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angling her face towards his. “Sliced me up. Teeth and claws.”
    She pulled back, scraping her chair on the floor and lifted up her shirt a little. Her stomach was a mass of scar tissue and Gabriel winced. “Hard to believe I wanted this. I thought it would be different.” She made a noise in her throat, then began to back away.
    “Wait. Please,” Gabriel said, reaching for her again. His hand clasped around her wrist, gentle, light. She paused and he offered a sad smile. He slowly unwrapped the bandage from around that arm, revealing the details of his own scars. Her eyes widened, a breath released as she stared. He looked down at his arm, a canvas for a vampire’s artistic tastes, and shook his head. “Fucking vampire. Thinks he owns me.”
    “Does he?” Her eyes met his, braver now.
    “Not anymore. Never again. I’d rather die.”
    “Me too.”
    “Want another drink?” He sipped at his, winced at the burn, and then downed it. Goddess, he didn’t drink—what was he doing? But he could feel the metal warm against his leg, daring him. He needed her to trust him. Just for a moment, just to let her guard down. Suddenly, he was filled with guilt at what he was planning on doing. For a heartbeat, he considered telling her to run, far away. But he bit back his emotions and smiled at her. She nodded, so he went back to the bar and ordered two more.
    When he came back, she was waiting for him. She took the glasses from his hands, then slowly unwrapped his other arm. Pulling them to her, her fingertips were feather light as they traced each and every damn scar. “What’s your name?” she murmured, eyes trained on his face.
    He swallowed. “Gabriel. You?”
    “It doesn’t matter…” she murmured, then leaned forwards. Using his arms as leverage, she tugged him towards her. Their lips met briefly, gently. Hers were needy, his were uncertain. He pulled away, startled. He’d never kissed a woman before—only Jeremie, only ever Jeremie…
    She leaned forward, reaching for him. His heart skittered in his chest but he let her twine fingers through his hair, let his mane loose from its ponytail as it fell around his face and she kissed his lips, his chin, his jaw.
    He soon found himself kissing her back. There wasn’t even lust between them—just a feral, unspoken need. He slowly wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to him and they became just another couple making out on the dance floor. At least until Reese pulled away, her fingers twining in his and a secret smile on her lips. Excitement danced in her sun gold eyes as she pulled him after her. “C’mon, Gabriel,” she whispered.
    Gabriel found himself in a tiny room with a bed, complete with stained sheets. No stripper pole in this room, he noted as she locked the door behind her. She tilted her head back, watching him as he stood there, unsure of what was expected, what she wanted. She slowly began to unbutton her top, a smile twisting her face.
    He took a step back and his legs hit the bed. “I…I’m not sure,” he murmured, his mind spinning. Sex was just sex, he told himself, but it didn’t ease his fear. He swallowed tightly as she stepped forwards, dropping her shirt to the floor behind her, her breasts soft and round in the lacy bra she wore.
    “It’s okay to be nervous,” she said around a smile, her hands touching his chest. She gave him a gentle push and he collapsed on top of the bed, staring up at her with wide eyes. Her fingers traced down his chest, sliding under the fabric of his shirt. “I’ll be gentle.” Her lips found his throat, mouth opening and there were the teeth—sharp, pointed against his flesh and Gabriel stiffened.
    No! He thrust his hand into the pocket of his jeans and grasped the silver band. He reached up to Reese’s wrist, wrapping the metal around her arm, but before he could snap it shut, she reared back with a snarl. The silver sizzled against her skin and she screamed, high and piercing and wild. All