Faster We Burn Read online

  Then I met Jessica and fell head over heels in love with her. She was poised, polished and challenged me to be better. Jessica wasn’t into the whole club scene, so I gave it up, without a fuss. My buddies were pissed, claiming I was pussywhipped, but I didn’t care. What did I need the clubs for anymore? I’d found the perfect girl. A year later, I realized perfection was nothing but an illusion. She shredded me to the point I swore I’d never let a woman have that power over me again. I jumped back into the bar scene a changed man. I couldn’t have cared less about trying to get any girl’s attention. Instead, I made them come to me. The guys thought I was crazy, but my aloof attitude worked better than any of the stupid one-liners or any other shit we used to do. I always laid my rules out in the open to avoid any future complications, and most of the time, the relationship would end amicably. Only one had called me a bastard, but I held steadfast to my rule. No attachments. Take it or leave it.

  I kept my eyes on the trio in the corner through the mirror over the bar, waiting to see who would make the first move. I had several game plans in place. If I was approached by one of them, I would suggest buying a round for her and her friends so I could get close to my target. If they chickened out and never made their move, I’d order a round anyway and see if I could strike up a conversation that way. One thing was certain. I would not walk away tonight without making contact.

  It took fifteen minutes for the group of girls to finally make their move. Much to my astonishment, it was Ashton instead of her heavily-endowed friend who approached me. After listening to her boisterous friend, I would have bet money that she would be my first contact with the group. The night was shaping up to be filled with surprises. My good fortune continued as Ashton awkwardly began to flirt with me. Seizing the opportunity, I ordered a round of drinks to see if that would loosen her tongue further. Much to my pleasure, the whiskey not only loosened her tongue, providing me with information, but it also provided a glimpse into something more. Her voice washed over me like a seductive caress, laced with an equal share of innocence and wisdom that hinted at a hidden inner pain. Something was bothering her, but regardless, whatever it was didn’t concern me. It wasn’t my job to rescue her. She was just an assignment, nothing more.

  With each round of drinks though, that fact continued to dissipate. The more she talked, the more I was pulled in. Even her fumbled attempt at sexual banter was endearing and erotic at the same time. When she asked if I wanted to put my trunk in her, I got rock hard and wanted to hoist her up on the counter and take her right there in front of everyone.

  I reached over for my cellphone to check the time and was shocked when I realized I had been lying there, thinking about her for the last hour. I reached over and flipped the light switch, plunging the room into darkness. As I contemplated my next move, the sane part of me knew I should call my client first thing in the morning and hand over Ashton’s location, but the slightly insane side considered the possibility of waiting a few days to see if I could flush out why she had run away. The irrationality of this thought wasn’t lost on me. It shouldn’t matter why she’d run off. I was paid to locate her, plain and simple. It wasn’t my business to ask questions. The fact that I had the sudden urge to hunt down my client instead, and bury my fist in his face for ever hurting her, shook me to the core. It had been years since a woman had this effect on me.

  Insanity. That’s all it was. I would turn her in tomorrow. It was the only way to get my mind back on track. I had no problems keeping the women I dated at arm’s length for the last six years. I wasn’t about to screw that up over some girl I’d been tracking for the last three weeks.

  YA Titles by Tiffany King

  The Saving Angels Series

  Meant to Be (Book 1)

  Forgotten Souls (Book 2)

  The Ascended (Book 3)

  Wishing For Someday Soon

  Forever Changed

  Unlikely Allies

  Miss Me Not

  Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel Book 1

  Where to find Tiffany King

  www.authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

  Twitter: @AuthorTiffany

  Facebook: Tiffany King

  Goodreads: Tiffany King

  Contents

  Title page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  About the author:

  Chapter 1: Why lightweights shouldn’t drink

  Chapter 2: The big head versus the little head