Kalin’s upper lip twitched with the need to smile. He’d already set that plan in motion. Odd that they were on the same wavelength. “What makes you think I want you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Seriously?”
The tiny, defenseless human actually rolled her eyes at him. An unwilling laugh barked from his chest. “I’d kill anybody else who dared to make such a face at me.”
She leaned forward, her eyes intense, her voice soft. Her feminine gaze raked him from head to toe, pausing at the medals adorning his chest before heading up toward his eyes. “You don’t scare me—you never have.”
Odd, but that gave him feelings of both gratitude and irritation. “Then you’re not as smart as everyone predicted you’d be.”
“Maybe I’m just more powerful than any of you predicted.”
Perhaps so. A new burning filtered through his body. Oh, he wanted the little human, without question.
“So, my offer?” she asked.
Kalin sighed. “You’d willingly walk into the den of the enemy for Jase Kayrs, now, would you?” After all the years of them meeting, the little human still didn’t understand him. Not at all.
“Yes.”
“What about Zane?” There was no question the fate of the world would come down to Kalin, Janie, and Zane, a partial-vampire who’d also visited the dream world several times, first as a child and more recently as an adult soldier.
Janie blinked twice. “What about him?”
Oh, the girl still had a crush, did she? “I’m fairly certain I need to cut off his head in order for destiny to be fulfilled.”
Horror filled her eyes that she quickly banked. But not fast enough. She shrugged. “Zane can take care of himself just fine.”
“Deserted you, did he?”
She jumped from the rock and landed a foot away. Tilting her head back, she met Kalin’s gaze. “The offer will expire. Think about it.” With a sweep of her hand, the world disappeared.
Kalin sat up on the cot. Impressive little human. Yet what she didn’t understand was that the last thing he wanted was her cooperation. When he took her, and he would, the little female had better fight. Otherwise, what the hell was the point?
CHAPTER 16
Realm headquarters was beginning to smother him. Maybe it was time to go hunt a werewolf or two. Kane stifled a sigh as he slid open his door and stalked into his underground quarters.
Her smell hit him immediately. Wild heather, just blooming.
The tinkling sound of a waterfall echoed from his wall fountain, and the lights had been turned down low. He focused on the woman sitting so quietly on his wide sofa. “What are you doing here?”
Amber shrugged, her gaze going to the two moonlight scenes decorating his walls. “This place is all zen—much different from what I would’ve expected.”
The dark furniture and thick rug blended with the rock surrounding them and gave him a sense of peace when he needed space to breathe. “I work in labs surrounded by chrome, steel, and glass. Sometimes I want something soothing for a little while.” He dropped to the couch next to her. “Do you like my place?”
“Very much,” she said softly.
He rested his head back and shut his aching eyes. “Why are you here, Amber?”
“I want to train some more.”
Just like that, his entire body tensed. “Why?”
She exhaled loudly. “The demons know about me, and they know about my grandmother. She’s not strong enough to stop them, and I need to be. So it’s time to train again.”
His head hurt and the damn marking on his palm had started to pound the second he realized its existence. Of course, the brand had appeared because he was logically thinking of mating someone and for no other reason. Fate didn’t exist. He was in control of his body and the marking. “Let’s take the night off.”
“I can find somebody else to train me.”
The pounding in his hand rippled up his arm and down his spine with claws of irritation. “No, you can’t. I’m the only genius empath in town, sweetheart. Deal with it.” None of his other people could possibly mimic the effects of a demon attack. Thank God.
“I bet the king can attack brains.” Her voice rose in challenge.
Kane’s eyes flashed open. The idea of Dage invading Amber’s mind pierced heat through him until he growled low. “Dage is psychic and can read minds, but he can’t attack them. Period.”
“Then get to work.” She shifted on the couch, sending her scent to tempt him. Female. His.
Forcing all emotion into the universe, he sighed. “No. We’ll start again tomorrow.”
The slow glide of heat through his head calmed him instantly. The warmth pulsed, destroying his headache before sliding through the tense muscles in his neck and shoulders. His body relaxed into the couch. The warmth continued, through muscles and tissue, warming him from within.
Arousal followed the heat.
His eyes opened slowly to focus on Amber, who faced him, her eyes opened wide.
Nothing in the world could’ve stopped him from reaching for her. Grabbing her arms, he settled her on his lap, straddling him.
Her mouth opened in a silent oh. “I felt your brain—the headache—the tenseness leave you.” Wonder lifted her lips.
“Yes.” His mind, warm and strong, completely blanked as his gaze dropped to her mouth.
She shifted her weight on him, rubbing against his cock. He became instantly and inexplicably hard as a rock.
Her throat cleared. “Ah, I didn’t, I mean, well . . .”
Tangling a hand in her silky hair, he tugged her head to the side. All focus, all concentration, centered on that pretty pink mouth. She opened it to say something, and he stopped her with a strong grip on her jaw. The sharp intake of her breath only spurred him on.
Slowly, wanting her to know he was fully in control, he tugged her mouth to his. A small sigh escaped her when they touched. She softened, her body leaning toward his, accepting him.
He nibbled at her lips, tasting and coaxing. Her hands slid to his shoulders, the fingers flexing.
His hold tightened on her jaw, and she obeyed the silent demand by opening her mouth. With a low growl, he went deeper, taking and claiming. His eyes shut, and the world narrowed to the woman he’d so effectively trapped. She couldn’t move an inch without him releasing his hold. Yet, as her mouth opened wider, as she matched his kiss, he wondered who’d been caught.
As her tongue touched his, the thought disappeared. The woman held passion tight, and he wanted to be the one to let it loose. To unleash the fire inside a gifted female. To bare her and claim every single inch . . . so she’d have no question who she belonged to. The marking on his palm pulsed hard in agreement.
She moaned into his mouth, her nails biting his shoulders. So soft, so willing, so damn hot.
His mind spun. His slacks became beyond confining. Tugging her closer, he fought a groan as her hard nipples scraped against his chest. She pressed against him like a hungry kitten, struggling to get closer. The heat from her core cascaded right through his pants and warmed his groin.
Jesus. She’d kill him.
He wanted to lay her out and feast for days. Take her slow . . . take her fast . . . just take her.
Keep her.
Drawing back, he looked his fill. Her eyes had darkened so the pupils melded with the irises—no distinction. Sexual need flared hot and bright in those dangerous orbs. Her mouth was swollen, looking properly kissed, and a high flush decorated her fine cheekbones. But there was vulnerability along with need on her face.