Read Good, the Bad, and the Vampire for Free Online

hard day’s work, and damn if that wasn’t a turn-on. What was it about a man’s man that could get a girl’s blood moving? She thought of the little horse he’d carved for Emily and something inside her quivered. These hands of his could put down an enemy with swift precision, but they could also gently and painstakingly cradle a piece of wood, massaging it and whittling it carefully until it became a delicate treasure. There was more to this cowboy than met the eye.
    Tender and rough. Sweet but lethal.
    How would it feel to have these hands running over more sensitive parts of her anatomy?
    To be cherished, cradled, and coveted?
    What was she doing? Trixie blinked. He was a sentry, a soldier who dealt in death and violence. There was nothing tender about that. But still…
    Pinned beneath his intense blue stare and his impossibly warm hands, she fought the surge of desire that sizzled and simmered in her blood. Her arms were crushed between their bodies, and it was impossible not to notice the subtle movements of his muscles as he inched closer.
    â€œI’ll make you a deal,” he whispered, his thumb rasping lightly over her knuckles. “You tell me why you’re comin’ to this house in the middle of nowhere, and I’ll promise to keep your secret.”
    â€œYou don’t know my secrets.” Trixie tried to tug her hands from beneath his but he refused to release her. “Please let me go.”
    â€œNot yet.” He held her in a viselike grip, cool as ice. “So you have more secrets than these little visits to the woods?”
    â€œI said, let me go,” she ground out.
    â€œWhy?” he asked in an almost lighthearted tone. “The sun won’t be up for a few hours and you still haven’t answered my questions. I am a sentry for the Presidium—you know, that pesky vampire government. Didn’t anyone teach you to respect authority?”
    â€œYeah, you may be a vamp cop,” she scoffed. “But your boss is my maker. I win .”
    â€œYou are a spitfire of a woman, do you know that? You remind me of a horse that hasn’t been broken yet. All skittish and full of wild energy.”
    â€œAre you for real?” Her jaw fell open. “Did you just compare me to a horse?”
    â€œIt’s a compliment. You’re spirited. I always preferred wild horses to the ones who’d been saddled.” His eyes twinkled with mischief and flashed at her in the dark, twin pools of silver that harkened of desire and danger. “I like that in a woman. And tellin’ me you have secrets is like throwin’ a scented shoe in front of a hound dog. Only makes me want to find out what they are.”
    â€œWhatever secrets I have are mine and they’re called secrets for a reason, genius. It’s stuff I don’t want anyone else to know about. Okay? It’s personal. I don’t know you well enough to tell you my favorite band, let alone my secrets.”
    â€œAlright, then. Let me guess.” Dakota tilted his face toward the sky and pursed his lips together. “Give me a minute.”
    â€œCareful, you might hurt yourself with all that thinking.”
    â€œI got it,” he said abruptly. He tilted his smiling face to her and looked totally satisfied with himself. “Definitely.”
    â€œWhat?” Panic shimmied up her back. “My secrets?”
    â€œNo. Your favorite band.”
    Trixie gaped at him but he didn’t seem to notice.
    â€œNow, based on that colorful hair of yours, I’m thinkin’ you’re a fan of that Sid Vicious fella, or maybe the Clash.” His hold on her loosened and his thumb made another lazy pass along hers, sending whispers of gooseflesh up her bare arms. “Now, me? I think Johnny Cash is about the best there ever is, was, or will be. Somethin’ about the way he tells a story, you know? Like he can see right inside my soul. Too bad he never got