“Thank you,” she said weakly, taking the cloth from his hand. “I’ve just had a bad week, and this is the final straw.”
She rubbed her gritty eyes, wishing the cloth was cold. She blew her nose, then in embarrassment, balled up the terry cloth towel.
“I’m sorry, that was rude. I’ll replace it,” she said. Still cradled against Aiden’s chest, she felt the vibrations of his low chuckle.
“I don’t think we’ll miss it,” he said, a gentle hand stroking her hair.
Against her better judgment, Kate released a pent-up breath and leaned into Aiden’s chest to absorb some of his solid strength.
“You’re more than welcome to stay here. Remann loves having beautiful women in our home.” Aiden stroked a finger down her cheek, and a hot shiver spread from his light touch.
Kate swallowed hard and licked her tear-moistened lips. Aiden’s gaze followed the movement, and his odd-colored eyes darkened.
“Kate,” he said, his voice deepening. “There is too much…”
His words trailed off as Kate was pulled into his intense, searching eyes. An aura enveloped the two of them as they fell under one another’s spell.
“Aiden, please...”
Chapter 4
Kate wasn’t sure if she’d spoken out loud as her gaze drifted to the hard set of Aiden’s sensual mouth. Her head spun with his overwhelming, male scent that mixed with the peculiar, spicy aroma.
His mouth descended and hovered just above her parted lips. His breath fanned across her skin.
Electricity built within Kate’s nerve endings, and she tingled all over. Her muscles began to relax, as though she’d been slipped a muscle relaxer. Aiden lowered his head past her waiting lips, the coarse stubble of his cheek caressing the curve of her own, sending shivers down her spine. The tip of his nose brushed the tender flesh of her neck as he lowered her to the floor. She felt herself growing wet. Kate wanted to respond to the hard body covering hers, yet she could only lie motionless against the cold stones of the floor.
A voice cried inside her mind that something was wrong, before her thoughts swirled into meaninglessness. She considered her helpless state for a brief moment, but the stroke of Aiden’s tongue on the side of her throat quieted the buzzing voice. His frame shuddered as he balanced on muscular arms just above her. Waves of heat from him washed over her.
Kate wasn’t sure she’d ever been so turned on by a man in her life. She wanted to lift her arms and pull him close, but her limbs were simply too heavy for her to move.
Aiden straightened his arms and moved his large body to peer deep into her eyes. When she realized he was hesitating, she wanted to encourage him to continue, but found she couldn’t form the words. The lights in the room dimmed. The voice of warning in her mind returned and the desperation in the words caught her attention. Something’s wrong…
She fought against the darkness that tugged at the corners of her vision. Aiden’s body shook, and his nostrils flared. A vein pulsed in his temple, and the muscles worked in his jaw as he ground his teeth together. The grating sound filled her ears.
Her desire was being replaced by an emotion even more primal—fear.
“My God, brother, what’s going on here?”
Remann’s voice pierced through the thick fog of her thoughts. Still frozen, she watched in fascinated horror as Aiden’s lips peeled back from his white teeth, exposing long, sharp canines.
A terrible growl tore from his throat as he spun around to meet his brother’s shocked eyes. Aiden moved into a crouched position over her with blinding speed as a menacing growl answered from somewhere in the kitchen. A rush of wind blew over her, and as she grappled for consciousness, a loud crash shook the kitchen floor.
Darkness swallowed her.
* * * *
“I was in control,” Aiden said, pacing back and forth in his quarters. His teeth ground together as his living reflection lounged across the room with reproach in his eyes.
“Right, brother. Another minute and she would’ve been drained,” Remann said as he stretched an arm along the back of the antique Victorian sofa. He adjusted his position on the uncomfortable piece of furniture and frowned.
“She would’ve been drained long before you entered the kitchen. I was in control,” Aiden said, pounding a fist into his hand as he stopped pacing and turned to Remann.
“You are so disapproving of my Feeders, yet I’ve learned control and no longer desire taking prey.”
Remann sat up straighter as Aiden leveled a heated stare upon his brother. After the tussle which had nearly destroyed the kitchen, Remann had moved Kate to a bedroom to sleep off the vampire-induced coma she was in.
“That is just an excuse to use women as you see fit,” Aiden said as his anger flared to life. His canines lengthened, and he pulled his lips back to expose their sharp points.
Obviously unimpressed, Remann cocked his head to the side. “Can I help it if women find me irresistible?”
“Well, your enjoyment of women has backfired on you,” Aiden said as he reined himself in.
Remann’s brows knit together.
“I did some digging, and Kate is the half-sister to your former Feeder, Melanie. And Melanie has gone feral. Thanks to you, and your apparent weakness, I have to kill that poor woman’s flesh and blood.”
Remann’s jaw dropped, and he stood in a flash of movement. The brothers had recognized Kate’s scent as familiar, but they hadn’t been sure why.
“What are you accusing me of, brother?” Remann asked, spitting out the last word. “I’ve never changed a human and would never do so.”
“Then how did I find the girl’s scent mixed with vampire on a body this morning?” Aiden asked as he crossed the room to stand before his brother. The two stood squared off, neither flinching a muscle. “A girl matching Melanie’s description was noticed leaving the scene.”
“You’re mad, Aiden,” Remann said through clenched teeth, his own canines lengthening.
The tension in the room was palpable as the two vampires fought to control their mounting anger.
“Did you take too much of the poor waif’s blood and decide to try to cover your murder?” Aiden asked as Remann moved to within a breath of his brother. Aiden held his ground.
“I don’t think so, brother,” Remann said. His hot breath fanned Aiden’s face. “If the girl, Melanie, was changed it wasn’t with my blood.”
Seconds passed. Aiden took a step back. “For your sake, I hope that is true.”
Aiden stormed from the quarters.
* * * *
Kate’s mind worked on her surroundings. She was lying upon the softest cloud she could imagine and beneath her heavy limbs she felt silkiness caressing her skin. She opened her eyes, blinking against the hazy light. A lace canopy hung above her, and she took several moments, focusing on the delicate details of the fabric.
“Ah yes, yes, she’s awake,” a man’s voice said from next to Kate.
She looked in the direction of the voice to find a round, ruddy face smiling down at her.
“How are you, Kate?”
Kate licked her lips and swallowed. Her throat was raw and dry.
“Who are you?” she asked. She frowned at the raspy whisper.
“I’m Dr. Taber. It seems you’ve had a couple of fainting spells,” the man said, lifting her wrist between his chubby fingers. He looked at his watch briefly then released her. “I’m a friend of Remann and Aiden. I have known them quite some time.” He nodded as he adjusted a bag of fluids that led to an IV Kate realized she had in her arm.
She searched her memory and remembered being in the kitchen, and Aiden helping her when she choked. She’d sat on the floor crying, and afterward things became fuzzy.
“I don’t remember what happened,” she said.
“I hear you’ve had a stressful a week.” The doctor placed a stethoscope to her chest and then her abdomen, asking her to take several deep breaths. He smiled and nodded, and replaced t
he instruments in an old-fashioned, black bag. “Yes, stress can do funny things to one’s mind. I heard about your apartment fire. I am quite sorry.”
She rubbed her forehead with trembling fingers and let her gaze roam over the richly patterned silk comforter of greens, golds, and grays. She lay upon golden, silk sheets, and after a moment she realized she’d been redressed in a cotton chemise. She shook her head, puzzled.
“A couple of Remann’s lady friends redressed you, so no need to worry,” Dr. Taber said, noting her sudden concern.
“So how’s our patient?”
Kate peered around the doctor’s stocky frame to see Remann striding into the room, smiling broadly. He came to stand next to the bed and Kate noticed a deep cut down his cheek.
“Glad to see you awake,” Remann said. He shook Dr. Taber’s hand. “Thanks for coming over, John.”
“I’m happy to do it,” he said as he smiled at Remann. “Leave her on the IV until the fluid is gone. I trust you can remove it without causing this pretty, young lady too much distress.”
“Of course,” Remann said, studying Kate’s face.
“I’ll be off then. Goodbye, miss, goodbye,” Dr. Taber said, bowing his head.
Kate gave him a weak smile.
Remann brought a chair to the bedside. “Hope you don’t mind if I take advantage of your weakened state and enjoy your company,” he said before he gave her his most dashing smile.
Kate studied his mismatched eyes as his scent flooded her nostrils. “I guess not,” she said as she tried desperately to remember the events that led up to her passing out. Aiden had held her as she cried and that was all her memory could offer her.
“Lovely Kate, all will be well. You are more than welcome to take advantage of our hospitality in any way you desire,” he said as a wicked gleam entered his eyes.
Kate felt her face flush. “Thank you.”
Her gaze roamed the room filled with antique furniture and paintings of a Renaissance-looking era. Even the bed, with its height from the floor, spoke of antiquity.
“Your home is so beautiful. I think I’d love to know the history of all these items,” Kate said in earnest as she tried to sit up on the feather mattress. Remann was quick to help her.
“I’d absolutely love to give you a tour sometime,” he said. “What would you like for dinner? I’m sure you’re starving, and I’d be happy to serve you here in bed.”
His words ended in a near purr, and Kate didn’t miss the double meaning. He studied her for a reaction, and she gave him a small smile.
“Whatever you’re having would be fine.”
Remann laughed loudly, and the sound echoed through the large chamber of the room. Kate frowned.
“Perhaps a three-course gourmet meal will suit your palette,” Remann said as he still chuckled with amusement.
Kate made to get out of bed, but Remann placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Not until your IV is empty,” he said firmly. “You are a bit dehydrated.”
Kate leaned back against the high, ornately carved headboard. She reminded herself that this charming man was a suspect in her sister’s disappearance and probably drank human blood. She shivered, screwing up her face at the thought of drinking blood.
“Well, my lovely Kate, it won’t be too much longer,” Remann said, apparently misreading her look as impatience.
He walked over to another chair in the room and lifted a garment bag from it.
“Here is something new for you to wear if you’ve tired of the other dress.” He paused. “Though I quite appreciated the cut of the other.” He laid the bag across the foot of the bed before he bowed and left her alone to her thoughts.
Kate drummed her fingers on the comforter. She hadn’t done much in the way of investigative work. Remann definitely wasn’t the Goth weirdo she’d imagined him to be. Instead he seemed like a cultured, educated man.
And Aiden. The image of the man filled her mind, and her body tingled in response as a hot chill raced over her flesh. It was strange to her how he and Remann looked exactly the same, yet Remann’s presence didn’t cause her heart to flutter as the sight of his twin did. She wondered where Aiden was; maybe he’d gotten scared off by her sudden show of emotion. Kate frowned. The idea of not seeing him again tugged at her chest, leaving her feeling anxious.
There was a knock at the door. Kate’s heart quickened.
“Come in,” she called out.
Aiden strode into the bedchamber and focused on her tiny form nearly swallowed by the large bed and lavish bed clothes.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as he approached.
“A little shaky,” she said.
“The IV is empty.” He smiled as he sat at the edge of the bed. “If you’ll allow me, I’ll remove it.”
Kate nodded. Her eyes fixed on his and lingered in the moment, before he blinked and took her hand into his large palm. His long, strong fingers closed around hers, and a thrill raced up her arm.
“I’ll be gentle and try not to hurt you,” he said as he gently pulled the surgical tape from where the IV entered the top of her wrist.
Kate’s breath caught in her throat as she imagined a double meaning to his softly spoken words. She didn’t feel the needle as he pulled it from her vein, being distracted by the heat of his palm. She absorbed the warmth from his touch and felt it follow her veins back to her heart.
Aiden sucked in a harsh breath and released her hand.
Kate brought her gaze to his face. His features were drawn tight as he stared at her released hand. She looked down in the direction of his gaze. A tiny bead of blood had formed from the wound of the needle. She felt her stomach grow woozy. She covered the blood with the piece of gauze that had covered the entry spot for the IV.
“I hate blood too,” she said, trying to ease the strain she saw in Aiden’s features.
He sucked down several deep breaths, his eyes shut tight. Kate tentatively reached her good hand to his jaw, letting her fingers stroke the smooth planes of his freshly shaven cheek. Her touch made Aiden’s body stiffen, but he didn’t pull away. He reached for her hand and returned her feather-light touch.
“My darling Kate.” His eyes were still closed.
Kate’s hand fell to his chest clothed beneath a tailored, navy blue shirt, his heart beating a rapid staccato beneath her palm. He placed a hand over hers.
“You don’t know who I am,” he said.
“You’re Aiden,” she said breathlessly.
* * * *
The statement was so simple and yet held so much meaning for Aiden. He knew he should leave Kate for good, but her beauty and her unexpected effect on his senses left him helpless. His skin burned beneath her touch as her hand lay over his heart. Even as his predatory instincts had kicked in at the smell of the blood beading on her hand, a carnal desire had pulsed through his veins. Aiden ran his tongue over his extended canines hidden beneath his lips.
Just one taste.
His desire to feed mixed with the raw lust filling his body. It created a dizzying sensation. Even with his eyes closed, his lips instinctively found Kate’s. Her body swayed, and he took hold of her shoulders as she surrendered to the light touch of his lips. Her sweet breath filled his mouth as he traced his tongue over the full curve of her parted lips. Her pulse beat loudly in his ears, the blood in her veins singing an intoxicating song to him, even as his cock hardened to a painful level. He paused, savoring the flavor of her kiss.
Aiden wanted her. He wanted to taste her, share a physical experience with Kate that would surely rock them both to the core. At the same time his head swam at the draw her long, delicate throat presented, and he placed his hand gently on her neck, feeling the pulse of her jugular vein beneath his palm. Kate’s body grew limp, her reaction to his predatory state. Disappointment filled his heart and he pulled away as he realized his true effect on Kate. He couldn’t take advantage of a drugged woman.
He sat back and allowed her body to slump ag
ainst the headboard of the bed.
“Aiden?”
Kate’s voice was but a whisper as she said his name, but Aiden couldn’t have been more shocked if she’d screamed the word. She lifted a trembling hand to his fingers that still curved around her narrow shoulder.
“Unbelievable,” Aiden said as he closed his hand around hers. “This isn’t possible.”
Kate should have been nearly catatonic at this point as she’d succumbed to his pheromones. There was such a fine line when keeping his hunting instinct and sex drive separate. One went hand-in-hand with the other when it came to a human, and it took a good deal of practice to keep them apart. He’d heard stories of vampire and humans who’d formed emotional bonds that overcame the prey drive, but that certainly didn’t apply to them.
He shook his head in confusion.
“What’s…” She swallowed. “Is something wrong?”
* * * *
Kate had felt herself falling under Aiden’s spell and, as white-hot desire pooled low in her body, she struggled to keep her mind from drifting away. Something within Aiden tugged at her in a way she couldn’t describe, something that was beyond the physical. She clung to it like a life raft for her drowning senses. Her body was alive with him even as her strange reaction to him made her feel sluggish. She’d never known such feelings with another man.
“My darling, you have no idea,” Aiden said, his voice deep and thick, as he clasped her hand between his own. He brought her hand to his lips, kissing the top of it gently before he rose from the bed.
Kate’s gaze drifted down, and her eyes widened at the way his cock strained against his black slacks. Her gaze darted back to his still closed eyes and his clenched jaw.
“There are too many things that stand between the two of us. Things that would be too difficult for you to understand.” Aiden turned and strode from the room, leaving Kate to her mounting frustration.
It took her several minutes to regain her senses, and at last she rose to get dressed. The dress was a silvery sheath that probably had a big designer price tag, and it fit Kate’s curves as if it had been made for her. The dress reminded her of the one she’d worn to Sang Rouge, and sadness brought the threat of tears to her eyes. All of her things were ash that had most likely been scooped up and dumped into a trash bin.
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