CHAPTER ONE

Two weeks ago

OLIVER SAT IN THE DRIVER’S seat of Piper’s car as they drove through the dark streets, with one hand on the steering wheel, and the other hand ready to grab her.

Or protect his balls.

It could go either way with her.

“So, kidnapping and now theft?” Piper snarled at him, her arms crossed and her long, dark hair falling around her shoulders. “Your rap sheet is getting longer, asshole.”

Oliver shook his head.

“For a journalist, you’re pretty stupid,” he snapped, darting a quick look at her and trying to ignore how plump her breasts were. Piper Roberts was far from stupid, but she was fucking pretty.

Correction. She was fucking gorgeous.

If she wasn’t Sage’s sister, and a goddamn pain in the ass, he’d take her home and fuck her until she lost her voice.

But Piper was a pain in the ass, and an all-round annoying human. First, she had followed him back to the mansion after seeing him leave Sage’s house a few days ago, and tonight she’d turned up again demanding to see her sister.

Who was now a vampire.

So, yeah, that meeting wasn’t going to happen any time soon.

Actually, Sage was in transition, and they had no idea when she would wake. Oliver had been instructed by Ari, Sage’s mate and the director of The Institute, to return Piper home and wipe her memories.

So, just another day at the office.

“I’m stupid for letting you take my car,” Piper said, shaking her head at him. Or herself—he wasn’t sure.

Oliver rolled his eyes. “For God’s sake, let me spell this out to you. I haven’t taken your car. You are in it.”

“Without my permission,” Piper stamped out.

Like she could stop him.

He was a powerful vampire and assassin at The Institute. Recently, he’d been promoted to head assassin after his friend and colleague, Ben, had mated and moved to Italy. Ben was now back in Seattle with them, along with the Moretti royals.

Oliver was looking forward to catching up with him for a few drinks, but this time they wouldn’t be ending the night with one, two, or five females and a handful of sex toys. When a vampire mated, he was mated for life to that one person. If the mate was a human, the vampire turned them. Simple as that.

Of all the vampires he’d expected to mate, Ben had not been on his list. The guy was lethal, charming and sex driven. Which, okay, fine, described Oli as well. That’s why they were such good friends.

Giving and taking pleasure with beautiful women was Oli’s favorite pastime. Well, that and killing baddies with a shiny AT308 rifle.

“I didn’t kidnap you. Alex and I took you back to your place after you followed us, and then we restrained you.” He realized how dodgy that sounded.

“Usually when that happens to me, it’s for much more pleasant reasons,” Piper said, and Oliver’s cock responded.

No. Fucking, no, no, no.

“I’m sure they gag you, too. I would,” Oliver said, only half under his breath.

“You won’t. Ever. Because you aren’t touching me again,” Piper said, and ripped open the door when he parked outside her house.

Again?

It had been Alex who had restrained her last time, although, sure, Oliver taken her arm and pulled her inside.

Okay fine, yes, he remembered every millisecond of it because Piper’s soft warm skin had burned into the palm of his hand, sending electrical sparks through his body.

But he wasn’t thinking about that.

No.

Not thinking about it.

Oliver shook his head and got out of the car, following her to the front door where she punched in a code to open the door.

“Keys!” she demanded when it opened, holding out her hand.

“Inside,” Oliver said, lifting his chin.

“I don’t fucking think so.” Piper crossed her arms.

Oliver picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, kicking the door closed with his foot and stomping up the stairs.

Meanwhile, Piper shrieked in his ear like a banshee. “Put me down.” She yelled as he deposited her on the sofa in the least gentle way he could.

Well, he could be way less gentle with her, and his cock was very interested in that idea.

Never happening.

“Let’s get down to business,” Oliver said, squatting in front of her and placing his hands on her knees.

“Oh my God, are you going to rape me?” Piper retreated on the sofa.

The fuck?

“No!” He growled. “I don’t rape women. Do I look like I need to rape women?”

Piper shrugged.

Shrugged!

Oliver stood and glared down at her.

“Well, you don’t exactly look like an accountant with all those tattoos and leather!” she exclaimed, then shrugged again. “You could be a rapist.”

Oliver ran a hand through his hair.

This wasn’t cool.

He bent down in front of her again. “Piper, I am not going to harm you,” he said more gently. “We don’t do that.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Who is we? I just want someone to tell me where Sage is and if she’s okay.”

The emotion from earlier was back in her eyes and her fight subsided. She was tired. Not surprising, given it was nearly eleven at night. She had yelled and screamed for hours at him while he had hidden her in his room, and they’d waited for Ari to join them.

That she was still sassing him was admirable.

In fact, he much preferred being aggravated with her. Then he could pretend she was just a pain in his ass, and not a woman he’d been thinking about for days since they first met.

Because there was no way he was mating.

Ever.

Not fucking ever!

“I promise you; she is fine,” Oliver said, taking her chin in his hand as their eyes connected. “Now, Piper, you sexy little pain in the ass, I want you to focus on my words.”

“What are you doing?” she asked in a whisper, already half under his vampire hypnosis.

He took in her startling blue eyes as his hand rested on the bare skin of her thigh. God, she was too fucking beautiful.

“I’m making you forget,” Oliver said.

Mostly.