Sacred Talisman

Excerpt From: Sacred Talisman

"Fuck. I hate Halloween."

Rafe walked along the sidewalk, his collar turned against the late fall rain. He cursed the endless drone of humans parading down the street, dressed up as vampires and demons. The morons wouldn't recognise a demon if the fucking thing bit them in the ass. And their take on vampires...hell if he bumped into one more cape wearing, cliché sprouting, Angel wanna-be, he'd forgo his usual animal fare and suck the asshole dry.

He huffed and turned down an alley, needing to distance himself. The constant cheer only emphasised his own inhumanity, and he didn't need the reminder. The distant thrum of music vibrated through the air, as he stopped midway, shouldering up against the wall. He recognised the beat, familiar with the type of dancing that accompanied the song. Women, dressed in nothing more than bras and boy shorts, undulated across the dance floor, rubbing against any male body within reach. Then they'd follow their catch into the back rooms, fucking them against the wall or on any handy surface. The rooms were videotaped, but he doubted most of the lovers gave a damn.

A sharp clicking rang behind him, drawing his attention. He turned, pushing his back into the rough brick. A woman strutted along the pavement, dressed in what he guessed was a black cat costume, sporting a bustier with a lace garter and matching thong. Her fake velvet tailed swished across her calves, the soft sound echoed by the light patter of rain. She stopped several feet in front of him, casting a long, seductive gaze back across her shoulder. Her lips twitched into a smile as she rubbed her leather flogger across the sensual curve of her ass, slapping it against her pale flesh. She shrugged at his indifference and continued up the alley, no less confident she'd be able to sell her wares inside the bar.

Rafe growled, letting the rain cool his skin. How long had it been since he'd felt any form of desire heat his body? Since he'd revelled in the feel of a woman's skin against his, her feminine scent surrounding him like a sensual fog? Breathed in the earthy sweet aroma of arousal until he could taste the flavour on his tongue? He loved eating a woman's desire, the warm, wet juice filling his mouth until the succulent essence was all he knew.

There was a time he would've been more than willing to take the woman up on her offer. To watch her body beneath his, her hands bound in silk ties, stretched out in front of her. He liked to bind both arms to the same post, accentuating the play of muscles across her back as she fought to free herself. Her skin looked pale, and he couldn't help but wonder how dark the bands would contrast against her flesh, or how much it would flush as he brought her within reach of her climax.

Rafe cursed, slamming his fist against the wall. It'd been over a century since he'd indulged in pleasures of the flesh, his ability to couple fading along with his hope. He was a vampire, for fuck's sake. Yet one cursed like few others-an Enforcer-destined to roam the earth searching for the sacred talisman he"d been created to protect.

"A vampire with a overactive conscience...who would have thought such a wretched creature existed."

He turned towards the street when a faint whimper vibrated the air. He looked over his shoulder when it sounded again. "Damn it." He glanced longingly at the street. He shouldn't care, shouldn't get involved. He was supposed to be a soulless, bloodsucking parasite...what the hell did he care if some woman was raped or killed? He'd saved his share of damsels in distress, and was just as likely to get a knee to the groin as a simple thank you.

"You fucking whore...that hurt!"

The words cut through Rafe like a knife. He shook his head, allowing his body to shift, giving the illusion he simply appeared at the end of the alley.

"You know. The more you fight, the more this will hurt."

The creep chuckled, trying to rip the woman's pants down. She countered his attempt, deftly connecting with the moron's cock when he opened his legs to get a better vantage point. The guy doubled over, cupping his shaft in one hand as the other locked around her hair, pulling her face even with his.

"You'll pay for that."