by Kari Thomas
Summer was stunned. What had just happened? Aleta’s words indicated it might have something to do with the elusive stalker. Had they found him? She shivered. Was he near? She knew she was safe, but it didn’t stop the fear from trying to solidify inside her. She’d had nightmares about the strange, preternatural attacker that had nearly killed Aleta. The realization that for some reason it was trying to get to her made her sick to her stomach every time she thought about it. What was it? Why was it after her?
She left the kitchen, walking slowly to the long hall that led to the bedrooms. She knew she had to wake Slade and give him Aleta’s message, but the thought of going into his bedroom, seeing him on his bed, and then trying to wake him…
The closer she got to the only bedroom with a closed door, the more her body heated. Her heart raced. Invisible butterflies danced in her stomach. She felt tingly all over, as though thousands of unseen fingers were caressing every inch of her. By the time she put her hand on the doorknob, she was breathing heavier.
She hesitated. This wasn’t the smartest thing she’d ever done. But, it’s a necessity, she told herself. Body and mind argued. Mind won. She opened the door and stepped into the semi dark room.
Oh. He does sleep in the nude.
He was on his stomach, arms stretched, his face buried in his pillow, and his hard toned body was gloriously naked from head to toe. She nearly collapsed right there in the doorway. The erotic punch to her stomach arrowed straight to her center. Her stomach clenched. Instant heat surrounded her. No man had ever affected her the way Slade did. It wasn’t simply his sinfully handsome face and body. It was something more. Something she couldn’t put her finger on. Something she wasn’t sure she wanted to decipher. He was too dangerous. Too sexy.
She found herself moving towards the bed before she even consciously thought about it. Just as she stopped by the head of the bed, she caught her breath and tried to calm her pounding heart. She couldn’t stop her gaze from gliding over his nakedness. His skin was bronze. He was hard and muscular. His wide back tapered down to a slim waist and firm buttocks, strong thighs, and long legs. She had the sudden urge to run her hands over every delicious inch of him. She froze where she stood and forced herself to get control. It wasn’t easy.
“Slade?” She called his name softly, twice, but he didn’t respond. So she tried a firmer tone. “Slade, wake up. I need to tell you something.” I am not touching him. He will hear me and wake up without me having to touch him. “Slade, if you don’t wake up I’m going to throw cold water on you. Aleta says that works.”
For a moment she thought the threat might actually work. He groaned, a low sexy sound from his throat and moved his head, but he didn’t open his eyes.
She couldn’t stand it another moment. “To heck with it,” she muttered. Heart pounding so hard she thought it would burst she reached out and touched his shoulder. Her voice was unintentionally husky, “Slade?”
Lightning quick he turned, grabbed her by the waist and pulled her down on the bed. Just as quick, he had her pinned beneath him. He murmured her name.
Summer didn’t know whether to melt right there or scream. Screaming with the flood of burning desire that swamped her senses seemed the best idea, but she didn’t get the chance. He raised his head and claimed her lips in a deep, hard kiss that stole her breath and every ounce of her common sense.
Chapter Thirteen
Slade was having one of his more erotic dreams about Summer. He’d dreamed about her over the years ever since he’d seen that picture Reed had on his desk. He could never explain his obsession, or the dreams, but he certainly didn’t mind having them. They always came when he was exhausted. This was one of his favorites. He had her stretched out on the bed, gloriously naked, as he worshipped every inch of her body with his tongue, mouth, and hands. She writhed beneath him, sensuously moving against his hard aching body, making the fire inside him burn out of control.
She moaned softly, the sound sending an arc of lust straight to his groin. He raised his head and took her lips, sealing their mouths together and drinking her sweetness like a starving man. He would never get enough of her taste. It was addicting. She had a body he couldn’t—and didn’t ever want to—stop touching and worshipping. Her body was all soft curves, silky, gardenia-scented skin, and warm satiny heat that called to every primal cell in his body.
His hands roamed up and down her slender length, searching for the spots he knew would make her moan in ecstasy. In every dream she would arch into him, begging for his touch. Her begging would send him soaring out of control.
This time when he settled her more firmly beneath him, shoving his hard erection into the welcoming center he knew was waiting, something odd registered in his head. In all his dreams, she was naked.
Beneath his body, his hands, he realized he was touching clothing instead of skin. What the hell?
Slade came awake with a hard jolt of surprise. He reared his head up and stared down into Summer’s beautiful face. Was he still dreaming? This couldn’t be real.
But it was. Her erratic breathing whispered against his face, her flushed features were dewy with the warmth he could feel from her body beneath him. Her incredible violet eyes glistened with something indecipherable. He lost his breath and had to remind himself to breathe again.
He knew he should move off her. Knew it, but refused to do it. She felt too good beneath him, even clothed. His hard erection still pressed against her center, demanding entrance. Deep inside him his dragon rumbled with displeasure. He wanted completion, needed it.
Something told him it wouldn’t take much to get her out of those clothes and naked beneath him…where she belonged.
She broke the sensual haze by whispering his name on a confused breath of softness that went straight to his heart. “Slade?”
He blinked and cleared the erotic fog from his mind and eyes. He had to get control now or there would be hell to pay later. “Let me guess,” he drawled silkily, putting just enough calmness in his tone to prove he was in control. “You missed me.”
Her eyes darkened along with the adorable blush on her face. The action caused lust to punch him again. “No!” She pushed against his unyielding chest. “I didn’t even think about you after you left the other day. Has anyone ever told you that your ego needs working on?”
He chuckled. She could be a little spitfire if she needed to be. He liked that. “As a matter of fact, yeah.” He grinned, briefly showing his teeth. “But you must like it or you wouldn’t be here right now.” He purposely leaned heavier into her and she gasped as she instinctively arched up. A fiery jolt of lust hit him so hard he almost cringed.
She glared at him. He wanted to kiss her again. “I came in here to give you a message from Aleta.” She punched him in the chest. “And you wouldn’t wake up. Then you grabbed me!” He watched as sudden panic lit her eyes. He didn’t like it. Protective instincts rose fast and hard. “So, get off me. Now.”
The decent thing to do would be to get off her, but right now he wasn’t feeling decent. Just primal. Damn. When had he ever let his control slip like this? No other woman had ever made him feel this possessive, this demanding, or this protective.
He lowered his head until his mouth was lightly touching hers. His mind was yelling don’t do it, but his body was urging him on. His dragon rumbled with encouragement.
“One more kiss. That’s all.” Yeah, right, his mind and body scoffed. One more would never be enough. God help them both.
He gently pressed his mouth to hers, catching her whispery, “Don’t,” and he murmured back, “Have to.”
He kissed her slowly, thoroughly. Her lips were incredibly soft, sweeter than the purest honey. His mind was suddenly flooded with erotic images of having her mouth on his body. On every inch of him. On his cock. He groaned and deepened the kiss. His dragon taunted him with the images, breaking loose the raging fire deep inside again. He felt his control slipping. He wanted her with a need so hard it was star
ting to eat its way to his soul.
Hellfire! His soul.
Reality hit hard and deep. He growled in his throat and broke the kiss. Breathing hard and trying to calm his raging body, he stared down into her face. No. He couldn’t let this happen. There was too much at stake. Too much to lose.
“I’m going to roll off you,” he stated briskly. “Do me a favor and get up. Get out of here. I’ll meet you in the living room in a few minutes.”
He saw the surprise and the wariness in her eyes, but he hardened his heart and ignored the need to stay right where he was. When he finally forced himself to move off her, she quickly squirmed away and off the bed. She practically ran from the room.
A harsh, soul-felt groan tore from his throat. It took a lot of willpower to keep from roaring.
Chapter Fourteen
Summer collapsed on the sofa, her knees shaking and her heart ready to burst from her chest. Sparks of desire raced over her skin like invisible fingers caressing every inch. Her hand was shaky as she lifted it to touch her swollen mouth. She could still feel Slade’s lips against hers, demanding and hungry.
She closed her eyes then jerked them open again when that action caused her to vividly recall his hard, naked body pressed on top of hers. Heat flooded her; she could still feel his thick, hard erection nestling against her center, demanding entrance. Her panties dampened, her center pulsing with an ache she couldn’t deny.
Why didn’t I fight him? She could have, when he’d first grabbed her. He was obviously still semi-asleep, and a good slap in the face or a knee to his vulnerable groin would have stopped him.
She already knew the answer. The moment he’d touched her, she’d lost all sense of control or will. She’d felt the intense attraction to him from the first moment they’d met, even when he’d shoved her in that closet. He was in her thoughts constantly, even though she swore to herself she didn’t want him to be.
I can’t let this happen. I have to fight this. Any kind of relationship with Slade would be disastrous. He would never understand or accept her secret; what man would? And she wasn’t his type. Despite hating it, she knew she was too innocent for a man like Slade. He needed a strong woman, one who could give back as much as he gave. Someone like Aleta…
She groaned as she felt the blush heat her cheeks. What was she thinking! Just because he’d kissed her didn’t mean he was interested in her. It had been a normal male reaction that was all. She bit back another groan. His might have been a normal reaction, but hers hadn’t. Help.
By the time Slade walked into the living room twenty minutes later, she was calm and collected. She stood up and bravely faced him. The moment their gazes met, her body started that erotic tingling all over again.
There was something dangerous in the gleam of his dark amber eyes. Not quite anger, yet a deep determination which showed in his features. His sensuous mouth was set in a grim slash, and his body language was tense. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and deep, controlled.
“Where is Aleta?”
Summer resolutely ignored the invisible butterflies still dancing in her stomach. “She received a phone call and then had to leave. She said to tell you ‘I’m in pursuit, and I’ll check in later.’ She also said something about photos being taken to the lab at the compound. I wasn’t sure where she meant.”
Slade’s features darkened and he muttered several foul words. “How long ago was this?”
“I came in immediately after she left to wake you.” Oh no. Let’s not think about that again.
“And why the hell were you here?” He growled the words.
Anger surged hot, deep inside her. He didn’t have to sound so put out about it “Aleta invited me to dinner.” She glared at him. “I didn’t exactly plan to be here when you woke.”
“One of these days,” he muttered under his breath, “I’m going to clip her wings.”
Summer wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. It was an odd thing to say, but she didn’t question him; he didn’t look like he wanted to take the time to explain anything. I must be crazy to be so attracted to him. Never in a million years would she have thought she’d fall for someone like Slade.
Slade stomped toward the elevator doors. “I want you to stay here. No one can enter without the code, and the security here is top-of-the-line. You’ll be safe. Don’t answer the call button to anyone.”
“Wait! Where are you going? I can’t stay here!” Summer followed him to the doors. The thought of being here alone made her feel more than a little uncomfortable. “Let me go with you, or take me home first.”
Slade stopped and glared down at her. His tone was clipped, harsh. “Stay here. I don’t want to have to worry about you while I’m taking care of this situation.”
“Sorry to be an inconvenience,” she muttered sarcastically, “but you can’t tell me what to do.”
She nearly took a step back at the look in his eyes then. The danger was back and so was the lust.
“I could always tie you to my bed,” he murmured wickedly, a slow grin spreading across his mouth.
Sucker punched again by a desire so hot she lost her breath, Summer gasped. “Try it,” she dared. “It won’t be easy.”
“Yeah,” he grinned again, looking like a predatory wolf. “But think of the fun I’d have trying.”
Okay. He’d won this round. “Fine.” She turned away before he could see just how much his words were affecting her. “Go. Do whatever you have to do. I can’t leave anyway because we left my car at the office.”
She heard his long exhale of breath behind her and then the sound of the elevator doors as they opened. They closed with a soft swoosh. Only then did she let out the breath she was holding. She was in trouble. Despite his macho attitude, her feelings for him were steadily growing stronger.
She went straight to the phone and called Reed. She gave him the address, and he assured her that he was on his way. When Slade returned, she’d be gone.
Round two to me.
* * * *
Slade contacted Aleta on her cellphone. After giving her a blistering lecture, he jumped into his Hummer and headed to the directions she had given him. He couldn’t believe their luck. If Aleta was right, they had the stalking bastard cornered. His grin was cruel. When he got hold of that–whatever it was–he was going to rip it to shreds.
If this thing hadn’t started stalking Summer, he would have never been involved with her, and he wouldn’t be fighting this raging need for her. He had serious priorities that shouldn’t have been pushed aside, but all he could think about was Summer. His body was still hard and aching, relentlessly burning away his control. If he hadn’t released her when he had…
He knew, despite her show of spunk, she was a very vulnerable woman. Innocent. Damn. Why did he have to think that word? Guilt hit, making him curse aloud. She was innocent. Innocent of life, of men, and of the world he lived in. Hellfire, I have to be crazy even thinking about her. He shouldn’t have touched her, kissed her.
He’d pay for it now because there was no way in hell he was going to let his attraction to her go any further. It stopped now.
Half an hour later, Slade turned off the main road to the compound and took the dirt road further into the mountains. There were several roads like this one, mostly unused, leading to hiking trails and a few deserted cabins here and there. It led in the opposite direction of the compound, all forest and untamed. A lot of the dragons hunted here when they wanted new ground. The isolation and the thickness of the forestry made it possible for them to be safe.
The road narrowed and finally disappeared altogether. Slade stopped his vehicle beside Aleta’s Mustang and the red truck his trackers Gunther and Marcus used. Aleta had told him they were approximately two miles off the path, near a small mountain base. The stalker-being was in a cave inside the mountain, or so they hoped.
With his preternatural speed he covered the two-mile distance quickly. He found Aleta, Gunther, and Marcus standing behind a bo
ulder fifty yards away from the cave entrance.
“We located him in town, heading toward Summer’s house,” Marcus told him. “He somehow realized we were following and abruptly changed directions. We nearly lost him twice in town again, but Gunther had his scent, and we followed him here.”
Slade studied the cave. There was an odd aura about it–completely unnatural. “What form was he in? Human?”
“Close,” Gunther answered. “He was a solid form, human shaped, but no distinct features. He moved with incredible speed. Preternatural, without a doubt.”
“But here’s the odd thing, Slade,” Marcus stated, his features dark with concern and a heavy frown. “Although we could see him, it appeared as though no one else could. He was hovering a few feet off the ground as he traveled, and he went right through town as though he was completely invisible.”
Damn. This wasn’t good. What the hell where they dealing with? Slade glanced again at the cave. “Can you pinpoint his scent, Gunther? Was it anything you’d recognize?”
Gunther shook his head. He growled. “I thought for a moment there–just a moment–it was dragon. But then, I knew it couldn’t be, and figured I was getting a whiff of Marcus and myself instead.”
It wasn’t possible. Other possibilities went through his mind. “He’s already shown he can be several forms. The one I saw was just a shadow. The one that attacked Aleta was solid but bulkier and larger than human. Now the one you two saw was more human shaped. I don’t think we’re dealing with more than one supernatural being, though he did have human help at one time. So, that means that whatever this creature is, he’s powerful and may be able to control magic at some level.”
The hairs on the back of his neck rose. Hellfire! That’s why the aura around the cave looked odd! “Damn,” he muttered. He opened his senses more. He was part Air dragon and carried the heritage of magic in his blood. Not only could he use magic when needed, but he could also sense it any time it was used. “He has a safeguard over the entrance to the cave. A normal human wouldn’t be able to detect it, in fact wouldn’t even be able to see the cave. The fact that we can…”