Vampires Never Cry Wolf by Sara Humphreys

fair.”
    â€œIf you don’t believe me, then why not taste my blood and read my blood memories?” Killian’s voice dipped lower to a challenging tone, daring her to break the rules. Which of them would crack first? “Your kind can do that, can’t they? Read the memories of those they feed on?”
    â€œNot wolves. Only humans.” Sadie’s voice was tight with restraint. “Besides, I don’t get blood memories from anyone. Not anymore. I taught myself how to block that shit out. I have too much of my own history to carry around. I don’t want or need anyone else’s problems.”
    â€œInteresting. You can shield yourself from blood memories?” He inched closer. “Is that a common ability?”
    â€œThat’s none of your business.”
    â€œYou brought it up,” he murmured playfully.
    â€œWhatever.” Sadie didn’t give an inch. “I will do anything to protect my family.” Her eyes seemed haunted by something, a memory perhaps, and she whispered, “Family is precious and too easily lost.”
    Silence hung between them with only the sounds of the city filling the air—car horns, wind whistling between the buildings, a siren wailing in the distance, and the savage pounding of his heart.
    â€œI thought you were leaving,” he murmured. Killian leaned closer, ever so slightly, and breathed her in. When her fresh, crisp scent filled his head, a deep growl rumbled in his chest. Sadie held her ground and didn’t retreat, although he sensed her body quivering, almost humming. He closed his eyes and reveled in the unique vibrations and musical hum her beautiful body emanated. The erotic pulses thrummed through him, called to him. Damn it all to hell, he itched to touch her. To taste her. “You could leave…and yet, here you stand.”
    Eyes still closed, Killian inched his large frame nearer so that her nipples scraped lightly against his chest and the heat of his erection brushed against the cool skin of her belly. His body twitched as flesh met flesh, and still Sadie did not retreat. The vibrations rippling off her damp, quivering body skittered over him like music and, combined with the whisper of her touch, his last ounce of resolve evaporated.
    His fists clenched and unclenched at his side until he finally gave in to the driving desire and trailed one finger up her arm. Sadie flinched almost imperceptibly as he traced the curve of her shoulder and then along the line of her collarbone. A moan escaped her lips when he brushed the back of his knuckles up her neck before gently cupping her face.
    â€œI never run from a challenge,” Sadie murmured. She pressed her breasts against him, the soft mounds of flesh searing against him.
    Killian felt like he was in the middle of a game of double dog dare—and it was a surefire bet he was going to lose. Sadie sighed, a seductive sound that made his cock twitch.
    Oh yeah. Dead wolf walking.
    â€œMe neither.” Killian lifted his head and clapped his hungry gaze onto hers. Her eyes were wild, her mouth parted slightly, revealing the tips of her fangs so there was no mistaking her desire for him. Her body molded against his in all the right places, and the beast inside him fought for control. “This goes against the laws of nature.”
    â€œYeah? So does a werewolf who wants to live in the middle of Manhattan.” Sadie’s lips curled back, flashing more of her fangs. Killian’s gut clenched when she popped up on her toes and flicked his lower lip with her tongue. A wicked look twinkled in her eye. “I’d say it’s time to nut up or shut up. All this talking is gonna make me think you’re all bark and no bite .”
    â€œWouldn’t want to let you down.” On a curse, he covered her eager mouth with his, and the world he knew ripped wide open. She tasted cool, sweet, and rich, like ice cream in the summertime, and in that