Dison scrubbed a hand down his face, lust humming in his blood. Got to keep my wits or else I’ll get us both killed. He rested his hands on the wall and looked out the peephole.

Rebekah perched on a stool and made conversation with a visibly tense Katherine. The woman relaxed after a few minutes of speaking to her, the opposite effect of what Rebekah had done to him in this closet.

Just when he thought he would crazy in this forsaken closet, a newcomer pushed through the door, breaking the anxious tavern room with his bumbling presence. A rotund, flushed man with a thick, red beard.

Jeremiah showed the picture of Dison in the man’s face and demanded to know if he’d seen him.

“Yeah,” the man answered, then hiccupped. “So what?”

Dison frowned, shoulders bunching.

Jeremiah twisted the man’s collar with his hand, almost lifting him off his feet. “Where?”

“Eh… at the pub!”

“What pub?” he roared, shoving the man into the wall. Picture frames crashed down.

The twins and Peter started to rise out of their seats. Rage boiled in Dison’s blood. One more wrong move from Jeremiah or his men and he’d have to take matters into his own hands. He glanced at the broom handle. Been a while since he took men down with a nothing but a stick.

At that moment, as if she could sense what he was about to do, Rebekah shot a glare at the peephole, telling him not to do a damn thing.

“The Improper Gentleman!” the man sputtered in response.

“I know of it. That’s at least an hour north of here,” one of them remarked. “We’ve been sitting on our arses for nothin’.”

Jeremiah dropped the man. “Let’s go.”

Once the last thug was out the door, everyone sighed with relief. Jack, Arlo, and Peter left. Rebekah handed over money to the man who’d made up the lie about seeing Dison, and he counted his bills as he hobbled out. As ordered, Dison didn’t make a move until Rebekah opened the closet door, with Harold and Katherine standing behind her.

He came out, both impressed and a little chagrined. He didn’t think she’d actually succeed in getting them out of the inn. And by the smug look on her face, she expected him to eat crow, something he wouldn’t do…unless she begged him to. The thought caused him to huff with a smile.

She set her hands on her hips. “What’s so funny?”

“How you handled them.”

“They weren’t that bright so it was easily done. If they’d stayed any longer, things might’ve turned ugly, but luckily my Mr. Dooley finally came through.” At his questionable look, she explained, “The fellow who sold you out to the Improper Gentleman. He was supposed to be here an hour ago, but he must’ve gotten too drunk beforehand. Which happens. Wonderful actor, isn’t he? A little unreliable for timing, but always a superb performance.”

He set his hands on his hips. “I was wondering what that was about. You did pay him to lie about seeing me?”

“Yes,” she replied shamelessly, as if it was obvious.

Katherine squeezed her forearm. “What about the poor folk over at the Improper? They’ll be terrorized!”

Rebekah patted her hand. “Don’t fret. I know the owner’s son and he’d do anything for me. They’re prepared. They have people in place ready to exclaim a tale about Dison Huxford making his way to Scotland next. Those idiots will be chasing their tails for weeks.”

What owner’s son? Useless jealousy kicked his chest as he thought of a man doing “anything” at her bidding. And why. He checked the question. Why? Because I would, too.

“What a brilliant gal,” Harold exclaimed, setting his hands on her shoulders. The older man’s eyes turned solemn. “It’s no longer safe for you to be here. Might I suggest a new hotel?”

“You’re kicking him out?” Rebekah asked, turning to face Harold.

“Of course not. I’m advising he change his position. A moving target is harder to catch.”

“Harold’s right,” Dison said. “My sincerest apologies for this evening’s unfortunate occurrence.”

Katherine shook her head. “We knew what we were getting into allowing vampires here and we’re not afraid. You didn’t bring anything we can’t handle. I agree with Harold you should move on, but who knows how many are out there searching for you.”

“Nonetheless, I’m leaving.”

“You shouldn’t go out to the tavern,” Rebekah told him. “One of them could come back.”

“I know. I’ll stay in my room for now. Alert us if they come back.” Somehow, he’d repay the innkeepers for their patience and understanding. He went to his room, mentally formulating a plan.

Rebekah followed him, leaning in the doorway. “You don’t seem very worried about your circumstances. Being on the run, a contract on your back. Life and death and all. Have you no fear, Dison?”

“If I wasn’t afraid, don’t you think I would’ve taken on those men as soon as they walked in?”

“You stayed hidden to protect the humans, not for your own safety.”

“And how do you know that?”

“I know you.”

“Not for a long time you haven’t,” he said, sharply drawing the black-out curtains closed.

He didn’t mean for the words to come out so harshly. Gods, he was tired. Sunrise was hours away. Perhaps he should stay for the day, and leave at dusk. By then, he can have travel arrangements made with a destination in mind, instead of making things up as he went along.

It shouldn’t bother him Rebekah thought that she still knew the man he was, but for some reason, it did. “Are you leaving?”

“Do you want me to?” she asked.

A wise man would say yes. Regardless of how she knew Coury, she’d saved his ass. He needed answers, but another, more primal, insistent need came forward. With a vengeance.

He faced her. She gasped as his sensa pushed into her. He couldn’t help it. Being this close to her made him lust, always had, and always would. There he was, his fate on tenterhooks, and all he wanted to do was find comfort in his ex’s arms, fall into her, and forget his problems, however briefly.

“You know I don’t want you to go. You can feel me, can’t you?”

She briefly closed her eyes and whispered, “Yes.”

“So you know if you stay, we’re going to give in and make love. But regardless of what happens, I’m leaving at dusk. Alone.” He stepped forward. “Stay with me or walk out. It’s up to you.”

Gazing into his eyes, she groped the doorknob behind her, and locked it.

He took her in his arms and swooped down to her mouth.

Home. That’s what she tasted like. Spicy apple cider and familiar desire. Memories of them together flooded back. How they explored each other’s bodies, made love all night by the river, made plans and promises. Their times together swam in his head, while potent lust rocketed straight to his cock.

Her fingers started on the buttons of his shirt, but he pulled back with a growl and ripped it open, buttons flying, removing his pants and underwear with the same haste. With need in her eyes, she took off her top and bra, making him moan at the sight of her naked breasts and rosy nipples.

He sat on the bed and yanked her to him. She gasped, raking her fingers at the back of his head as he opened his mouth on her breast, sucking and drawing at the peak until it was hard and puckered. He ran his hands over her back and cupped her ass. Her skin was so soft, like silk, he wanted that silkiness completely wrapped around him. Eager to consume her, he swung her to her back and pulled off her skirt and panties, but left her boots on.

Rebekah arched, moaning while he pressed hungry kisses on her stomach and chest. She stretched her arms and spread her legs, as ready for him to be there as he was. Standing up, he stroked his cock, hard like steel.

“Is this what you need?” Rebekah bit her bottom lip, and snaked a hand down to her shaved pussy, rubbing a finger between the folds.

Sweat broke out on his upper lip. Gods. All he could do was watch, pleasuring himself while she did the same, her pussy becoming slick before his eyes. If this was his last night with Rebekah, he wanted to make it count, make it last. Devour every inch of her.

He picked her up by her waist, and flipped to his back, bringing his face between her thighs.

“Dison! What are you—?”

She gasped as he stroked his tongue on her center, burying his mouth in her sodden slit, smelling the essence, aiming to make her come on him. He looked up and saw her toy with her nipples while he licked her slow. He’d make it his sole mission to see her claw and scream for hours between sunrise and sunset.

He lifted his neck, holding her down on his mouth, tonguing her even harder. Her legs quivered around him, and she gently rocked on his face.

“Yes,” he groaned, licking her inner thighs. “Come for me.”

She fingered his hair, groaned. “Yes…yes.”

If his cock was any harder, it’d snap off. Ignoring it, he kissed her trembling thighs more, making his way back to her soaked center, gently sucking on her clit. She let out a stunned cry and bent over, flattening her palms on the headboard. Her body vibrated above him and sweat beaded on her skin.

Every fiber of his being wanted to fuck hard, but not until he got her off first. “I want to hear it,” he demanded.

“Hear what?” she panted.

“You know what.” He gave her long, unhurried lap of his tongue. She was so close to an orgasm, he could practically taste it coming. “Do it.”

“Damn you. All right…all right…I’ll beg,” she breathed. “Oh, I’ll beg.” She was squirming so hard, he had to grasp her hips to hold her still. She fisted his hair. “Please. Make me come. Please, Dison. I want to…want to...”

Satisfied, he sucked and licked faster on her nub, knowing what she needed. Moving his head and mouth, he feasted on her hungrily, couldn’t get enough. She writhed and groaned, clutching his skull, her whole body shaking.

Suddenly, she inhaled sharp, then split the silence with a beautiful, orgasmic scream while he pulled on her clit with his lips.

No doubt she’d been heard through the entire inn, if not for miles.

Panting, she backed up her body to align with his and hungrily met his mouth. Their tongues combined in a slow, erotic dance of intense affection. Such an unbelievable kisser. Long before they had started having sex, they’d kiss and caress each other until both were wild with passion. He’d been her first, and for that gift, he’d tried to pleasure her like no other would.

She pulled on his bottom lip, licked his chin, and smiled.

How did he ever go this long without her? Guiding his palms up and down her slick back, he embraced his renewed addiction.

“Mmm,” she moaned, sitting up. Gently moving her hips, slicking his dick with her wetness, she whispered, “Do you still fuck like it’s your first and last time?”

A groan tore from his throat, eyes rolling in the back of his head. Grasping her hips, he lifted, pressing against her soaked center. She rose to her knees, placing the blunt head of his cock just inside. He raised his head to watch as she sank on him.

She lowered herself on his cock, encasing him like a glove until he deep within her. With a curse coming through his gritted teeth, he rubbed his palms along her sides as she moved her ass up and down, her eyes hooded.

“Rebekah,” he moaned, disbelieving she was here, that they were together again like this. Sweet shocks and pulses rocketed through his body. He sat up on one elbow, wrapping an arm around her ass. Their gazes locked, her hazel eyes filled with fresh need while they thrust. She whispered his name over and over, and he was lost. Whatever was left of his soul, she robbed him of it in that moment. It was gone, and if anyone could take such a thing, she definitely had.

Flipping her, he drove in, seeking that unique oblivion.

“Take me. Harder.” She lifted her hips stroking his hair and raising her legs up.

A half-smile moved his lips. He gripped the headboard with his hands and plunged as hard and fast, just how she liked it. Sweat snaked down his spine, his teeth lengthened, and he was sightless with fiery lust and the compulsion to take her blood.

Rebekah’s moans filled the room as he dipped to her neck, licking up to her mouth, starting to circle his hips. She arched, clawed his back, and he hissed at her nails scraping down his skin. A pleasure-pain raced down his spine while his skin stitched the surface wounds together.

Gods, he loved this, but he couldn’t last much longer. He released his right hand from the headboard, licked his thumb and lightly massaged her clit.

She gripped his shoulders, whipping her back and forth. “Again? No—I can’t.”

“Yes, you can,” he crooned. “Yes, you will.”

“Dison,” she begged, intertwining her fingers behind his neck, letting her head fall back on the wood.

Rubbing her clit with little circles, he smiled as she pleaded for him to stop, then not to stop. Watching what he did to her was almost as good as fucking her.

Her pants were short and fast as she thrashed beneath him, crying out her climax seconds later. He kissed her while she came, her hot breath in his mouth. He flattened his hands beside her, matching his rhythm with his tongue. So close.

He closed his eyes, losing control. Driving hard, he let the need to release take over and pull the ecstasy from his heart and his dick.

He dropped his head back, a deep rumble vibrating from his chest to his throat while he came. Spent, he hung his head, heaving for breath, drops of his sweat falling on Rebekah.

Damn. Sex with another could never parallel sex with her. He’d tried to duplicate the experience to no avail. Some things were just so organic, they were unmatched in every way, including her.

She smiled softly, as though she’d heard his thoughts. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. She took off her boots and climbed between the sheets with him, laying her cheek on his chest.

They remained holding each other, and Dison despaired at the thought of their reunion ending. He’d do anything to keep her.

Run. Hide. Cheat. Lie. He could do all of those things. Easily. But force Rebekah out of his life now that she’d unexpectedly shown up in it? He couldn’t bear it. “I’m still in love with you,” he confessed, finding it easy to do so.

“And I’ve never stopped loving you.”

His heart felt whole again, and yet, he frowned. Sitting up, he gazed down at her pretty face, the hope and love in her eyes crushing and uplifting at the same time. “I had nothing to offer you when we were together, and I can offer you nothing now. I have money, but not a lifetime’s worth. No influence or job. Not even a home. The only thing I know I have is a new enemy.”

She placed a hand on his cheek. “I don’t have a home anyway, never really made roots. I live out of my suitcase. You think I care about social position and material things?”

“No, but you should care about your well-being.”

“I don’t think I have to. I have my wits and your muscles.”

He gave a low chuckle, then considered his options. “I need to talk to Coury and come up with a plan. You have to tell me why you came here instead of him.”

“Does it matter? Do you wish I hadn’t come?”

“It matters. And of course I don’t wish that. But—”

“Who is Coury to you? Tell me about him.”

Didn’t she already know? “Well, he’s someone I can trust. Five years or so ago, he sought me out, and for a while, I ignored him, but he’s the one who’s been giving me true, valuable information about my previous clientele. Nothing major, but enough to where I appreciate what he chooses to share. I’ve been corresponding with him through the post only. I know nothing about where he lives or even what he is.”

“You’ve never met him, but you trust him?” She sat up.

He nodded. “I do.”

She bit her lip, and ran a hand through her hair. “How do you know Coury is a he?”

“Er…talks like a man. Short, direct, logical. At least in his letters—guess I haven’t really spoken to him outside of the notes. A bit sluggish and antiquated way of communicating, but very rarely intercepted these days—”

“Dison.” She shifted away from him, bringing the sheet up to her chest, eyes filled with guilt. “I’m Coury.”

No. He didn’t hear her right. “Say again?”

She sighed. “I’m the one who’s been writing to you this entire time.”