Kimber was tired after a restless night spent tossing and turning, her dreams so vivid that she’d woken with the taste of his cock in her mouth. “Don’t be so stupid,” she told herself, running a finger across her lips that she swore were plump and swollen from his using her mouth so roughly.

Her core clenched with need, the scene still playing out in her mind . . . on her knees in a pool as her mouth took him deep inside. When he’d tugged her up, asking her who she was it had felt so real . . . and she’d answered. Hadn’t she? She was sure she could still feel his touch, his finger as it ran over her lips, her skin, her breast . . . damn! She was losing it. It had been gloriously erotic and she’d felt no fear, even though she was certain he’d been a Vampire. And she always stayed clear of them. Strange.

She’d felt nothing but desire and a deep need to make him come down her throat coursed through her body, making her skin tingle and come alive like it never had before. Kimber blushed scarlet at the way she’d acted in the dream . . . she been wanton, consumed with feelings she’d only ever read about in magazines she’d picked up on the rare occasions she’d had the chance. Mainly discarded by women who didn’t have a care in the world, unlike her, who fought most days to stay out of the clutches of those who sought to capture her for her measly amount of magic. But last night had been filled with images and emotions that left her breathless and wishing for more. So much more and on its tail sadness crashed down on her head.

Misery came next, quickly followed by her brother’s words in her head. “You need to man the fuck up, Kimber. If you don’t then you won’t last, little sis, and I won’t let that happen to you. So, come on, fighting stance and don’t hold back or I’ll put you on your ass and I won’t take it easy just ‘cause you’re a girl and I love you.”

Tears pricked her eyes but she swiped them away, pain in her chest at the knowledge she was the last of her Clan. “Man up,” she told herself, pushing thoughts of anything other than surviving away, locking them up tight and thinking of what she had to do for the day.

“Food and water first then rest. Then possibly try and get some money.”

She tapped her chin, frowning, hating she’d probably have to steal to get what she required to survive. Kimber didn’t like it but she couldn’t risk getting a job right now and she didn’t have enough money to skip town. Her only option for the moment was to lay low and hope the damn Wolf that had been sniffing around lost interest and the young Vampires she’d sensed were just out for blood, preferably not hers.

If she got through today, she’d try and sneak out for a swim tonight. That would cheer her up no end. It was the only thing she had to look forward to and if she didn’t have something then she’d go out of her mind. But for now, her thoughts were on something hot and tasty . . . bacon. Yes, definitely bacon and maybe even pancakes with syrup. She had enough money for those and if she picked a pocket on the way she could even have a coffee. She wanted to be quick though and get back here to her hidey hole . . . well, it was more of a cave but it was home for now and if it kept her safe that’s all that mattered.

Slowly she sneaked out, ensuring there wasn’t anyone around to see her emerging from her hole before she made her way through the bushes and trees onto the nearest path. Although it was still early, the park was already filling up with people, mainly runners and early morning power walkers, but there were also nannies out pushing strollers with fractious babies. She’d seen the same faces before, ones she was sure were forced from the homes by their employers because of the noise their offspring were producing. Kimber shook her head, wondering why they bothered having kids when they passed them off to others to take care of and blatantly shoved them out the door for doing what babies did best when they wanted a mother’s attention: cry.

She’d overheard the nannies talking, and complaining, about that very same thing as they rocked the babes in their arms. It was a shame, in Kimber’s opinion anyway. She’d never hand her child over to someone else to look after. Not in a million years would she do such a thing. She’d cherish it, care for it, love it with all her heart . . . but that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon. If ever.

She was too busy just trying to keep out of the clutches of the fuckers hunting her and staying alive. A mate and babies were a pipedream. Shoot, more of a nightmare really. Being pregnant or having a child while on the run would be the worst possible thing for her. She could barely look after herself far less a tiny child.

Shaking her head, she focused on looking for someone to do a quick bump and snatch on. Loosening her long ebony hair so it hung down her back, she tugged some over her shoulder to hide her face on one side, looking through it as she strolled along the path. Her eyes scanned for a likely target, one who was in a hurry and distracted was always a good bet for her to accidentally bump into and manage to snatch something from. Whether that was a wallet, coins or notes, it didn’t matter so long as she got something to add to her dwindling coffers. She could then eat breakfast and on her way back the streets would be bustling with people where she’d be able to get her hands on much more.

Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she didn’t finish her food the previous night and that had been her first meal in two days. She’d been fearful of going far from her hiding place, with the Wolf and the Vampires being close by she’d taken no chances. But she needed food and funds so she was now forced to come out and this was the safest time, at least the Vampires wouldn’t be around, they were young and not able to be out in the daylight, and she was hoping that she was relatively safe with witnesses being around, relatively anyway. Even hunters were wary of being caught on cameras by humans and posted online to be picked up by the Directive, so she stayed out in the open and prayed she was safe. For now.