She couldn't imagine he would get this close to her and not jump her if he knew who she was, if he knew she was the shadow he was chasing.
"Let's say, there's a lass that enjoys playing hide-and-seek," he chuckled as he reached back and scratched at his neck with the air of a man that found that confusing.
"Some women enjoy games, I've found."
"And you don't?"
"Only if it involves chocolate and sweet heated flesh," he drawled with a quick, charming grin before straddling the motorcycle and turning back to her.
Patting the seat behind her, he watched her expectantly.
"And I'm supposed to trust you?" she asked.
"Beats the alternative, lass." He glanced back at the entrance to the alley. "You can ride out of here with me safe and sound or take your chances with Farce and his buddy."
"They didn't seem like the type to take home to mother," she commented as she took another step toward him.
"Hell, are any of us?" he chuckled. "Come on, sweets, pony up and let's ride."
He had no idea who she was. Storme moved closer to the cycle, watching him warily as she felt a strange tingle of anticipation running through her.
"So you're searching for your shadow tonight then?" she asked, as she did as he'd suggested and mounted the bike behind him.
"Perhaps." He shrugged. "I'm the new Breed here tonight, you might say. When I couldn't find the lost little waif on my own, they sent in reinforcements."
He didn't sound as though it bothered him.
"I thought Breeds could scent their prey a mile away," she commented as the powerful motor began to throb beneath them.
"Here, lass." He handed her a helmet.
Pulling it on, she found that the headgear was equipped with communications, evident by the short mic that rested close to her lips.
Following suit, he pulled on a larger, full-faced helmet he had taken from the handlebars and strapped it on.
"You'd have to get a scent of your prey to track it first," he told her as he slid the powerful machine into gear and moved toward the entrance. "Hold on, we're gonna blast out just in case."
Just in case Farce and Dog were still waiting at the entrance.
He shot out of the exit as Storme gripped his waist and leaned in close to maintain her seat. The exit was exhilarating, filled with the throb of the cycle beneath her, the heat of the Breed in front of her, and the danger that could be waiting just outside the alley.
But it seemed Farce and Dog had slunk back into whatever slum they were hiding in. They weren't waiting outside the exit, though she was sure they were watching from nearby, just to be certain Styx hadn't left her alone.
"Where're you stayin', lass?" he asked through the comm link.
"The Lincoln Arms," she answered. It seemed she would be renting another hotel room for the night.
"You'll be easily found there if Farce and his buddy decide tonight's the night for havin' fun," he told her. "Ye'll need to check out and find another hotel."
"Suggestions?"
He was silent for several moments. "Hell, get a room at my hotel for the night. I'm not leavin' till mornin', and knowin' Farce, he'll definitely be lookin' for ye tonight."
What an interesting invitation.
Could she be wrong? Was he simply more deceptive than most Breeds?
"I thought you were chasing shadows tonight."
He chuckled again. "Join me for dinner and I'll let my friends continue the chase while I enjoy your fair company for an hour or so. It's not as though I've picked up the scent of her yet. I'll be of little use to them."
She had been successful. In the months this Breed had been tracking her, she was aware that he had never really gotten that close. He was always several steps behind her, there but not really a threat.
Maybe the neutralizer combined with her attempts to stay on the move had managed to put enough distance between them that she could remain hidden for just a little longer.
"So how 'bout that offer of dinner?" he asked. "The hotel I'm at has excellent room service."
She could rest. Maybe he would even be nice and get the room.
"The Lincoln was the cheapest accommodations I could find," she said regretfully. "I can't afford anything more expensive."
"Never fear, I've a suite. I know how to share."
She just bet he did.
"What about your friends?"
"They're not invited," he growled good-naturedly. "Let's say I know who to share with, and some treasures are like fine chocolate, and meant to be enjoyed without company."
So his friends wouldn't be there.
"Are there strings attached?" She had no intention of becoming his playmate, or his chocolate for the night.
"Only if you want them," he promised her. "Come on, lass, I'm the knight in scuffed and dented armor tonight, remember? Besides, some things a man doesn't force, if ye know what I mean."
She knew a bit about this Breed and that seemed to be a philosophy he lived by.
Of all the Breeds that had been sent for her, Styx was the one known more for his playfulness toward women than his mercilessness, or bloodthirsty abilities.
At the moment, he was the safer bet. No doubt Farce and his buddy would track her to the Lincoln before the night was over. They had tracked her to the last hotel she'd taken; she'd lost the security of her vehicle, her clothing and several weapons.