Nightfall (Nightmare Dragons Book 2) Read online

  She walked in and looked around, taking a deep breath and releasing it, before handing Dare her jacket and purse.

  He should take it to the coat check, but he sort of wanted to throw it back over her, cover her soft, glowing shoulders and neck.

  Instead, he put it over his arm and slung the purse over his shoulder, pulling Sasha close into a dance.

  She tightened and then slowly relaxed against him, her blue eyes sparkling up at him vulnerably. “What are you doing? I thought we were here for—”

  “We are,” Dare said. As much as he hated it. “But you’ll get more attention if I’m dancing with you. Males like competition. Like to see you are wanted by someone else.”

  If only she knew how wanted she was.

  “Oh,” she said, resting her hands on his shoulders lightly. A dimple in her cheek ticked as she smiled up at him. “This is nice, though.”

  It was nice. Holding her, swaying with her, pretending they could just do this forever. That he wasn’t some kind of evil beast that was never meant to exist.

  That he could be the Prince Charming that was everything she could want.

  He felt a tap on his shoulder, as he’d expected would happen. Someone wanted to cut in. He turned around and saw a girl there and inwardly groaned. He let go of Sasha for a moment, explained to the other woman that he wasn’t into dancing with her, and by the time he turned back, he saw Sasha was in another man’s arms.

  His back instantly tightened, and he had to resist the urge to pluck the man away and throw him over the bar like a shot put.

  But Sasha was smiling up into the man’s eyes, so it wasn’t Dare’s place to interfere.

  It was his place to look into his history. Dare started to walk by them, feigned a stumble, and grabbed onto the man’s wrist, using it to stabilize himself as he looked through his past.

  What he saw there made him angry because it gave him no reason to pull the man away from Sasha.

  A normal childhood. A loving mother and father. Joy at the dinner table. A few girlfriends after college. He liked curvier women. He seemed to respect them.

  Quiet. Boring. Probably kind.

  Exactly what Sasha should have.

  The man was looking at him incredulously, so Dare apologized and stepped back, giving Sasha a nod when she looked at him questioningly.

  “Sorry, I’m her friend,” Dare said. “Take good care of her. I’m going to get a drink.”

  Sasha looked like she wanted to follow him, but he gave her a wave and headed off in the direction of the bar.

  Drinking never did much for him, but he wanted whatever distraction he could get.

  He tried to get the image of Sasha dancing with another man out of his head because it hurt him and made him angry that it hurt him.

  He raised a hand to call the bartender over and ordered Nate’s favorite drink, a scotch.

  He was leaning over the counter, trying not to ruminate, since that seemed like all he did lately, when he felt something bump into his hand.

  A man sitting next to him had reached for some drinks carelessly and brushed up against Dare’s skin.

  Dare froze as his hand whipped out and grabbed the man’s wrist, keeping it there so the images could flow through him.

  Terrible images. Awful ones. Ten times the usual justification Dare would need to kill someone.

  The man’s eyes widened, but Dare’s expression stayed stern as he continued to sort through the man’s past.

  When he was done, he finally released him. Looking at the man now, all he could see was the cloud of darkness surrounding him.

  All he could feel was hunger.

  He’d found the perfect outlet for his anger and impotent rage, and the world would be a better place when he was done.

  He stood. “Want to join me outside?”

  The man, who was still holding his drinks, sneered at Dare. “What the fuck’s wrong with you? Why were you holding my arm?”

  Dare took a sip of his drink and then set it down slowly. “I guessed what you’re into. If you like, I’ve already got two girls outside.” He looked at the drink meaningfully. “They’re ready, if you know what I mean.”

  The man smiled now, and his dark-gray eyes had a coldness that surpassed even Dare’s own when he saw them in the mirror every morning. “Do you now? I’d maybe like to see that.”

  Cool rage burned in Dare as he led the man to the most out-of-the-way exit and told him to go on ahead. “I have to do something real quick, but I’ll meet you out there. Show you where I parked my car. Can’t just leave it anywhere, you know.”

  The man gave Dare an excited, knowing look that made Dare want to vomit, but right now he had to focus. He glanced around until he saw Sasha and the guy she was dancing with, both looking as if they were having a great time.

  She looked over at him curiously as he tapped both of them on the shoulder. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m just gonna be outside for a minute.” He looked at her date. “You okay keeping an eye on her?”

  The guy gave a genuinely kind smile. “Of course. Looking after damsels is my specialty.”

  Sasha flushed, while Dare just fought the urge to cringe in embarrassment at the cheesiness of the man’s words.

  “Okay, then,” Dare said. “See you soon, Sasha. I’ll be right back.”

  And then he headed out without looking behind him, shoving his hands into his pockets as he made his way through the crowd.

  As he shoved open the door and the cool night air rushed him, he knew this was how things were meant to be.

  She should be happy with a human she could enjoy life with, and he should be out in the dark, where he belonged.

  His prey was already waiting for him, smiling in the dim light of the alley, unaware of what was coming his way. “Are you ready? Where are they?”

  “All in good time,” Dare said, pulling his gloves on because he didn’t really like touching these humans more than he had to. “I’m just a bit hungry, so I’m going to have a snack first.”

  “A snack?”

  They were the man’s last words.

  Chapter 16

  Sasha continued dancing with Artie, but her thoughts were already following Dare. He seemed as though he were genuinely trying to help her. He’d used bumping into Artie as an excuse to check his thoughts, and then he’d let her know silently that things were okay now.

  But somehow, without Dare there, they weren’t.

  Artie seemed like a nice enough guy after talking to him, but it just wasn’t the same as being with Dare.

  She missed his flashing blue eyes, his volatile expressions, his insistence that he was a monster while he was obsessed with keeping everyone safe.

  People he cared about, at least, which was admittedly few in number.

  He’d had an odd look in his eye when he’d told them he was going outside for a second, and she wasn’t sure she liked it at all.

  Just where was he going right now? He wouldn’t have left her if he didn’t think she was safe, but was he going to be safe at the moment?

  She looked up at Artie, who seemed to be guessing her thoughts.

  “Do you want to go check on your friend?” Artie said, stepping back and releasing her. “You look worried.”

  He really was a nice guy. A computer engineer who lived nearby and loved board gaming. Tall, at least for a human guy, lanky but in an adorable way. She could tell he worked out, and he genuinely seemed attracted to her.

  All in all, this was the kind of guy she should want.

  Yet… her heart wanted to be where Dare was. Difficult, frustrating, stubborn-to-the-end Dare.

  “I get it,” Artie said. “Can I at least give you my number so you can call if you want to?” He looked in the direction Dare went. “If things don’t work out with your… friend, I mean.”

  Sasha nodded eagerly, handing him her phone. “I’m sorry, really. I just want to make sure he’s okay.”

  Artie put his number i
n her phone and hers in his and then sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets. “All the good ones are taken, right?”

  She laughed. “I don’t think so. You’re single, right?” She gestured to the room. “Plenty of fish in the sea.”

  He smiled at her wistfully, but she simply turned and began to make her way to the exit, already desperate to know what was going on with Dare.

  She’d seen sadness in his eyes when he first left her with Artie, and she knew she shouldn’t care since he’d already said it was impossible for them to be together.

  She knew she was just going to get hurt over this, but she couldn’t seem to help wanting to get near him. Wanting to connect.

  So she decided she would go after him and just let the chips fall where they may.

  When she reached the door that led outside, she grabbed the handle tentatively before pushing it slowly open.

  It took a second for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, with only a few dim streetlamps overhead and cement walls on all sides, a few dumpsters dead ahead.

  She heard odd noises, unlike anything she’d registered before, and took a few steps out onto the pavement, peeking around the dumpster in front of her to see what was making that noise.

  What she saw hit her heart with a shockwave.

  Dare was standing there, hidden somewhat by the shadow of the tall dumpster, and he had something in his hand. Someone in his hand.

  A man, judging by the looks of it, his collar held tightly by one of Dare’s gloved fists. His neck bared and bloody, dripping onto the ground like scattered rain.

  Dare’s teeth over his jugular and a terrible sucking sound.

  Dare looked up at her, and his expression was feral, his eyes gleaming red in the night, his hair whipping with the low wind.

  Slowly, he lowered the man, who was twitching, and dropped him to the ground.

  Dare turned to Sasha. “Why are you out here?”

  There was still fresh blood on his mouth, and he wiped it away with one hand, licking the excess. She bit her lip, wanting to hurl.

  This was who he was. This was the truth of it. This was why he pushed her away.

  She looked up at the moon hanging over them. It wasn’t midnight, so he hadn’t transformed, but even in his human form, it was clear he was a monster.

  Her eyes went to the man on the ground, who was still twitching slightly.

  “What did you do to him?”

  “I fed on the darkness inside.” Dare took a step forward, ignoring the man, and extended his hand to the side, snapping casually.

  Instantly, the man went up in flames that burned white hot for a second, lighting up the night. Then the flames died down, leaving only a pile of ashes, some of which were lifting in the wind and blowing across the asphalt.

  Sasha put both hands to her mouth, trying to process what she’d seen.

  “This is why I said you can’t be with me,” Dare said quietly. “This is who I really am.”

  Sasha looked again at the ashes. “Why did you kill him?”

  Dare looked surprised she had even asked. “Does it matter?”

  “It does to me. And despite your insistence otherwise, it matters to you, too.”

  “Maybe I was just angry. Maybe I just wanted someone to eat.” His eyes met hers, finally blue again. “Maybe you’re wrong to believe in me.”

  She shook her head. “Tell me what he did.”

  Dare let out a sigh and walked over to lean on the wall next to her. “He drugged and raped women. Lots of them. Killed some of them, too.” He slowly removed his gloves, shoving them back in his pocket.

  He took a bottle of something out of his pocket, and it smelled like rubbing alcohol as he swished it in his mouth and spit it out on the ground. “This is why I hate feeding as a human. I never get used to the blood.”

  Sasha stared at the pile of ashes and then shuddered in disgust.

  Dare looked over at her. “I told you I was too much for you. I said I wasn’t a hero. I knew you’d be disgusted when you saw what I do.”

  “I’m not disgusted by you. I’m disgusted by him.” She shuddered again. “Thank goodness you got him.” She couldn’t resist walking over to Dare and putting her arms around him.

  “But I killed him,” he said, pushing slightly away from her.

  She still held him. “I know. And I don’t understand it completely. I don’t know how this world is supposed to work. I just know no one else was going to stop him, and now he can’t hurt another girl.”

  He let his arms encircle her, looking down. “So you aren’t afraid of me? You aren’t disgusted?”

  “Sadly, no.”

  “Why sadly?”

  His handsome profile was so beautiful in the moonlight, and though she now fully knew the monster underlying it, she had no desire to run away.

  “I just know it would be easier if I could hate what you are,” she said simply.

  He looked surprised by that and stroked her cheek gently.

  Was there any way to reach that hardened heart?

  He took a deep breath and then grimaced. “You smell like that human you danced with.”

  She smiled. “Then you want to go wipe it off? Mark me again?”

  “I do.”

  Before Dare could even fully process what had just happened, they were back at Sasha’s place again. They had barely taken a breath before he was unlocking the front door, throwing it open, and then shutting it behind as Sasha clawed at his clothes, jumping onto him and straddling his hips while he held her up with his other hand.

  The unsubtle back and forth they’d had last night under the pretense of “marking” was gone, leaving them both with just raw, passionate desire.

  Sasha nipped at his neck, ravenous, as he did the last lock on the door before he could finally turn his full attention to her.

  “So impatient,” he said, feeling his own pulse beneath the skin she’d just touched.

  “Oh, and I’m the only one?” Her eyes were so bright, floral scent muskier now, heady.

  “No,” he said, striding out of the entryway and heading for the living room. But he caught a glimpse of the slightly closer island in the kitchen and made a detour. Her legs entangled around his waist were perfect, the thigh-length material of her dress hiked up almost to her hips. “But someone has to lock the doors.”

  His skin was buzzing as he set her down on the countertop. Finally, he dug into her shoulder with his lips, kissing her warm skin, sucking and tugging as he moved up her neck and to her ear.

  “Screw the locks,” Sasha said between gasps, arms wrapped around his neck now. With each kiss, she tightened her grip, pulling her soft curves more deeply into him.

  The memory of what he’d been, what he’d been doing only minutes ago, felt like a lifetime away. Now, here with Sasha, everything felt right.

  More than right. Perfect.

  He covered her mouth with his, her moans trapped against his lips as he stroked inside with his tongue. Behind him, one of her shoes clattered onto the tiled floor, then another as he ravished her from the inside out. And the harder he kissed, the more roughly he swiped inside her mouth, the more intensely her tongue enmeshed with his.

  Dare left one hand at the small of her back, keeping her trapped against him as his other reached up to cup behind her ear, soft curls of hair threading through his fingers as he deepened the kiss.

  He could be honest with himself now. He had to be. He didn’t want to lose Sasha. Didn’t want some other human to touch her. Didn’t want to ever not be watching her back, taking care of her in the way he seemed to be perfect at.

  But how had this all happened so quickly?

  Dare ended the kiss, and Sasha took in a long breath of air. But she was far from winded as she tugged at the back of his shirt with both hands.

  Before Dare could say anything, the shirt was halfway up, and he let it go the rest of the way as he pulled her skirt higher, enough to show the black, lacy underwear she wore beneath.<
br />
  So hot. So Dare’s.

  At least for now, he tried to tell himself. But even he was beginning to disbelieve his own bullshit.

  Sasha’s hands were on his abs now, exploring up them to his chest, the touch ticklish and arousing all at the same time. But he didn’t waste time, letting his free hand slide down the curve of her side and lower to her hips.

  When he found her center, he pressed against Sasha’s clit, and her once-roving hands clenched around his waist, holding him by the belt of his jeans.

  “Damn. Strong,” Sasha muttered between clenched teeth. Her hair had mostly come out of its headband, and Dare watched as she pulled it out and cast it aside, letting her blond waves cascade over her shoulders.

  “Good, because I haven’t even started, snack.” He grinned as his finger poised to stroke over her again.

  “Don’t call me that when you’re making me come.” Her blue eyes were full of fire as she looked up at him through a haze of sensual pleasure.

  “Sasha,” Dare corrected, then let his hand do the rest of the talking.

  Sasha buried her face into his shoulder as he stroked over the soft material of her underwear, moving in a heated rhythm intent on making her go as quickly as possible. Her muted moans only made him thirstier for her, greedier to take all of her in.

  It had seemed so simple at the start. She was food in need of his help, and he was a creature of the night in need of her unique properties.

  But now Dare really didn’t know. Everything had been turned upside down.

  He tried to ignore the tender feelings and odd impressions, but he couldn’t avoid the way everything with her seemed to touch him deeply.

  Dare felt her legs tremble, felt Sasha get close, and he pressed his entire hand over her, feeling the transition from tension to orgasm.

  She called out his name as she came, her uttered words like promises on his ears. And while release overtook her, Sasha somehow managed to press her hips against his fingers again, further intensifying the sensations overtaking her.