Chapter One

An engine purred it fumes gently into the atmosphere, but Daniel ignored the warning and squeezed his tanned arms tighter. His partner didn’t object, but rather began to move her own lips more rapidly against his as time seemed to fog up and disintegrate. He slipped his hand around her shoulder, pulling down one of the straps of her loosened shirt. But she smacked him away with a reflexive jerk and distracted him easily with her aggressive movements from the neck up.

When he tried again, she edged her face towards his ear. “Not tonight, Daniel.”

He resorted to touching his free hand against the back of her hair, twisting his fingers in and out of their short ends. The way they laid spiked downward at a few angles, but still maintained their feisty length, only slightly farther down her head than his own.

Daniel couldn’t help but adore the way everything about her contrasted his own dark appearance.

At last the dreaded moment came when she pulled away. Daniel instinctively breathed, “Don’t go.”

“You know I have to,” she laughed gently, a rare sound from her mouth to anyone but him, “I’m the only one who’s seen him before.”

Daniel sighed, dragging her underneath him in one swift movement. But she claimed victory over his emotions when she shifted her head so the only thing his lips managed to brush against was her cheek. Finally, Daniel surrendered and rolled onto his back.

Kissing him again, she stood from the couch. As Daniel played with his fingers solemnly, she ignored him and pulled the rest of her clothes over her light skin.

“Why do we have to do it this way?” Daniel whispered.

“It’s what Zeke wants.”

With a heavy breath, Daniel adjusted his weight and sat up. “I know.”