Redemption (A NOVEL OF THE SEVEN SIGNS) by Erica Hayes Page A

Good luck with that.” She lolled on one foot, eyeing him speculatively, sizing up her prey. “Japheth, right? Of the Tainted Host? Cute name, for a hamster.”
    Sweet lord, his name in her mouth sounded…dirty. He swallowed, rough. “How’d you know that?”
    “I know my enemy.” She licked ripe lips.
    “Yeah?” he said coldly. “Well, I don’t want to know you, whore. I don’t care what your name is—”
    “Rose Harley,” she cut in swiftly, with a wicked grin. “Whoops. Too late. Sorry about that. You like it anonymous, don’t you? So you can pretend they’re not people when you damn them to eternal torment?”
    His grip spasmed around his sword. Sweet heaven, he wanted to stab her. Fill her with burning steel. Twist it, thrust it deeper, make her moan… “You don’t need me to damn you. You made your choice. Tell me where Fluvium’s hiding, and I’ll put you out of your misery.”
    She laughed again, and strolled towards him, hands in pockets. “You sure could learn a thing or two from demons about making deals. Like, I dunno. Offering me something I actually want?”
    Her knife still lay sheathed, in her thigh holster. Unafraid, was she? Grudging admiration tingled under his skin, and hecrackled it off. Nothing admirable about a demon minion’s attitude. “So you do know where he’s hiding, then.”
    “And what if I do?” She draped her gaze over his silver-clad chest, his bare arms, his glowing blue sword… Her scrutiny flushed treacherous heat right to the top of his head. He could smell her, blood and corruption, yes, but underneath, the hot salty musk of female flesh…
    Surely, she was his nemesis. Sent to tempt him into falling. Well, he wouldn’t give in. Not when he was so close to redemption.
    But his heart pumped hard, and unwilled, his body jerked, muscles rippling.
    She caught her bottom lip in her teeth, a playful smile that made him think dirty thoughts. “Suppose I could tell you where he is, angel,” she crooned. “What would you give me?”
    He wanted to back away, put distance between them. But he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. “A painless death?”
    She pouted. “Not what I had in mind.”
    “I can make it hurt, if you’d rather.” His left hand twitched, the one with the Tainted sigil burned into the palm. Oh, yes, he certainly could. Drag his blessed hands over her, burn her with sweet heavenflash until she writhed. Glide his blade slowly under her skin, peel away the layers, expose the hot trembling flesh beneath and torture it until she…
    “Now you’re just teasing.” She inched closer, a sultry invitation. “How about…a kiss?”
    He laughed. “Don’t make me puke.”
    But her cursed ripe scent maddened him. How dare a vampire smell so…sensual? She wouldn’t smell half so nice dead…
    “Oh, I dunno. You seemed to enjoy it last time.” Lazily, she twirled her braid in one deft finger. Her short fingernails were painted black.
    “You spelled me last time.” He stared at them, dizzy. Damn, that was hot. How would those sexy nails feel? Teasing him, her fingers wrapping around his cock, trailing sweet fire, her ripe red lips…
    “Are you sure?” A husky laugh that made him tremble.“C’mon, angel. You’re already Tainted. What’s it matter? Just one little kiss. It’ll feel so good—ah!”
    He grabbed her belt buckle and yanked her hips against him.
    Strong, yet soft and female. She gasped, and it stabbed right to his balls. His thumb sizzled on her belly, inside her jeans. He didn’t care. The wicked sensation felt so good. Almost as good as her body pressing against him, her hellcurse burning him, matching the ugly fire inside. His hard cock jutted against her belly, only a few layers of rough fabric between them. Those luscious breasts almost—not quite—brushed his silver-clad chest. God, a man could live a thousand years and never see breasts as sweet as hers. Her nipples made tiny quivering peaks against her t-shirt,