Page 18 of Hellhound AU

“No guns,” I specified, remembering the last time Milo had used a gun.

“My dear boy, some people need to be dealt with to make the world a better place,” Ethel told me.

“Oh, no,” Milo interrupted. “It isn’t that he cares about killing people. He just doesn’t like guns.” Milo patted my arm, which made goosebumps rise along my skin. His touch felt wonderful, and I had to resist the urge to grab his hand and put it back on my arm.

“Oh, that’s nice,” Judy answered. “Sometimes knives are just better.”

I nodded my head in agreement, and the whole crew smiled at me. It was actually getting a bit disconcerting.

“We’re so glad to see that Milo has a partner for his work,” Harold said.

Milo choked a bit at that on the sip of tea he was drinking, so I patted his back before answering. “I’m happy to be of assistance.”

They all smiled again. Despite the smiles, I still felt vaguely threatened. It was like being in the sights of some predatory pack that was about to take you down. Milo stood up, and I followed suit. Before we could leave, though, Ethel placed a hand on my arm.

“I suppose we should talk about payment,” she stated.

“Oh, no,” I answered. “I’m happy to work with Milo, and we can figure that out.” Because the last thing I wanted was to take money from these very nice folks, many of whom were probably on fixed incomes.

Ethel nodded, everyone smiled again, sending little chills up my spine, and Milo led the way out of the room, calling goodbye to everyone. I gave a wave and followed him out, and we were silent as we left the retirement home. When we got to the car, he turned to look at me.

“Payment, my sexy ginger?” Then he winked at me.

My face got hot and I stuttered, because that wasn’t at all where my head had gone. Even though Milo was shorter and skinnier than me, I somehow found myself backed against the car, Milo pressing against me.

“Mmm, you are so warm. You’re like a furnace,” he said, running his hands up along my chest.

I opened my mouth to answer, but no sound came out. Who could blame me? The smell of apples filled my nose, and Milo’s body was warm and lithe against mine. The man couldn’t be still for two seconds, and if he didn’t stop rubbing against me…

He smirked at me, and I figured he knew just how he was affecting me. He looked exactly like a feral cat about to bite, but then his face softened as he gazed at me.

“Bend your head down now, boo,” he told me.

I did as he said, and my eyes slipped shut as his lips pressed against mine. At first it was gentle, with our mouths lightly pressing together. I wrapped my arms around Milo, unable to help myself, and he nipped at my bottom lip, his teeth causing a sharp little sting that sent shockwaves through my entire body. I growled and slanted my mouth over his, flicking my tongue out to press against his lips. He sucked it into his mouth and nipped that, too, making more zings spread throughout my body.

I dragged him closer, which I hadn’t even known was possible, and our mouths crashed together, tongues and teeth touching and nipping, our fronts pressed together, my arms full of squirming Milo as he devoured me in the best way possible.

He pulled back first, leaning his head against my chest. I rubbed my hands gently along his back as we both caught our breaths. Before I was ready to let him go, he pulled back and smiled at me. “Let’s go rescue a weighted blanket and then tackle a dog fighting ring.”

With that, he bounced away to get into the car. I stood there for a second longer trying to get my bearings.

Kissing Milo had probably been the mostrightfeeling I’d ever had with another being. He wasn’t a hellhound or a harpy or any other creature, which is what my family tended to mate with, but that didn’t matter.

I thought that Milo was my mate, and I was keeping him. The fact that he was human and thus susceptible to harm terrified me, but I’d have to deal with that. I knew that Milo wasn’t the type to sit on the sidelines and be safe.

I’d just have to protect him, even if I had to follow him around to do it.

With that thought, I got into the car. Milo smiled at me, and I smiled back. We would be fine. Everything would be fine.

After all, we were just going to rescue a weighted blanket.

8

Author’s Note:

Sorry this chapter is so last minute. I was involved in writing one of my other published books (no, I’m not telling you my name!), and I needed some research done on decapitation. My boyfriend takes my researchveryseriously, and there was a demonstration involved, at which point my lunch might have reappeared. Becauseapparently writing about gore and seeing gore are twototallydifferent things.

Not that he decapitated anyone, of course. It was just a really lifelike demonstration using a doll. No good people were harmed in the making of this book. I swear.