“And you are?” I asked politely. I could throw my attitude around with the people I knew, the monsters I knew–I did not know this one. I’d have manners until further notice.

“Kelley,” he answered, just as politely. A faint accent curled his name. His black shoes were silent as he stepped closer. He offered me his hand formally. “And you’re Amanda Quinn?”

“Yeah,” I said, taking his hand with the one that was blood covered but had an unbroken wrist. Gotta compromise sometimes. We didn’t shake. We just held hands. His was warm, large and it enveloped mine. His scent was welcoming, pleasant. He smelled clean, not clogging or cloying my sensitive nose with blood or cologne.

“Amanda’s a very pretty name,” he commented. I didn’t correct him and tell him it was Manny. Only Manny. Always Manny.

“Thank you,” I said instead. “So is Kelley.” He smirked, and just the edges of his mouth lifted, like he needed a really good reason to smile. I wonder what would do it, and frowned at the thought, pulling my hand away…but slowly. Why would I care what would make him smile?

“How’d you know who I was?” I asked curiously.

“I pay attention.” He was standing in a different place now, and I hadn’t seen him move. I was letting my guard down. Not good.

“Good to know I don’t tear apart jaws for nothing,” I said flatly.

“That one yours?” He asked suddenly, eyeing Matthew as he began to stir, trying to sit up and failing. Wow. I really f*cked him up! I had to smile, and nod in answer. Laughing just seemed outright rude.

“Mm,” Kelley murmured, slipping his body against mine so fast, so close I couldn’t really step back so much as fall.

He caught me. Somehow, his arm was already around my waist and I hadn’t noticed. Again, not good. His arms were like a steel band, but so warm. The pressure of his hard body against mine was way more delightful than I was comfortable with. I wanted to get closer. I just wanted more. Suddenly, I couldn’t really talk, or move, but I could see and hear even better than I normally could, which is to say a lot.

I could hear Matthew’s slow heartbeat speed up as he fought unconsciousness and slipped back and forth in wakefulness like a flopping fish. I could hear the sluggish putter of a gutter’s drain, not even a few feet away. And I could hear that Kelley’s heart was not beating, nor was he breathing. If his heart wasn’t beating, did it mean he hadn’t fed? Was he gonna feed on me? Was I gonna let him?

His eyes were so brown. Like the heart of a cocoa bean. And his head was framed by what little light was left to trickle over the buildings’ edges, like small fingers, making his low-cut hair shine. He looked like an angel, but I knew better and yet, I was staring at him like he’d answer my prayers. And I could see his face getting closer every second, but no matter how much I was screaming on the inside, my legs…my arms, nothing would move. Except my heart, which was scaling my ribs and trying to crawl up my throat. It hurt. But it wasn't disagreeable. I was excited. Oh, God. No.

He put his mouth over mine, but he didn’t kiss me; he paused like he was reconsidering. He lifted enough to talk to me, but his lips moved across mine. It was the smallest movement, the smallest brush. It was like the sip of a butterfly. I wonder if anyone else would have called it a kiss.

“Amanda Quinn, Amanda Quinn,” he whispered. “What am I going to do about you?” What was he talking about? He had all the control.

Right?

He shuddered softly, and nipped at my bottom lip, but not with his fangs. Was the trance I was in a vampire thing or…a Kelley thing? I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure I cared.

“I’m not blaming you,” he finally said. I was not following him. What was going on? “So, don’t take what I’m going to say the wrong way. I don’t think any of the events of today are your fault. Not this wolf racing into my territory without permission. Not you also coming into my territory to retrieve your wolf,” he paused and took a breath, and considering he hadn’t been breathing before that moment, the action was so human. So learned. It scared me. He scared me. I liked it? “You smell so good. Why do you smell like food, and sex and chocolate? Why do I want to split you in half? I find myself wondering what you have…” He touched my collar with light fingers. “In here. Why do I wonder that?”

I shuddered. ‘I don’t know’, I wanted to scream, whimper, cry. I didn’t say a word.

“No, I don’t blame you,” he said again. He slid his fingers into my hair, gripped me tighter with the arm around my waist. “But if any of these little incidents occur again, without any warning, I might blame you. And if you come near me ever again, I won’t be to blame for the things I most certainly will do to you. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I finally gasped raggedly, finding I could talk again. “Let me go. Now.” He did. Immediately. And to my surprise, I didn’t fall on my a*s. I stood, but I was panting like I’d run a mile.

“I’d say good-bye, but I don’t think this is a good-bye. And I look forward to that. Till next time, Ms. Quinn,” he smiled, bowing. As he stood, he disappeared.

Literally.

He was hot sh*t if he could teleport or move fast enough that it seemed like teleportation.

Just f*cking great.