Dwayne, who knew what Lana had once meant to him, must have clearly sensed his intent. His friend grabbed his arm keeping him from following the couple. “Man, this may be a good time for you to head out.” Raising an eyebrow, Dwayne spoke firmly. “As you planned.”
Glancing first at his arm and then up at his friend, Kal stifled the hiss rising in his throat. He knew Dwayne was right. This contract was too damn important to Elite Expert Security. Even knowing that, he couldn’t walk away.
“I’ll be fine. In a few minutes I’ll go.”
Dwayne let go of his arm, but the second eyebrow arching high spoke volumes. “Well, at least get your hair under control. You look feral.”
With a broad, cocky smile, Kal finger-combed his hair back into place. Evidently, more than just the hair on his neck had risen when he saw his mate with someone else.
“Excuse me for a moment, Mr. Tyler, Mayor Davy. I’m going to powder my nose and check on a few things.” Lana smiled at her boss and the people gathering round the two influential men. It had been an hour since they’d arrived and she’d smiled and chatted like a good girl. She hated being in the spotlight. She preferred to hang out in the background coordinating things and people.
“Don’t worry, Lana, everything is going perfectly tonight.” Mr. Tyler reached out and squeezed her hand. “Of course, I didn’t expect otherwise. Relax.”
Allowing a small laugh to grace her lips, she commented, “Now, you know it’s my nature to worry over things. That’s why you keep me around.”
“It’s true,” he said to the small group as he sipped his bourbon. “Not much gets past our Lana. She’s sharp.”
Lana walked away enjoying the pride in her boss’s words. Meandering through the crowd, she touched bases with a few people, ensured everything was going well.
Stepping down a hallway, she nodded at one of the security men and continued on towards the bathroom. There were several patio doors open wide allowing a soft early summer breeze to waft through the rooms. Taking a deep breath along the way, she enjoyed the solitude of the area. Most people were congregated in the large ballroom and used the bathroom closer to the front so she had privacy and a moment to herself.
A few steps from the bathroom, past the last set of French doors, someone grabbed her arm and dragged her out onto the terrace. Before she could scream, her back was against the cool stucco wall and Kal Walters stood before her, his arms caging her in.
“What the hell are you doing here with Tyler, Lana?” he demanded.
Shock kept her speechless for a few moments. However, it didn’t stop the heat from curling low in her belly. It had been over four years since she’d seen Kal. He looked good, real good in his buttoned down shirt and slacks. His chestnut brown hair fell in waves over his forehead emphasizing the golden amber cat eyes. He’d always stayed fit, his Amofeli genetics keeping his body honed to perfection. Kal had a set of broad shoulders that made a woman want to curl up against them. She had done so many times in the past during late night study sessions.
“It’s none of your business, Kal.” Placing her hands against his chest she tried to push him away. He was as unmovable as a Mack truck.
He glanced down at her hands, then to her face. “You get enough of Paul Stellar? Now you’re on to the next old man?”
Gritting her teeth, she forced out, “For your information, Paul divorced me.” Paul Stellar had been the CEO of Turner Corporation, one of the biggest Mid-West shipping companies. They had their hands in everything that came through the Gulf and its owner had been almost twenty years her senior. She’d been young and stupid and allowed him to wine and dine her, convince her that he was falling for her. If she’d done her research instead of dropping out of University of New Mexico her junior year, throwing away the academic scholarship she’d work hard to gain, and heading to the first Justice of the Peace Paul took her. She’d have known it was Stellar’s M.O. Young naïve girls. Promise them the world at his side, marry them, then dump them when they’d outlived their usefulness and he was off to the next perky thing. Coming from a low-income family, she’d snapped onto his bait without caring what her friends said. What Kal had tried to tell her.
“What?” His eyes widened with shock.
“Yea, nosey. He tossed me over for some twenty-four year old after a year and three months.” She shifted her gaze passed his shoulders, taking in the night lights of Albuquerque, not wanting to see the pity in his eyes.
When he didn’t respond, she asked, “What? No ‘I told you so’?”
“Well, I did.” He brushed her hair over her shoulder.
She rolled her eyes, trying not to think about the light shivers racing along her spine at his gentle touch.
“Have you set your mark on Tyler as husband number two?”
Shoving hard this time, she step away from him and faced the railing. “Stuff it, Kal. You don’t know anything. I’m not some whore for hire.”
“Are you sure? Because that’s what it looks like to me.” He growled low, his lips pressed against her ear.
Years ago, in college, she’d thought she had a chance with him. That Kal may be the one. One night she’d gone to his apartment and had seen a large cat looking like a North American Lynx leap out of his window and head toward the Sandia Mountains. She’d paced his living room waiting for his return. When he did, he explained to her all about his kind and how the Amofeli, shifter cats mated for life.
She’d wanted to be his soul mate. That wasn’t the case. In college he’d picked off every easy bimbo and party girl that shook her big breasts in his face.
“Just leave it alone, Kal.” Her throat tightened with emotion and she took a deep breath to calm herself. Seeing him was bringing up old hurts and pains, most of them she’d brought on herself. “You didn’t care enough years ago when I needed a friend and you hopped on the first plane to Afghanistan to make your fortune like so many civilians.” She glanced at him, then looked away again. “I needed you then and you stayed away for two years.”
Kal could hear the pain in her voice. He knew back then it had been wrong to leave without talking to her. After college he’d gotten a job with his criminal justice degree, but had heard about the opportunity to work in the Middle East doing base and facility security, earning up to seventy thousand a year. He applied, got the position and was gone before the ink dried on his resignation to his employer. The mountainous region allowed his cat a lot of area to play. When he returned, he started his security business with Dwayne. Even though his rash decision had paid off, he’d only taken the chance to get out of the city. A city that enjoyed plastering pictures and gossip about Paul Stellar’s business and his new plaything, Lana.
Yea, he’d royally fucked up with her in college. He’d known he cared about her and took their friendship for granted as he screwed his way through undergrad with every available piece of ass. He’d barely learned to control his shifting and his mating gene had erupted to full capacity making his sexual urges indiscriminate. However, he knew enough to keep clear of Lana on the worst days. By the time he’d got his cat under control, stopped tomcatting around and gone after Lana, his mate, it was late. She’d met Paul Stellar at a function put on by the Dean.
He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Staring at her, he watched the wind lift her hair away from her body.
“Do you need me now?” he asked.
Turning her back on him, she stepped away from the rail. “I have a job to do. I don’t have time fo--”
Grabbing her by the waist, he pulled her body against his. “Answer me, Lana,” he commanded. “Do. You. Need. Me. Now?” He bit out each word slowly. The question was more than about a friendship, but about desires as well.
His cat was so in tune with her that he could feel the quivering breath she took. The intimate contact didn’t allow them to hide anything. He was sure she could feel his body’s response to her as well. His cock was pressing into her back, insistent.
She turned,
her brown eyes darkened and he could see her need clearly, before she admitted the truth. “Yes.”
“What’s Tyler to you?” He had to know. If this man was her next meal ticket, he wanted to know, had to know who his competition was. This time he couldn’t walk away from her. He refused to walk away from her.
“He’s my boss. I went back to school and became a paralegal and worked my way up to his assistant. I not only help with cases, but I organize the firm’s important functions, like this--”
Seizing her mouth, he kissed her deep. He didn’t need to hear anything else. Slipping his tongue into her mouth, he tasted her. It wasn’t enough. A few steps forward brought them against the wall. Lana kissed him just as passionately in return, her hands fisting in his hair. The clatter of her small purse striking the cement floor didn’t stop them.
Reaching down, he placed his hand beneath her dress and palmed her sex. Her warm wet heat greeted him, evidence of her desire. He squeezed and captured her moan in his mouth. Breaching the seam of her panties, he fingered her stiff clit and she arched toward him.
He broke the kiss. “I’ve waited years. Denied myself what I wanted. You, Lana.”
Panting, she declared, “I want you, Kal.”
“I know this isn’t the time or place, Lana, but I swear if you try and stop me, I’ll fuck you so hard you’ll scream and everyone down that hall will hear you.”
“Don’t stop.”
Enough said. Snatching up the hem of her dress to her waist, he made quick work of her underwear as he moved them to the side and undid the fastenings of his pants. Within seconds he was freed. She gazed at his cock. Her hand took hold, fisting his length and pumped several times. It wasn’t enough. He pushed her hand away and pressed his cock against her pussy.
He deepened the kiss once again, reducing the sounds of her cries and his groans. Placing her legs around his waist, he cupped her ass and thrust into her tight moist folds. They created a beat and cadence all their own. The world stood still, the breeze stopped blowing and everything around them disappeared. Nothing else mattered but them, that moment.
Feeling her wet pussy clutch his length made him purr. The erotic vibrations from his body encompassed them both.
Moaning at the sensation, she was the first to complete. Her sex fisted his cock and pumped him into sensuous rapture.
Their breathing was heavy, both of them trembling as the world came alive once again.
In the distance, they could hear someone calling her name. He watched her eyes widen with trepidation, recognition of the occasion that brought them both there.
“That’s Mr. Tyler.”
Kal barely had time to camouflage them before her boss stepped out on another patio four feet from theirs. Normally, his chameleon-like ability only allowed for him to blend into his surrounding, but because he was still intimately connected to Lana, it masked her as well.
Together they watched Mr. Tyler scan the balconies. He looked one way, then turned and glanced in their direction. Kal had no worries. He knew that unless Tyler understood how to decipher the inconsistency of patterns he wouldn’t see them.
Shrugging, Tyler walked back inside.
“No regrets,” he whispered, then kissed her again before stepping back, ending the disguise.
They both righted their clothing. She stooped down and snatched up her forgotten purse. Digging frantically inside her clutch, she pulled out a small mirror and tube of lipstick. A Kleenex repaired the smeared make-up.
He couldn’t help but be impressed at her efficiency at putting herself back together. Except for the haze of satisfaction in her eyes and the slight redness around her mouth, she looked presentable, untouched. He almost regretted the polished finish.
Giving him a beguiling smile, she turned to get to her boss before he discovered her whereabouts and with whom. That would really place a dent in his business.
Reaching out, he grabbed her hand before she crossed the threshold. “This is not finished between us, Lana.” He kept his voice low.
She stepped back into the shadows where he stood. “I would be disappointed if it was.”
Caressing her cheek, he asked, “How’d you get here?”
“My boss picked me up at the office.” She brushed her thumb over his hand, still holding hers.
He searched her gaze. “How do you want to play this?”
Without hesitation, she informed him, “I’ll tell my boss I have a ride home.”
Her boss called her name again, closer this time.
“I’ll meet you downstairs at the end of the evening,” he confirmed. There was still a lot they needed to discuss.
“I’ll be there, Kal.” Slipping her hand out of his, she stepped into the bright corridor. Moments later he heard her say, “Sorry, Mr. Tyler, I was in my own world and lost track of time.”
“I looked around out there and didn’t see you.” Confusion registered in his voice.
“Hmm, I must’ve blended into the darkness. Must be the dress.”
Smiling at her words, Kal shifted into his feline form and leaped off the second floor balcony onto the manicured lawn. He had some time before he had to meet her and he’d use it wisely and go for a run. Tonight had been full of surprises and the mistakes of his past were being corrected. Now that Lana, his mate, was back in his life, he couldn’t wait to see what the future had in store for them.
Bite Me
by Jambrea Jo Jones
I don’t care what anyone says. The first bite is always the best. The rush of the chase and the delicious taste of victory are much better than the same thing day in and day out.
So why do I keep coming back to him? I’ve had his blood. Nothing special there, just life sustaining, A-positive goodness.
Maybe it’s because there is no fear in him. He likes when I stalk him and pouts when I’m away for too long. And I can never stay gone. He knows as well as I do that the thirst for hunting others is waning. I won’t admit it. I maintain that it would be boring to settle down with one donor. He claims he would be more than a donor, but I refuse to agree with him.
Tonight he is sitting in front of a fire in his home. I’ve been invited inside many times, but I want to sit outside his window and look at him. I remember another night, much like this one, when I watched him. He was with a group of friends and I knew the instant I saw him that he would be my prey that night.
I waited until the bar closed and he left his friends. I followed him to his house and the moment he left his car, I crowded him against the door and sank my fangs into his neck. No foreplay with me. I’m an eat and run kinda gal. But that night something changed. First, I’d expected a struggle. Granted I didn’t do my usual build up—letting my quarry know they were being hunted—but the guy just stood there and allowed me to drink from him. His blood surged through my body and I felt more powerful than ever. The blood was normal and there was no reason for me to have the sensation that I could do anything, but I did.
Once I’d had enough, I backed away and prepared to leave but he stopped me.
“You know, you could be polite and at least ask my name before you vamp out of here.”
That gave me pause. He shouldn’t have been aware I was there. My brand of delight is usually forgotten moments after it happens. An ancient spell helped me with that. No need for my food to remember our encounter. That would cause all kinds of panic.
I had no idea what to say so I stepped back.
“Don’t leave. Not yet. Tell me your name.”
I never said a word that night. It would be days later before I returned and found out who he was.
Jordan Smith. A plain name to go with the ordinary blood. Color me bored, right? Wrong. Even his features were nothing to write home about. I mean, make no mistake, he had a body to die for. His muscles rippled with strength and I wanted to nibble on him all night. But with his brown hair and brown eyes he should have been unremarkable.
“Annemarie, I know you’re out there. S
top sulking and come in out of the cold,” Jordan called from the house.
He never even turned from the fire. He did things like that all the time. Maybe that was why I was intrigued. Was he a witch? No, he couldn’t be. His blood would have tasted different. But he always knew when I was around.
I sighed and headed for the door. I did not stomp there like a reprimanded child. I was a grown woman doing this of my own volition, not because he told me to. Tonight, I would find out why his presence called to me. No fucking or sucking until I knew. I was putting my foot down this time.
“I don’t sulk or get cold,” I declared once I entered the house. I was proud of myself for not slamming the door.
“If you say so. You’ve been gone too long.” Jordan still didn’t turn from his place on the couch.
“I shouldn’t be here now,” I countered.
“Then why are you here? Got an itch you want me to scratch or are you hungry?”
His question irritated me. Who the hell did he think he was? I’m a powerful being who could kill him between heartbeats. He should fear me.
“Why can’t I erase me from your mind?”
“Ah, sweets. You haven’t figured it out yet? I’m not surprised. Your kind doesn’t like to acknowledge mine.”
“Your kind? My kind?” This was confusing. “You’re human.”
“I am more than human. I’m your mate. A being created to be yours for eternity.” He turned and smiled at me.
“Not. Possible. Vampires don’t have mates. And even if I did, it wouldn’t be you,” I said with as much disdain as I could.
“It is and I am. You know the lore. Created as halves of a whole, a shifter and a vampire will mate and become one. The vampire will only want the shifter’s blood, no longer needing to feed on humans. Most vamps run from it because they like variety,” he said.
Just One Bite Volume 2 Page 4