Primal Cravings by Susan Sizemore

felt—safer—with the contact. Somehow, she got the notion that Piper felt better having her hand on him, as well. He’d been stiff with tension, coiled energy radiating dangerously from him, when he sat down. She was all too aware of his body against hers, of the slight relaxation, of his unconsciously leaning into her touch.
    While he talked, Dee listened. There was a conversation between a trio of Primes at a nearby table which drew her attention. The vampires talked about her a bit, assessing her physical attributes, wondering how she performed pleasuring her owner blah, blah, blah.
    It was when the conversation turned to one of the Primes complaining about hunting for a lost sex slave that she became interested. Annoyingly, their voices had been fairly loud while discussing her, but went low when the conversation turned to business. Dee had to concentrate hard to hear what little she did, but those few words intrigued the hell out of her. Sorcerer. Blood friends. Burners. And Burners Coven.
    Who the heck were Burners? Why did they have a coven?
    Dee bent to give her Prime Master a sexy lick on the ear. She whispered, “Ask about burners.”
    Piper’s fist landed on the metal tabletop with horrific force. “Woman!” he snarled as he surged to his feet.
    Dee straightened and stumbled backward, dizzy with her own speed and the fear shooting through her. Piper’s gaze stabbed into her soul, burning into her core.
    She bumped into a solid, hard body. A hand landed on her shoulder.
    A voice whispered softly in her ear. “Excuse me, miss, but haven’t we met somewhere before?”

Chapter Twelve
    Jake sprang forward, snatching his woman from the blond Prime. She hit the floor and he leapt to stand protectively over her. The other Prime ducked away from Jake’s swiping claws.
    “Stay down,” he ordered her when McCoy tried to rise.
    MINE!! Jake shouted his ownership into the intruding Prime’s mind. She is mine!
    The blond Prime grabbed a chair and held it up before him. Jake broke a leg off the chair, threw it, and it grazed the top of the blond’s head. The blond went down, and fell over a table before his limp body hit the floor. The heavy metal table toppled over onto him. He didn’t move.
    Jake picked up his witch. He carried her to the darkest corner of the dark room. He pushed her back against the wall, pinned her there with a thigh between her legs. His lips came down on hers with bruising force. Her mouth opened on a gasp. Her tongue twined eagerly with his, thrusting with equal hunger.
    Jake’s hand moved up under her knit shirt, his hand covered her breast, pressed against a hard nipple.
    Her hips ground against his. She moaned.
    Then she shouted, Stop it! Stop now! inside his head.
    You’re mine! Her sweet taste, scent, and feel overpowered him. He continued caressing her body. Mine! he emphasized with every touch.
    Game’s over, Piper—damn, that feels so—but—Stop it! Stop right—soon.
    Her hands pushed against his shoulders. Her weak mortal touch added to his excitement. So vulnerable. So—
    Her fists smashed into the side of his head so hard Jake’s ears rang.
    That wouldn’t have stopped him having her.
    It was, Partners, Piper! Remember the op, Dark Angel!
    Dark Angel.
    Jake stepped back, held his hands up in front of him. He took deep breaths, controlled the arousal. McCoy watched him warily, panting herself.
    “Go,” she whispered between shaking breaths. “Let’s just go.”
    She tried to shake him off when he put his arm around her waist.
    “Business,” he said.
    She stopped struggling, and he hurried them out of the vampire bar.
    * * *
    “Euww! I so need a shower!” Dee said when they reached the staircase to the parking lot.
    “The kiss was not that disgusting, witch.” The vampire’s tone was almost a harsh growl.
    “I’m soaked in whatever that floor was covered in. I’m sticky and stinky and—how could you kiss someone who stinks like I do?”
    “I didn’t