Nalini Singh - Angels' Pawn

This is a surprise, cher, Janvier said in that lazy drawl of his, one hand braced on the doorjamb of his Louisiana apartment. Far as I know, I dont have a hit out on me.

Im not an assassin. Folding her arms, Ashwini leaned into the wall opposite the doorsleep-rumpled and half-dressed, Janvier was deliciously sexy. He was also a two-hundred-and-forty-five-year-old vampire capable of ripping out her throat with minimal effort. Though it might come in handy with you.

A slow smile crept over that face that was a little too long, a little too saturnine for true beauty. And yet . . . Janvier was the man every woman in a bar would turn to look at, his appeal as rawly earthy as the unhidden interest in eyes the shade of bayou moss, all sunlight and shadows over green. You wound me. I thought we were friends, non?

Non. She raised an eyebrow. Are you going to let me in?

He shrugged, the muscles of his chest rippling with a strength most people would never guess at from the way he moved, pure liquid grace and charm. But Ashwini knew exactly how fast and tough he wasshed hunted him three times in the past two years, and hed led her on a merry dance all three times.

Depends, he said, taking a leisurely survey of her body. You here to beat up on me again?

Eyes up.

Laughter in that wicked gaze as it met hers. Youre no fun, sugar.

Only with Janvier did she end up the practical side of the unit. Everyone else thought she was way over on the east side of crazy. This was a bad idea. Turning on her heel, she flicked a hand his way. See you the next time you piss off an angel. In the normal run of things, the Guild existed to retrieve those vampires who broke their Contractsto serve the angels for a hundred years in exchange for immortalityand then there was Janvier . . . Try not to do it this week. Im busy.

His hand closed over the back of her neck, a warm, oddly gentle touch. Dont be like that, now. Come in. Ill make you coffee the way its meant to be made.

She should have pulled away, should have gone as far as humanly possible. But Janvier had a way of getting under her skin. She hesitated a fraction too long, and the heat of him seeped into her, a vivid bright thing that defied the ice of his immortality. No touching. It was as much an order to herself as to him.

A squeeze of his fingers. Youre the one whos always trying to get her hands on me.

And one of these days, you wont dance fast enough to escape. Janvier had the habit of annoying angels enough to end up on the Guilds hunt list. But that wasnt the worst partright when Ashwini almost had him, when she could all but smell the collar, hed somehow make up with whoever it was hed offended. Last time, shed nearly shot him on principle.

A brush of laughter, his thumb sweeping along her skin in a languid caress. You should thank me, he said. Because of me, youre guaranteed a healthy pay packet at least twice a year.

Im guaranteed that pay packet because Im good, she said, twisting out of his hold so she could face him. You ready to talk?

He swept out an arm. Step into my lair, Guild Hunter.

Ashwini wasnt much for allowing vampires at her back, but she and Janvier had an understanding after three hunts. If it ever came down to it, it would be face-to-face. Some of her hunter brethren might call her a fool for trusting a man she had hunted, but shed always made up her own mind about people. She had no illusions, knew Janvier could be as lethal as an unsheathed blade, but she also knew hed been born in a time when a mans word was all he had. Immortality hadnt yet stolen that sense of honor from him.

Now she squeezed past him, aware hed deliberately turned his body to ensure a tight fit. She didnt mind as much as she should have. That was the problembecause vampires were off-limits. The Guild had no rule forbidding such relationships and a number of her hunter friends had vampire lovers, but Ashwini agreed with fellow hunter Elena on this. The other woman had once said that vampires were almost-immortals, after allto them, humans were nothing but toys, fleeting pleasures, easily tasted, easily forgotten.

Ashwini wasnt going to be a snack for any manvampire, human, or angel. Not that the angels would ever lower themselves enough to consort with a mortal. Shed be very surprised if the effective rulers of the world considered most humans as anything but an afterthought.

Not what I expected, she said, walking into the stylish converted loft. Light dominated and had been infused into the dcorthe colors of sunset echoed in the bright throws that lay over the earth-toned sofa, the Navajo rugs on the floor, the lonely desert vistas painted on the walls.

I love the bayou, Janvier murmured, closing the door behind him and padding over to the kitchen area, but to appreciate beauty, one must sometimes go to the opposite extreme.

As he moved about the kitchen with the ease of a man who knew exactly what he was doing, Ashwini allowed herself to admire the male beauty of him. Janvier might be a perennial pain in her ass, but he was built like the sexiest dream shed ever hadlean and long, his muscles that of a runner or a swimmer, all sleek lines and contained power. At six feet three, he topped her by a good five inches, carrying the height with the confidence of a man completely at ease with himself.

Then again, she thought, hed had over two hundred years to build that effortless arrogance. Im guessing youre not bothered by sunlight, she said, checking out the sloping skylight to the right. The bed was right below itand as the clock ticked over eight in the morning, the suns rays stroked possessively over the tumbled sheets.

Her mind immediately supplied her with an exquisitely detailed image of Janviers long-limbed body tangled up in those sheets. The rush of blood in her ears almost drowned out his next words.

Looking for weaknesses, hunter? Walking over, he handed her a small cup filled with a creamy brew that smelled like no coffee shed ever had.

What is this? She took a suspicious sniff, felt her mouth water. And of course. Then I could just push you into sunlight and watch you fry.

His lips quirked up, the upper one a little thin, the lower eminently bitable. Youd miss me if I was gone.

Old age is giving you delusions.

That is caf au lait made with a blend of coffee and chicory. Watching as she chanced a sip, he nodded to the bed. I love sunlight. Vampirism wouldnt have been the least attractive if Id had to spend my life in the dark.

Youd think with all the vampires walking around in daylight, that old rumor would die, but no, it keeps on chugging, she said, soaking in the distinctive flavor of the coffee. I like this stuff.

It suits you.

Bitter and strange?

Exotic and luscious. He ran a finger down the bared skin of her arm. Such beautiful skin you have, cher. Like the desert at sunset.

She stepped out of reach. Go put on a shirt and get your mind out of bed.

Impossible with you around.

Pretend Im holding a rifle. In fact, pretend I have you in the crosshairs.

Janvier sighed, rubbing at a jaw shadowed by morning stubble. I love it when you talk dirty.

Then this should rock your world, she said, ordering herself to stop thinking about what that stubble would feel like against her skin. Blood, kidnapping, feud, hostage.

Interest sparked in the moss green. Tell me more. He waved her toward the bed. I apologize for the messI wasnt expecting such exquisite company.

Walking over to put her coffee on the counter, she hitched herself up on one of the bar stools instead. Janvier grinned and chose to sit on the bed, hands braced behind him, jean-clad legs crossed loosely at the ankles. Sunlight danced over his dark brown hair, picking up glints of pure copper that played beautifully against the burnished gold of his skin.