She’d accidentally taken some mushrooms once that apparently were as strong as LSD. That was nothing compared to the feeling shooting her neurons into flight as Kane Kayrs took her blood.
Giving a low groan, Kane released her hand to grab her butt, moving out and in. His fangs retracted and he licked her neck. Increasing his speed, he began to pound in a fierce rhythm.
The pounding matched the wildness pouring through Amber’s veins. Her thighs tightened as she clasped her ankles together, meeting his thrusts. A spiraling started deep inside her. Breathing became impossible. Then breath became unnecessary.
The only thing that mattered was where that spiraling sensation wanted to take her.
His cock was hard, pulsing, somehow demanding. He thrust harder, angling over her clit.
She broke with a cry, tidal waves of pleasure crashing through her. Her internal muscles spasmed around him as he continued to thrust, sharp fangs embedding in her neck again.
With a low growl, he stiffened against her as he came.
Sighing, her entire body went limp against the blanket.
Kane licked her collarbone, raising up to flash a satisfied smile.
She smiled back. “That was well worth the one night.”
His grin turned wicked through the firelight. “Ah, darlin’. We’re nowhere near done.”
CHAPTER 11
A weak morning sun tried to filter through the swirling snow outside the small cabin. Amber had been awake for about ten minutes, listening to the crazy storm and wondering where Kane had gone. She gathered the blanket closer and stumbled toward the window. Multiple muscles flared to life in protest.
She had been well and truly fucked.
Kane Kayrs, vampire, now knew her body better than she did. He hadn’t missed a millimeter in his exploration.
Like the scientist he was, he’d discovered her every secret. And then some.
Jesus. She could barely walk.
Stifling a whimper, she glared out at the still raging storm. Just how long could Mother Nature keep up the violence? No way could Amber survive another night with Kane, and no way would she keep her hands off him if left alone into the darkness again. Her well-used body needed a doggone rest.
Closing her eyes, she repeated her grandmother’s chants. Never again would she forget that morning ritual.
The door opened with a bang. Kane stalked inside, raking her with that serious gaze. “Are you all right?”
She straightened and forced a smile. “I’m fine.”
“Good. Get dressed.” He turned and began gathering the weapons he’d left on a sofa table. “The storm is still raging, but we need to get out of here. The Kurjans will have been watching Talen’s house and are not smart enough to wait for the storm to pass.”
“I’m not going back in that boat.” She reached for the clothes Kane had laid out on the mantel to dry the night before. Holding them against the blanket, she shifted her feet. “Um, turn around.”
Sinful and quick, his smile flashed. “No.”
“Yes.” The urge to stomp her foot tightened her leg muscles.
“Amber, I know every inch of your body,” he drawled. “It’s a little late for shyness.”
Some scientist. The guy was actually a rake. Vulnerability lifted her chin. “The night is over. Now turn around.”
He prowled toward her and covered her hands with his. Dropping his head, his mouth pressed hard against her lips, his tongue sweeping inside. Taking. Warm, sure, and demanding, his mouth took hers like he owned it. Maybe after the previous night, he did.
She was gasping for breath when he lifted his head to survey her neck. A slow glide of his thumb along her jugular sent electricity zapping through her veins.
He smiled. “The puncture wounds haven’t quite healed. Interesting.” Raising his head, he pierced her with a dark gaze, intrigue filling his eyes.
“Why is that interesting?” she asked, her voice hoarse.
“Usually when we lick a wound, if we lick a wound, it disappears. You’re still wearing my mark, darlin’.”
She lifted her chin farther. “Why does that please you?”
He started. “I have no idea.” Both eyebrows slashed down. “Though I have to admit, the fact pleases me greatly.” His frown intensified.
She drew back. “Last night was a one-shot deal.” If she ever recovered, she was running fast in the other direction. One more night like that, and the vampire would own her. Without question, he’d claimed her in a way she’d never forget, probably never find again. But she couldn’t stay with him. “I believe, remember?”
He growled low. “Yes. Happily-ever-after and all of that. Love and emotion.” Then he sighed. “Okay, get dressed. There’s an old truck in the shed outside. We’ll head to town and find a land phone that actually works.” Releasing her, he moved to blanket out the fire.
She hurried to dress, scrambling to yank on slightly wet jeans. A warm shower would be heaven.
Kane finished and reached the door. “Do you want a gun?”
“Yes.” Well, actually she didn’t want a gun. But she took the one he offered and shoved it in her waistband. The metal chilled her flesh.
He held out a hand. “The storm is pretty bad, so hold on and we’ll get to the shed.”
She hesitated only a second before sliding her hand into his. Warmth enveloped her fingers.
Tugging her outside, he led her over the deck and around a small side yard. There he stopped cold and lifted his head into the wind.
Two tall figures rushed around the faded shed, guns drawn.
Amber gasped. They were the stuff of nightmares. Blood-red hair with black tips, swirling purple eyes, crimson lips, and skin bleached of any possible color. Beyond white.
Dressed in all black, they stopped and pointed weapons.
Kane shoved her behind him. “Damn Kurjans. Don’t move, Amber.”
She couldn’t move if she wanted to. Her feet grew heavy, fear weighing down her limbs. Monsters. True monsters existed.
Kane held his hands up, body relaxed. “You need to get out of here. The entire property is land mined, and only I know where the explosives are located.” He yelled to be heard.
The monster in the lead threw back his head and laughed, the grating sound echoing even through the storm. “We’ve had this entire lake under surveillance for years, and you can bet we conducted satellite imagery of the ground. Nice bluff.” He yelled louder than Kane.
Amber wasn’t going out like this—not with creepy, white-faced monsters. Sliding forward an inch, she pressed the side of her gun into Kane’s back, tucking the barrel in his waistband. Everything she’d ever been taught centered around the fact of not hurting another being. She couldn’t shoot them.
But she could hand the gun to Kane. Yeah, it was a moral gray line, one she’d worry about later.
Movement sounded behind her. She whirled around to find a tree spinning by in the storm. Holy Mother Earth. An entire tree.
Kane blocked her completely from the Kurjans. “Maybe so, but there’s no way you have reinforcements coming in this storm. You’re all alone out here—and will be until morning.”
“And everyone says you’re the smart one,” one of the monsters yelled.
Kane partially turned his head. “In two seconds, you hit the ground. Understand?”
“Yes,” she stuttered, her mouth almost too cold to make sound.
“Now!”
She dropped, covering her neck with her arms and making herself as small as possible. Snow slid down her shirt, freezing her skin. Cold pierced her eyes, but she kept her gaze on Kane.
Quicker than she could track, he grabbed the gun and fired. The odd ping of those green bullets echoed. They slammed into the closest Kurjan, throwing the wide-eyed monster three feet back.