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

begging for his tongue…
    Sweet fucking Jesus. He growled, deep in his chest, a long-forgotten animal sound of need. “You want me, vampire?”
    She laughed, her eyes dark. “You asshole. Hell, yes, I want you.”
    “Then come get me.”
    She pressed closer, almost purring, and desire dizzied him. Blood gleamed crimson on her lips. God, he wanted to kiss them. He could almost taste her, feel her slick heat, her tongue alive in his mouth, those magnificent breasts crushing ripe in his hands…
    He slammed his left palm against her forehead, and murmured a breathless charm to heaven.
    Blue light flashed. Flesh sizzled, the stink of unholy smoke. And she howled, rich with thwarted fury, and stumbled backwards.

----

----

CHAPTER 8

    Damn it.
    Rose staggered. Pain chewed between her eyes, a rabid disease. Her forehead sizzled, his Tainted spell eating her flesh almost to the bone. But the acid sting to her ego was worse.
    The bastard tricked her. Let her think she’d won. A triumphant kiss, the cursed blood already on her lips. Slide her tongue into his mouth, let the hot crimson fluid flow, and it’d all be over. So easy, to push him over the edge.
    But she hadn’t.
    Instead, the hunger raged like fever inside her. Her nipples stung. Her mouth hurt, fangs straining for blood. Deep in her belly, she starved for him. Hot angry release, the rough ground scraping her raw, his flesh driven so deep inside her it hurt. Bruises, biting, fists yanking her hair…
    He’d tricked her. Violated her. And she’d fallen for it like a drunken skydiver.
    His spell dizzied her, sickening. She grabbed her knife and rounded on him, unsteady. “You lying bastard. What have you done?”
    Japheth grinned, savage. Green frost glittered in his eyes. “Enjoying it, demonslut? It’s a Tainted angel’s mark.”
    “What’s that mean?” Frantic, she swiped her forehead with the back of her hand. Moisture smeared, a weeping burn. Already the pain subsided, the fiery sensation fading. Didn’t make it any less humiliating.
    The damn angel was still breathing hard, too. His muscles still gleamed with sweat, his big body quivering, the evidence of his arousal staring her in the face.
    Ditto on the humiliating.
    “It means you’re mine.” He flashed his sword away, laughing coldly at her expression. “Not like that, idiot. Maybe if you were human, I could save you. But you’re still a demon’s slave, if that makes you feel better.”
    Strange fever still wracked her, making her sweat. A peculiar smell radiated from her body that made her queasy. She wanted to rake her nails down his handsome face. “Then what? What have you done ?”
    “It means you’re under my protection. All those friends you thought you had? Your stinking vampire coven, or whatever you call it? They aren’t your friends anymore.” He shrugged, casual, but feral amusement tweaked his lips. Charmingly roguish smile, when he wanted. Bastard. “To them, you smell of angel now. You smell of me.”
    “Screw you.” Not very eloquent. But it was all she could think of. A madwoman’s laughter bubbled in her throat. The night Bridie died, she’d screamed her heart out for one scrap of heaven’s attention. Now, she was marked by an angel, and it’d kill her.
    “Hell, you probably even taste of me. They’ll attack you on sight. Hunt you down like the traitor you are.”
    “You’re lying, asshole.” But her throat tightened. What if he wasn’t? Caliban’s Chosen were already gunning for her. With the rest of the coven hunting her, too, there’d be nowhere to hide. Never mind what Fluvium would do to her, if she came back with an angel’s sigil burned into her forehead. Never mind the hell that awaited her if she couldn’t do his bidding.
    Fight him, fuck him, I really don’t care. Fluvium’s words slithered back, fanged with malice.
    But he did care. Her demon was a jealous god. And his vengeance would be terrible.
    Japheth shrugged. “I never lie. Not even