Bound By Blood

by Amanda Ashley

  She turned her head to the side, offering him her throat. And he was lost.

  Her musky scent filled his nostrils as his fangs pierced her tender flesh. She moaned softly, her hands clutching his shoulders as he rose over her. She cried out with mingled pleasure and pain as his body merged with hers.

  He held her close for a moment, showering her with kisses while her body adjusted to his.

  She writhed beneath him, urging him on, her hands caressing him as he moved deep inside her. She was silk and satin in his arms.

  Kaitlyn clung to him, holding him so tightly it seemed as if they had melted into one another. Two made one, she thought, and felt the bond between them grow stronger even as tension built up within her.

  She cried his name, desperate for release.

  “Hang on, darlin’,” he said, his voice husky.

  One soul-shattering kiss. One last thrust, and they tumbled over the edge to paradise.

  Kaitlyn spiraled slowly back to reality. Never before had she felt so complete. So content. So utterly happy.

  Opening her eyes, she saw Zack watching her intently. She smiled drowsily. “Wow.”

  He arched one brow. “Wow?”

  She kissed his chin. “It was worth the wait.”

  “I’m sorry I waited so long,” he said, and then grunted softly. “So much for all my good intentions.”

  Propping herself up on her elbow, she traced his lips with the tip of her finger. He had a remarkable mouth, she thought, capable of doing remarkable things. “I’m sorry for seducing you.”

  He stared up at her, and then burst out laughing. “No, you’re not.”

  “You’re right,” she admitted with a grin. “I’m not. In fact, I’m ready to do it all over again!”

  Drake stood in front of the hearth, his arms crossed over his chest, as Zack told him the details of his phone call with Scherry that morning. “And you think Nadiya is behind it.”

  “She’s the most logical suspect, don’t you think?”

  Drake shrugged. “Why you?”

  “Maybe she wants to separate the two of us. Or maybe she thinks if I go back to Tahoe, Kaitlyn will go with me. Either way, I’m heading home. I know this messes up the wedding plans, and I’m sorry about that, but I need to take care of this.”

  “Of course you do,” Elena said.

  Kaitlyn glanced at Zack, who was sitting on the sofa beside her, then smiled tentatively at her mother. “We thought we’d get married in Tahoe.”

  Elena and Drake exchanged looks.

  “Is that what you want?” Drake asked quietly.

  “We want you both to be there, of course,” Kaitlyn added quickly. “And Grandmother and Stefan.”

  “Whatever you want is fine with us,” Elena said. “It isn’t as though we’ve sent out a hundred invitations and rented a hall.”

  “I think Kaitlyn should stay here while Zack goes ahead and takes care of whatever he has to,” Drake said.

  “No way!” Kaitlyn exclaimed. “I’m going with Zack.”

  “I think your dad’s right,” Zack said. “You’ll be safer here. My lair is toast. A threshold in a hotel or a rented room doesn’t offer any protection from intruders, supernatural or otherwise.”

  “Then you won’t be safe, either,” Kaitlyn said.

  “I’m not going to sleep at the hotel. I’ll go to ground somewhere.”

  “But . . .”

  “It’s only for a few days, Katy. I’ll find a church and set the date for a week from today.” He kissed her cheek, then whispered, “Just think how happy you’ll be to see me again.”

  “I don’t want to stay here without you,” she said, pouting.

  “Katy, I can’t guarantee your safety during the day. Not in a hotel. And I’m not willing to take a chance on Nadiya getting her hands on you again.”

  Nadiya, she thought glumly. How had she forgotten about Nadiya?

  Knowing Kaitlyn and Zack would like to spend a few hours alone before he left for Tahoe, Drake and Elena decided to go into town.

  “To do a little shopping and maybe take in a movie,” Elena said, giving Kaitlyn a hug. “We won’t be too late.”

  “Ya know,” Zack said when her parents had gone, “I have a feeling they know what was going on in my room this morning.”

  Kaitlyn stared at him, her eyes wide. “What makes you think that?”

  He shrugged. “Just a hunch.”

  “No way. If my dad knew . . .” Kaitlyn shook her head. “Well, he would have said something. Done something.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Of course. Well . . . I don’t know. Why do you think they know?”

  “Like I said, just a hunch.”

  “Well,” Kaitlyn said, grinning, “you’re still alive, so they must not be too upset. And since we’ve already done it, and they already know”—she looked at him through the veil of her lashes—“I’m thinking—”

  “Yeah,” Zack said dryly. “I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

  She jumped to her feet, her hands fisted on her hips. “Are you saying you don’t want to?”

  “You’re a wild, wicked woman, Kaitlyn Liliana Sherrad.”

  “If I am, it’s all your fault. I never even thought about s-e-x until I met y-o-u.”

  “Sure, blame me. Just like a woman.”

  “I am a woman, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  “Not likely,” he said, grinning.

  “I’m going up to my room to read. Good night, Mr. Ravenscroft. Have a pleasant trip.” And so saying, she flounced out of the room.

  She was something else, Zack mused as he watched her climb the stairs. His eyes lingered on the angry sway of her hips and her curvy behind. “All mine,” he said. And he wanted her, now and for always.

  He was sitting on her bed, legs crossed, feet bare, the pillows propped behind his back, when she opened the door.

  He laughed at the look of surprise on her face, but she recovered quickly.

  She closed and locked the door behind her, then kicked off her shoes. “Been waiting long?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  She yawned behind her hand. “I don’t think I’m in the mood,” she said, stifling a grin.

  “No?” He patted the mattress beside him. “Come on over here, and I’ll put you in the mood.”

  “Mighty sure of yourself, aren’t you, mister?”

  “Yep. No complaints so far,” he said, laughing. “Of course, there was only the one time.”

  She stood there, her arms crossed and then, with deliberate slowness, she peeled off her sweater and tossed it on a chair. “Maybe once was enough.” She stepped out of her shoes, unzipped her jeans, and slid them, ever so slowly, over her hips and down her legs. Her gaze never left his face as she kicked her jeans aside.

  “Never enough,” Zack said, his gaze moving over her from head to heel.

  The heat in his eyes seared her skin as she removed her bra and wriggled out of her panties. “One of us is overdressed,” she remarked.

  “Yeah? What are you going to do about it?”

  She sauntered toward him, hips swaying provocatively. “What would you like me to do?”

  “Anything you want, Katy darlin’. I’m all yours.”

  “And don’t you forget it!” She quickly removed his shirt, then tugged his jeans off and dropped them on the floor next to her own. He was beautiful, she thought, perfectly proportioned, well muscled without being bulky. And he wanted her. The evidence was unmistakable.

  She was reaching for the waistband of his black briefs when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her as if he would never let her go. Which was fine with her.

  Moments later, she was on her back.

  “Just remember, this was your idea,” she murmured as he rose over her. “I don’t want to hear anything about me seducing you later.”

  He kissed her again. “You don’t call that striptease seductive?”

  “Well, maybe just a little,”
she said, running her hands up and down his chest. “But you started it.”

  “Me?” He nibbled on her earlobe. “What did I do?”

  “What did you do?” she exclaimed. “You were in my bed!”

  “Come on, admit it. You were hoping I’d be here.”

  “I admit nothing.”

  “No?” Affecting a German accent, he said, “We have ways of making you talk.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Your mother told me you’re ticklish just here.”

  “No! Zack, no!” She began to thrash about as he tickled her under her arms. “Zack, quit it! I hate that! Zack!”

  Laughing, he trapped both of her hands in one of his. “So, what will you give me to stop?”

  “Anything,” she promised, gasping for breath.

  His gaze moved over her lips, then slid down to the pulse hammering in the hollow of her throat. “Anything?”

  She nodded, too out of breath to speak.

  “A taste?”

  She nodded again, her eyes smoldering with desire as he bent his head to her neck and drank.

  Kaitlyn cried when he left. She didn’t want to, but she couldn’t help it. For the next week, they would be miles apart. Bereft, she stood beside her parents as Zack kissed her one last time.

  “Be careful,” she said. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  He winked at her. “You know I will. I’m getting married next week. I’d hate to miss that. And I have a lot to do between now and then. I need to find a church, rent a tux, find us a place to live.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m gonna be a busy man.”

  “You won’t even have time to miss me,” she said, sniffling.

  “Not true, Katy. I’ll miss you every minute of every night that we’re apart.”

  “I love you.”

  “I know. And I love you.” He looked over her head at Drake. “Take good care of my girl.”

  Drake nodded curtly.

  “Take care of yourself,” Elena said, giving Zack a hug.

  “I’ll see you all soon.” He drew Kaitlyn into his arms and kissed her again, a long, drawn-out kiss. “That one has to last me awhile,” he said.

  And then he was gone.

  A week, Kaitlyn thought glumly. How was she going to last a week without him?

  Chapter 39

  Zack stood in the dark, staring at the burnt rubble and debris that was all that remained of his nightclub. The acrid smell of smoke was still strong as he walked the perimeter of the carnage, his senses searching for some clue that would tell him who had set fire to the club, but there was no scent he recognized. Nevertheless, he was certain Nadiya was responsible for the fire. Whether or not she had set the blaze herself didn’t matter. He knew in his gut that she was behind it. It didn’t really matter who’d lit the match.

  He blew out a sigh. Ten years of his life, up in smoke. He swallowed his anger, knowing it was a waste of time and energy, and focused on the future. He had built the place from the ground up once, and by damn, he could do it again.

  Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he called Scherry to let her know he was in town. He had talked to her before he left Wolfram to let her know he was on his way.

  “Hey, boss,” she said. “How’s it hanging?”

  Zack shook his head. “It’s hanging just fine. Meet me in the lobby of Harrah’s in ten minutes.”

  “Yessir, boss. Whatever you say, boss.”

  With a shake of his head, he ended the call.

  Scherry was waiting for him when he arrived at the hotel. Harrah’s was an impressive place, eighteen stories high, with everything a tourist could ask for—six restaurants, a luxurious pool, a spa that featured Roman baths, Turkish steam, Finnish saunas and Swedish massage, a nightclub, and a casino that offered all the latest games of chance.

  “I booked you a luxury suite under the name Christopher Lee,” Scherry said, giving him a hug.

  “Christopher Lee?” Zack arched a brow in amusement. Lee was an actor who had played Dracula in a number of Hammer horror movies.

  “The very same,” Scherry said, grinning. “The concierge assured me your suite is the best the hotel has to offer.”

  “You’re staying here, too, right?”

  “Are you crazy? I can’t afford to stay here on what you pay me,” she teased, “especially now that I’m out of a job.”

  “Don’t give me any sass, or you’ll be permanently out of a job. Now, get yourself a room. I’m footing the bill.”

  “Thanks, Zack. As requested, I scheduled an appointment with your insurance man for tonight at ten. He’ll meet you here, in the lobby.”

  Zack nodded. “Were you able to get in touch with Waters?”

  “Yes. He canceled a trip out of town to meet you here at eleven.”

  “I should have hired you to be my personal secretary instead of my bartender.”

  “I used to be an executive secretary, in a former life.” Reaching into her jacket pocket, she pulled out a keycard. “Here you go. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you.”

  “Thanks, kid.”

  “Are you going to rebuild in the same place?”

  Zack nodded. “Just as soon as I can. Have you been in touch with any of the other employees?”

  “Yes. They’re all eager to come back.” She smiled at him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date.”

  “Yeah? With who?”

  “Just a guy I met last night. His name is Wayne. He’s a dealer here in the casino.”

  Zack nodded. “Have fun. Oh, by the way, I’m getting married.”

  “Married! You? I don’t believe it.”

  “Well, it’s true. She’ll be here next week.”

  “It’s her, isn’t it? That woman I saw you with a couple of times.”

  “Yep. Thanks for taking care of things while I was away.”

  “No problem. I’ll expect an invite to the wedding, ’cause I won’t believe it unless I see it with my own eyes.”

  “Right.”

  Whistling softly, Zack took the elevator to his suite. He didn’t know what it was costing him, but he had no complaints. The sitting room was grand. Two comfortable chairs stood on either side of a round table. There was a desk and a chair, should he feel the need to write a letter, a high-backed sofa and a coffee table in front of an entertainment center. Large windows on either side of the room afforded spectacular views—one of the lake, the other of the Sierra Nevada.

  The bedroom was separate from the sitting room and featured a king-sized bed flanked by twin end tables, each of which held a lamp and a phone. His favorite feature was the room-darkening drapes.

  There were two bathrooms—one for him, one for her. Both had TVs and phones. One bathroom had a Jacuzzi big enough for two; the other had a walk-in shower, also big enough for two.

  He smiled as he imagined himself and Kaitlyn relaxing in the Jacuzzi, making love in the shower.

  Ah, Kaitlyn. He missed her already.

  She was much on his mind as he left the hotel. His first stop was at a clothing store. When he had more time, he was going to have to buy a whole new wardrobe, since just about everything he owned had been burned in the fire or left behind in Romania. But for now, he only needed a few things—jeans, shirts, underwear, socks, boots. He bought four of everything, then tossed in a long black coat, not because of the weather, but simply because he liked it, and it looked good on him, judging by the admiration in the eyes of the voluptuous saleswoman. He thanked her for her help, paid the bill, and asked her to send his purchases to the hotel.

  Leaving the store, he went in search of prey.

  It wasn’t easy to find a woman alone. They were either with husbands or boyfriends, or in groups. He strolled down the sidewalk, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. There was no hurry. He had three hours until his first appointment.

  The sounds of an argument drew him to a restaurant parking lot. Taking cover in the shadows, he saw a man and a
woman facing each other. He was a little drunk. She was angry, her arms crossed over her breasts.

  “Pay up!” she demanded. “Fifty bucks, right now!”

  “I can’t.” He swayed unsteadily. “Sorry.”

  “What do you mean, you can’t?”

  He smiled ruefully. “I mean I don’t have it.”

  Her expression turned ugly. “I suggest you get it while you still can.”

  “You threatening me?” he exclaimed.

  She pulled a gun from the handbag dangling from her wrist. “What do you think?”

  Zack shook his head. He really didn’t want to get involved in this little skirmish, but he couldn’t stand by and watch one of his dealers get plugged by a hooker.

  Hands still in his pockets, Zack strolled toward them.

  The woman swung the gun in Zack’s direction. “Get out of here!”

  “Hold on there,” Zack said, holding up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “That idiot’s a friend of mine.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of cash. “Turn Henry loose. I’ll pay his bill.”

  She stared at Zack, her expression uncertain.

  Henry grinned at him. “Hey, boss.”

  “Hey, yourself. I think you’d better go home while you can still walk.”

  “Sure, boss, whatever you say,” Henry muttered, and staggered toward the street.

  The woman’s finger curled around the trigger when Zack took a step toward her. “How do I know I can trust you?”

  Zack extended his hand and waved the cash at her. “Come and get it.”

  She hesitated, then took a wary step toward him, let out a shriek when, with preternatural speed, he closed the distance between them and plucked the gun from her grasp.

  “Two mistakes in one night,” she muttered. And then tried to knee him in the groin.

  Zack blocked it easily, pinned her arms to her sides, then stuffed the bills into her cleavage. “For services rendered.”

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “No one you’ll remember,” he said, and lowered his head to her neck.

  It was five to ten when Zack returned to Harrah’s. His insurance man was waiting for him in the lobby.