Demon's Kiss by MAGGIE SHAYNE Page B

and then Roxy was behind the wheel, driving so fast that Seth felt himself gripping the dash until his knuckles turned white.
    Reaper moaned from the backseat when she took a corner too fast; then he spoke. “Roxy?”
    â€œYeah, it’s me.”
    â€œNo one else drives like that.”
    She laughed softly.
    â€œAre we being followed, Roxy?”
    She glanced up into the rearview mirror. “What do you think I am, an amateur? Why?”
    â€œBecause that was no accident. It was a vampire—not quite a normal vampire, but a vampire all the same—driving that rig that hit us. And it was deliberate.”
    Roxy frowned and swore, using a streak of profanity Seth had never heard from the mouth of a female in his life. Then she said, “Who are you going after this time?”
    â€œA rogue gang led by a man called Gregor.”
    â€œThose assholes?” She shook her head.
    â€œWhat do you know about them?” Reaper asked.
    Roxy shrugged. “Only what I’ve heard. They’re skilled, they’re mean, and they outnumber you.”
    â€œYou know where they are?” Reaper asked.
    â€œNo. But when you leave to find them, I’m going along.”
    â€œAbsolutely not.”
    She met his eyes and smiled, a slow, sexy smile that seemed to speak volumes. “You’re telling me no? Since when has that ever worked?”
    Reaper closed his eyes and let his head fall back onto the seat of the car.
    â€œWho are you?” Seth asked her at last.
    She smiled. “I’m Roxy. I’m the oldest living human with the Belladonna antigen. At least, as far as I know.”
    Seth lifted his brows. “But I thought we—they all got weak and sick and died young.”
    â€œAll but me.”
    â€œHow old are you?” he asked.
    She fluttered her lashes. “How old do you want me to be?”
    Seth’s throat went dry, and Roxy released a bark of laughter and slapped her own thigh. “Don’t worry, pup. I wouldn’t want to hurt you.” She gave him a wink, then bobbed her head toward the windshield. “Here we are.”
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    Roxy’s place was a tiny cottage that looked like something out of a child’s fairy tale, all cobblestones and little green shutters, flower boxes overflowing with fragrant herbs, gardens flowing like colorful streams around the place and between the flat stones that formed a meandering path to the front door.
    She parked her car and glanced nervously at the sky. “Best get him inside, son, before dawn.”
    â€œI can manage on my own,” Reaper said. But his voice sounded so weak and pain-racked that Seth thought he might as well have said, “I can’t lift my little finger without help right now.”
    â€œFortunately,” Roxy said, “you don’t have to manage on your own. You’ve got Seth now.” She smiled at Seth, and there was so much affection in the look that he wasn’t sure if she was hitting on him or just being friendly. The woman was a puzzle. He had no idea how to take her.
    He didn’t ask, though. Just got out, opened the back door and got a grip on Reaper’s shoulders, so he could help him inside.
    â€œRight through here,” Roxy instructed. From the waist down she was wearing a long, flowing skirt in bright splashy colors. From the waist up, she wore what looked like a leotard. Skintight, revealing a figure that was close to perfect, short-sleeved, with a V-neck all plumped full of cleavage. A moonstone glittered from a long chain, resting between her breasts. She jingled when she moved, and he realized it was due to the ankle bracelet she wore, along with flat, woven sandals that looked to be made of straw or something.
    Seth looked at her face again, baffled by his inability to guess her age.
    She just smiled more warmly and tipped her head, so her hair fell over one cheek. “This way. Put him in the guest room. It’s actually a