While she was angry with him about her grandmother, she also knew her grandmother. Hilde offered to go, heck, she probably wanted to go.
If Amber had the right to fight, didn’t Hilde?
With a sigh, Amber paused outside Kane’s underground quarters.
The last time they’d slept together, something in her had shifted. Something deep—she’d given a part of herself away. Regardless, she steeled her spine and twisted the doorknob. If Hilde had a right to fight, so did Amber. And she needed all the power she could get.
This was going to happen.
Shoving open the door, she paused as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. His back to her, Kane stood near the mantel, staring at gas flames in the fireplace. His broad shoulders sent shadows to dance on the sofa. Music wound from hidden speakers, but not the smooth jazz or classical tones she would’ve expected. Instead, a fierce metal tone beat through the room, dark and angry.
“Amber, this isn’t a good time.” His voice rumbled low and gravelly across the short distance.
She shivered and moved inside, closing the door. “What happened?”
Kane slowly turned, the harsh angles of his face hard, his eyes a fathomless black. “Please leave.”
“No.” The pain cascading off him was palpable. She had strong, very strong feelings for the vampire. There was no way she could leave him hurting. “Tell me.”
“Jase tried to kill himself.”
Her head jerked back. Pain shot down to her stomach. She’d never met Jase, but the words still cut deep. “Did he succeed?”
“I don’t know.”
I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“Thank you. Now leave.” Kane turned back to the rhythmic fire.
She wouldn’t leave an animal in so much pain, much less a man she’d been intimate with. Careful steps took her around the sofa so she could place a hand against his back.
He stiffened and growled low.
Muscles shifted restlessly again her palm. “Kane. Let me help.”
“How?” His tone lacked inflection and contradicted the tension pouring off him.
Good question. “Talk to me.”
“I did. Jase has given up.” Kane threw a shoulder and dislodged her hand. “Now you need to go.”
“What about my grandmother?”
“She’s on her way to Scotland. We’re heading after her as soon as she reaches a location.”
Amber inhaled and attempted to calm her nerves. The dark music beat through her skin, making her heart speed up. Thoughts zinged furiously around her brain. The man needed comforting, and she needed his powers. For a woman used to feeling her way, the logical conclusion to their problems came too easily. “We need to mate.”
He froze. Slowly, he turned his head, dark eyes flashing. “This is not a good time.”
“It’s the only time.” She grabbed on to his arm, digging in. “I’m sorry about Jase, but I can’t let my grandmother die—I know we’ll find her. I need your powers to save her.” More than anything, Amber needed to be able to attack. If they mated, she’d gain the skill. “Plus, if Jase has given up, we need to save him and now. No more waiting.”
Kane whirled so suddenly she would’ve fallen had he not grabbed her biceps in an unbreakable grip. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I do.” The words came out more a vow than a simple statement.
“Mating is forever,” he growled.
“Maybe.” She kept her voice soft, soothing. “Maybe not. Virus-27 will erase the mating mark if I choose.” She’d spent some time talking to Emma before making the decision.
Anger twisted his lips. “You’re joking. The infection would probably kill you at some point. That’s not an option.” His eyes went wild, much more animal than man. Was this the vampire side of him? The hold on her arms tightened. “You mate me, sweetheart, there’s no turning back. No taking a virus. It’s immortality . . . forever.”
She swallowed. Fear cascaded shivers down her back. She didn’t know him like this. Deep down, she knew her logical argument was a smoke screen. Having fallen in love with Kane Kayrs, the only way to keep him, the only way to teach him to love, was to mate him. She was a gambler at heart, apparently. “Fine.”
He dropped his hands. “I agree that mating is the best course of action, just not right now.” His voice shook, while a vein pulsed in his corded neck.
“Why not?”
He faltered. “This isn’t a good time. We’ll approach the matter later when we’re both in more control.”
So that was it. The vampire, for once, wasn’t in perfect control of his emotions. Well, it was about time. Grabbing the hem of her T-shirt, she yanked it over her head. The cotton hit the floor seconds before her bra followed suit. “I know you want me.” Standing in the ripped jeans and plush socks, she faked a confidence she truly didn’t feel.
His nostrils flared. “Yes. I want you.” Even so, he took a step back. “Our mating right now won’t make a difference in time to get your grandmother. We have time to plan this right.”
Instinct whispered that their mating would make a difference. A smart woman listened to her instincts. “You don’t know that our mating wouldn’t help in the next battle.”
“No, I don’t.” His gaze dropped to her bare breasts. A dark flush wound over the harsh angles of his face. “Amber, I’m more than willing to lose myself in you tonight. But there’s no way I’ll be able to keep from marking you this time. If I were you, I’d turn and run. Now.”
Her heart hurt. For him, because of him, for her grandmother. . . maybe even for herself. “I’m so tired of being alone.” The words slipped out, coming from somewhere deeper than her brain. “Please, Kane.” Going on instinct, she moved forward and pressed herself along his length. Stretching up on her tiptoes, she flicked his lips with her tongue. Her hips bumped his erection. Yeah, he wanted her.
He barely seemed to breathe.
Both her hands dove into his thick hair. Giving him a wicked smile, she bit his bottom lip. Hard.
His top lip pulled back in a snarl. Then he slowly licked the blood clean, his gaze locking on hers.
“I want you, Kane.” Hell, she was half in love with the man whether she liked it or not. And she was lying to herself about the “half” part. “I’ll give you anything you want.” Too bad he didn’t want her heart, considering he already had it. “Stop being a coward.”
His chin lifted. “I can’t be manipulated, sweetheart.”
Oh yeah? Her chin lifted just as high as his. “How about the direct approach, then?” Releasing his hair, she ran her palms down the hard planes of his chest, the silk tickling her skin until she reached the button of his slacks. A quick tug had them released. Throwing dare into her eyes and defiance into her smile, she slid her hand inside his pants. His already black eyes somehow darkened further.
Feminine power flushed through her. “I’ve never seduced anyone before,” she said softly, stroking him. The man had gone commando. Yet another surprise.
“Be careful what you wish for, little girl.” The warning held both threat and promise.
Her sex softened. “You don’t scare me.”
“Yes, I do,” he said softly.
Maybe a little. Considering she literally had him by the balls, he seemed far too confident and self-assured. So she squeezed.
He moved without a hint of warning. Both hands manacled around her wrists, and he hauled her up against him. Surprised, she tried to yank away. His strength made her slight struggle laughable. Yet neither of them broke a smile.
“Last chance,” he murmured, his gaze intense on her face. Too intense.
It was by far too late. “You talk too much, Kayrs.”
Slowly, pointedly, he tangled one hand at her nape, tethering her. The movement held the deliberateness of a predator playing with its prey. A quick jerk tilted back her head and made her lips ache for his.