Eternal Hunter

Chapter 3

She went to him. When the press conference was over, when the freak-out in the mayor’s office had finally subsided, Erin went straight to Jude.

She knew where he lived. She’d gotten that information from Night Watch when she called to verify his alibi.

Jude’s lair was at the edge of the city, skirting the swamps. More of a cabin than a house, and one that didn’t look overly inviting.

Raising her hand, Erin banged on the door. So, sure, it was close to midnight. And, okay, granted, the swamp looked dark and dangerous and the call of the crickets and who-the-hell knew what else had her ears ringing.

The mayor had sent her to Jude. The DA had sent her.

And she’d come because she needed to see him.

The door opened with a creak. Jude stared down at her, stubble on his cheeks, his blond hair tousled and his eyes hooded.

No shirt. His chest was bare and too close. The man had serious muscles. Damn. His jeans hung low on his body, wrapping around his hips and clinging to his strong, hard thighs.

Hunter.

“Took you long enough,” he said, voice so deep it was nearly a growl.

Light surrounded him and spilled onto the porch. She shifted, her high heels scraping over the old wood. “Didn’t realize you were waiting for me.”

Lie. She’d known that he wanted to talk to her, alone, just as she’d wanted to talk to him.

Erin had to find out what he knew about her — and how he knew it. So I won’t slip up and make the same mistake with someone else next time. “Do I get to come inside or do I have to stay out here all night?”

His mouth hitched into a half-smile. Erin inhaled.

Then Jude stepped back, motioning for her to enter.

The fingers of her right hand tightened around her purse strap and she walked forward, hesitating for only the briefest of seconds when she caught sight of the deep gouges along the doorframe.

Claw marks.

Some shifters sure did like to mark their territory. Her jaw tightened and she brushed past him, all too aware of the heat and strength of his body.

The interior of his place was Spartan bare. A couch. A giant TV. A paperwork-covered desk shoved into the corner. A big, scarred wooden table, two chairs around it, a small lamp on its surface. Erin caught a glimpse of the kitchen — or was that a closet?

“Not here much,” he said with a shrug, following her gaze. “Too busy—”

“Hunting.” She knew exactly how he spent his days. In the hours since they’d parted, she’d done her homework.

Jude Donovan. Age thirty-five. College graduate, with a degree in criminal justice. He’d been recruited to work for Night Watch when he’d barely been twenty-two. His reputation for hunting was vicious, and so were the criminals he captured. The vilest of criminals.

Humans…and she’d be willing to bet Other, too.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a check. Not the usual way things were handled in the DA’s office, but…“I’ve been authorized to acquire your services.” He didn’t glance at the check, just kept those blue eyes trained on hers. Her fingers were steady as she held the check in the air between them. “This check is for ten thousand dollars.”

No change of expression. From the looks of his cabin, the guy shouldn’t have been hesitating to snatch up the money.

“Give the check to Night Watch.”

At that, her lips firmed. “I already gave them one.” A hefty one, at that. “This one’s for you. A bonus from the Mayor. He wants this guy caught, fast.” Before word about the true nature of the crime leaked too far.

“So old Gus doesn’t think his cops can handle this guy?”

Gus LaCroix. Hard-talking, ex-hard-drinking mayor. No nonsense, deceptively smart, and demanding. “He’s got the cops on this, but he said he knew you, and that you’d be the best one to handle this job.”

Erin strongly suspected that Gus belonged in the Other world. She hadn’t caught any unusual scent drifting from him, but his agreement to bring in Night Watch and his almost desperate demands to the DA had sure indicated the guy knew more than he was letting on about the situation.

Could be he was a demon. Low-level. Many politicians were.

Jude took the check. Finally. She dropped her fingers, not wanting the flesh on flesh contact with him. Not then.

He folded the check and tucked it into the back pocket of his jeans. “Guess you just got yourself a bounty hunter.”

“And I guess you’ve got yourself one sick shifter to catch.”

He closed the distance between them, moving fast and catching her arms in a strong grip.

Aw, hell. It was just like before. The heat of his touch swept through her, waking hungers she’d deliberately denied for so long.

Jude was sexual. From his knowing eyes, his curving, kiss-me lips, to the hard lines and muscles of his body.

Deep inside, in the dark, secret places of her soul that she fought to keep hidden, there was a part of her just like that.

Wild. Hot.

Sexual.

“Why are you afraid of me?”

Not the question she’d expected, but one she could answer. “I know what you are. What sane woman wouldn’t be afraid of a man who becomes an animal?”

“Some women like a little bit of the animal in their men.”

“Not me.” Liar.

His eyes said the same thing.

“Do your job, Donovan. Catch the freak who cut up my prisoner—”

“Like Bobby had been slashing his victims?”

Hit. Yeah, there’d been no way to miss that significance.

“When word gets out about what really happened, some folks will say Bobby deserved what he got.” His fingers pressed into her arms. Erin wore a light, silk shirt — and even that seemed too hot for the humid Louisiana spring night. His touch burned through the blouse and seemed to singe her flesh.

“Some will say that,” she allowed. Okay, a hell of a lot would say that. “But his killer still has to be caught.” Stopped, because she had the feeling this could be just the beginning.

Her feelings about death weren’t often wrong.

She was a lot like her dad that way.

And, unfortunately, like her mother, too.

“What do you think? Did he deserve to be clawed to death?”

An image of Bobby’s ex-wife, Pat, flashed before her eyes. The doctors had put over one hundred and fifty stitches into her face. She’d been his most brutal attack.

Erin swallowed. “His punishment was for the court to decide.” She stepped back, but he didn’t let her go. “Uh, do you mind?”

“Yeah, I do.” His eyes glittered down at her. “If we’re gonna be working together, we need honesty between us.”

“We need you to find the killer.”

“Oh, I will. Don’t worry about that. I always catch my prey.”

So the rumors claimed. The hunters from Night Watch were known throughout the U.S.

“You’re shivering, Erin.”

“No, no, I’m not.” She was.

“I make you nervous. I scare you.” A pause. His gaze dropped to her lips, lingered, then slowly rose back to meet her stare. “Is it because I know what you are?”

She wanted his mouth on hers. A foolish desire. Ridiculous. Not something the controlled woman wanted, but what the wild thing inside craved. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“Don’t I?”

Erin jerked free of his hold and glared at him. “Few things in this world scare me. You should know that.” There was one thing, one person, who terrified her but now wasn’t the time for that disclosure. No, she didn’t tell anyone about him.

If she could just get around Jude and march out that door—

“Maybe you’re not scared of me, then. Maybe you’re scared of yourself.”

She froze.

“Not human,” he murmured, shaking his head. “Not vamp.”

Vamp? Thankfully, no.

“Djinn? Nah, you don’t have that look.” His right hand lifted and he rubbed his chin. “Tell me your secrets, sweetheart, and I’ll tell you mine.”

“Sorry, not the sharing type.” She’d wasted enough time here. Erin pushed past him, ignoring the press of his arm against her side. Her body ached and the whispers of hunger within her grew more demanding every moment she stayed with him.

Weak.

She hated her weakness.

Just like her mother’s.

“You’re a shifter.” His words stopped her near the door. She stared blankly at the faded wood. Heard the dull thud of her heart echoing in her ears.

Then the soft squeak of the old floorboards as he closed the distance between them.

Erin turned to him, tilted her head back—

He kissed her.

She heard a growl. Not from him — no, from her own throat.

The hunger.

Sure, he made the first move, he brought his lips crashing down on hers, but…she kissed him right back.

Her hands locked around his shoulders, her nails dug into his flesh. Oh, damn, but his flesh…Strong, hot.

Her mouth was open, lips parted for the thrust of his tongue. She’d tried to play the good girl and walk away, but there was no denying she wanted this—wanted him.

Tongues met. Took. Tasted.

And he tasted good. Even better than the chocolate she craved in the middle of the day. Erin realized she wanted more. So much more.

She rose on her tiptoes. Widened her mouth, and this time, the growl that she heard came from him.

His hands clenched around her hips, and he jerked her even closer to him. The hard bulge of his arousal pressed against her. Long and hard and promising such fierce pleasure. She could have him, thrusting deep and hard into her, and Erin knew the ride would be fantastic. The sex great.

She could have him.

His fingers cupped her ass.

Take him. Take him.

He ripped his mouth from hers. She sucked in a sharp breath and tried to clear the lust from her mind. She needed—

His mouth pressed against her neck. Right over her pulse.

Her weak spot.

His tongue laved her and her knees trembled. Then Jude bit her, a light, teasing bite.

A marking, nonetheless. She knew the way of shifters.

But that didn’t stop the heat that swept through her. Erin’s nipples swelled against him, her sex moistened.

Freaking animal response.

So much need.

“You want me, Erin, just as much as I want you.” The words rumbled against her flesh.

She wouldn’t deny it. She wouldn’t give in to the furious desire, either. With one serious effort, Erin made her hands stop clutching him and she pushed against his chest instead.

Nice chest.

He didn’t move.

She pushed harder, letting some of her enhanced strength flex. “Let me go.”

His head rose and he stared down at her with eyes shining brightly. So blue it almost hurt to look into them.

“Shifter.” He said this again, but it wasn’t so much a question. Too certain. “I can see it in your eyes.”

No, no that couldn’t be possible. She always controlled her body. No claws. No glowing eyes. No too-sharp teeth. The guy was guessing, trying to trip her up.

“Sweet little shifter. You can’t hide your beast from me.”

There was no beast. “Let. Me. Go.” Her voice was huskier than she would have liked, but she meant the words. Being near him right then, not really an option.

Running, yeah, that was the best option. Not because she was afraid, but—

Shit, okay, she was afraid.

So there were a few things that scared her.

Jude dropped his hold.

Erin spun around and fumbled with the door. Her purse, all but forgotten, banged against her hip. Then she was outside, stumbling onto the porch and putting some much needed space between them.

Now if her heart would just slow its frantic beat.

“This isn’t over.” His voice followed her down the steps.

“Damn right.” She tossed him a glare over her shoulder. “You’ve got to find my killer—”

“Not that.” His steps were slow and heavy on the porch. “Us. We’re not over. We’re just getting started.” He licked his lips. “I can still taste you.”

She could taste him. And her panties were wet. Just from a kiss.

What would happen when they were both naked?

She would not find out.

“We’re gonna happen, sweetheart. Deal with it.”

Arrogant asshole.

Sexy beast.

“No, we’re not.” Some temptations had to be denied. “You deal with that.” She opened her car door and climbed inside.

“Why do you hide your animal side?” He raised a hand to his shoulder and ran his fingertips over the small wounds that she could see even in the dim light from the porch.

Because some of her senses were enhanced, too.

Thanks, Mother.

She’d marked him. The way of the beast.

“I have no animal side,” she said quietly.

“Bullshit. There’s an animal in you, just growling to get out.” He motioned to the wild land around them. “Wanna shift and run with me?”

Ice froze her blood. “You’re mistaken about me, Donovan.” Flawed. Broken. “There’s no animal inside for you to play with — sorry.” Then she slammed her door. Seconds later, she shoved the gear shift into reverse and spun out of his drive.

Some temptations had to be denied.

No matter how much pleasure they promised.

He was dreaming about her when the phone rang. A hot, sexy dream that had him aching. Erin wore two thin strips of black lace. Her eyes were shining. Her lips moist.

She wanted him.

His hands couldn’t touch her enough. Couldn’t enjoy the feel of that satiny skin enough and—

And then the phone rang.

Jude reached for the receiver near his bed, ready to give someone a serious ass-chewing. “What the hell do you—”

“Jude.” Erin’s voice.

Not breathy with desire like in his fading dream. Sharper, tinged with fear.

The lady had said she didn’t fear much.

Jude sat up in an instant and his fingers tightened around the phone. “What’s wrong?” A call in the middle of the night was never a good thing.

“I need you.”

Okay, she’d said that in his dream, but not quite the same way.

“408 St. Charles Avenue. Come as fast as you can, okay?”

Click.

For one second, two, he stared down at the phone.

Then he ran for the door.

Because Erin was afraid.

There weren’t any police cars in front of the old house on St. Charles. No swirling blue lights.

Jude had expected to see them, or at least some sign of trouble.

The antebellum house sat quietly, time having ravaged the once beautiful frame. Azaleas did their part to hide the house, nestling it in perfumed security from curious eyes. But the beauty of the place had faded and only a whisper of glory remained.

A fixer-upper. There were plenty of old houses like it in the city.

But only one that had his Erin inside.

Jude’s gaze scanned the yard. His nostrils twitched. There was another scent in the air. Heavy. Drifting just under the azaleas and their sweet fragrance.

Blood.

He bounded up the steps and shoved open the door.

And slammed into Erin.

They fell to the floor in a tangle of limbs and a cloud of curses. He tried to spin to protect her from the fall — and his weight — but it was too late.

They hit hard.

She didn’t even flinch.

Her golden eyes met his and Jude tried not to notice just how incredibly good she felt beneath him. Tried, failed.

Her breasts were crushed beneath his chest. Her thighs were spread, cradling his hips in just the, oh yeah, right way.

If the scent of blood weren’t clogging up his nostrils, he sure as all hell would’ve enjoyed the moment.

Later.

He levered up onto his forearms. “What the fuck is going on, Erin?”

She licked her lips. “Get up.”

No. Dammit. He wanted to stay exactly where he was.

And he wanted to find out why there were shadows in her eyes.

He got up.

Erin exhaled. “I — this has to stay between us, okay?”

Jude blinked. “What has to stay between us?” He had a real bad feeling about this situation, and much as he liked the sexy ADA and wanted to get her naked, he wasn’t about to break the law for her.

Well, he wouldn’t break it much for her. A little bending, he’d do that.

His nostrils twitched again.

That was human blood.

Shit. Wary now, he kept a close watch on Erin as she rose to her feet. She still wore the sexy blouse from earlier. Her makeup was gone. Faint brown smudges were under her eyes.

He could all but smell the fear dripping off her.

“I thought you didn’t scare.”

She gave a rough laugh at that, kind of a desperate sound. Her fingers raked through her black hair. “No, hunter, I said there wasn’t much that scares me. He does.”

Jude tensed. “Someone else is here?” He didn’t smell him. Just that thick blood, coating every breath he took.

The animal inside loved the scent of blood. It was a response Jude couldn’t control. Primal.

Like the response he felt for Erin.

But the man knew the coppery scent was bad. Trouble.

“Not anymore,” she whispered. “He’s…gone.”

Jude’s hands fisted. His gaze swept the room. Caught sight of the old staircase, twisting up to the next level. To the left, he saw the gleaming wooden floors and the oversized doors that led out of the parlor. Doors that were firmly shut.

“I–I went back to the police station after I left your place. I needed to talk to Antonio and find out what the ME had to say about Burrows.” The words came out fast. “I was tired when I got back and didn’t even notice the smell until—” Her gaze darted to the left, to the white doors.

He crossed the room, body alert. His fingers curled over the old door knobs — two doors, French style. He wrenched them open, ready for any threat.

Sonofabitch.

The lights were on in the other room. Bright and stark. Shining perfectly on the bloody message that had been left on the far wall.

Missed you.

The blood had trickled down, blurring some of the letters a bit, but the message was clear.

What the fuck? His growl filled the room.

This shit was twisted. “You searched the house?” Sprawling places like this one had too many rooms and far too many places for someone to hide.

With his nose…no one would hide from him.

He spun around, ready to stalk from top to bottom and—

She caught his arm. “I told you, no one else is here.” Plump lips tightened. “The bastard delivered his message and ran.”

“Some message.” Not every day a woman got a love letter in blood.

Her fingers tightened around him. “I need your help.”

“You need the cops. What the hell? You’ve got some psycho ex-lover stalking you—” With freaking blood.

“Not my lover.” She shook her head. “Never that.”

“Call. The. Cops.”

“Some jobs aren’t meant for the cops.”

“And some are, sweetheart. You’re an ADA — you know this shit.” She should. But he’d worked with victims before, and he knew that even the professionals would forget the rules when the deadly games became personal. “Erin, when someone breaks into your house and leaves—”

“He’s Other.”

He’d figured that. Well, either Other or seriously fucked up human.

Seriously fucked up Other.

“The cops can still track him.”

“No one can track him. The bastard’s too good at hiding.” She exhaled, and, for a moment, he thought he saw…calculation in her gaze.

He tensed.

Be careful with the ladies, Jude. You can’t always trust a pretty face.

His grandfather’s warning. Given right before his senior prom, the night Susie Jo Hill had left him on the dance floor to make out with the quarterback.

He’d pounded the quarterback and come away with the scar on his lip, courtesy of a big-ass class ring and a lucky punch. Then he’d left a furious Susie Jo shouting on her doorstep.

Erin was no Susie Jo. She was something much, much more dangerous.

Her hand fell away from him and damn if he didn’t miss her touch.

Not. Good.

“I’ve got a stalker, Jude. A guy who has been trailing me and making my life hell for the last year.” Her eyes held his.

A stab of pain in his palms made him realize that his claws were out. He unfisted his hands and the claws sprang to their full length.

Erin didn’t so much as blink.

“I came here to get away from him,” she said. Her shoulders were straight, her chin up, but she still looked vulnerable.

And that made him want to roar with fury.

“He scares me. I’ve caught his scent before. This isn’t the first time he’s come inside my home. He’s a shifter, I know that much.”

A shifter. Like me.

No wonder the lady hadn’t been so wild about gettin’ down and dirty with him.

“I–I don’t know where he got the blood.” She glanced over her shoulder at the painted wall and shuddered. “What if he hurt someone? What if…”

Oh, the odds were good that he had. “We’ve got to bring Antonio in on this.” That much blood, yeah, someone had been hurt. “It’s human blood.”

Her gaze darted back to his. “I know.” Whispered. And she looked like she was going to be sick right then. Her hand rose to her mouth and she paled.

“Erin…”

She shook her head, sending silky locks tossing back and forth. After a moment, her hand dropped. “He thinks he’s giving me a present, don’t you see? A gift. But I’m — I’m not like him.” You. Her eyes said it, even if her mouth didn’t. “The blood sickens me.”

A human reaction.

But he could have sworn she was a shifter.

No, no, dammit, he knew she was a shifter. The beast inside recognized her.

But shifters loved blood.

“I can’t stand the smell,” she whispered and stormed back into the parlor. “I hate it.”

Pretty unusual shifter reaction.

He followed her, closing the doors with a quiet squeak. He needed to get a blood analyst in there, right away. Because he was getting a really dark, sick suspicion.

Human blood.

Who’d bled out so nicely less than twelve hours before?

Burrows.

Antonio had taken Jude back to the crime scene at the station, after Erin had hightailed it to the DA’s office.

He’d seen Burrows. Seen the pooled blood on the floor.

But maybe, just maybe, some of that dark blood had left the holding area.

Judging by the way the letters had dripped on the wall, the killer would have needed to come straight to Erin’s house after the murder. The blood must have been used when it was fresh.

The Slasher’s blood?

Possible.

Not likely, of course. Could be from some other poor bastard. Then they’d have two sick shifters on the loose.

But he couldn’t discount the connection. This whole mess was too screwed up. And it set his teeth on edge.

The stalker bastard had frightened Erin, had been frightening her. Not an acceptable situation.

The guy had broken into her house. He could have so easily gotten to her—hurt her.

Jude’s teeth began to burn and lengthen. The claws were already out, time for the fangs.

And time to rip a shifter asshole apart.