“I have good taste.” The intimacy of her smile included him in that statement, while the determination in her eyes dismissed his assertion that they weren’t meant to be lovers.

He ran a hand over his head and debated what to do. He was no longer interested in Sam the bartender, but he wanted sex and he needed blood. And the only person he wanted either from was the one standing in front of him-the kind of woman a guy didn’t take casually. “You could have any guy in this room. Any guy you want.”

“Perhaps.” She shrugged and settled on the seat beside him. “But I need you. I’m Kim, by the way.”

She extended her hand. They shook in greeting and he gave her his name.

“Interesting.” Her eyes sparkled. “Suits you.”

Raze inclined his head in acknowledgment, maintaining his hold on her for a moment longer than necessary because he got a charge out of it. He’d chosen the name himself after shedding his angelic one. All of the Fallen had recreated themselves and most minions followed suit-a new name for a new life. “Odd place to hunt for a rough ride.”

Her lush mouth curved on one side. “You’re not rough.”

His brows lifted in silent challenge.

“You’re not,” she insisted with a smile. “You’re fierce and in a dark mood, but not rough. And I wasn’t trolling for any kind of ride. I came in here for a drink with friends and had every intention of leaving here all by myself.”

She pointed across the room to where three of the small tables had been shoved together to make a grouping for a party of a half-dozen people. The men offered toasts to Raze, lifting their beers high. The women giggled and bent their heads together, speaking intimately. Their good-humored nervous response to him almost made him smile.

“Am I a bet, then?” he asked. “What do you win for having the courage to hit on me?”

“Hopefully, a night with you.” Kim took another drink, taking the time to absorb the taste of the wine before swallowing. No liquid courage for her. “I was sitting over there, minding my own business, having a reasonably good time. Then I felt a tingle on the back of my neck. I turned around and there you were. I was just going to admire you from afar, but then I saw you were trolling and figured why not me? Plus, I really needed to admire you up close.”