Bite (Bloodlines Book 1)

by Crissy Smith

  He groaned as he backed her into a wall. His lips covered hers, and she opened to grant him access. While his tongue brushed against hers and explored the inside of her mouth, she clawed at the back of his sweater. She wanted naked, skin-to-skin contact.

  “I have to get the door open,” he panted against her lips.

  “Hurry,” she urged. Dakota managed to get her hands under his sweater and splayed her palms against his back. The muscles strained as he fumbled with the card reader.

  “Hang on,” he ordered, then they were through the door. She squeaked as he moved so fast that she couldn’t follow where they were headed. Damn, she’d known he was fast, but to actually feel it? That was so cool!

  He stopped but her body wasn’t prepared. She tilted to the side, and he laughed as he dropped her onto the soft mattress. Dakota was almost buried inside a cocoon of blankets on the bed. Kieran climbed up and straddled her waist. He buried his hands in her hair and tugged, exposing her neck.

  Kieran dropped his head, covering her pulse there with his lips. He sucked and she reached up to grab his arms where they bracketed her head. She wasn’t afraid, just needed to touch him. To show him that he didn’t scare her, Dakota arched up to touch more of his body.

  Would he bite her? Drink from her? She didn’t care if he did. Dakota was going to prove to Kieran that not all shifters needed to be feared or would hurt him. She might not know what had happened in his past but someone, a shifter, had done some damage. If he needed her blood to prove that he could trust her, Dakota was more than willing.

  He pulled back.

  “No,” she whispered. “Do it. Bite.”

  “I will not,” he told her but he did smile. “You know nothing about me.”

  “Maybe not,” she admitted. “So teach me.”

  “That I will do,” he said as he started to push up her shirt.

  Since she was burning from the inside out, the cool feel of his hands eased her some. He unclasped her bra with gentle fingers. Kieran had slowed things down and it was hard for her to remain still. He urged her to lift her shoulders as he pulled off her garments.

  Dakota took the opportunity to sit up and grab the bottom of his sweater to yank it over his head. She placed her lips over his heart and peppered kisses across his chest. He wasn’t pale, which surprised her some. Even though she’d seen his face and arms, she still had expected the rest of his skin to be white. Maybe she did depend too much on television, movies and vampire legends. Hadn’t Kieran already proven so many of those myths wrong? She didn’t mind at all letting Kieran teach her anything and everything he wanted.

  His skin was flawless, he was just beautiful. She lifted her head to find him watching her. Dakota smiled as she grazed her thumbs over his nipples. Kieran’s touch was soft as he cupped her face while lowering his lips to hers once again.

  The mixture of ingredients from his drink was still flavorful on his tongue, and Dakota sucked on that appendage, teasing and taunting. He rocked his hips so his erection dragged along her stomach. She reached down and grasped him as best she could through his jeans. With her other hand she began to tug on the button that was keeping her from touching his hard shaft.

  Kieran rose to his knees, allowing her better access.

  “Take them off,” she demanded as she pushed at his waist when she couldn’t get his jeans undone.

  With a wink, he backed off her to stand at the end of the bed. He ran his hand over his erection and Dakota whimpered. She wanted to be the one that felt him. She moved to go to him, but he took a step away.

  “Stay,” he told her, pointing his finger at her.

  Dakota gave him her sexiest pout. It might have worked since Kieran toed off his shoes before he pulled off his socks. Finally he began to remove his slacks and boxer briefs. She licked her lips as his long cock was revealed.

  “Now your turn,” he said as he stepped forward. He grabbed ahold of her ankle and tugged her down to the edge of the bed.

  He was so strong. That was such a turn on.

  She lay against the mattress as he yanked off her boots and quickly worked his way up to getting her naked. The hotel room was warm but she still shivered from the look in his eyes. Kieran appeared to want to devour her and it was intoxicating.

  As he wrapped his hand around her calf, Dakota trailed her fingers over her breasts and stomach. Kieran leaned down and licked a path from her knee up her inner thigh.

  Dakota tossed her head from side to side, feeling like she was burning up. “Kieran,” she whispered.

  She wasn’t prepared when he brushed his thumb over her clit then moved down to slide his fingers through her slick folds and into her pussy. She moaned, arched and clawed at the blankets at the same time. Two of his long digits pressed inside then withdrew, forcing her to just give in to pleasure.

  “Yes,” she hissed when his lips covered her clit and he sucked while still fingering her. Before she knew what was happening, she climaxed, shouting for him.

  Sitting up, Kieran licked his lips. “You taste wonderful,” he told her. He hadn’t yet removed his fingers.

  “Want you,” she whined, reaching for him.

  “Yes, now,” he said. Kieran lifted her up by her waist and hefted her toward the top of the bed.

  Dakota opened her legs and held out her arms. He settled over her so perfectly there was no doubt that was where he belonged. She gripped his face to pull him down so she could kiss him. The taste of her own essence now mixed with the flavors of his drink. She tightened her hold, not wanting him to ever leave, at the same time reaching down and grasping his shaft.

  He bucked his hips to push in her hand as their tongues continued to stroke and caress each other. Dakota couldn’t hold off anymore. She wrapped her legs around his waist and shimmied closer to get the head of his cock at her entrance.

  Kieran thrust hard, and finally, oh God finally, he was inside her.

  “Take me,” she begged as she ripped her mouth away to breathe.

  At first, he withdrew slowly then plunged back with the same easy movement. Dakota scored her nails down his arms and snarled. She didn’t have to be gentle with him as she had her human lovers. If her jaguar came close to the surface, then Kieran could handle it.

  To test her theory, she gripped him hard as she rocked against each thrust. Kieran groaned and shuddered as he began to move faster. He slammed inside her, and the bed rocked with them.

  Dakota closed her eyes and she urged him on with pleasure-filled sighs. Her breasts were full and achy and her legs shook uncontrollably. She was going to come again.

  She pulled him down hard and buried her face in his neck. She nibbled at the exposed flesh, so tender and soft. When the orgasm exploded from her, she bit down, careful not to break skin but marking him the only way she could.

  Kieran cried out, then was coming with her. Heat flooded her pussy—it was the first time that she’d felt anything other than coolness from him or his touch.

  Shit! Should they have used a condom? She hadn’t even thought about that until now as she felt his seed dripping from her pussy.

  Dakota collapsed back into the soft mattress. She loved his bed.

  Kieran kissed her neck, her cheek then her forehead. He was gentle when he pulled out and lay beside her.

  They could talk about condoms and anything else later. All she wanted to do was bask in the afterglow. She curled into his body and sighed deeply when he pulled her close. Good, he was a cuddler. This night just kept getting better and better.

  Chapter Three

  Dakota yawned as she stretched her arms over her head. Never in her life had she been in such a comfortable bed. There was no confusion about where she was. Her body still felt every ache from the early morning activities.

  Just before she’d passed out, Kieran had picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. They’d showered together where he’d washed her body with tender and arousing strokes. Getting clean had been a waste of time since when th
ey’d returned to bed they’d just gotten dirty again.

  And again when she’d woken up with him asleep beside her an hour later and had bent over his cock, sucking him awake before she’d straddled his waist and ridden him.

  Had it been four or five orgasms? Really she had no clue, but she was feeling the activities pretty damn noticeably now.

  She lifted her head and peered around the room. The morning sun crept in through a narrow opening in the curtains. Glancing over to the bedside table, she was shocked to see it was after ten in the morning.

  “Damn,” she muttered out loud, although she seemed to be completely alone. She breathed deeply, trying to scent Kieran and where he might be. Fuck, she couldn’t even do that since she couldn’t smell him! She was going to have to get used to Kieran not having a scent and learn to track him another way.

  Instead she closed her eyes and concentrated on the sounds in the suite. Nothing, it was silent and still. Where in the hell had he gone? If he’d taken off on her… She sat up again. No, his belongings were still scattered around the room. So he hadn’t run away but he wasn’t here with her. Dakota pushed off the soft, thick comforters and saw a red rose on the other pillow.

  She picked it up and held it to her nose. Sweet and fresh. It was such a romantic gesture that she almost laughed. How could Kieran act so cocky and rude then turn around and leave a rose for her? The man was the master of contradictions.

  With a smile and in desperate need of coffee, she climbed out of bed. She didn’t immediately see her clothes so she grabbed the sweater Kieran had worn the night before, which was laid over the arm of the chair across from the bed.

  She pulled the thick cable-knit sweater over her head before she strode out of the bedroom. The living space in the suite was large and open. The curtains had been tied back and showed an amazing view of the Strip. She’d bet it would be breathtaking at night with all the lights.

  Following the faint whiff of coffee, Dakota strolled up to the dining table in front of the windows and lifted a silver-domed lid. A plate of eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes and fruit lay untouched. She waved her hand over the plate, finding the food still hot, and grinned. She sat then pulled the silver carafe, which she was hoped was full of really good coffee, closer so she could pour a mug.

  It couldn’t have been that long since Kieran had left if he’d managed to set all this up for her. But why hadn’t he woken her? They could have really started the morning off right together.

  The coffee tasted just as wonderful as it smelled and she quickly downed half a mug before she refilled it and picked up her fork. The food smelled delicious, and she had worked up an appetite for it the night before.

  She needed to check in with her partner to make sure none of the leads from their current case needed her attention right away. She and Dean mainly worked night shifts but there were times when they had to meet with witnesses or trail a suspect during the day.

  Of course that meant she needed to find her clothes and purse. That could wait until she’d eaten breakfast, though. The pancakes were fluffy and the bacon crispy. She’d never stayed in this hotel before but now she knew what she’d been missing. How nice it would be to just order up whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted.

  In the past she’d met other agents who rented out hotels or motels on a weekly basis but she couldn’t justify spending so much money. Not that she didn’t have enough. The Organization paid well but working for them didn’t really give her a lot of time for spending any of it. Maybe this was how Kieran always lived.

  It was obvious that he liked his comforts. The extra blankets and pillows. The sweater she had borrowed and the thick jacket he’d had on in the alley. Maybe no one else had noticed but it was obvious to Dakota that Kieran liked soft and comfortable things. And she knew how to work with that.

  Dakota finished her breakfast and drained her coffee then poured one more cup. She stood with her mug in her hand and ambled around, just looking. It appeared that Kieran was here to stay for a little while. He’d unpacked and there were little items all over the hotel room. She spotted a hanger with plastic wrap on the back of the couch and strode over.

  Through the cover her slacks were visible. She set her coffee down on a table close by and lifted up the dry cleaning. What the hell time had Kieran gotten up?

  Not that she could complain. Fresh clothes to change into, good food with better coffee. The only thing she could complain about was the fact that he was nowhere to be seen.

  With a sigh, she carried her clothing as she walked to the shower. Might as well prepare for the day. Hopefully Kieran would be back before she left.

  * * * *

  Kieran remained hidden behind a concrete barrier as Dakota and Dean left the apartment they’d spent the last twenty minutes inside. He wasn’t sure what case they were working or why they kept stopping to talk to people, and he really didn’t care. He was bored.

  God, was this what other agents did?

  He, Remy and Angel usually heard about an area where trouble was and staked it out. When they witnessed anyone attempting to hurt an innocent or cause problems, they stepped in and took care of things. Although they couldn’t kill anyone anymore, which sort of bummed him out.

  He’d also been assigned to protection details a lot lately.

  But never had he had to run down leads or investigate. That was what Angel and Remy did before they called him in. Maybe he should give more credit to his partners because this sucked.

  He straddled his bike and waited until Dakota and Dean were driving away before he revved the engine and followed at a discreet distance. There had to be some way to add adventure to the night. His entire plan of following them instead of the other way around was backfiring on him.

  When Dean drove the dark SUV toward his hotel, Kieran grew excited. As Dakota had slept, Kieran had used his time wisely and added to the information he was collecting on Caspar’s nephew, Dean. He now knew where Dean lived, worked out, shopped and ate lunch. Kieran had followed him for several hours before Dakota had joined him.

  They’d met at a small diner close to the Air Force base. When he’d seen Dakota again after leaving her cuddled up in his bed, Kieran had felt an intense hunger come over him.

  Even though he shouldn’t have to feed yet, Kieran’s fangs had dropped down and the thirst had almost overpowered all common sense. For the first time in years he’d been afraid. Scared that he could have lost control and hurt someone.

  It’d only lasted for a few minutes, less than five, before the craving had passed.

  By that time Dakota had been sitting across from Dean as they’d eaten lunch and she was safe. Kieran had already decided that he’d feed before he went back to his hotel for the night. Now, hours later, Dean was leading him back in that direction.

  Instead of pulling around to the casino entrance, Dean drove through the lot and into the employee parking garage. Kieran parked his motorcycle in one of the spots used by the valets in the open hotel spaces instead of following the SUV. He shut down before he climbed off and peered toward the parking lot where Dean’s vehicle had disappeared. He attached his helmet to the side of his bike before he used his speed to reach the same area without anyone noticing him.

  The dark SUV had pulled to a stop in front of the elevators and sat idling. Dakota and Dean were still inside. What were they doing?

  The elevator opened—Kieran couldn’t see it, but heard the metal grinding and the squeak of the doors. He crawled between vehicles until he came out of the other side. From this view, he could see a man standing outside Dean’s window talking to him. The guy looked vaguely familiar but Kieran couldn’t place him. Kieran could only see the back and a slight side of his face every so often.

  He closed his eyes and opened all his senses.

  “Not been in his room all day,” the stranger said. “I checked with the housekeeper who cleaned this morning and there’s no sign of him.”

  Dean cursed, causing Kieran
to smile.

  So they were looking for him and had guys inside the hotel. Smart. He just needed the guy to turn around.

  “He’ll come back,” Dean said. “Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned the tables and is watching us.”

  Dakota snorted.

  “What?” Dean asked while the hotel staffer leaned into the open window.

  “He’s been following us all day on a motorcycle,” Dakota answered. “Last I saw him, he pulled off when we pulled into this parking garage.”

  “What?” Dean’s voice rose.

  The hotel staffer laughed as he finally turned around. The man who’d brought him his dinner—that was why he looked familiar. Damn, Dean and Dakota were good.

  He hadn’t expected Dakota to spot him. The fact that she had? Wow, that was fucking hot. She kept surprising him. There was no way that she had picked up his scent since he didn’t have one. Most shifters used their noses to hunt and track but with him, Dakota didn’t have that option.

  So how in the hell had she seen him?

  “Fuck,” Dean cursed then started to look around.

  Kieran had the urge to step out and wave. Hell, why not. He stepped out from behind a blue van. The hotel staffer saw him first and smacked the side of the SUV.

  Dean stuck his head out of the window and frowned at him. Kieran sent him a wink before he backed away and sped out of the parking garage. It was time to take care of personal business.

  They knew he would return to his hotel and he expected it would be Dakota who would be checking on him.

  He had something to look forward to then.

  When he reached his bike, he grabbed up his helmet and put it on. He threw his leg over the seat before he started up the engine. He’d picked up the smaller bike to stalk the Organization agents for the night.

  Of course eventually the owner would wonder where it was so he had to ditch it after he was finished for the night. Since he’d stolen it from someone who’d done the same Kieran hadn’t felt bad one bit.