The Slayer by Theresa Meyers

invited to.”
    The blond vampire gave her a sheepish look and bowed his head. “Yes, my lady.”
    â€œYou are excused,” she said simply with an upward tilt of her chin.
    Enric stalked off back the way they had come.
    The contessa turned her sharp gaze on Winn. “Before we go on any further, Mr. Jackson, let’s clarify some rules of my own.”
    Winn braced his feet apart and crossed his arms. He felt the sway of the floor and was grateful he couldn’t observe the ground dropping away beneath them. The faint throb of large engines was more a sensation than a sound. Now that they were airborne, she had the advantage, and they both knew it. “I thought we’d already done that.”
    â€œWell, you certainly let me know what you wanted. But it’s time you learned what I want.” Her sleek, dark brows pinched with disapproval, and she nibbled away at her bottom lip. An image of kissing that exact spot flared to life in his mind and caused his gut to twist with awareness of her very lush female form.
    â€œDo you always wear your hat indoors?”
    Winn lifted his chin and snatched the Stetson off his head, heat pricking his neck beneath his shirt collar, making it itch. He hated how easily she made him feel as if he wasn’t worthy enough to be scraped from her boots. “I thought you wanted me to go with you.”
    She turned away from him and looked out through the dark windows that rimmed the observation deck. The airship rose higher into the intense midnight blue of the sky. Her gloved hands gripped the smooth teak railing. “I am tolerating your presence on this ship for a simple reason.” She glanced at him, and sincerity mixed with distrust shone in her eyes. “I feel you could make a difference.”
    Winn let that soak in for a second. She needed him, but didn’t like him. “No offense, Lady Drossenburg, but as long as we’re being honest with one another, I find the fact that you’re a vampire revolting.” He resolutely settled the Stetson back on his head.
    She glanced at him, her dark brow arched with bemusement, but not anger. “No offense taken, since I find the fact that you are a Hunter equally revolting.” She turned away from him again, her slender back straight as she stared out into the depths of the dark, star-strewn sky.
    A long pause stretched out between them, as if she were waiting to see who would fall into the gap and speak first. Winn figured it would have to be her since he didn’t have anything more to say.
    The broad expanse of glass acted like a mirror, reflecting the curves and elegant lines of her profile. Flawless skin, the color of cream, stretched over high cheekbones and a straight, small aquiline nose. Her lips were a touch too full, but they somehow balanced the thick, long fringe of lashes that curved upward, nearly touching her brow. Winn realized he was staring a second before she caught him.
    â€œMr. Jackson, I realize you are not comfortable with us, but if you plan on being difficult I will be forced to isolate you to your rooms for the duration of our trip.”
    Winn was sorely tempted to tell her to go ahead and try, but experience tempered his tongue. There were far more vampires aboard this ship, and while they wouldn’t kill him, because they needed him, they didn’t have to be nice about how they got him to wherever they were headed.
    She turned and looked at him, the unusual color of her eyes drawing him in. The contessa might be a vampire, but she was also a mighty fine-looking woman. Her glossy curls curved around the small shells of her ears, and each slight tilt of her head made the blood-drop ruby earrings at her lobes dance with movement, drawing his eye to the long column of her neck.
    Unlike some homespun frontier woman, there was a natural polish to her that seemed to make her glow with confidence, and an air of superiority which clung to her like a second