Excerpt from "Illicit Hunger" by Dee Carney

“So you really think women with piercings in exotic places are sexy?”

“Gods, Lia.” Jericho groaned. “How did we get on this topic?”

She laughed at the consternation in his voice. If the moon shone brighter, she had no doubt as to the blush that would be coloring his cheeks. After catching her breath, she pleaded, “Just tell me!”

“I will answer no such question from you.” The smile he tried to unsuccessfully squelch continued to turn up the corners of his mouth.

Four days. In four short days they'd become friends. His sexual appeal often dropped in to say hello to her flustered hormones, but he seemed to have beaten any desires he may have harbored into submission.

She was not so fortunate.

When she looked up at him, she often glimpsed the pulse in his neck beating in tune just for her. He also had a unique scent of earthiness and cloves which lingered even when he left. Last night he leaned close and the urge to bite him again overwhelmed her. He didn't seem to notice. But that moment went with her into the bedroom that night.

“Oh, fine. But if you're not going to answer that one, I have another one for you.”

“I'm almost afraid to ask what it is,” he replied. A smile still curved his lips.

“Well, this one's a little personal.”

“And asking me what I find sexy isn't?”

She thought for a minute on how best to phrase her question. “Is it true what they say about werewolves?”

He shrugged. “I guess it depends on what they say.”

“I was thinking about why it didn't make sense for a vampire to attack me the other night.”

“That again?”

“And I came up with something that makes sense.”

Her hand rested in the crook of his arm. When Jericho stopped walking, she paused beside him. “Go on,” he said, looking down on her.

“You're the first werewolf I've really gotten to know and I don't have any one else to ask. So here goes.” Lia took a deep breath before continuing. “I've heard that weres can be a little… impulsive.”

The moment she felt him tense, she regretted the statement.

“Impulsive,” he repeated.

In for a penny, in for a pound. “I've heard that sometimes they can… well, kind of lose control. That's why they can be dangerous to have around.”

He turned to face her, his eyes angry slits. “Do you consider me too dangerous to be around you?”

“No, of course not!” Gods, why had she started this conversation? “Just something I heard.”

“Don't be so quick to believe everything you hear, prima lux.”

Now she'd done it. He only reverted to her title when they were alone if she pushed him too far. Any other friend would have stalked off by now. Her guard waited for her to make the first move. But if he were truly her friend and not just an employee, she should apologize. She had no problem apologizing as a vampire to a werewolf, but for the prima lux to apologize?

Never.

She bit her lip. Then again, never was such a strong word.

Jericho raked a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “Please don't look so stricken. I did not mean to offend, Lia.”

“You haven't…”

“What you've heard has some truth to it. Weres can be dangerous and impulsive. But for us, it has to do with the call of the moon. When that time comes, we are unpredictable. Thank the gods, we know in advance when it will happen.”

“Only for one night, right? The full moon?”

“Right,” he said. “I say we're better off for knowing what will happen. Not like other creatures who can turn on a whim.”

“Is that some sort of veiled shot at vampires?” She smiled.

His gray eyes flashed at her. “If the shoe fits.”

“Well,” she huffed, “I can't speak for other vamps, but I am not impulsive.”

“Oh?”

“Do you think I'm impulsive?” It was her turn for hackles to rise.

“I'd say in the right circumstances you could be.”

Lia put balled up hands on her hips. “Oh yeah? And when would that be?”

Jericho glanced down both directions of the path. She reacted on simple instinct by backing up when he rushed forward. In three large strides, he had her all but pinned between him and the tall hedges at her back. He stood close enough for her to feel the heat radiating from his body, less than an inch of space separating them.

His head dropped down next to hers so his breath tickled her skin as he spoke. “In the right circumstances, Lia, your senses are as heightened as my own.”

He knew her kind so well. She could detect the blood pulsing through his neck. Could almost hear it roaring through his veins.

“If I stood here long enough, if you were hungry enough,” he whispered, “this would tempt you to do something impulsive.”

Her eyelids fluttered closed. Since the other night, she fed meagerly. Just enough to get by. Something about knowing what she missed out on prevented her from enjoying vampire blood. His close proximity, the memories from before teased her mercilessly.

“Are you hungry, Lia?” He sniffed the hair tucked behind her ear. Traveled over the crown of her head, exposing his neck even more to her.

She wasn't just hungry. She was ravenous.

“Jericho,” she said on a breath. He'd proven his point. She pressed her hands against his firm abdomen, ready to push him away.

He turned his head. “Do it,” he teased, his voice husky. “Do it, Lia.”