"Alyssa? You okay with that?" Thad asks, putting me in an even more awkward position as he stares down Kane.

Kane snorts derisively, and I shrug while tightening my lips.

"Yeah, I guess so. I'll see you later, Thad. Thank you."

He doesn't seem too happy, but he puts the stuff on the floor beside Kane and walks around behind me.

"If you need me, you know I'm not far away. I'll see you after while."

Kane makes sure to shoot him a threatening glare, which confuses me, and Thad glowers back before walking out very reluctantly.

"I leave you alone for five seconds and the wolves are at the door," Kane grumbles as soon as the door shuts.

"He was just trying to help. I met him last night at the party before Heath went crazy."

His jaw tenses as he brings the bowl of water closer to him and starts the process of cleaning me up.

"Where was Thad when you were being chased around by a pervert?" he scoffs, his jealously a little bit bemusing but somewhat exciting.

I bite back a smile as he washes away the dirt from my feet.

"I don't know. I think he had already left. I was there a while. Are you jealous?" I poke, and he stifles an embarrassed grin.

"I'm not crazy about you spending the night in my bed and then finding another guy in your house less than an hour later."

I laugh lightly as he starts towel-drying my feet.

"He was getting his mail when I came barreling down the sidewalk and slammed into him. He offered to help, and considering I have to go to work in a few hours, I decided I should let someone who knew what they were doing help out."

He looks up, his hands burning against the back of my leg as he stares into my eyes.

"Well, you're in luck. I happen to know a great deal about doctoring up scratches. You shouldn't let strangers into your house."

He looks back down, and I laugh again.

"Um, you realize you're still a stranger?" I muse.

He snickers lightly, and then he shakes his head.

"Yes, but I'm a stranger you can trust. You either don't realize how incredibly gorgeous you are, or you're far too trusting. Twice I've found you in a bad situation with a drunken ass at a party, and then I find some random guy in your house. A girl who looks like you shouldn't be so quick to trust."

I blush fiercely. Hearing his praises makes me start feeling hot in all the wrong places as his touch ignites that stupid, tempting fire I wish would stop blazing.

"I'm a little tougher than you might think."

He presses the alcohol swab against my cut, and I wince while reflexively jerking free from his grip when it burns.

"Yeah, you're superman alright," he sardonically releases after my whimpering reaction to the burning liquid.

"That's different," I huff, my lower lip pouting playfully.

His eyes suddenly shift from scolding concern to lusting desire, making me worry the windows in the house are all going to fog over.

"Please put that weapon away," he says with a wry grin.

"Weapon?" I murmur with a touch of breathlessness while falling prey to his gaze.

He abandons my foot, and jerks me to his body as he kneels between my legs. His lips attack mine as his tongue forces itself into my mouth, demanding my arousal.

He pulls back, his thumb strolling over my lower lip, and then he smirks.

"Yes, that weapon."

Swallowing hard, I pull him by the back of the neck back to my lips. His hand slides up my shirt, finding my breast and forcing a moan from my throat before his forceful touch starts becoming more urgent.

His passion and desire pours into my mouth. My hand slides down to feel his erection through his jeans, making me all the hotter as the firm piece of perfection tries to break free from the fabric.

"Alyssa, you're killing me," he groans against my lips while ripping me up from the couch. "I want you so damn bad."

"Then take me," I breathe, moaning louder when his lips reclaim mine.

My legs wrap around his waist as he starts carrying toward the bedroom. Then suddenly his phone starts buzzing.

No!

"Fuck," he grumbles while pulling back and lowering me to where my feet touch the ground.

I shift uncomfortably, confused by why I can't seem to say no to him. It's as though I lose all control and desire rules my body.

"What?" he snaps into the phone, and without thinking, my hand slides down the front of his pants to feel his delicious erection - hard, perfect, and ready to be inside me.

His breath hitches, and then he has to clear his throat. The phone is so quiet that I can't hear the person on the other side, which is unusual, given my exceptional inhuman hearing.

"You're going to have to take care of it without me... No, I'm not leaving... I don't care."

He grips his head as my hand slides out of his pants, and then he looks at me as if he's tortured. I know that means he's about to have to leave, and I suddenly feel very dirty again.

"Fine. Fuck... Just meet me at the gallery in ten minutes."

He hangs up, and then he jerks me to his body before his lips crush mine, making me shiver before I push him away.

"Amy needs you again?" I mumble under my breath while turning away.

"Alyssa, it's not like that. Deke needs my help with something, but I swear I'll be back in no time. Please, please don't be mad at me."

My body officially hates him. This is twice I've been on the edge of finally getting rid of my damn innocence, and twice I've been blown off.

"I'm not mad. Go do what you have to. I need to... Hey, do you have my phone?" I murmur, ready to start picking up the pieces of my confidence that are still scattered around the floor of my room.

"Yeah." He sighs while pulling it out of his back pocket and hands it to me. "I meant to tell you it was ringing earlier."

"I have some calls to make." I groan inwardly when I see Frankie's number showing up at least ten times.

"Alyssa, please say I can see you in a little while."

I shrug, not really trusting myself not to fuck him if he returns. I should have more self respect than this.

"I don't know. I've got work, you've got... stuff to deal with. I guess we'll see," I murmur dismissively.

He huffs loudly, cursing to himself while gripping his head again.

"I swear I'll take you somewhere no one can find us," he almost pleads, and I let a laugh escape.

"It's probably for the best. This is all moving too fast anyhow. Just go help Deke. I've got to get a shower and put some stuff on my feet."

I start walking away, but he grabs my hand and whirls me around. Without giving me a second to protest, his lips find mine, his tongue invades, and his strong hands hold me to him, forcing my already throbbing center to start aching painfully.

"Say you'll see me later," he softly demands.

"I'll see you later," I murmur involuntarily - a little breathless - as my eyes burn into his.

I'm praying the mood stone craziness isn't going on right now, but I look away to be safe.

"I'll call you, and then I'll come pick you up before work. We'll go eat or something."

Or I'll go in to work early to avoid this.

"Sure."

He tightens his lips, and with exasperated reluctance, he releases me to rush through my door. Once I hear the click of the front door closing behind him, I let out my own huff.

I've never known of any girl having such a hard time losing her damn virginity.

I flip on the television to see something that makes me sick. Quickly turning up the volume, I lower myself to the couch when my legs try to fold.

"Samantha Taylor has been reported missing since late last night. She was supposed to close up at work, but her mother says she never came home. Police have found proof of a scuffle inside the diner where Samantha works, and they're currently running down every lead. If you have any information-"

I shut off the TV. I'm so sick and dizzy after hearing that. I just saw Samantha last night. I'm usually the one closing up. What if the night stalker who was after me decided to feast on Samantha in my absence?

Picking up my phone to dial Frankie, I head back into the living area, the weight of my guilt striking my heart. I saved one girl, but then I got another killed.

"It's about damn time you called me back," he gripes angrily, a little worked up.

"Sorry. Long story short, I lost my phone for a while. Where were you last night?"

"Why? Did something happen? Were you attacked?" The panic in his voice tells me I should downplay the occurrences from last night.

"Just some human issues. Nothing that couldn't be handled by a regular person."

Though Kane is far from regular.

Frankie sighs out his relief, and then suddenly he's walking through my front door as a shadow puff of smoke follows behind him, proving he just manipulated the air around him.

"Well," he says while putting down the phone, "I followed the night stalker you had a run-in with. I was worried he'd come after you, so I wanted to keep my eyes on him. I followed him three towns over, keeping my distance of course, and then I watched him get ripped apart."

My hand covers my gaping mouth as I gasp in disbelief.

"By who?"

"A group of them. I could tell by the way some of them were moving they were his own kind. There were lycans in the mix too - fully changed and snarling like vicious pets. Two lycans and three night stalkers working together. It's unusual for them to team up and kill one of their own."

"Did the night stalker I pissed off kill Samantha?" I whimper.

"Who?" he muses just as my phone rings.

I pick it up, recognizing the number from the diner, and hold up a finger to Frankie while answering.

"Hello?"

"Alyssa, this is Wade. I suppose you've seen the news," he murmurs with a heavy tension in his tone.

"Yeah, I just saw it. Are you okay?" I ask sincerely.

"Right now I'm just worried about Samantha. I pray she's okay. The reason I'm calling is because I'm closing the diner for the next few days while the police investigate. Whoever did this could come back. Whenever I reopen it, no one is to close alone."

"I understand," I murmur while glancing up at Frankie who has most likely overheard both sides of the conversation, given his look of dread.

I hang up, and Frankie grips his head.

"How is it you chose this town - one where night stalkers hang out with lycans, night stalkers kill openly, girls keep popping up missing almost daily... I mean, what's wrong with Miami or Palm Springs?"

I release an exasperated, dramatic laugh while dropping to the couch.

"Just my luck, I guess. Did you call Mom?" I sigh out.

"I tried, but she's apparently enthralled with the ceremonies. I'm sure she'll call me back when she's free."

"Great. I'm sure she'll yank me out of here the second she finds out a turf war is at play."

"This is bigger than a turf war. Last night, the other night stalkers stood by and watched the two lycan females drain the vampire's body of life and blood."

"Did you see them in human form?" I ask curiously.

"No. I couldn't ever get a look at the night stalkers either. It was too dark, and obviously, I kept my distance. I didn't want to be next on the menu."

Swallowing hard, I stand up and head for the wine. Despite the fact I got entirely too drunk last night, I really need a drink right now.

"I need a drink and a shower. You sticking around?" I ask curiously while heading to the kitchen.