Now.”
“What for?” The vampire rolled his eyes.
“The fangs.” Rafe plowed his fingers through his wild hair. “Jesus. What’s wrong with you?”
Greyson looked to Skylar and retracted his teeth. “Five minutes.”
Skylar’s jaw dropped open as the vampire dematerialized into the ether right before her eyes. First a wolf. Now a disappearing vampire. She’d gone her whole life avoiding the paranormal, and within twenty-four hours, she’d begun falling for a shifter and was just cock blocked by a vampire.
“I’m not going with him,” she protested, searching through the disheveled bed for her tank top. “Where are my clothes?”
“I’m really sorry, Sky, but you can’t stay here by yourself.
” Rafe placed a gentle hand onto her shoulder.
“We don’t know who they were last night but it’s the reason why we’re here.
I’ll explain it all to you in the car, but we’ve got to find out who is doing this. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
Skylar shook her head, annoyed with the entire situation. “What happened to the rest of my clothes?”
“Yeah, about that. You were covered in dirt and blood so…” Rafe gestured to a chair in the corner with clothing draped over it. “We got you something to wear.”
“I need a shower,” she sighed, and shoved off the bed.
“Hey,” Rafe reached for her hand. “It’s going to be okay.”
Skylar’s stomach tightened into a knot, recalling the monsters who’d attacked her. She wasn’t safe alone.
She sighed in resignation. With no other choice, she’d go with Rafe and the vampire.
There was a reason she never went to blood clubs or got involved with the paranormal scene in New Orleans.
The past twenty-four hours had taught her she’d been right, to never ignore her instincts.
Her gut warned her that no matter what kind of big feelings she was developing for the wolf, it would never work.
Skylar unconsciously wrung her hands as she rode in the back of the black SUV, still reeling from Greyson’s intrusion.
The vampire appeared jovial as he drove, singing Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of his lungs as he barreled down the road, weaving in and out of traffic.
Though the sight of his fangs had frightened her, she’d begun to lean toward curiosity as opposed to fear.
Rafe shot her a look of amusement at the vampire’s proclivity for music and theatrics. He winked at her, spiking her arousal, and her cheeks reddened. She bit her lip, curbing her reaction, embarrassed by how easily the wolf affected her.
The music ended abruptly, and she looked out the window, willing her body’s emotions back into sorts. It was as if she lost all control around Rafe and she couldn’t stop thinking about their encounter in the bedroom.
“Time to put on your game faces, ladies and gentlemen. We’re just about there,” Greyson stated, his voice serious.
Skylar’s heart caught as they pulled into the parking garage of her hotel. “I thought you said we were going to a bar. Why are we here at my hotel?”
“We are going to a bar. Later. But first? Scene of the crime, love,” Greyson told her. “Let’s not waste time.”
“We’ll start at the beginning,” Rafe explained. “Then we’re meeting some friends.”
“But why do I have to go inside?” she asked.
“Because there’s something you may remember from last night that could give us clues as to what’s happening with the vampires.
We had a tip about a nest in the desert throwing blood parties and that’s how we found you.
But there are more humans who’ve gone missing besides you and your friend.
This hotel seems to be a source of some of the issues. ”
“Can’t we just go to the police?”
“The police already know.” Greyson glanced at Rafe and back to Skylar. “P-CAP. It’s a paranormal group that kind of polices our own. Kade’s been involved for a long time. We’re helping him out.”
“Why isn’t he here?” Skylar pressed. It seemed like a logical question.
“He’s running New Orleans and Luca’s out of town,” Greyson told her, irritation lacing his voice.
“This isn’t a good idea,” she protested.
“We will protect you,” Rafe assured her.
“I was almost dinner last night to a couple of monsters. And I do not use that word lightly. That guy? One of the vampires? That was my boss. Scott. I worked with him. I can’t believe he was a vampire.”
“Did he hire you for this job?” Greyson asked.
“My agent sent me here. He’d told her he’d seen me in this horror film I did.”
“You didn’t audition?” Rafe asked.
“Well, no, but….my agent said that they saw me and didn’t need an audition. And when I saw him later in the bar, he mentioned the movie I was in. I’d been on set all day. It seemed legit.”
“It could have been deliberate,” Greyson suggested.
“What? No. The whole production would have to be shut down. At least temporarily. I mean, he’s dead now so…”
“Were you supposed to work today?” Rafe asked
Skylar dug through her purse and retrieved her phone. With only ten percent battery she’d have little time to search her messages. As soon as she tapped at the screen a message flashed from her agent.
Bad news babe. Legal says there’s an IP issue. Show’s canceled for now. Chin up. Talk soon.
Skylar sighed, considering what to text back. While she normally loved her agent, a seed of doubt had been planted. Hey Em. Yeah, no worries. Thanks. Short and sweet. No information provided but a polite response.
“Welp. That was a text from my agent. She said the production has been cancelled.”
“Did you know anyone else on the set?” Rafe asked.
“Um, not really. It was a new job. I knew Tina but…well, she’s not here to ask anymore, is she?
” Her stomach knotted with worry, the dark energy of her attack lingering in her mind.
“It was a small project, but it was meant to be a series. It seemed legit, though. Scott had done a few movies that had made it to streaming.”
“That’s one hell of a job your agent sent you on,” Rafe replied.
“Who was the female vampire?” Greyson asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t’ remember seeing her on set. But I’m new so I don’t know all the people.” Skylar bit her lip, the memories fresh in her mind. Blood. Fangs. Tina’s screaming. “I really would like to forget what happened last night.”
Greyson pulled into a parking spot and turned off the engine. He picked up his cell phone and tapped the glass screen. “It’s Kenji. They’re in the desert.”
“Find anything new?” Rafe asked.
“A few pieces of trash. Receipts from the liquor store. Nothing of significance.”
“We’ll meet up later.” Rafe turned to Skylar, his tone serious. “I have to be honest with you. We don’t know if Scott acted on his own or is part of something bigger. There could be others. We’re looking for whoever is responsible.”
“Something evil is happenin’ in this town,” Greyson added. “I can feel it in my bones. I don’t know who or what it is but it’s not good.”
“Evil like Scott?” Skylar asked, fear crawling over her skin.
“Exactly.” Rafe added. “But it’s not just the vampires and humans who’ve been affected. The wolves that lived here are in disarray. There was a small pack but I don’t feel an Alpha. We don’t want to have any more humans killed.”
Skylar shook her head. “I’m going back to New Orleans.”