Catch Me: The Demon Underground Series, Book 6

THOUGH THE MOONLESS night was already black as ink, I retreated farther into the deep shadows of a live oak outside my townhouse. My mouth went dry, my heart pounded, and my stomach churned as if a dozen vampires were cavorting about inside me. Yes, it was my most frightening outing yet—a date with Austin.

Beside me, Fang, my trusty hellhound, snorted. YOU’VE TAKEN ON DOZENS OF VAMPIRES, MAGE DEMONS, AND BLOOD DEMONS . . . AND YOU’RE AFRAID OF A DATE WITH THE GUY WHO WANTS TO BE YOUR BOYFRIEND?

I’m not afraid of him, I sent Fang telepathically.

THEN WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

Oh, maybe looking like a child to the vampire who was way over a hundred years old and sexy as hell. What did he see in me, an average-looking eighteen-year-old with virtually no experience in this kind of thing? I’d never really “dated” before, though I had two short-lived relationships—one with Dan Sullivan, a full human, and the other with Shade, the broody shadow demon. Neither had prepared me for a date with a sexy vamp.

After the fabulous Valentine’s Day flash mob he’d arranged for me with “zombies” dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller a couple of weeks ago, I’d promised to go out on a real date with him, and this was the first time we’d both been able to arrange it.

Unfortunately, Fang could read all my doubts and insecurities and would call me on every single one of them. I cringed, waiting for it.

YOU’RE NOT HALF BAD-LOOKING, Fang said.

Gee, thanks.

DON’T BE AN IDIOT. WHAT COULD HE POSSIBLY SEE IN YOU? WELL, MAYBE IT’S THE FACT THAT YOU’RE AN AWESOME SLAYER, OR MAYBE BECAUSE YOU’VE SAVED HIS BUTT AND COUNTLESS OTHER VAMP AND DEMON BUTTS IN SAN ANTONIO MANY TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS—NOT TO MENTION THAT OF UNSUSPECTING HUMANS. OR MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, HE’S HOT FOR YOUR INNER SUCCUBUS WHO MAKES HIS BUTT FEEL SO GOOOOOOD.

“That’s a lot of butts,” I murmured. But I had to admit my inner succubus—I called her Lola—liked Austin, too. A lot.

YOU DO GET THAT LOLA ISN’T A SEPARATE ENTITY? YOU ARE THE SUCCUBUS—THAT ONE-EIGHTH DEMON PART OF YOU ISN’T SOMETHING OR SOMEONE YOU CAN SEPARATE FROM YOUR HUMAN SELF, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU MIGHT WANT TO.

“How can I forget when you keep reminding me?” I muttered. Besides, I’d only wanted to get rid of Lola before I’d been kicked out of my home. Everyone else in my family—my mom, stepfather, and half-sister—was fully human, so I’d felt like a freak. But now that I’d discovered the Demon Underground, I didn’t feel so much freakish as I did . . . inexperienced.

WELL, Fang drawled. THERE’S ONE WAY TO GET THAT EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW.

Yeah, I know. I’m doing it, aren’t I?

IF YOU STOP HIDING—FROM YOURSELF AND HIM.

Austin drove up then, in one of the black luxury cars the San Antonio vein of vampires kept in their motor pool. He stepped out of the car, wearing jeans that snugged in all the right places, a black leather jacket, snakeskin boots, and his ever-present cowboy hat. My heart beat faster. What a hottie—and so out of my league it was ridiculous.

Fang nudged me with his nose. DON’T BE RIDICULOUS. YOU’RE VAL SHAPIRO, THE SLAYER, THE DEMON UNDERGROUND’S PALADIN ENFORCER. HE’S OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE.

Yeah, right. As if I could hide from Austin’s keen vampire vision anyway. His gaze found me in the depths of the shadows, and a slow, sexy smile widened his mouth. “Hello, darlin’.”

Would any girl not melt into a puddle right then and there? True to form, Lola surged front and center, her interest sharpening. As for me, I swallowed, trying to get some moisture in my mouth. “Hi,” I managed. Oh yeah, I am witty beyond belief.

He leaned against the car, waiting for me to come to him. “Shall we go?”

I took a deep breath and sauntered toward him, or tried to. Instead, I tripped over a root of the massive tree. Graceful, I was not.

I felt my face flame hot and wished I could rush back inside without looking like a fool.

TOO LATE, Fang jeered.

Sooooo helpful.

I put a fake smile on my face and managed to leave the darkness of the tree without stumbling again. I headed toward the car under the streetlight, and Austin moved around to the other side to open the door for me.……………….