Read The Bite Before Christmas for Free Online Page B

. . . and wasn’t that the saddest thing in the world? If he took her up on what he suspected was an offer, he’d probably empty his barrel before he even took aim . . . so to speak.
    â€œMy gun’s in the drawer there if you want to see it,” he said finally, turning his gaze to his soup as she started back across the room. “So is my badge.”
    She let him get away with pretending to misunderstand and simply set his coffee cup in front of him and settled on the floor across from him to fix her own. But the thought was in his head now, and he couldn’t look at her without his mind running along rather X-rated lines, starting with peeling off those damned leotards and running his hands over the firm flesh beneath. His hands, his lips, his tongue . . . Hell, he’d never been a biter, but Teddy had a sudden urge to nip one of the round cheeks and see if it was as firm as it looked, and then—
    A sudden ache between his legs brought Teddy’s attention to the fact that he was no longer just half-cocked. He now sported a full-fledged erection that was pressing against his jeans, begging to be released. Christ. He was reacting like a twelve-year-old boy who just found his dad’s stash of porn magazines . . . and the woman was fully clothed, for God’s sake. How pathetic was that? Obviously, he needed to keep a tight rein on his eyes and his thoughts, Teddy decided grimly. In fact, since she was immortal and could read his thoughts if she wanted, he should have been doing it already. The realization made him glance warily to her expression. Katricia was smiling slightly, not looking offended. She hadn’t read his mind, he decided with relief. Still, he determined not to even look at her again while he finished his soup and second cup of coffee.
    The fire was dying down by the time they finished and carried their dishes to the kitchen sink. Teddy then returned to add several logs to the blaze and rearrange them in the flames for maximum benefit. He then considered the logs left in the dwindling stack beside the fireplace and moved to begin donning his coat and boots.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Katricia asked with surprise.
    â€œTo fetch more wood for the fire,” he answered, doing up his boots.
    â€œI’ll help.” She was immediately donning her own coat and boots.
    â€œThere’s no need in both of us getting cold,” he said quietly.
    â€œWhy not? The fire warms both of us,” she said with a laugh and simply pulled on her gloves.
    Teddy frowned, but let it go. He’d learned from dealing with Elvi and Mabel over the years that there was really just no use arguing with a strong woman. Most women would have been happy to leave him to it while they played little housemate inside, but Elvi and Mabel wouldn’t have, and he suspected Katricia was made of the same velvet-covered steel that his two friends were. A woman didn’t work in law enforcement, whether it was mortal or immortal, without a solid backbone.
    â€œThe air may be cold, but I don’t think I’ve ever breathed anything so clean,” Katricia said as they started off the porch.
    Teddy smiled faintly. “I suppose there isn’t a whole lot of clean air in New York.”
    â€œToo many cars for that,” she said wryly.
    â€œDo you like the city?” he asked curiously as they crossed the yard to the small shed with the tarp-covered wood stacked beside it.
    â€œNot really,” she said easily and laughed at his surprise. “I suppose you’re now wondering why I stay there then?”
    â€œYou’d suppose right,” he said mildly.
    Katricia shrugged as they paused and pulled the tarp back to begin gathering wood. “It was exciting when I first settled there. The place to be. Life can get boring after a couple of centuries, but New York seemed alive, vibrant, with loads to do and see.” She smiled wryly.