by Jackie Ivie
He almost grabbed the shirt back. Her movement forestalled him. He watched with wide eyes as she pulled her shirt up and over her head, revealing perfect, large, womanly breasts…and they were covered by some lacy, little white contraption.
Damn it.
KayNan’s face probably mirrored the reaction. Women weren’t supposed to strap themselves into fabric. They hadn’t in his day, anyway. Or maybe they had. How was he supposed to know? The harlots who’d visited the guards hadn’t worn them. But, he’d ignored them and rarely looked.
Shit. The next thing he’d have to figure out was the condom thing.
And then she moved her hands behind her and did something that made the skirt she wore gap, and then slide down. And she helped it, keeping her eyes on him while he watched. And there was more surprise. She wore the strangest little item about her hips; made from tiny little strings that wrapped about her sides, before meeting in order to weave a triangle of material that covered over…everything.
He had to stop somehow and ask about the condom thing. Akron hadn’t acted like it was important, but Nigel said it was. If KayNan didn’t bring it up, it meant he didn’t respect—
She had perfect balance, was fairly limber, and showed lots of both as she maneuvered the skirt off, and then just waited; mere centimeters away, and yet sending invisible tendrils that pulsated through the space.
KayNan’s mouth went dry. His eyes wide open. His reanimated heart pumped; mightily and heavily, before it lodged right at the base of his throat. His mate was stunning. Everything about her was womanly and perfectly assembled. Legs, as lightly tanned as the rest of her, led to amazing, firm thighs. Her hips were curvy. Rounded. He could just make out lush, firm buttocks. Her waist was small. Lean. There was a sparkle of some kind of jewelry in her naval. It caught his glance just before she reached behind her back and somehow the breast holder thing came loose.
And fell.
Every coherent thought flew right out of his head. It no longer mattered what a condom was, who wore it, or what it did. All that mattered was a second after she released them he had both hands full of her breasts, and was lavishing adoration and wonder on each in turn. And she was bucking gently against him, and then harder; pushing her triangle-covered assets into his groin. Bumping against where the briefs were close to giving up. And that was creating even more havoc, and more chaos, and more turmoil. He barely felt her hands on his belt, slipping the tab loose…unzipping his fly…delving beneath the waistband of his briefs, and then—
Oh. My!
KayNay rocked, lifting her with him, as she slid a hand about his cock, and then gave the same caress down his length. Her touch cocooned him in warmth and friction, and sensory excellence, and a blend of amazement he had to vent.
Now.
Right now.
He threw his head back and launched the cry into the space about them, surrounding them with the echo. And then, he didn’t know how it happened. One moment he was experiencing her hand sliding down his shaft, creating a whorl of excitement and pandemonium and massive ache, and the next thing he knew, she was on her back beneath him, her hair fanning out, her legs wrapping his hips, and his rod already poised at her entrance. Getting sucked in. Delving. Deep. KayNan tightened his arms and chest muscles, moved the tautness to his lower back. His buttocks…and then he thrust.
And got welcomed.
He went deep. Hilt-deep. Disbelieving the tight coil-like sensation about him. And then he pulled back out, rubbing along ridges and eons of sensation nobody could have described and been believed. He drew almost…out, before she drew him back in. Again. Out. In. Short grunts accompanied to his moves, without his permission or knowledge. Her legs tightened about his waist. Her ankles latched at the small of his back. Her fingernails raked along his chest, lifting little ridges of reddened skin. Her hips lifted to meet him, galvanized by womanly buttocks. He felt her thigh muscles about him as she pulled away, and then lifted again. Pulled away. Lifted.
There was no descriptor vast enough. Enjoyment gathered, hovering at the edges of consciousness. Bliss joined in. And then energy. KayNan moved faster, following her lead, his pelvis slapping against hers in a rhythm nobody had to teach him. She pushed up to meet him. Dropped slightly away. Grabbed at him again. Dropped. And again. And then faster. Stronger.
And then something happened. His mate stiffened and cried aloud, while her flesh gyrated about him. KayNan had never felt anything like it. He watched as she keened her own cry out into the cave about them. It sounded filled with wonder; imbued with music. It matched the look she gave him when her body finished shivering and she moved those gorgeous brown eyes to meet his, and for some reason, there was a patina atop hers now. He’d never seen such a look. As if filled with supreme happiness. Awe. And then she gave him the slightest smile before a tear slipped from her eye.
Oh…wow.
That one small thing seized him, turning him into a creature of carnal desire. And he wanted more. He became the tool for gaining another bit of tightening to her frame, another cry…and another slight smile. With the resultant tear.
Again. And again. And as many times as he could before the bliss that had been riding the edges of this experience started closing in. Sticking to every move. Hanging onto every thrust and withdrawal. Building. Again. More. Harder. Faster. Heavy, hard pressure filled his lower back. Reached around him. Grabbed him—
And he exploded.
KayNan’s jaw locked and still the sobs came out. They matched in cadence every pulse his body gave as he experienced solid ecstasy and complete rapture, in a combination guaranteed to drain and deplete. No wonder she’d cried. He was very close to it himself as his body finished pulsing, his loins emptied, and the pressure vanished.
By all the gods. Nobody could’ve described this and been believed.
He looked down at his mate. His only. His love. Took in the bruised-looking lips and wide, shiny eyes, carrying the look of something he barely dared guess at. Adoration, maybe? Love? That’s when his arms refused to hold him any longer. He fell to the blanket at her side. And started shuddering.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It was chilly when she woke. Dim. Empty-feeling. And yet, with all that, Jeannette felt absolutely marvelous. Supremely healthy. Happy. She stretched fully, feeling better than she could remember. She was ready to hum.
Amazing.
And weird.
And just where was KayNan?
Jeannette sat, holding what turned out to be KayNan’s jacket to her nakedness, and took stock of the situation while gathering her discarded clothing. She had her skirt, shirt, and a bra that appeared to be missing the shoulder straps. Not much help there. It would never stay up. Her panties hadn’t been lucky, either. They were ripped in more than one place. She tried tying them back together. No. She’d have to lose at least an inch to make that work. Well. Women all through history went without undergarments. She could manage it, too. And thank goodness for the denim jacket! It really wore well.
Her situation looked a little better once she was dressed. Jeannette surveyed the remnants of this morning’s tryst while sitting cross-legged on her bedding. Hmm. Looked like she could also claim the space blanket. She was in a cave somewhere in the Canadian wilderness – or maybe it was the US side – she hadn’t been paying enough attention. Either way, she was probably off a grid. Alone.
“Oh. You’re awake. Sorry. I should’ve been here. I did rush.”
KayNan’s voice accompanied the sight of him as he leaned over the fire. He fanned it with a hand moving so fast it blurred. Obviously vampires didn’t need a bellows. Whatever for, Jeannette? The flames rushed to life, shed all kinds of glow on him, and Jeannette couldn’t even prevent the sigh. He was naked from the waist-up, exactly like she’d first seen him. And he was the most sculpted guy she’d ever seen.
Still.
He opened his other arm and goods of all kinds tumbled out. A dented can rolled toward her, turning out to be cherr
y pie filling. There was mangled lump that might have started as a package of crackers. A chocolate bar. Several ketchup packets. Or maybe they were hot sauce. And if her eyes weren’t deceiving her, he had two bottles of purified water.
“I got you water. And food.”
“I’m afraid to ask from where,” she commented.
“I followed scent. A bear attacked a cabin, uh…recently. This was some of his haul.”
“A…bear?”
“Yeah.”
“You took these from a bear?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind of bear?”
“I don’t know. Big. Brown.”
“And he…didn’t mind?”
“Oh. He minded. He’s not going to wake for a bit. I almost brought you fresh bear meat. But I didn’t think it a good idea to cook it. Creates a smell even Hunters can follow.”
Jeannette shuddered. “You really didn’t kill it?”
That would be a violation of Rule Number Three. Oh, what the hell, Jeannette. She’d been in violation of her list since she’d met him. She might as well let it go. Rules were for the structured life she’d tried to lead. They weren’t going to do a damn bit of good if she was in love with him.
Whoa. What? She loved him?
Oh no. Oh yes. Yes! Of all the strange times to have that emotion hit. Jeannette should be in denial. Shock. Defiance. Anything other than aglow with the absolute certainty of her feelings.
She loved him!
She’d never had anyone care for her like he did. He’d protected her, cherished her, thought of her first throughout this whole crazy adventure…
And just like that, everything was clear. She accepted it. And him. And a future as a vampire. And everything that came along with that. Because for the first time in her life, she felt like she belonged. She was home. And she loved him massively. And if her future contained the passion and intensity of their lovemaking, well. She didn’t need her gifts to see a lot of pleasure in her forever.
He didn’t act like he knew her train of thought. Or even guessed at it.
She watched him shake his head at her question. Lanky strands of hair accompanied it. He wore it exactly like when she’d first seen him, although the tie at his forehead looked like it had once been lacy bra straps. She narrowed her eyes. And then he turned away to fetch something. The fire lit fully on a huge claw mark, a good eight inches across, scoring his skin from one shoulder almost to mid-back.
She was beside him an instant later, and didn’t even care how she’d moved that fast. “Oh, KayNan! Your back.”
“Sorry.” He ducked his chin and swiveled toward her, hiding his injury. “I thought you knew about it.”
“That bear clawed at you.”
“Oh. That.”
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Not much. It’s healing now. Hurt like hell a bit earlier. I told you he’s not going to wake for some time.”
“Let me see it.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I’m scarred. Ugly.”
“KayNan.” She waited until he looked at her. Her body gave an instant pulse the moment their eyes locked. Dang! The man had incredible eyes. “We are going to have to come to an understanding, KayNan. You and me. Right now.”
“We are?”
“It concerns your clothing, and the way you wear it. Actually, it more concerns the way you aren’t wearing it. At least, on the upper half.”
“Oh. Sorry. I keep forgetting about my scars.”
Men. Honestly.
“No, KayNan. It’s not about any scars. Those marks are badges of courage. Honor. Integrity. Strength. I can go on. It’s more…about the view.”
“The…view?”
“Yes. The view. You are, without a doubt, the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. I’m a bit awed at the view. And that means, I’m probably not the only one who is.”
He blinked. And the green of his eyes somehow intensified.
“I mean, you’re a bit rough about the edges, but I kind-a like the wild-man, barbarian side. And I’m sure I’m not the only one with that opinion, either. You’re extremely cut. Sculpted. Muscled. Wow. I already said gorgeous, didn’t I? And all that means, the view is jaw-dropping, and you’re to cease it.”
“Jaw-dropping?”
She nodded.
“Me?”
She nodded again. He swallowed. She saw and heard it. And then he grinned. And that got another jerk that went through her entire body. This love thing was amazing. She felt like she was aglow. Again.
“Um…can it wait just a little longer?” he asked.
“Wait? Why?”
“The bear…uh. He got my shirt.”
“And that reminds me. Turn around.”
“No.”
“You’re telling your mate no?”
“Well, I—”
His eyes went huge. And then the sound of a clear moan came through the cave opening. It was loud enough they both heard it and turned toward it. Sounded like his pilot. It was lengthy. And filled with pain. KayNan spoke first.
“Looks like I have to go now. You’ll hold that thought?”
“Is that your pilot?”
“Yep. Sounds like Hunters got to him.”
“They’re that close?”
“Could be. Probably not. Your hearing’s been…uh. Improved somewhat.”
“Well, what are we sitting around waiting for? Here.” Jeannette hissed the words and scooted closer to him, lifting her hair from her neck to bare her throat. She didn’t truly know how it was done, but hopefully the lore was accurate.
“What?”
“Quick, KayNan! Turn me!”
“Now?”
“You heard me! Turn me! That way you only have to deal with protecting him! Can’t you see?”
“But—”
“It doesn’t take long…does it?”
“You have to be sure, Love.”
He called me love. Oh my. Jeannette swallowed time and again on the emotion. It didn’t work. Her eyes filled, blurring him even as she blinked the tears back.
“Oh, KayNan. I am.”
“Totally certain?”
“Will you quit wasting time? That guy doesn’t have your stamina. He doesn’t have your strength. Sounds like he’s ready to talk. You want them to find us?”
“Never. They will never find you. Ever. They would have to come through me.”
“Which is exactly why you need to turn me. Now. That way I can help you kick ass, rather than be an encumbrance. Got it?”
He pulled her right into his lap with a primal, possessive gesture she could get fond of. A glance showed his canines as sharp and lengthy as they’d been before. Jeannette licked her lips, closed her eyes, and offered her throat. A moment later he stabbed into her, the sensation bringing ecstasy to override the pain, bliss that overcame the fire, and happiness that couldn’t be contained.
o0o
They were expecting KayNan. Jeannette was going to be a complete surprise.
She’d been wrong about Vaughn. He appeared to be holding up very well. He was filling the clearing with blasphemy amid the groans. Jeannette winced and opened her vision to encompass the entire area. Tents came into focus. Small ice chests. Back-packs. A scattering of folding camp chairs. A large fire. It wasn’t their only light source. They had lanterns strung up, too. A scan of the area showed why. They’d been busy.
Two men were just finishing up hiding deep pits, each one camouflaged with last fall’s leaves and other forest debris. Looked like…about six traps; spaced about the edge of the clearing. They’d also laced a series of thin wires around their camp, about ankle height. It defined space, set up a perimeter, and made an effective alarm system. It was difficult to see, too, except a flare came from their campfire, glinting off droplets running along the lines. Jeannette stiffened. The droplets were Holy Water.
She didn’t need to ask.
She knew.
She squel
ched the instant stab of worry, muting the reaction in order to broaden her sight. She sent it wider. Higher. Getting a complete overview…
There!
They had two snipers posted high in treetops, well hidden; looking like little more than dark shapes attached to tree trunks. Stealthy. Unmoving. Furtive. Their mouths were even covered over with facemasks to prevent breath from fogging the air about them. The early evening air was probably chilly. She didn’t feel it.
Jeannette narrowed her eyes to locate Vaughn again.
They weren’t just good at hunting vampires. They’d already killed a small animal. Jeannette wrinkled her nose at the hunter efficiently skinning a carcass hanging from a tree limb. Vaughn was strung up on another limb from the same tree; his wrists roped together, feet dangling. He was shirtless. And he was bloody.
Jeannette’s eyes widened with shock. Dismay. Outrage. They’d been slicing little chunks of skin from him. And…
She stuck a hand over her mouth.
They’d been pulling out fingernails.
Vaughn’s body hung like dead-weight. It probably made the fingers with the missing fingernails even more painful. Jeannette watched blood trails as they meandered down Vaughn’s arms with the slightest stir of something odd. Alien. Surprising. She found herself supremely interested…in the taste.
Ugh.
She was too new to this. She moved her view again. Rapidly. It was better.
There were two more men about the tree. Laughing. Jostling each other. Occasionally poking at Vaughn with their knives. Jeannette narrowed her eyes. That made seven men. All wearing camouflage. Night vision goggles. Strange weaponry. She took in curved bows. Crossbows. Arrow quivers. Spears. Swords.
Crucifixes.
Jeannette jerked back as her eyes got scorched. Burned. Seared. And then KayNan spoke, altering everything.
“Jeannette? Love?”
Arms tightened about her, accompanying his voice. Wait. His arms tightened? Jeannette slit her eyes open slowly. Blinked. Took in the concerned look in KayNan’s eyes. For some reason, they looked more green and intense than ever. She opened her eyes fully. The view didn’t change. It was KayNan. A quick scan encompassed their surroundings. It was dark, and yet everything was easily penetrated. Viewed. And in perfect clarity. Sharp. Lucid. Dank.