Eternally. Maureen Child

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СКАЧАТЬ day, he’d hunted it, always a step or two behind. Tracking the elusive trace energy signature all demons left in their wake. Now, it seemed that Fate had taken a turn in the hunt. Why else would the beast he sought have come here?

      To her house?

      The power of the beast throbbed in the air, its hunger, its desire pulsing wildly and it amazed Kieran anew that the mortals couldn’t sense it. Somewhere in this house, the demon moved freely, already on the hunt, deciding who it would kill and when.

      And he was the only man who could stop it.

      Chapter 2

      “You still haven’t answered me,” she said, voice tight, eyes wide. “Who are you?”

      “Kieran MacIntyre.” His name, nothing else. She didn’t need to know more. Hell, she didn’t need to know his name. He wouldn’t be seeing her again if he could help it.

      Her eyes went wide and flashed with excitement. “You’re MacIntyre?”

      “Yes.”

      “The man of mystery?” she continued and he could almost see her mind whirling behind her eyes. “The reclusive philanthropist, Kieran MacIntyre? Seriously?”

      “And you’re Julie Carpenter. A reporter.”

      Those amazing emerald eyes narrowed briefly. “How do you know that?”

      “When you try to arrange interviews,” he countered, “do you actually believe you’re not being checked out in return?”

      “Oh.” She nodded then said, “Okay then, that makes sense. And here you are. Isn’t this a happy coincidence? You, here, I mean. With me.” She practically scrubbed her palms together in eagerness.

      “I’m not here for an interview.”

      “Doesn’t mean we can’t do one.”

      “Yes,” he said shortly. “It does.”

      There was no time to waste. Not with her. A distraction was something he couldn’t afford at the moment. Even one so tempting as she. Hunger raged and warred with the instinctive knowledge that he was wasting time. The hunt was all that mattered. A century and a half ago, he’d found the demon. And he’d done it without having a Mate by his side. Now, he would do it again.

      He could hardly look at her, though, without wanting her. Her mouth was red and swollen from the kiss that he was trying to forget. He’d be damned forever if he let his desires make his decisions for him.

      Hell, doing just that is what had gotten him killed in the first place.

      Bending down, Kieran snatched up the ice cream and the spoon. As he straightened, the edge of his coat slipped back.

      “Is that a sword?” Her voice yipped on that last word and he saw fear glint in her eyes.

      “Bugger.” He shot her a quick look, tossed the ice cream and spoon onto the counter, then tugged his coat back into place. “Whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong.”

      “Sure. Of course.” She nodded. “Gazillionaire swordsman. No big. Happens every day. In Bizarro World.”

      He saw her thoughts wheeling through her brain and easily read the agitation in her eyes. Frustration coursed through him. He’d come to this house following a trail—and because he’d worried she might be in danger. Now, she was clearly imagining herself in danger from him.

      Why the hell had she shown up in his life? This should have been a simple hunt. Locate his prey, incapacitate it, move on.

      But nothing was as it should be.

      “I don’t have time to explain,” he muttered and moved away from her. Easier to think if he couldn’t inhale her scent.

      She practically leaped toward the phone hanging on the wall opposite the refrigerator. With the receiver in her hand and her finger on the number nine, she said, “Make time, sparky. Give me one good reason I shouldn’t dial 911.”

      In one long stride, he was beside her, wrenching the phone from her hand and hanging it up. Damn telephones. Ever since their invention, things had been harder for Kieran and his kind. Too easy for witnesses to call the police—or worse, some tabloid.

      “Because,” he said, keeping one hand on the phone so she couldn’t grab it again, “the police will only confuse things further.”

      She snorted. “Most criminals would say that.”

      “I’m not a criminal.”

      “Most criminals would say that, too.” She yanked at her hand, trying to get free, which only convinced him to hold her tighter. She winced and said, “So what’s your deal? Is the whole philanthropy thing a front? Or maybe you just like to dress up and scare people?”

      “Damn it woman…” His fingers coiled tighter around her wrist.

      “Let go of me, you psycho.”

      Fragile bones beneath smooth, hot skin. His thumb moved over her flesh, distracting her momentarily from the fear still dancing in her eyes. Kieran met her gaze and held it, focusing his power on convincing her that she was safe. “You have nothing to fear from me.”

      Instead of being soothed as he’d expected, the woman glared at his hand, still holding her wrist. At last, he let her go and she rubbed the spot where his fingers had been. Savoring his touch? Or trying to erase it?

      “You’re carrying a sword and you expect me to take your word for anything?” She slipped out from under the close press of his body and took a step or two to one side. “Who carries a sword, for God’s sake?”

      “Don’t try to run,” he warned softly. “I’ll catch you.”

      She sagged against the counter. “You probably would. Fine. I won’t run. Just…get out.”

      He stared at her. “If you’re thinking of writing a story about this—you should know my lawyers will make that impossible.”

      “You come into my house wearing a sword, breaking my wrist and you’re gonna sue me?”

      “I didn’t break your wrist,” he said and heard the barely banked anger in his own voice.

      “Came close.”

      “Woman,” he muttered, wishing he were somewhere fighting a demon to the death. It would have been easier than dealing with her. “There is more going on here than you know.”

      “I’m getting that,” she said, scowling at him.

      He watched her, couldn’t stop watching her if truth be told. Despite her fear of him, she held her ground. She lifted her chin and looked directly into his eyes, with the strength of a warrior. And this Kieran understood. Respected.

      For centuries, he’d wandered the earth. He’d seen the worst of humanity and the best. He’d battled demons and men with the same single-minded determination. СКАЧАТЬ