Bat out of Hell (2 page)

He
licked
his
lips,
his
gaze
on
the
creamy
expanse
of
her
neck.

Maura's
gaze
latched
on
to
his.
“
Don't
even
think
about
it
…
yet.
”

“
I
wasn't.
”

“
Good.
So
what
do
you
need
me
to
do?
”
She
put
a
hand
on
her
hip,
her
shape
alluring.

“
Send
me
to
her
in
the
future,
so
I
can
bring
her
back
to
me.
”
He
knew
it
was
possible.
A
Dunning
family
gift
was
clairvoyance,
and
another
Ava
would
live.

“
What
are
you
going
to
do
for
me?
”
She
moved
close
and
pressed
her
body
against
his,
never
breaking
eye
contact.

He
faltered
at
her
touch,
and
he
moaned
against
her
hot
neck,
his
teeth
bared.

“
What
do
you
want?
”
In
that
moment,
he
would
do
anything
for
Maura,
and
anything
for
Ava.

She
moved
even
closer,
and
he
sucked
in
his
breath,
his
teeth
piercing
her
skin.

“
I
want
you
to
bite
me.
It's
been
too
long,
and
no
one
else
does
it
like
you
do.
Believe
me,
I've
tried.
”

Heat
rose
in
his
cheeks
at
the
thought
of
his
folly
in
trying
to
make
her
his
love
a
few
years
earlier.
Little
had
he
known
she
was
already
an
immortal
being.
Nonetheless,
they
had
both
enjoyed
it.

“
Come.
”
She
grabbed
his
hand
and
led
him
to
her
chamber,
an
opulent
jewel
and
leather
furnished
den
with
luxe
pillows
and
fabrics
scattered
around.
Incense
wafted
to
his
nostrils,
making
him
drowsy.
Two
demons
stood
guard,
and
he
noticed
their
greedy
eyes
watching
them.
The
thought
of
their
coupling
being
watched
excited
Gabriel
further.

“
I
can't
wait.
”
Her
voice
came
hoarse
in
his
ear
as
she
lay
back
on
the
bed,
her
throat
bared
to
him.

“
Will
you
transport
me
after?
”

She
snapped
her
fingers.
“
The
coffin.
”

A
demon
nodded
and
left.

“
Yes.
”

He
growled,
leaning
over
her,
looking
at
her
full
breasts
pushing
up
from
the
vest
she
wore
as
he
bared
his
teeth
against
her
warm,
pulsing
flesh
and
bit
her.
Then
he
pulled
away
as
she
yelped.

“
Is
that
all?
”

“
Yes.
”
He
caught
his
breath
in
gulps.
“
I
told
you.
I
love
her.
”

Maura
shook
her
head,
sighing.
“
Fine.
I'll
transport
you,
anyway.
Just
get
out
of
my
sight
and
don't
come
back.
”

“
I
won't.
I
promise.
”
Relief
flooded
through
Gabriel
that
Maura
had
agreed
to
his
request
despite
his
willingness
to
be
seduced
by
her.

“
Leopold,
take
care
of
him.
I
have
things
to
do.
”
She
swung
off
the
bed,
leaving
the
room
with
a
sway
of
leather-clad
hips.

“
Get
in
the
box
now,
”
Leopold
murmured,
leering
at
him.
Gabriel
wanted
nothing
more
than
to
leave
the
place.

“
Thank
you,
Maura,
”
he
called
out
as
he
entered
the
box
with
Leopold's
assistance.

A
yell
came
back
to
him
from
the
edge
of
the
room.
“
Go
find
her.
”

Chapter
One

Ava
Allen
sighed
and
wiped
her
forehead.
It
had
been
a
hot
day,
and
evening
hadn't
let
up
on
the
heat
any.
The
back
of
the
office
bulged
with
shipments
for
the
next
day.
Sometimes
she
hated
having
opened
this
small
shipping
boutique.
Sunrise
to
sunset
held
backbreaking
work,
but
then
again,
her
success
in
a
year
had
been
beyond
what
she
had
ever
imagined.

She
organized
smaller
boxes
on
a
shelf,
getting
ready
to
leave
for
the
day.
The
large
warehouse
room
in
back
hummed
with
florescent
lighting,
her
other
coworkers
having
gone
hours
before.

“
I
could
really
use
a
vacation.
”
She
sighed,
stretching
tense
shoulders.
Her
social
life
this
last
year
had
been
nonexistent,
and
she
needed
a
change
from
that
and
her
hectic
schedule.
As
she
leaned
over
a
group
of
boxes,
she
heard
a
thump.