He didn’t know how long he’d been out. Still, the deep gash in his wrist along with the other lacerations should be closing faster. He sensed a couple broken ribs. A bum leg. A hole in his chest. Burns. A whopper of a headache. Pain.

A rhythmic pulse beat in her neck, blood rushing through the vein capable of speeding his healing. He licked his lower lip. His body agreed with the assessment, his belly rumbling from gnawing hunger. Dax needed to feed.

“My leg is broken. Did you set it?”

“Yes.”

“Why are my hands tied?” Unblinking, he stared at who he determined would become his meal, never taking his eyes off where he planned to pierce her flesh.

When she maneuvered to her feet, she leaned against the doorjamb, a long skirt wrapped around her legs and a snug T-shirt hugging delicious curves. She was prepped to sprint. Not that it would do her any good.

“Look at me. I’m a five-foot-five girl and you’re … well … a lot more. I wanted to help you, but I needed to be certain you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“And?”

“A-a-and what?”

When she stuttered, Dax sensed she was hiding something. “I don’t know. You tell me.”

The nervous female’s boots tapped on the wood floor as her gaze dropped. “Um. Sure. This might sound crazy. Are you a vampire?”

Interesting question, but she was about to find out the truth anyway. Why not give her a preview of coming attractions?

Dax shot her a toothy grin that exposed his fangs, ones which had grown longer, pointier, her shapely throat a beacon for his thirst.

She flinched and glanced out the doorway, eyeing an escape route.

When she twisted back toward Dax, Chiara stuttered. “You don’t remember me.”

“Should I?” He growled, his body needing blood to heal.

“No. I’ve changed.”

Had he fucked her? Humans weren’t to his taste. Blood too thin, bodies too frail for the workout he liked to give his partners. Still, it wasn’t out of the question since she was a tempting little thing.

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember when we hooked up. Untie me, let me rest a bit, and we can go at it again. Afterward, I’ll hit the road. No harm. No foul.”

“What? No. We haven’t had sex.” Her brows furrowed while she worried her thumb.

She was angry, but hunger shot through his gut once more. He needed a bite soon. Enough chit-chat and making nice. “Okay. I give. How did we meet?”