Eternal Temptation

The Kategan Alphas 4

By T. A. Grey

Chapter 1

Most people wouldn’t have noticed the change in the air. The switch from comfortable silence to sharp anger. But Darien Kategan felt it as sure as he felt the weight of the grocery bags in his arms. He didn’t have to turn around to know who had walked up behind him.

“Thanks, Joe.”

“See you next week, Darien.”

Darien shouldered open the door and caught his reason for anxiety swiftly pursuing him out the corner of his eye. The bell above the door jingled brightly as the door slammed shut behind him. He headed towards his truck and wondered if he’d at least have time to set his supplies down before they got him.

He wasn’t so lucky.

The bell above the door banged loudly and footsteps bounded hard on the concrete behind him. The first shove at his back sent him spiraling into the back of his truck like he was trying to kiss it. He tightened his hold on his groceries and clamped his teeth together as he slowly turned around.

“Darien fucking Kategan.”

Darien bowed his head. “Tom.” Anger flared in the other’s eyes, white-hot and raw.

“Don’t use my fucking name, you piece of shit. Don’t you ever use my name. You have no right.” Deep breaths. There everything was all good.

Tom came closer, eyeing him up and down, assessing, as his two friends circled in closer. Darien stood up straight and hefted his groceries against his chest. He peered straight into the eyes of the man taunting him--the same eyes she’d had. A beautiful mixture of gray and blue, like God had made a special mixture just for her when she’d been born. Of course, her brother had been blessed with the same color. God was a son of a bitch like that.

Darien saw the fist coming and didn’t move. If anything, he lifted his chin enough to help the punch to catch. The first blow was like a balm to him. The second came from his right in a fast arch that caught his cheekbone. The flare of pain was hot and quick and slammed him back against the truck.

He sighed it felt so good. The next blow hit his lip and the sharp biting pain reminded him of the time he’d fallen as a kid and bit down on his lip so hard it bled. Only this hurt worse, split his lip open with burning pain.

Hit after hit assaulted him. Catching his eyes, his nose, the corner of his mouth. His grip on the groceries loosened, he couldn’t command his fingers to hold on to them anymore. They sagged then fell to the ground.

The blows pounded into his stomach and chest. Wonderful pain, delirious hurt bloomed across his pecks and deep into his ribs and organs. The bell above the door jingled and he almost sighed with regret. Light footsteps bounded close.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Tom?”

“Giving him what he deserves.”

“That’s a load of bull and you know it. Now get away from him. I said get back now!” Gentle hands wrapped around his chest and lifted him from his slouched bend against his truck. “Alright I got you now, Darien. Do you want me to call the cops?” Joe the cashier was half his height and weighed less than that. Darien wasn’t surprised when Joe’s arms started shaking trying to keep him up right.

With a sigh, Darien braced his feet and stood up straight, shaking away Joe’s thin arms. “No need to call the police, Joe. We were just taking care of some old business.”

“Yeah, right,” Tom said. He gave one last hateful glance then walked away, his friends trailing behind.

Darien bit back his sigh and bent to retrieve his groceries. The brown paper bags were torn so he just started chucking his groceries into the bed of his truck. He crumpled the paper into a big ball and handed it to Joe.

As he started for the driver’s side door, Joe sputtered, “Wait, where are you going? You need a doctor. You’re bleeding. Don’t you want to press charges?” Humans. Joe had no idea that in a few days, his face and this fleeting pain would be just a happy memory.

“Would you mind throwing that away for me? Thanks, Joe. I appreciate the help. See you next week.” Darien climbed into his truck, turned the key in the ignition, and took off.

It took him under half an hour to find the dirt road he needed. He slowed and the road into the forest. Parking the truck under a large canopy of trees, he took a second to catch his breath. His chest felt like it’d had a hammer taken to it. Each breath was like a knife jabbing between his ribs over and over again.

Wincing, he leaned across the seat and snatched a plastic bag from under the passenger seat. By the time he finished loading the groceries into the bag, a sheen of sweat covered his forehead and his breathing was labored.

He pressed his teeth together and marched into the woods. Normally the chirping of birds and the pattering feet of squirrels and deer calmed him, but today it only deepened the throbbing tempo beating at his temples.

Sometime later, he passed through the thick layers of trees and into a small clearing with a small cabin. It was a tiny, one-bedroom cabin. About the size of his bedroom and bathroom combined back at his real house. He opened the door that he never locked and set his groceries on the table.

The restlessness that had been riding him for so long itched at him, clawing its way into him until he stomped outside and picked up the axe leaning against the cabin. Walking over to a fallen tree near the cabin, he eyed the wood, looking for the perfect spots to make even cuts.

Darien lifted the axe over his head and let it fall in a hard arch, cracking into the waiting log and splitting it halfway down the middle. He lifted the axe and let it fly again and again. Until sweat dampened his shirt like a wet rag and his hand cramped around the axe’s wooden handle. When the last blow fell he stopped.

Pulling his shirt off he used it to wipe the sweat off his face. The pain in his arms was just dull enough now that he could feel it every time he bent his elbows. His stomach and abs felt battered and his face burned swollen and hot where he’d been hit. The burn was better than any amount of relief whiskey or drugs could ever provide.

Inside the cabin he tossed his dirty shirt in the bin and grabbed a bottle of water from the counter. He downed the entire bottled until it crinkled in his hand.

Suddenly, he stilled, his head cocking to the side. The water bottle crinkled loudly as he set it back on the counter. There it was again. The mush of leaves and dirt...like steps.

Darien snatched his knife off the table and silently sprinted through the trees. Hunching down against a tree, he was grateful nighttime was pouring in and darkening the forest. It’d be hell for anyone to see through, except he had fantastic night vision. With a deep breath, he let his beast out to the surface.

More of that noise like the soft rustling of leaves but constant and with weight to it. And it was headed his way. Sprinting to the right, Darien turned left and headed north with the intent to box in whoever it was. The steps grew slower and slower, and he followed, too far back to see who it was. Though now he was certain it was a person and not a deer. He wished like hell there was some wind tonight, something to send their sent to him, but damn if he wasn’t an unlucky son of a bitch.

Darien crept closer, but it was unnecessary because a loud curse blew through the forest and then a solid thump. He kept his ear poised towards the sound. Had the person walking just dropped something heavy or did they just drop? He listened but heard no other sound except for the voices of insects.

Darien tightened his grip on his knife and tracked down the perpetrator. He broke through a low canopy of branches and his gut tightened at what he saw. Sniffing the air, he caught the person’s scent. Goosebumps shivered over him at the smell. Flowers.

“Fuck.”

What the hell was a damned woman doing out here in the middle of nowhere? A woman with a full head of dark hair and an ass that had him quickly looking away from it. Double fuck.

Crouching down at the woman, Darien gently pushed the hair back from the side of her face. His eyes narrowed on the dark circle surrounding her eye and the dark red sheen on her cheek. He gnashed his teeth together. It wasn’t any of his business. Yeah, right, like he could ignore the shiner someone had given her.

She’d fallen on her stomach and face for that matter. He pressed his fingers to her throat and found a steady pulse. It wasn’t until that moment that he realized a pressure had been wrapped around his heart. It eased more and more at the feel of her skin pulsing against his fingertip.

He rolled her over gently and went to inspect her for wounds. He didn’t get any further than her face.

The black and red bruises that marred the side of her face couldn’t begin to take away from her beauty. Fuck, he felt like he’d just been punched in the gut again. Her jaw was soft and pointed, her lips pink with perfect points on her top lip, and her brows and nose were dainty. Talk about the last thing he needed.

Gently he wrapped his arms underneath her and lifted her to his chest. She was so damned light; the woman must not eat a thing. Yet as he looked down at her in his arms, he saw the full flush of her curves, rounded thighs, and press of her breasts against her shirt.

His cock twitched in his pants. The sensation was so shocking that he stumbled a step and nearly dropped her. Breathing erratic, he closed his eyes until he had his body back under control. It was just a fluke. His body was just having a spasm—it wasn’t her. He hadn’t been sexually attracted to a woman since Dana. He couldn’t be, even if he wanted to.

He kept his gaze forward as he carried her back to the cabin. What the hell should he do with her? If he trekked with her to his truck, he could take her to a hospital. His gaze slowly lowered to her face and he jerked it back up. He had no business looking at a woman when she was unconscious, and he certainly had no fucking right eyeing a woman who’d been hurt. Guilt nagged at him. And doesn’t Dana have a right to be in your thoughts?

He kept his gaze straight for the rest of the trip. When he reached the cabin, he set her down on his bed. She sighed a little and snuggled into his pillow. He bared his teeth at some unseen foe as his chest tightened.

Was living with the pain of Dana not enough? Did life really have to send another complication into his life right now? Of course it did, because life was a brutal bitch with a gun-wielding vendetta against wrongdoers.

Darien pulled a chair up next to the small cot. At once he wished he had a clean, big bed to put her in and not this lousy half-a-thing he’d dragged through the woods to get here.

Swallowing hard he quickly felt over her front pockets, then moved her side to side to feel her back ones. No wallet. No ID. Well, the one plan he’d had just kicked the bucket. So much for calling her family.

He’d have to wait until she woke up. The thought sent him pacing across the cabin.

Chapter 2

“Where do you think you’re going, Cassandra?” The cruel voice spiked her fear and made her run faster, blindly flying through the night and away from his voice. His laughter taunted her, staying so close behind her that no matter how hard she pushed herself, he was always there, one step behind. “You will never get away from me.”

“No.” Her hoarse whisper was drowned out by his laughter. The dark floor suddenly turned into stairs and she was falling down them, slamming her elbows and knees into the hard wood. She cried out and rolled over onto her knees, crawling and straining away. Away from him. His steps, coming closer. He stopped at her face, kicking up dust into her face, and making her hack and sneeze.

He grabbed her hair and jerked her to a stand. “Why do you make me do these things, Cassandra? Don’t you see how easy it will be when you just submit? Submit like you’re supposed to. Say the words right now and all of this will stop.”

His arm pulled back and she watched in terrified slow motion as his fingers curled into a fist that soared towards her face. It was too fast, she tried to turn her head, but it hit her. The blows came again and again, she desperately fought to turn her head to slide down the wall, to run away, but he held her by the hair on her head, the sharp pain of it bringing tears to her eyes.

As the last blow landed, he released his grip on her. Her knees gave out like they were made of jello, and she slid listlessly down the wall, hot tears spilling down her cheeks.

The walls around her shook. Her vision blurred to black and spun out of control like an old-time movie reel spinning too fast. The man before her faded, and then her eyes shot open, wild and frightened.

“Hey, it’s all right,” a deep voice said.

Cassandra’s scurried to a sitting position, pushing herself as far away from the deep voice as possible. She blinked quickly, frantically searching the room she was in. Where the hell was she? Who was he?

“Just take it easy,” the giant of a man said. She tensed as he stood and walked as far away from her as he could in the small house...bedroom...whatever this was. Giant was a good description of him too. She swallowed hard just looking at him and couldn’t help but wonder how someone grow so tall and wide and--she licked her lips--muscular. Someone fed this boy all the veggies and milk. She took deep breaths until finally her racing heart slowed to a normal speed.

“Who are you?” Her voice had seen better days, but then again screaming would do that to you.

He ignored her and said, “I’d like to know yours first.”

He lifted his dark eyebrows and she experienced a thread of desire. The man was...sexy. So tall that his head nearly touched the roof with skin dark from sunlight. His face was also covered in bruises.

The thought sent her hand fluttering to her own face. She cringed as she poked the painful spots around her eye and cheek. She hung her head and for a moment, wanted to curl up and cry.

“I asked who you are,” the giant repeated. His voice was so deep. He should be on radio or in movies because he could make women shiver with just a word.

“Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time, Goliath.” She kept her eyes on him as she sidled off the cot and came to a stand. She eyed the front door and briefly wondered if she should make a run for it. But then her gaze fell back to his very broad shoulders that spread his dark t-shirt so deliciously wide, and some small voice goaded her into staying where she was. “Why don’t you tell me who you are,” she countered.

He cracked his neck and it popped loudly. She had the distinct feeling that she was annoying him, and it was getting hard not to smile. “This,” he said flinging out his very big hand to encompass the room is all my land. So you will tell me why you are here on my land.” His voice was deep, though she supposed it had to be for a man as big as he was. She bit her lip, would he be big everywhere? Not that she knew anything about that!

“My name is Cassandra. What’s yours, cutie?” He looked disgusted at her nickname.

“I’m Darien Kategan.” The way he said it was as if he expected her to recognize it. Arrogant and almost cocky.

“A sexy name for a sexy man, I see.” She smiled at him but quickly lost it when a sharp jolt of pain shot through the bruised side of face. She laughed and said, “Guess it’s too early to smile.” When the throbbing hot pain finally faded, she raised her eyes to find him standing right there in front of her. “How did you—”

“Shh,” he commanded. Cassandra clamped her mouth shut as several things happened at once. His fingers touched her chin, the touch gentle and warm. He tilted her head to the left so he could inspect her face. She closed her eyes and let him look, unconsciously showing him a submissive side she’d always fought to show men before.

His fingers were so gentle on her face, cupping her as if he were afraid she’d break. No one had ever touched her so. Realizing she didn’t want to miss anymore of this moment, she opened her eyes to peer at him. But as she did, he let go of her and stepped away.

“I don’t have any ice here, but I can take you to town or to a hospital.”

Panic filled her. She grinned, making sure to use the side of her face that didn’t look like it’d been used as a punching bag. “No, thanks. I’ll be all right.” Several emotions flitted across his face too fast for her to catch. The one he settled with didn’t look too happy though. She wondered what he would say if she told him he looked cute when he was mad.

“You might have a concussion. How did you sustain your injuries? Did someone hit you?” His words cut through the air with a lethal edge. She had a brief flash in her mind of this big, strong man fighting for her. Silly thoughts, for a silly woman.

“Oh this,” she said waving at her face, “I got into a fight with a really strong girl. I told her I liked her moustache.” She whispered the last loudly. When he didn’t even crack a smile, she scoffed and crossed her arms, cocking her hip to the side.

“Let me take you into town.” No, no, no. He might be looking for her there. She didn’t even know where she was. He could be anywhere.

“You know, I really don’t feel so good. My head is throbbing like an SOB and my stomach hurts because I haven’t eaten in forever. Do you think it’d be okay if I stayed here for awhile?” Surprisingly, he stiffened so hard it was a wonder his spine didn’t snap. And while what she said was true, she held her breath on the last part. She needed to make a plan and for that, she needed time. Daniel wouldn’t find her out here. She made sure to cover her tracks.

For a moment, she thought he was going to say yes, but then he shook his head. “I can’t do that. I’m sorry. You’ll have to go.”

With a feminine sniffle, she pouted and softly stepped towards him. His body tensed harder, his eyes tracking her like a hawk. She stopped before him and rocked back on her heels unsteadily. Immediately he reached out and grabbed her. She took advantage of that touch and leaned into him, resting her unhurt cheek against his big chest.

“You’re so big,” she said into his shirt. “Please just let me stay for a little while. I really don’t feel good, Darien.” A part of her felt bad, he seemed like a genuinely nice guy and she was pretty good at reading people. But in her defense, it was only a partial lie. She didn’t exactly feel great after meeting a fist earlier that day. The nightmare she’d had was only a glimpse at how scary he was in person.

She felt a gentle pull on her hair, almost too soft to tell, but when she looked over at it; his hand was still at his side. A sudden, startling realization hit her. She gasped excitedly, wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her nose there. His arms came around her waist, his fingers digging into her. She didn’t know if it was to push her away or to keep her close, but she did know his touch sent a hot rush of pleasure through her body.

She inhaled his scent and had never in her life been so aware of the man in her arms. Each second was tense as she waited to see what he’d do. He had to let do this. She’d never smelled anything like it. When he did nothing, she smiled against his neck, her tongue peeking out and almost touching his warm, very warm skin.

There was no mistaking the way his hands dug into her waist then or of the way her heart fluttered like a bird in her chest. Suddenly, he was bending over her, his fingers gentled, cupping her closer, inexorably pulling her into the heat of his body. His breath wisped over her ear and down to her neck where she felt the warm press of his nose against her skin. The sensation had her head falling to the side and her pulse thudding rapidly.

She heard him inhale, filling those big lungs with air. Then he was exhaling slowly and she hoped he was savoring her scent like she was his. In a stunned voice he said, “Vampire.”

Her lips curled into a smile, the bruises on her face forgotten as she stood in this man’s arms. He smelled amazing, like nothing she’d ever smelled before. A mixture of animal, earthy rain, and spice. And this close, she knew he wasn’t human, yet he wasn’t vampire.

“What are you?” she whispered, afraid that her voice would break the spell that he held her in. His hand was so warm at her back, his breath tickled her neck and she wished he’d put his lips on her right there.

“I’m lykaen.” Giddy pleasure rushed through her. He started to straighten so she quickly brushed her fingers up his nape and through his hair. It was thick and slightly coarse and though she couldn’t tell from this position, she could feel its weight--he kept his hair long. She almost sighed; he was just trying to be sexy now.

He pushed her hips away and she let him, but she kept her hand in his hair, her back arched against his hard chest.

“I’ve never met a lykaen before.” Her eyes fell to his mouth. What would he taste like? Suddenly she had a dark, irresistible urge to lick his mouth.

Would he taste how he smelled—like rich decadence that reminded her of dark chocolate and fresh rain?

She reached for his lips with hers ‘till she was braced only on his chest and her tippy toes. His eyes darkened, fell to her lips, and her stomach clenched in pleasure. She’d never wanted a man to kiss her so much in her entire life. Please. She stayed a bare inch away and simply felt the breath from his parted lips mix with hers. He had nice lips, the kind she wanted to lick and nibble and tug on. Her hand flexed in his thick, dark hair and then she closed the last inch between them.

She was pushed away so quickly, it took her several moments to realize what had happened. Her quick gaze caught sight of his back leaving the cabin. The kiss had been so fast she almost could tell herself it didn’t happen. But as she ran her tongue over her lips and tasted him, she knew the kiss was real.

A small smile flirted around her lips as she stared at the empty, dark doorway. Why did her kiss send him running? She’d felt his heart pound against her hand when she kissed him—he must have liked it. Nibbling her lip, and feeling better than she had in ages, she followed her giant outside.

* * *

What the fuck was the matter with him?

I almost kissed her. Hell, I almost let her kiss me. Shit, he knew that was a bunch of bullshit. He did let her kiss him. It was short and... Sweet. Very sweet.

God dammit. He ran a rough hand through his hair and paced a path into the ground. This was the last thing he needed. Hell, beyond the last thing he needed. He’d take a beating every day before this.

His tongue darted out over his lips and he closed his eyes as her taste soared through him. Delicious, warm, sweet pleasure. Slowly, his eyes opened. She tasted like cherries or strawberries. Something fruity yet womanly. He sucked his lip in his mouth and licked it, savoring her essence. His beast snapped its teeth at him. Growled its need. Her, it said. His heart pounded in his chest. Impossible.

He smelled her a second before he heard her. Not meeting her eyes, he grabbed the pot he used to cook in over the fireplace and walked past her to get into the cabin. She had to go; there was no other choice.

She smelled too good. Looked so fresh and pretty. His heart throbbed painfully. He would not dishonor Dana’s memory.

Sorting through the groceries he’d bought earlier, he started making dinner. He kept his back to her, not caring how rude he was being. After he stirred everything together and set the cauldron-style pot on the hook, he turned it over the fire.

Good, just keep busy. He had to get rid of her. Already his cabin was beginning to smell like her. He hardly slept as it was, the last thing he needed was to have more sleepless nights--dreaming of a red-haired flirt. His beast growled in warning. Fine, it wasn’t red. It was dark copper with shades of blonde and brown thrown in. Finally, his beast nodded in contentment.

“So Darien, what do you do?”

He set logs into the fireplace, doused them with lighter fluid, then lit them. The smell of charring wood filled the cabin and he sighed, not entirely happy, as it drowned out her scent.

“Nothing,” he said finally. He took the only chair in the cabin and faced it towards the fire.

She snorted. “Nothing. I doubt that. You look like a man who likes to keep busy. So don’t be shy, tell me what you do.” He closed his eyes and counted back from ten.

“I work with wood.” He had to get her out of here.

“Like a carpenter?” She sat up on the side of the bed and kicked her legs back and forth over the side. “Yeah,” he said gruffly. He wanted to turn his chair away from her, but that would be too obvious and something told him that that would hurt her feelings. And some very stupid, too soft part of him didn’t want that.

“Do you have a woman?”

The abrupt change in topic had him faltering for an answer. He wasn’t a liar, but he almost did.

“No.” Shit, should have lied. Her smile was sweet and way too sexy. He turned away from her. “After dinner, you’re leaving.” The cot dipped as she stood up. He watched her wearily; he never knew what this woman was up to. She took a seat against the wall near the fireplace, stretching her legs out before her. He’d always enjoyed tall women, the kind that could wrap their legs around him as he rode them, but this little thing would be lucky to do that.

Guilt flared hot and deep. He was a fucking disgrace. Spitting on Dana’s memory as he sat here with a semi-hard dick wondering how far this little vampire’s legs would spread for him. Shit. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“I can’t leave after dinner. I’m hurt and I need your help.” Darien’s gaze shot to hers. She sounded almost desperate. He didn’t believe that shitty story she told him about fighting a moustache-wearing woman. No, a man did that. She was probably on the run, too. His chest swelled in pride--good for her. Seeing her delicate face covered in dark, ugly bruises made his own fists curl. He’d love to show the motherfucker who did that a thing or two.

He shook his head and stared into the fire, much safer than looking at her eyes—blue. “Then after we eat, I’ll take you to town. Or the hospital. I’ll pay for whatever you need.” She frowned, her eyes glazing over with a look of such raw pain that Darien’s breath caught. Suddenly she smiled and crawled towards him. God her smile alone could knock a man dead.

“How about this, lykaen. I’ll leave tomorrow if you feed me.” His eyes narrowed.

“I’ve already offered to feed you. It’s just rabbit stew, but it’s good.” She threw back her head and laughed. The sound was soft and wily, just like her.

“What?” Unease filled his gut.

Her eyes widened as she smiled. She stopped crawling scant inches from his leg. He had the urge to move his leg away from her...and an even stronger one to open up wider and put her between them where she belonged. Damn. Not once in the days since Dana and the baby’s death had he even gotten hard for a woman. Yet this one had him going hard and soft in a minute+. The sooner she got out, the better.

“Have you forgotten what I am, Darien?” She laughed softly and smiled up at him with another naughty look.

“Shit.” Yeah, he’d forgotten. His head hasn’t been screwed on right since he carried her back here. A mistake—most definitely. He’d met a couple of vampires, but he didn’t exactly hang with them. “How much would you need?”

“Not too much, but you’re a big man. I’m sure you could fill me up.” He almost groaned aloud at the thought of doing just that. His lips suddenly felt dry and he envisioned sinking his cock deep into her. She’d be wet and so soft.

“If I feed you, then you’ll leave? My offer still stands to drive you to town.” Sometimes he really hated his soft spot for women, especially troubled women and this one had it in spades.

“Yes, but not until tomorrow.” He stood and went to stand at the doorway. Fresh chilled air swept into the cabin but did nothing to douse the scent of stew and vampire.

“Why can’t you leave tonight? I don’t want you here.” Truer words had never been spoken. Several moments of silence passed and he turned to look at her. She was staring into the fire, that raw look in her eyes. Seeing that look felt like having his heart set on fire while it still beat in his chest. She turned back to him though and smiled, the glimpse of pain wiped away.

“Honestly I’m afraid I might have a concussion, but I don’t have insurance either, and well, I’ve never been a fan of hospitals. They start to see you regenerate fast and they kind of freak out,” she said, tossing her hands in the air with a shrug. “I’ll make a deal with you, Darien. Let me take a bite from you and I’ll leave nice and quietly tomorrow.” Her pink lips curled up on her unbruised side.

He thought about it, weighing the odds, then finally, nodded slowly. She smiled brilliantly like he’d just given her a gift. He turned away so he didn’t have to see it. Guilt weighed heavily on his chest.

“So when can I have my snack? I’m starving.” Her words were soft and husky.

Against every instinct, every nagging sensation inside him, he turned to her. The impact of seeing lust in her eyes was harder than he thought. He took a deep breath and brought his beast to the surface. It helped to steady himself, to bring his warring body back under control.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Chapter 3

The lykaen giant looked so troubled as he took his seat back at the fire. Cassandra couldn’t help but wonder why he was out here alone. Why wasn’t there some woman around to help him ease the pain that was so clearly etched in the lines around his eyes?

Crawling to his side, she took his hand in hers. He tensed, but slowly relaxed until his fingers hung loosely in her hand. His skin was so much darker than hers. Where her hands were smooth with a tint of pink, his were speckled with dark hair around his knuckles and rough spots grazing his palm.

“Get it over with.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely.” She hid a smile.

He looked away and she wished she knew what he was thinking. She’d never felt this draw to another person before. Though she’d never met a lykaen before. She’d probably wake up tomorrow and realize he wasn’t a tall, sexy, giant with a weight of pain hovering around him like a black cloud. Maybe lykaens just had an animal magnetism that made her feel this way. That pushed her to take blood from a man who clearly hated the idea. Yeah, this lykaen totally has mojo. She barely covered her laugh.

His jaw grinded left then right. His poor teeth. Well, she supposed she better put him out of his misery. The man looked like he was about to have a tooth pulled out with a wrench and not about to lose a little bit of blood.

A wicked thought flirted through her as she turned his palm up. She traced the whorls and lines etched into his palm and debated telling him. Her eyes couldn’t help but stray across his thigh, which was easily wider than her hips, and she had big hips. She’d never really noticed a man’s legs before, but this one filled his jeans up so tight and hard she had the urge to pull them down and feel if his legs were as hard as they looked.

“Get it over with before I change my mind.”

She laughed. “Anything you say, Darien. Lykaen...” She started to lean over his wrist. The pulse danced below like music to her ears.

“Cassandra—”

“Cassie,” she corrected gently.

“If I start to feel weak, I won’t think twice about snapping your neck and tossing you into the fire.”

There must be something seriously wrong with her because his threat did nothing to scare her. If anything, it made her shift a little to ease the growing heat in her sex. Besides, who was he kidding? This giant was obviously a great big softie.

She pressed her lips to the heated pulse at his wrist. He was thick and hot under her lips. Breathing grew hard as a languid passion consumed her. His warm blood teased her beneath the pliant press of his skin.

She rubbed her cheek against him, suppressing a moan, and then her tongue darted out to taste his skin. She felt the tension build up in his arm and leg as she leaned her side into him.

More licks across his hot skin. Her eyes closed in ecstasy. He tasted...amazing.

Pleasure tugged at her, lulling her into a desire-filled fog as she passed more and more licks over his wrist, wetting his skin and simply, tasting. She couldn’t stop the moan that left her lips anymore than she could keep her fangs from dropping. She pressed her lips to his rapid pulse one more time then pulled back and struck.

She felt his fingers curl into a fist. She ignored it. Had only one rampant thought in her mind—hunger.

He tasted unlike anything she’d ever had before. His blood was raw, untamed just like him. It was rich and thick, almost sweet as he went down her throat.

He filled her too quickly and already she was nearly done. She could feel his power filling her, dizzying with its power. She opened her eyes to see his reaction as she took him now in soft, gentle pulls. Did he feel this incredible sensation like she did? Whatever she was feeling, she knew he felt it a thousand times more powerful.

She moaned around his thick wrist. She was right not have warned him about the vampire’s bite. He needed this release. Her eyes tracked over him, memorizing this moment into memory. His head was thrown back, his long thick throat swallowing hard as he breathed deeply, fast. She wanted to bury her teeth into that thick neck and feel the rush of his blood against her tongue. Eyes hooded now, she trailed them down to his spread knees; his cock was a hard press against his zipper. Any second now and she expected to see it burst through the zipper.

He must have sensed her eyes on him, because he languidly pulled his head down to look at her. His eyes were so raw with desire that an answering wave of wet cream escaped her sex. She twirled her tongue around the puncture wounds and sucked more, gently pulling his life essence into her mouth.

He growled, the sound so wild and untamed, her nipples beaded in answer. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Then he did something that surprised the hell out of her.

His free hand jerked down that zipper she’d been eyeing so curiously a minute ago, reached in and pulled out his thick, long swollen cock.

Cassie moaned at the sight of it and sucked harder on his wrist. He groaned too and wrapped his big hand around his cock. Cassie nearly climbed over him at that point but something made her stay.

She watched entranced as he squeezed the swollen head, creamy with his arousal, and then started pumping himself fast. With each pump of his hand, Cassie felt an answering pull deep within her wet sex. She was going to come, just from watching him.

Her eyes flicked up to his and butterflies danced her stomach at the unwavering heat she saw in his gaze. He looked not at himself, not at the ceiling, but straight at her with eyes so raw with pleasure, she wanted to peel off her clothes and open herself to him. He would master her body, own her, push her. She could see it in every inch of his body, in the power he exuded.

She wanted to do this for him, make him feel good for once. She twirled her tongue around his wrist and drew quick sucks from his wrist--knowing what it would draw from him. His eyes glazed over, his fist worked faster, and then he groaned--the sound deep, rough, and unused as thick semen spurted from his cock and dripped down over his jerking hand and shaft like a waterfall.

Her core wet with excitement, Cassie pulled her mouth away and licked her lips at the sight. She’d never seen a man come before. It was the most erotic thing she’d ever seen in her life.

His breathing slowed and his eyes never left hers. She gently pulled back from his wrist and let her fangs recede back into her gums.

The space between her legs was wet and hot, craving something long and hard from him. She licked her lips and couldn’t stop her gaze from falling to his semen-covered cock. Was he sticky? Creamy? What would he taste like? Would he be warm or hot against her tongue?

She started to move closer, her tongue longing for a taste, but he stood abruptly and went to the sink. He washed his hand clean and put himself back in his pants. She could see the stiff tension in his back; it radiated off him in angry waves. Surely he wouldn’t be angry for having an orgasm. Right?

When he turned back, all hint of desire was long gone. Rage filled its place. His deep voice was cut short with anger. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?” she asked nervously, scooting back against the cot—as far away as she could from him in the small cabin.

“You knew that my body would respond that way. Why didn’t you tell me?” He spoke in a moderated voice as if he was trying hard to keep from shouting.

Apprehension had her crossing her arms across her chest. She smiled though, the pain already lessening in her face from his healing blood. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Besides I thought you might already know what a vampire’s bite feels like, or rather, does.”

He looked like he was about to say something but then he turned and left the cabin, the door slamming shut behind him.

Cassie’s shoulders slumped and guilt nagged at her. She shoved it back though. She didn’t think he’d be that upset about it, after all. God, he’d looked so gorgeous when he was coming. All the tension from before had disappeared in those precious moments leaving only him and her. Even the lines around his eyes had eased.

It seemed like forever before he came back. He took his stew off the fire and poured a bowl. She watched him eat in silence for all of thirty seconds.

“So, Darien Kategan, what are you doing all the way out here by yourself?” He finished chewing before answering.

“That’s none of your business.” The anger was there but nearly as bad as it was before.

“Oh, come on now, don’t be so shy.”

Suddenly he looked at her, his eyes dark and serious. “Why don’t you tell me who gave you that?” He said nodded pointedly to the bruises on her face. “And I’ll tell you why I’m out here.”

Cassie looked away and nibbled her lip. There’s no way she could tell him. Not that. Mutely, she shook her head and he went back to eating.

God, something must have been knocked loose when she passed out earlier because she was actually disappointed he didn’t pursue her. Wasn’t he curious? Didn’t he want to know why she was bruised and out here, wherever this was, alone? Well not enough to push her apparently. She sighed and crossed her arms. She wouldn’t tell him anyways.

“Just what I thought,” he said in that rich, velvety voice of his.

“Do you have to talk like that?” she asked angrily.

A dark brow lifted. “Like what?”

“Like that,” she waved her hand at him. He glared at her, then turned back to his food. She’d never seen a man look so lost and yet here at the same time. It must be hard.

“Listen I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t know you’d be so angry about the whole orgasm thing.” His eyes, dark like hot chocolate, peered at her with an intensity that took her breath away. If someone told her that this man could read her every thought, she’d believe it. Unable to take his gaze anymore, she stood and started pacing in front of the cot.

“I mean come on. Anyone who knows anything about vampires knows that when we drink it’s an orgasmic experience.” He frowned and looked away. The connection between them lost and she wanted to go back to it. Trying for truth instead, she rushed to say, “I wanted to make you feel good.”

He didn’t say anything to her for the rest of the night.

She couldn’t help but feel like she’d tread on some touchy subject. She just didn’t know which one it was. Him living out here alone or having a sexy orgasm. God, she could hardly believe he’d actually pulled himself out like that. That was unexpected!

All she did know was that she wanted to know everything about the giant lykaen. She’d never met one before, or if she did, then she never realized it. No, she’d never miss someone who smelled let alone looked like him.

She’d always pictured them to be...hairier. With bigger teeth maybe.

Darien’s hair was perfect though. A shade of stubble grazed his jaw and neck and she could easily see him sporting a trimmed beard. Seeeexy.

When she yawned, he finally turned to look at her. She’d never seen someone not talk so much. He was probably doing it just to irritate her at this point. She kinda didn’t blame him though.

“Take the cot.” She looked at the cot that barely looked big enough to fit his big body in it.

“No, really I can’t. I’ll be fine on the floor.” His eyes were hard and unflinching as he stared at her.

“You’ll do what I say or you’re out of here.” O-kay, Mr. Grouchie Giant. Wishing like hell she had a hair tie for her hair, Cassie climbed aboard the miniature bed. A soft sigh left her. It was surprisingly soft around her and it smelled like him. Not so bad at all. Her lykaen. She chuckled softly and turned on her side to watch him in the firelight. She was so not a creeper, she told herself.

“You’re very kind.” No answer. “Thank you.” Nothing. So she tried, “I really am sorry about before.” Still no answer. Her frustration level rose like a boiling thermometer. “I find you intriguing.” He shook his head side to side as if he was on the verge of either strangling her or getting a migraine.

“If you knew everything about me then you’d find that I’m anything but intriguing, Cassie.” Shivers trembled over her, making her heart speed up. The cabin was dark except for the orange, flickering light of the fire. It crackled and made the room smell of wood and Darien. Two wonderful smells when combined together made a deadly and seductive combo.

I’m not so sure about that was what she wanted to say. But instead, she sighed, “Are all lykaens so sexy?”

His head turned sharply to hers. Anger bracketed his mouth. “Go to sleep, Cassandra.”

She glared at him. “No need to be rude. It was a serious question.” Okay, half-serious.

“Please just go to bed woman.”

“Ha, I bet all lykaens aren’t such grumpy giants.” With voices that make me melt. She heard him sigh, but whatever, she was done. She rolled over in a huff and closed her eyes.

With his scent rolling around her and the soft cushion of the bed gently supporting her tired body, she was out like a light.

* * *

He was chasing her again. Fear clutched her throat like death’s grip. She pumped her arms faster, screaming inwardly at her legs to move!

“Come back to me, Cassandra.” His cold voice trailed after her sounding both faraway and close at the same time.

Cassie was outside. The night was so black the sky looked like inky tar above her, blocking out the moonlight and stars. The soft thump of footsteps trailed after her, taunting her. He didn’t have to let her know he was there; he enjoyed tormenting her with fear, letting her know how close he could get.

“If you come back now, I promise everything will be okay.”

“Yeah, right.” Her heart was beating too fast, any second now and it’d explode in her chest. He was a liar. She used to believe those lies, but now she knew better. She learned from her mistakes.

“Tell me where you are,” he hissed. Cassie sobbed as cold breath trailed across the back of her neck. She never stopped running. The scenery changed, morphing from a flat field to a thick forest.

She leapt over fallen trees and rocks then ran smack into the middle of a hard tree and cried out as the wood bit into her hands. Shaking, she had only a terrifying moment to look down to see the harsh red scrapes on her palms before she he flashed in front of her.

“No!” She got up and ran. No matter how hard she pumped her arms or pushed her legs, he was right there behind her.

“Cassandra.” A big booming laugh filled the forest, somehow echoing from all directions until her eardrums were barricaded with the horrible sound.

“Stop,” she whispered ruggedly. The landscape changed so suddenly that she yelped and grabbed onto a tree branch to stop her momentum. The land in front of her was shifting, morphing like a gaseous entity into a dark, watery mud pit. Cassie bent down to her knees, gasping in large gulps of air for her burning throat. Sweat ran down her face and neck, sticking to her shirt like a second skin.

“You can’t run from me, Cassandra. You will never be free of me.”

“Like hell I can’t.” Determination hardening her, she stood and stepped her foot into the mud. Her leg sank to the ankle. The mud was cold and wet, gripping her ankle like little hands. She stepped her other leg, again and again, wading through the mud until her calves were deep in the brown sod.

A cold presence filled the area behind her, stilling it like ice. A sob broke through her lips and shaking started in her knees and spread to her hands. She couldn’t move, no matter how much she told herself to lift her legs and run, she was powerless—frozen in fear.

Ice cold fingers wrapped around the front of her chest, pulling her back into his cold body.

Tears ran down her heated cheeks. “Please don’t.” The grip on her throat tightened, squeezing her so hard she was wheezing in air.

His pale face pressed hard against the side of hers, his hard, unforgiving voice a hiss in her ear. “Tell me where you are.” He squeezed her harder, choking all the air from her throat. Panic filled her, had her throwing elbows back that met with nothing but empty air. Finally he released his grip on her, allowing her to speak.

“Hawaii. I like the pineapple down here,” she croaked. She waited for one long moment as he did nothing.

Then his grip tightened, his sharp nails digging painfully into her skin until it broke. His hand slid away, then both of his arms were locked around her in an unmovable grip. He pinned her arms to her side, pulled her roughly against his chest, and bit down on her neck.

The bite was bruising, burning, stinging like salt on a wound. He growled, sucking hard, pulling every ounce of life out of her.

Cassie sobbed, cried out for help that wasn’t there. Blackness muddied her vision. It flickered on and off like a dying lamp. Then as the last drop of blood left her, she floated down to the mud her cheek hitting the cold, wet surface.

He wasn’t laughing anymore, but his voice trailed after her as blackness receded over her eyes. Death. Death was coming.

“I’m coming for you.”

Mud slid over her cheek, up her nose, and over her eyes, until finally everything was black.

Chapter 4

Cassie’s eyes popped open and she scanned the room expecting to find him and his men towering over her. Emptiness greeted her though, and she released the breath she’d been holding. Empty but for her and the lykaen.

It was early morning. The sun was just coming up and casting light through the single window by the front the door, lighting the cabin in a dim orange glow.

The lykaen giant slept in the same chair from last night, facing the dying fire. In sleep his brows were drawn down into a furrow, his lips pulled into a frown. Maybe he didn’t have good dreams either. Though she seriously doubted he was being stalked by a heavy-handed vampire bent on marrying him.

Yeah, right.

He was very handsome. His hair had come loose from his ponytail and now rested in uneven waves across his shoulder. It wasn’t too long, just coming past his shoulders. She couldn’t help but wonder if he kept it long for stylish reasons or because he just didn’t care anymore. Though if there was one impression she did get from the man it was--I don’t give a fuck.

Darien Kategan, what are your secrets?

A thought floated through her head like a feather in the wind. She almost laughed aloud and quickly stamped out the idea. She couldn’t, could she? A soft part of her, a very feminine part, wanted to so badly.

She frowned, a deep sadness filling her. Daniel was going to find her eventually. She couldn’t stay here or Daniel would kill Darien. The thought of Darien getting hurt because of her brought an intense pain to her chest. No, she’d have to leave soon. But first, there was something she had to do. Something she craved doing with such power that it was like some other force pushing her to do it.

She wanted to learn about Darien Kategan. She wanted to bring him pleasure, and in return, her own. Because what she was looking forward to for the very long rest of her life was going to be hell. Most of all, she wanted to do this because she sensed the heated connection between them was so much more that she’d ever thought possible.

As quietly as possible, she sat up in the cot, pressing her bare feet to the cool wood floor. She waited to see if he heard her. When he didn’t move, she put pressure into her feet and stood inch by inch.

When she stood all the way up, she looked at him, nervously biting her lip. Could she really do this? She’d never done anything so wild and crazy. She looked over him, noting the way his arms were crossed even in sleep. Somehow that thought gave her all the courage she needed.

Darien Kategan needed her help, and she was going to give it to him. Whether he wanted it or not. This lykaen giant needed someone.

She took one small step forward, her toes barely putting pressure on the wood. When it didn’t creak, she pressed all her weight on it and slowly, gradually made her way closer to him. His back must hurt from sleeping in that hardback chair. Silly man. Oh well, she’d pay him back for letting her have the cot.

Her eyes fell wide and alert to his face as she watched him for any movement. Slowly, as if any quick movement would set a bomb off, she knelt in between his longs legs. He’d kicked them out at some point during the night. Hell, he still wore his dried muddy boots from yesterday.

Her knees dug into the floor and only when she sat all the way down did she softly let go of the breath she’d been holding on to.

Taking a deep breath, she held it as she slowly reached out to the waistband of his jeans. Oh so gently, she pressed just her fingertip to metal button, watching his eyes, expecting to see them jump open at anytime. His head lolled further to the side but otherwise, no movement. His chest rose and fell in a steady, deep rhythm.

After waiting several seconds she brought her other hand into the mix and oh so carefully popped open the button of his jeans. Immediately she pulled back, her arms held up like a cop just told her to freeze. Any second now he’d come roaring awake and yell at her again. Seconds passed and then, nothing.

Breathing freely once again, she gently lifted the tab of his zipper, wincing as she did. She kept her eyes trained on his face as she tugged at the zipper. It hissed loudly in the quiet cabin and she waited, bracing herself for him to fling open his eyes. He didn’t.

There was a hard pressure pushing against his zipper, helping her to pull it down the rest of the way in one easy tug. Her jaw dropped open as his cock sprung out, hard and swollen. The man did not wear underwear and she never thought she’d be happy about that.

Close to moaning, she bit her lip and quickly peered up at his face to make sure he was still asleep. His eyes were closed, his dark lashes laying a thick crescent against his face.

Her bravery faltered as she eyed his erect cock. Surely lykaen cocks must be bigger than others. She’d never seen a vampire’s as big as this. Not that she’d really seen many in her life, and even then they were only glimpses, but it must hurt taking that thing inside a woman. Well he was a giant of a man, so it suited him well, she supposed.

Using only her thumb and index finger, she grabbed it by the tips of her fingers. Encouraged by his deep even breaths, she leaned forward and parted her lips. She was already wet and she hadn’t even tasted him yet and she was dying to. Her mouth watered and she darted her tongue to swipe across the tip of his cock.

Her eyes quickly flung up to his face and in the process, her grip tightened hard around his cock.

Shit, she muttered inwardly and loosened her grip. It was already too late though because he groaned and somehow leaned even further back into the chair. The action thrust his hips toward her and enveloped her further between his longlegs.

She grinned wantonly. See I knew you needed me Darien Kategan.

Gripping him loosely in her fist, she parted her lips and took the tip of him into her mouth. The first taste was heaven. He tasted like he smelled, like raw man but so much more. He was so much more potent this way.

She trained her eyes on his face, watching for any sign of him waking up. Nothing, so she bobbed further down his cock, wetting his stiff flesh. Desire flooded through her. The naughtiness of the act combined with his potent taste flooded her panties with cream. Images flashed through her mind of Darien waking up, then taking her body again and again without remorse or apologies. Just taking.

Moaning, she licked her way up his cock then swallowed him again, creating what she hoped was the perfect rhythm to make him explode in her mouth. She had to know what he tasted like. Had to know what his seed would feel like on her tongue.

She sucked him deep again and again, her mouth so wet that saliva dripped over her loose fist and down to his heavy sac below. The sight was so sexy she long since stopped watching his face. She didn’t care if he woke up. She wanted to give this to him—had to.

His cock grew hotter in her mouth; the thick meat of him grew impossibly wider until he was stuffing her mouth full. Lykaens were definitely bigger than most. Had to be.

Resting her free on hand lightly on his thigh, she felt his muscles twitching and spasming beneath her touch. She opened her eyes to search his face and was almost disappointed to see his eyes still closed.

Though she realized that a part of him definitely knew what was going on. His chest was moving quickly, his lips parted a hair and his arms uncrossed, crept closer, and closer to her. She tightened her fist around him and pumped him faster as she took him deep into her mouth again and again.

A deep, sexy groan sounded from deep in his chest. An answering one pulled at her throat but she stopped it, afraid the gentle sound might rouse him.

His hips started thrusting then, working his cock in and out of her mouth just as his hand reached to twine into her hair.

A deep pulsing throb built inside her. She squirmed, wiggled, as she tried to keep her jaw relaxed around his length. She sensed he was close so she moved faster, squeezing her fist around him tighter and pumping faster. He groaned, sounding like she was killing him, not pleasuring him, and then he swelled even more in the back of her throat.

Cassie tried to pull back to breathe, but his hips pushed up, burying his cock at the back of her throat. His fist tightened to keep her there and then she had only a moment to open her eyes and looked up at his face.

His eyes shot open, found hers. Then he was groaning roughly as hot, thick spurts of cum jetted in her mouth. His face drew into a slackened expression of desperate pleasure—and she loved it. She swallowed the cream in her mouth as more came. She sucked at his head and licked at the tip catching all of his thick seed.

Gasping for breath, she pulled away. Her hand was wet and her jaw was sore, but none of that bothered her because of the look in the lykaen’s eyes. It was like a realization happened and she got to watch it take place. Complete and utter satisfaction. The hooded look of pleasure slowly left his beautiful eyes. He jerked then blinked rapidly looking down at his cock, at her, then around the cabin. Finally he shot to his feet.

“God dammit!” That was so not the response she’d hoped for. Be brave. Be strong. He needs help.

Okay, try a compliment. “You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever met.” His hands turned into fists and she was fairly certain he was struggling not to hit something. She wished he had, because instead he turned to her and yelled, “Do you suck off every man you think is sexy?”

“Well, I’ve never sucked a man off, as you so delicately put it. I’ve never had that particular urge until I met you. But to answer your question I’d say that no, I usually don’t have that urge. You’re just special I guess.” He looked like he was about to scream, then he just stared at her like she was mad.

“Are you a crazy woman? I mean really.” He said the last gently as if afraid to spook her. She burst out laughing.

Somehow over the laughs she managed to say, “Um, no. Sorry to disappoint you, Darien. This was plain old lust. I wanted to see your cock, and I wanted to suck on it. Then I really wanted to know what your…seed tasted like.” She dropped her voice to a husky purr as she said the last.

He must have liked it because his cock twitched and hardened again, and his eyes darkened like a thunderstorm. Beautiful. As if realizing he was still hanging out, he zipped himself up.

“Yeah well there must be something wrong with you. A woman just doesn’t do things like this, Cassie.” The sound of her shortened name made her smile. She liked that he was already using it. She’d always hated the long, prissy sounding version of her full name. “I’m going out, and if you know what’s good for you, which it doesn’t look like you do, I suggest you stay the he— just stay away from me.”

“Wait, where are you going?” He rolled his thick neck until it popped.

“I’m going to chop firewood and maybe hunt for more food.”

Pouting, she pulled herself onto the cot and spread her legs. She really wished she had on a skirt or a dress right now, but hey, there wasn’t much of a choice when you were running from a psychopathic vampire.

She wasn’t disappointed though because his heated gaze fell straight to her core. He looked as if he could see through the denim. Suddenly her mouth was dry; her gaze dropped to his crotch and was not disappointed by what he was currently sporting there.

“No,” he said gruffly.

“Oh, come on sexy lykaen. Darien...” She leaned back on her elbows and arched her back at him. “You got to finish. It’s really only fair if—”

“No.” He turned and was out the door before she could say another word.

God dammit. That didn’t go how she wanted at all. Silly man. Didn’t he see how right they could be together—at least in bed?

Flopping back onto the bed, she started tugging at her jeans, pulling them down to her ankles. She spread her legs then dove her eager fingers under her panties. The first touch was pure ecstasy.

“If you aren’t gonna do this, then I am, Darien.” She found her breast with her other hand and tugged at her nipple as she built herself towards what was turning out to be a very fast orgasm.

* * *

Darien snatched the axe off the ground and moved to the next pile of wood he had to cut. Shit, he didn’t have to do this. He hadn’t even planned on cutting more wood today, but hell if he was going to stay in that tiny cabin with her.

What was she a vampire vixen? She sure as hell didn’t know how to listen or what the word “no” meant. Blasted, sexy fucking woman...

He hefted the axe into the air and let it fall hard into the wood. It snapped and cracked from top to bottom. It didn’t take long for him to fall into the motions of chopping wood. He performed the action without really thinking.

He thought it was a dream. He’d been dreaming of a sexy vampire with copper hair, and as he noted this morning in the sunlight, blonde and dark brown lights spread throughout her thick mass of hair. There was no doubt in his mind she was the devil.

Was she sent by one of his brothers? Were they convinced that the only way to make him better was to have a vampire seduce him? No that wasn’t like them. They’d send a lykaen, not a vamp.

In his dream, he’d been sweating, his balls pulled up tight as she suckled him and he was certain that at any moment he’d blow. Yet even in his dream, he sensed her apprehension, her anxiety. She’d never even done it before, she’d said. That news alone brought forth so many damned questions. He had the urge to go in there and shake her into telling him the truth. Like why her face was busted up and who did it and why. Why was she running through his woods and not in a car or with family and friends?

A faint sound caught his ears, making him twitch. The axe hung in the air as he listened. There it was again. A soft, husky moan.

She was...

“God dammit,” he growled and swung the axe down hard. It split the wood like a lightning strike and sunk deep into the earth below. He let go of the axe and stalked towards the cabin. The sound came again like a gentle caress over his body. He stopped, struggling to breathe and comprehend, and trying like hell not to envision what she was doing.

Oh, hell. Now he could do nothing but see images of her rubbing her soft sex. Another husky moan seduced his ears. Well she did warn him. His cock was acting as if the sounds she made were just for him. It thickened, lengthening in his pants, throbbing like he’d never touched it in his whole life.

His cock didn’t seem to understand that it just came—a lot—inside that vixen’s hot little mouth. It pulsed in his jeans, and he glared at it. It also was in agreement with her. Especially since it hadn’t been touched since Dana died.

Her soft moans were coming faster now. It was the sexiest thing he’d ever heard. She was close. Was she thinking him? About his cock sliding inside her, spreading her wide, and filling her deep? As if his body had a mind of its own, he reached down and opened his jeans. His cock sprang free and he grabbed the heavy flesh in his fist.

He remembered the soft flicks of her tongue and the touch of her lips from his dream. She’d moaned when he came in her mouth as if she liked it. Breathing heavy, he pumped his fist. He knew this was going to be fast. He could hear her legs shuffling back and forth on the bed, could hear her breath getting quicker and quicker. He knew her fingers were working herself fast. Was she cupping a breast as she did, tugging on her pretty little nipple?

A sharp cry spilled out from the cabin, and he knew she was coming. Biting his lip to stifle a groan, he stroked himself once more before he started coming. He pictured her hips jerking as she came, her nipples pulled into puckered points begging to be sucked. He tasted blood as he jetted his release in long pulls onto the leaves on the ground.

All was silent then except for the scurrying of rodents in the forest. Cursing himself, he kicked some leaves on top of his mess and leaned against the cabin for support. Every minute she was here, he was desecrating Dana and the baby’s remains.

She was leaving today. Thank god, because he couldn’t stand to have her here a moment longer. A cold fist gripped his heart. She was in trouble. He was sure of it. He hesitated at the thought of sending her away; he might be sending her into danger. A big part of him was not willing to do that—ever.

He heard her shuffling inside the cabin, then her soft steps coming to the door. Picking up the axe, he resumed chopping. The wind blew gently and he caught her scent as she came up to him.

He told himself not to look at her, but of course that was the first thing he did. Big mistake. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glossy and sexy as hell. At least she was wearing clothes.

“When do you want to leave? I’ll take you wherever you want. You got family to go to?”

Her smile didn’t reassure him. “I don’t want to leave yet. If it’s all right with you, I thought I might stay awhile.” He slammed the axe down harder than necessary and the wood flew several feet away. She smirked at him. She had no idea what she was messing with.

“Well this is my place, my woods, my cabin. I say when you go, not you.” A flicker of panic formed in her eyes but was gone fast. Damn if she wasn’t hiding something.

“Did you hear me in there, lykaen?” He lost his grip on his axe and it went sliding dully to the floor with a thump. He sent her a withering glare, the kind that has sent lesser beings scurrying. She smiled big and bounced on her feet. Damn vixen witch...

“So you did hear me? Oh, good. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on that. Not when I got to participate in your fun earlier.”

He stumbled a step as he reached for the axe, thinking that she knew he’d jacked off outside the cabin. He gauged her expression but nah, she didn’t know. It was cool outside yet he was sweating like he was sitting in a sauna.

“So is this all you do out here,” she said nodding towards the pile of stacked wood on the side of the cabin.

“No, it’s not all I do.” She gave him a look that said she didn’t believe him.

“Then what do you do, lykaen.”

He ground his teeth together. “My name is Darien, and what I do is none of your business.” He picked up the logs he’d chopped and started stacking them on the pile he already built against the cabin. “Why don’t you tell me who messed up your face?” He didn’t like the way she stiffened or the way she turned away from him. The vampire was hiding something bad—it was obvious.

“Well if it’s none of my business then I don’t see why my problems are any of yours.” She sighed heavily like the weight of the world was on her small shoulders. “I’ll tell you what, Darien. I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

It was hard to keep going through the movements and not show a reaction. He weighed his options. Did he really want to know her issues badly enough to spill his own? He didn’t answer for a while, and for once, she stayed quiet and let him think. When he finished, the logs were stacked neatly against the cabin. He turned to her.

She was pretty. Real pretty. Dammit. One thing was certain though, he and his beast were both in agreement on that. “Fine. I agree.”

He obviously surprised her because her mouth opened and closed several times. A worried, panicked expression filled her eyes.

“Relax, Cassie. You’re safe here.” Damn, he had never been great man, but he certainly had never made a woman look so scared before. She looked like she was about to bolt or break down and cry. He wasn’t sure which he preferred.

“I’m fine. I just don’t want to talk about this right now. Later, okay?” She spun around and went back into the cabin.

Darien barely restrained himself from hitting something. What the hell was that? He wanted to shout his frustration to the whole damn forest.

Fine, she can stay, but not for long. Tomorrow was the worst day of the year for him. The anniversary of the one day he’d never be able to forget.

Chapter 5

Cassie nibbled on her lip and debated leaving. He wouldn’t find her yet, and she’d love to stay and hang out with her lykaen, Darien. Darien, she sighed, what a sexy name. It matched him perfectly.

She couldn’t tell him about Daniel. Ever. Though why a part of her was telling her to throw herself at Darien’s feet and confess everything, she didn’t understand. She would only endanger him more.

Darien came into the cabin and immediately took up all the space. His expression was unreadable—somewhere between anger and defeat. He grabbed a bottle of water and chugged the entire thing in three big gulps. Cassie stifled her girlie squeal at his manliness--barely.

“I need to run to town,” he said after wiping his mouth with his wrist. She perked up exponentially at the news. Flashes of clean clothes, a toothbrush, and a hairbrush blinked before her eyes.

“That’s great. Let’s go. I need some stuff anyways.” She left out the part about her not having any money and smiled big and cute instead. He frowned at her, rubbing a big hand across the back of his neck.

“I’m going alone.”

She stomped her foot. “And you’re going to what just leave me out here all by myself? What if a bear happens by or something?”

“You’re a vampire,” he stated simply.

“As if that gives me the right to know Kung Fu or something?” He grumbled beneath his breath then finally grumbled, “Fine.”

She followed him out the cabin. He turned left and started marching into the woods. Frowning, she looked around but didn’t see a car. “Um, where did you park?”

“A couple of miles this way.”

“Great,” she grumbled under her breath. “So what do you need to get anyways?”

“Nothing.”

“Right, nothing.” Cursing him in her mind, she walked behind him in silence. Several times he was nice enough to hold her hand as she climbed over a rather large fallen tree, or he would hold up a branch so she could duck underneath it. Sweet, sweet man.

Sometime later, they broke through the tree line and came into a small copse with a circle of dirt where a big black truck was parked. Big and dark just like him, how fitting. A dirt path trailed behind the truck and was lined by tall trees that shadowed the trail through the sunlight.

He unlocked the passenger door and opened it for her. Like a true gentleman he waited until she was seated before he closed it and went to his side. Cassie sighed blissfully, she barely knew the man, err lykaen, but already he knew how to make her happy. At least he wasn’t angry any more about the blowjob she gave him. She barely managed to stifle her giggle by the time he hopped in beside her.

The truck started with a roar and then they were off. “So I need a favor.” He looked at her with an arched brow. Okay, so she clearly had no place asking for favors, but come on. “Just hear me out, okay?”

She took his silence for a yes, and just in case he was going to protest she quickly said, “So can I borrow some money?” He choked something that resembled a laugh, and then grimaced as if the action hurt. “What,” she said defensively, “I’m not asking for much. I just need some clothes and maybe a toothbrush. Got to keep the fangs shiny, you know?”

He drove without looking at her. His deep voice vibrated along her skin in the close confines of the truck. “Why don’t you have any money?”

“I didn’t exactly have time to stop and grab my wallet if you know what I mean.” She popped her elbow on the edge of the window and stared out at the forest. How could she go from perky to grumpy in a matter of seconds? Cute guys always did do funny things to her, and she’d never seen a guy this cute. Figures.

“And why were you in such a hurry?”

“I—” She stopped and glared at him. “How dare you try to--try to coerce information out of me. Information that’s none of your business.”

He turned his deep, sharp eyes on her. “Like you were hounding me for information? Or like how you want to know what my business is in town when it’s none of yours.”

She just glared at him. “Yeah like that,” she finally said when she couldn’t come up with anything better. God, I’m lame.

“Are you on the run, Cassie?” He asked it so softly the sound nearly broke her heart. He sounded like someone who actually cared. No one cared about her. The only person who did might just kill her someday. She blinked back the wetness that formed in her eyes and stared harder at the passing blur of trees.

“Aren’t we all?”

Darien looked at her but didn’t say anything.

She knew she touched on a sore spot for him, and for once she kept her mouth shut. Silence passed between them as he drove. When they arrived in town, he pulled to a stop in front of a department store but didn’t kill the engine. He bent towards her and she stiffened, her breath caught in her throat as he neared. Kiss me.

She might as well of not even been there because he just opened the glove compartment and pulled out a wallet.

“You keep your wallet in your glove compartment? What if someone stole your truck?”

He shrugged. “If they can find it, and they need it that bad then so be it.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?”

“That doesn’t bother me, Cassie.” He pulled out a fresh, crisp hundred-dollar bill and handed it to her.

“Oh, no, that’s way too much, honestly.”

“Spend as much of it as you want. If you need more then I’ll give you more.” She tentatively took the money, guilt riding her hard.

“I appreciate this.” She started to open the door but turned back and said, “But where will you be?”

“I’m going to go take care of some business. I’ll meet you back here in an hour.” She nodded, then before he could see it coming, she leaned across the seat and kissed him square on the mouth.

As far as first kisses went, this one did not disappoint. Yes, she was counting this as the first and not that brief peck from the first day. Okay, well maybe it did disappoint because he wasn’t kissing her back. In fact he sat still underneath her like he was a mime mimicking a statue.

She didn’t care about that at all, because his lips were warm and fit perfectly against hers. He lips were soft like silk and tasted decadent. Her tongue darted out and flicked across his bottom lip to bring that lush taste into her mouth. It was like sex on her tongue, and it only served to whet her appetite. A soft moan escaped her and pleasure bloomed in her veins.

But he still didn’t kiss her back. He did not cock his head or part his lips for her. He stayed still as if he was waiting for her to be finished. Cassie pulled back with a frown. She searched his eyes and tried to read his thoughts. His eyes were dark but with anger or was it something else? She wished she knew.

“Sorry,” she mumbled and started to scoot back to her seat. Hard, strong hands grabbed her. Her eyes shot to his and she had no choice but to move closer to him. His eyes were no longer dark, they smoldered. He didn’t stop dragging her until she was half in his big lap.

“You have no idea what you mess with,” he growled and then he slammed his mouth down on hers.

He didn’t kiss to taste or to learn. He kissed to capture and plunder, to demand obedience. His lips slanted over hers in a hot rush and then he thrust his thick tongue inside her mouth. Cassie could only moan as he took her mouth again and again. His tongue was so thick, he filled her mouth, and he tasted like she thought he would...perfect.

The hands on her cheek turned and fisted in her hair, holding her still for his plundering. Cassie realized that something she did had let loose the beast inside the man, inside the lykaen. And she was melting for him. His lips closed over hers before he slanted her head to the other side and took her mouth at this new angle. He let out an approving growl that had her sex weeping happily in response.

He kissed her for an eternity.

He kissed like a man tasting a woman’s lips for the first time. His raspy tongue licked at her lips before his teeth sunk into her, creating wild, hot sensations in her breasts and between her legs. He was savoring her with every pass of his lips, each swipe of his tongue against hers, and she sought him out eagerly, matching him pace by pace.

Abruptly, he pulled back and with that motion, he stole all the heat from her body. He pushed her shoulders away and closed his eyes.

“Get out.”

The cold hard words were like a stinging slap to the face. Cassie stumbled back to her seat, panting like she’d just run a mile, and fumbled for the doorknob. It took her several tries as she blindly wrenched the door open and jumped down out of the big truck. She landed hard on her feet and her ankle gave out. A sharp, burning pain from her ankle had her shouting out in agony.

Quickly, before she lost it, she slammed the truck door shut and wobbled as fast as she could to the department store door. She didn’t look back.

It didn’t matter because a second later she heard the truck back out and pull away. Cassie rushed to the lady’s bathroom and didn’t stop until she was locked in the tiny stall. The hot tears started spilling before she had the door locked. Not caring about the dirty public restroom, she sat down hard on the toilet seat and the let the tears come.

She bit her fist to keep from sobbing aloud. The last thing she wanted right now was some concerned lady asking her if she was all right. She’d just break down again.

Reaching for the toilet paper, she pulled down a huge rope of it and started blotting dry her face and hands. Her shirt was wet from drops of tears that had landed on her, but whatever.

Bitter anger settled in, happy to replace the tears. At this rate, Darien must think she was a psychopath. Her emotions were ranging from one extreme to another.

Feeling petty over her stupid overreaction, she flushed the toilet out of habit then went and washed her hands. Seeing her reflection made her want to break down and cry all over again. Being a natural redhead made her prone to pale skin that easily freckled, which either could be cute or a nasty mess like right now.

Wishing like hell she had a compact, she turned on the cold water and splashed some on her face. When she looked back at the mirror though her face only looked redder. Growling a curse, she snatched a paper towel and dabbed her face dry as she left the bathroom.

What was his problem anyways?

Who kisses like that and then growls at her to get out? She limped through the clothing racks and started picking up jeans and t-shirts, her usual repertoire. Her heart went out for him though. She could feel the pain he was holding so close to him. What is haunting you, Darien Kategan? His words came back to her: Tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine. Could she really?

Some part of her, a part that was surprisingly not driven by her sex hormones, told her she could help. It told her that his man needed her. It was probably a load of bull, and she was just drawn to him because he was sexy. But no, even thinking that felt wrong.

Darien Kategan did intrigue her like no other, but how often was it that someone met a total stranger and felt such a wild, magnetic pull towards them? Often, she thought, thinking of many quick Vegas weddings. This was different than that, real. He troubled and needed help. Her help.

With a cocky smile, Cassie turned around and put the jeans and t-shirts she’d picked up back on the shelf. Instead, she went and grabbed a flowery skirt that dropped just to her knees and a white button-down silk shirt. The thought of him ripping open her shirt eagerly totally had nothing to do with that decision.

She grabbed some flat shoes that would be comfortable for walking, too. She found a couple more skirts, shirts, and some cute panties to add to her cart. She loved cute panties. She pouted as she thought of her big, two-drawer filled dresser back at home—err home wasn’t quite the word she wanted to use for that place. More like hell. Yeah, that fit much better.

Checking the time on the clock on the wall, she saw that she still had another thirty minutes. A happy thought came to her as she paid for her items. Her lykaen needed a gift. She spotted the perfect store out the window and marked that as her next location.

She grabbed her change from the young cashier and was practically skipping as she left the store. The sun was shining brightly in the clear sky and the whip of the wind was growing sharper, making her hair hit her face like soft slaps. She waited for traffic to pass and started to step out onto the street, but as she took her first step, the wind brought along a scent she was all too familiar with.

Cold fear lodged in her stomach, immobilizing her for several seconds as her mind tried to comprehend the danger. In slow motion, her head whipped to the left and caught sight of him.

Oh no.

She turned to the right and started running. It was like being in her dream and knee deep in mud though. No matter how hard she pumped her arms or kicked out her legs, she couldn’t move fast enough. She reached the top of the street and turned to look over her shoulder. He still stood where he’d been. I can still get away. The wind was in her favor, he couldn’t scent her like she did him.

Then his head turned and his eyes latched onto hers. His face contorted into a mask of rage, and then he shouted, the sound so loud, so terrifying the windows along the street vibrated and cracked.

Cassie cried out and kept running. He was coming. He was coming after her, and this wasn’t a dream. She had no time to stop and think, to figure out how he’d found this little town. Her only thought was of survival.

* * *

Cassie sprinted through the streets, turning left and right, without a clue as to where Darien was. The one thing she knew was that she had to find him.

Brick buildings flew past her as she ran, turning into a blur. She circled around, went down streets only to turn back up them again, anything to muddy up her scent—to spread it around so far he wouldn’t be able to track her.

She panted hard, completely out of breath and her sides were aching hard like a knife had taken up living between her ribs. She ground her teeth together and ignored it, had to.

There! She finally found his black truck parked out front a florist shop. She turned to go to it, but something caught her foot and she went flying down to the ground hard. She barely managed to keep her face from having the skin rubbed raw, but her hands and knees took the brunt of it anyways. She bit her lips to keep from crying out. Don’t let him hear you.

Picking herself back up, she half-ran, half-wobbled to his truck. Her ankle was throbbing like a jackhammering pulse and her hands and knees burned hot. She sniffed and smelled blood. Looking down, she gasped at the sight of her blood coating her jeans around her knees. From her hands, blood splashed in drops down onto the concrete.

She had little time. He knew the scent of her blood better than his own. After all, he’d been using her for years.

Biting her lip to stifle a cry, she ran to Darien’s truck. The door to the florist chimed and she flinched hard, coming to a stop, expecting to see his cold face there.

Her heart soared at the sight of her lykaen--her Darien. His eyes shot to hers and took in everything at once. She rushed to him, but she didn’t need to. He met her and wrapped her in his big, strong arms. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“What’s wrong?” She could feel his head turning to look up and down the streets.

“We n-need to go n-now,” she said. Her fingers curled into his shirt, hanging on for dear life.

“Come on,” he said and quickly put her in the truck. He got into the driver’s side with a speed that had his lykaen glowing in his eyes. “Now tell me what’s going on,” he demanded.

Her head shook to match the trembling in her body. She was shaking like a damned leaf in the wind. Her eyes darted everywhere, looking for him.

“We need to go now.” He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. Now her teeth were chattering like she was sitting in a pool of ice water. Her hands burned and her knees hurt, yet none of that mattered to her. “Go now,” she said between chattering teeth.

Sighing hard, he started the car, and sped off. Cassie ducked down in the seat, and she pretended that Darien wasn’t completely noticing the move.

“When we get back you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on, Cassandra.” She winced at the use of her full name. She didn’t release her grip on the seat until they were out of town. Slowly she sat up and looked in the side view mirror. A part of her was afraid that he’d be right behind her sprinting to catch up to the car or burning rubber in his own.

She sighed and slumped back in her seat. Finally her heart had a chance to slow to a normal speed. Now that her body was returning to a semi-normal state she got to feel the full force of the burning pain in her hands and knees. And she had to deal with the lykaen next to her.

Darien gripped the steering wheel like he was trying to meld with it. His lips were pulled hard and flat in anger, and barely restrained fury radiated off him in waves. Suddenly she had the urge to tell him sorry and cry. She couldn’t stay with him any longer.

He’d already found her. It was only a matter of time now. If something happened to her lykaen, she’d...

“God dammit, tell me what happened.” Hearing his deep voice raised in anger made her want to plaster herself to the far window. This was not a man she wanted to see angry, especially at her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered raggedly. If anything her words managed to make him look angrier. He formed a fist with his big hand and slammed it into the dashboard. She flinched and drew her knees up to her stomach, wrapping her arms around herself. She wanted nothing more than a hole in the earth to open up and swallow her up.

She heard his ragged sigh. “Don’t be afraid of me, Cassie. I’m sorry. I lost it for a second, but I’m fine now.” Cassie chanced a watery peek at him and saw that his grip was slightly more relaxed on the steering wheel and his nostrils weren’t flaring angrily.

A cold knot was fixed in her chest and wouldn’t go away. “I am sorry.”

“I know, honey. Listen I’m not mad at you. I just smelled your blood and... Sometimes the beast comes up whether you want it to or not.”

Cassie blinked; she hadn’t even thought about that. He called her honey, and boy did he make her feel like honey. With that one word, he melted her from the inside out until she was scooting across the seat and leaning her tired head against him. She closed her eyes, suddenly feeling as if she hadn’t slept in a week.

She wondered if he’d push her away, when he started to move she pulled back. He didn’t. He wrapped his big warm arm around her. He tucked her against him like a big blanket and she sighed, snuggling close to him. The rocking motion of the truck and the safety of his arms were too much and soon heavy sleep drifted over her.

Chapter 6

Cassie came awake with a start.

When had she gotten to the cabin? The last thing she remembered was falling asleep against Darien. She looked down and saw that Darien had tucked her in, even going so far as to pull the covers up over her. Her heart filled up like a balloon. She had to take a deep breath to keep from doing something stupid like ask him to mate with her. Or at least be her boyfriend.

She took stock of her body with a grimace. Her hands looked like ground up meat, but he must have cleaned them for her because there was no longer any gravel in them. And... her jeans were gone. Her eyes widened and then a slow grin formed on her face. He cleaned her knees and left her in her panties. Did he like what he saw? Did he struggle over the job? Her ego could only hope.

“Darien?” she called out hesitantly. Nerves had her walking on tiptoe around the cabin. She stuck her head out the front door but he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. A horrible thought hit her like a sledgehammer to the gut. What if Daniel got him? What if he found her out here?

Quickly, she pulled on her jeans and ran barefoot out the front door. She spun around in a circle but didn’t see anything. Her heart was beating so fast in her chest it was the only sound she could hear. She stopped turning and opened her senses. She found Darien’s scent and locked on to it. Her eyes snapped open and she took off after the smell of raw, lykaen man.

She would fight for him. She would sacrifice herself for him. Just don’t let Daniel find him.

The further she ran, the closer the smell became. She thanked God she didn’t smell blood. She broke past a tree and came to a cold stop.

Several emotions flitted through her: surprise, relief, sadness. Darien knelt before a gravestone with a beautiful, incredibly full bouquet of flowers. She realized then that when she’d run to him in town, he’d had them in his hand when he came out of the florist shop, but she hadn’t even noticed. Now she realized, and she felt horribly rude and intrusive.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to...I—” she fumbled for the right words. Something that wouldn’t involve her spilling her secret about Daniel. Thinking of none she finally settled with, “You were gone when I woke up, and I was worried.”

He nodded at her and motioned with his head for her to come closer. She didn’t want to. This place was filled with sadness, the same deep sadness that he held so closely wrapped around him. And this gravestone, this place, was the reason for it all.

But what about helping him? If she wanted to help him, and she wanted to so very much, then she must be strong for him. A part of her longed to see this lykaen whole. It would be an amazing sight.

She sat next to him and looked at the gravestone. The gravestone was smooth marble. The front had a glossy finish and not one but two names were on it. A lump formed in her throat as she read the words: Dana Carrow and Renee Carrow. Below the names were the years. Her brow furrowed as she read the date under Renee’s name. It said simply: 2008.

The stone was cleared off any leaves or twigs that might have fallen on it. It looked almost brand new. She looked over at Darien, unsure what she would see in his face because this place obviously meant so much to him.

She stifled a cry at what she saw there. Raw pain. Agony. This man had suffered something terrible and had never gotten past it. The pain looked as fresh as if he’d just buried whoever laid here.

She stayed quietly as his side, hoping, waiting, for him to say something.

He pulled the plastic wrap away from the flowers and gently spread them across the front of the stone like an offering. Cassie’s heart was breaking watching the gentle reverence with which he touched the white flowers and then the headstone. Finally he rested his forehead to the marble as if in prayer.

Cassie swallowed hard at witnessing this strong, lykaen man in such pain. Who could have cause this much grief in him? His mate? His child? She wanted to cry out for him.

The sound of his voice startled her. “I met Dana at a bar. That night the bar was packed full and everyone was into their drinks. Except her. I remember the song playing on the jukebox was Behind Blue Eyes. When I first saw her I thought she looked so lonely, not even a smile on her face, sitting all by herself. I had to talk to her.”

He laughed a little; the sound raw in his throat. “I asked her out to dinner and she kept refusing me. She always said I was too this and too that. It took a few weeks but I finally convinced her. That night on our first date she admitted she was pregnant with her ex-boyfriend’s baby. I didn’t care. I still don’t. I just liked her. She made me feel good and whole. We moved in together and had eight months together. Then in one night it all stopped.”

Cassie couldn’t hide the tears shining in her eyes. She shook with the need to put an arm around him and hug him. But she was afraid he’d shake her off with how raw he was. Right now she knew she was learning more about this man than most people had a clue to.

“We were gonna name the baby Renee after my mother. Nature’s a real son of a bitch sometimes. It gives and gives, then snatches away those that are precious to you in a matter of hours.”

Terrified to know, Cassie asked, “What happened to them?”

He sucked in a sharp breath and rested a big hand on top of the stone. “She was due any day. That night, on this night exactly three years ago, we had a fight. She said she didn’t love me, that after the baby was delivered she didn’t want me around because the real father, Greg, said he was ready to step up.” He choked out a harsh laugh. “I spent all those months talking to Renee, singing to her, telling her how much her Daddy loved her, and she was going to take that away from me. I was angry. I went to the bar and got shitfaced. By time I got home it was late and I could barely tell if I was walking or crawling.”

“I called out to her. She didn’t answer, so I figured she was sleeping or just ignoring me. I checked in on her and...” he exhaled a shaky breath. “And there was blood all over the bedsheets. Her skin was sweaty and white. I called 911 but she was already dead—hour’s dead I found out later. They said she went into labor but there were complications. Both her and the baby died.”

Cassie dried her tears with her shirtsleeve. Unable to contain herself, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. He tensed beneath her and gently unwrapped her arms from him.

“Don’t cry for me, Cassie. Cry them. They’re the ones who lost their lives that night. Not me.” He stood and walked away.

But you did, she wanted to cry out. But she kept her mouth closed and stood on wooden legs to follow him. Feeling like a hollow shell of herself, she followed him back to the cabin.

The man was living in a horrible past, and she honestly had no idea how to help him.

If he was pushing her away about his past then what was he doing with his family? Cassie walked back to the cabin with legs that felt like they were stuffed full of lead. Darien Kategan needed her help, and she didn’t know why but she knew that she could help him. She just had no idea how to yet.

A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. She didn’t have enough time. Daniel saw her. He was much closer to her than she’d thought. He would send everyone in his power after her now. If she was lucky--and given her life experiences she wasn’t--then she’d have a week tops.

Did she have enough time to change someone’s life?

She was going to find out. Because she was running out of time and so was Darien.

* * *

Was it a good idea what she was planning? Probably not. Did she think it was awesome—oh, yeah?

When she got back to the cabin, she found Darien chopping more wood. She honestly hadn’t realized what he was doing before, but this simple act was his way of getting away from it. He didn’t drink or use drugs. He chopped wood. For a carpenter, she supposed it made sense.

Darien was stubborn, and his soul was etched with guilt and pain. She needed to show him that there was still happiness and kindness. Ugh, she felt cheesy just thinking it but it was true.

Besides, he could chop down this entire forest if he wanted to, and from the looks of the wood stacked around the cabin that’s what he was trying for, but it still wouldn’t make him feel better.

“Hey, lykaen,” she said striding towards him. He didn’t answer her so she continued, “Thank you for sharing that with me.” Still no answer. He hefted the axe high and let it drop hard again and again. “I need blood.”

The axe slipped and missed its mark. She grinned like a fool. Maybe this would be easier than she thought. He glared at her with hard eyes, so she held up her hands to show him her ouchie.

“See? I hurt. I lost some blood when I fell, and honestly I’m just a little famished. If you let me have a snack, I’ll make you dinner.” She threw in a cute wink for good measure. He lifted the axe with one hand and buried it into a log. She sighed at the sight of his big muscles. The lykaen was strong. He made her purr just watching him work.

“Fine but remember what I said about taking too much.” He stalked inside and she skipped happily after him.

“What that you’d break my neck and toss me into the fire? However could I forget that?” He didn’t laugh. And this man definitely had a voice that should be used to laugh—a lot. To whisper naughty things in her ear. She shivered. The man could probably make her come with just his voice alone.

He took a seat at his lonely chair in front of the fireplace. He filled up so much of that chair that he made it look small.

“Did you know you look like a bear trying to squeeze into a babyseat?” He started choking, then the sound turned to a hard cough. Cassie quickly went in front of him; she couldn’t hide the shock on her face. Pointing at him accusingly, she said, “You just laughed. You laugh!” His lips pulled into a frown and he grumbled about crazy vampire women under his breath. Ha, if he thought this was crazy....

“So is it dinner time?” She was practically hopping up in down. Her stomach tightened for several reasons when he hesitantly nodded. One, because he tasted better than anything she’d ever had before; two, because she had one hell of a surprise for him; and three, because the thought of putting her mouth on him made her panties flood with heat.

She licked her lips, then tossed one leg over his big knee and then the other. He tensed so hard it was a wonder he didn’t break.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking my snack, which by the way, I seriously thank you for.” She curled her hands in his black t-shirt and leaned just a little closer. Sitting in his lap made her feel soft and feminine. He was just so big around her.

She leaned closer until she pressed her cheek against his. Even his skin was warmer than hers. Were all lykaens like this or just him? She was dying to know. A dark growth of hair covered his cheeks and chin. It made him look a little dangerous and a lot reckless. Seeeexy.

“Get it over with, Cassie.” She looked down and saw that his hand was curled into a white-knuckled fist around the chair.

“Turn to the side,” she said gently. He hesitated, and she knew she was asking a lot from. This could be taken as a form of submission and while she didn’t mean for this to be a master/slave competition, she understood that the lykaen might view her request differently.

Slowly his head turned away from her, baring his thick neck to her. She let out an erotic purr, and nuzzled the warm skin at his neck. Of their own accord, her hands trailed up over the hard strength of his chest and curled into his thick shoulders.

Her tongue darted out, licking his skin, tasting him with flat-tongued licks. She moaned at his taste, her body growing hot and languid in response. She pulled herself closer to his heat, sensuously rubbing her breasts against him. She closed her lips over his neck then bit down on it, pulling the flesh into her mouth to tongue it, suckle it.

“Cassie!” he growled. The sound wasn’t human. Panting with an entirely different need, Cassie let her fangs drop and then she struck the thick cord of muscle at his neck.

His reaction was instantaneous. And deliriously wonderful. His arms wrapped around her just as his hips lurched up towards hers. The hard press of his cock landed at the seam of her sex and she went wild. Pressing herself as close to him as possible, she grabbed big handfuls of his hair and drank deeply. He groaned, the delicious sound vibrating straight through her and brushing by her clit.

His hands cupped her ass and frustration filled her at the clothes blocking him from touching her how she wanted. She licked around the puncture wounds and drew more and more sips from his thick, heady blood. His heart was pounding against his ribs, beating so fast.

She felt desperate. Needy and desperate to feel him come again, to see it. Please take me. She’d never ached so badly in her life. She was so empty inside. She wanted to tear her mouth away and impale herself on his cock.

She pulled her mouth away for a scant second. “Darien,” she said with all the need and desire inside her filling her voice. His breath caught as she bit him again sucking his essence into her mouth, drinking down his intoxicating taste.

He pressed her hips hard to his. Then he started thrusting, rubbing the hard steel press of his cock against her. She squealed around his throat and rubbed back against him. Liquid heat bloomed inside her, threatened to make her explode. His arms held her so tight, so hard that she had no choice but to accept the intense pleasure as he rubbed her clit through her jeans.

She struggled to breathe and draw in blood at the same time. Electricity was zapping through her sex, pushing her towards something amazing. A bright wash of heat rushed through her. Her body squeezed tight together, then burst apart like an explosion. She tossed her head back and cried out as ripples of pleasure pulsed through her. He rubbed against her, prolonging the sweet pleasure. When the last wave left her, she collapsed over him, panting.

Her mind struggled to think. She tried to say something, but her tongue was loose in her mouth. She stayed wrapped around him like a second skin until suddenly her back was pressing to the cot. Her eyes shot open and met his, uncaring if she was showing her acceptance, her eagerness for him.

But the cot dipped and he walked, taking a seat in his chair. Cassie opened and closed her mouth several times. He hadn’t even...he didn’t come. She glared at the big lykaen and struggled between wanting to slap him and stick her tongue out at him.

But his blood was a soothing, intense pleasure searing through her body. She flopped back on the cot and writhed sensuously at the feeling. It was incredible like touching a piece of heaven.

She trembled, her skin feverish with ecstasy as her body adjusted to the blood in her system. She could feel the fading bruise on her cheek heal completely, and the scrapes on her knees and hands hurt. They wouldn’t heal completely, she wasn’t a magician or anything, but his blood helped to speed along her recovery.

I’m not done with you, Darien Kategan.

Did he give her an orgasm on purpose? So that she wouldn’t take enough blood to make him orgasm? That slimy bastard...she stared a hole in the side of his head daring him to turn and look at her. He only started building a fire. When the sulfuric, smoky smell wafted over her, she sighed and collapsed against the cot.

“You sure know how to show a girl a good time. I feel like I could sleep for a week.”

“Good.”

She shot him a dark look. Was that his intention for making her come? He must have one. This man wouldn’t have given her an orgasm out of the kindness of his heart. Well maybe once upon a time.

“You know you can take the cot tonight. The floor won’t bother me.” She’d slept many nights on a hard floor before. Cassie clamped her eyes shut. Thoughts like that had no place in her mind right now.

“I’m not letting you sleep on the floor, Cassie.”

“Did I ever tell you that your voice makes me shiver? Seriously it’s like the sexiest thing ever.” He let out a long sigh.

“Don’t say things like that.” Too bad his warning only made her want to do it more.

“So tell me about your family then.” He sent her a surprised look then scowled.

“Why?”

“Because that’s what people do when they get to know each other. They talk about things like family, favorite movies—Terminator series--

and things like that. I’m sure you recall doing that, lykaen.”

“I have two brothers and a sister.”

“Are you the eldest?”

He shook his head. “Vane is. I was born a year after him. Then my brother Rome and Vera is the baby.”

“Oh my, a sister roaming in a sea of lykaen brothers. Must have been a chore to be her.” A faint smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.

“Yeah, she did get it pretty rough. Since she was the only girl we made it our duty to let her know that she was a girl at every turn.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Boys.”

“Yeah, that was a long time ago.” He cleared his throat.

“Tell me about your parents.”

“They died in a car accident when we were all young.”

“The coroner and police said the drunk driver was going at least a hundred and twenty. He hit mom and dad and smashed their car like a pancake, sent them flying off the road. They didn’t stand a chance.” Cassie knew that lykaens were strong but could still die under serious impact. No one was above death.

“I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged. “It was a long time ago. Your turn,” he shot a look straight into her. “Tell me about your family.”

Cassie wanted to crawl under the covers and die. He’d shared though and if she wanted to help him then she had to open up a little about herself too. She thought over her words carefully before speaking.

“My mother died in childbirth but probably not in the way you’re thinking. She had just given birth to me, the nursemaid was cleaning me up, and then Anton barged in. He was...well the story goes that my mother had an affair with him while mated to my father. She ended things to be with my father but Anton didn’t like that. Apparently, he also was homicidal because he murdered my mom with a knife to the heart just seconds after she pushed me out, and then he murdered the nursemaid. The guards said that when they got there he was just about to kill me too. They got to him first, luckily. I guess.”

“Where the hell was your father?”

“He was negotiating a treaty with another vampire clan or something like that. I don’t really remember. No one saw it coming though. He was a wreck after that. I grew up with him for five years before he finally gave up and committed suicide.”

Cassie couldn’t look at him. She smiled softly even as her heart broke. She’d been the told the stories so many times by the workers around the house. It was like she could remember these things actually happening as if she’d been there. She honestly couldn’t though. She was too young. The only memories she had of her father would good ones and for that, she was thankful.

Tears blurred her vision so she rolled away from him on the cot.

“It looks like we’ve both suffered the loss of loved ones.”

Cassie snorted. “What a way to get to know someone. I should have just asked you your favorite color instead.” She heard the soft, gentle sound of his laughter and the tight vice around her heart eased.

Of course there was always one thing she’d never understood. One thing that no one had ever been able to explain to her. Why her father had promised to marry her to Daniel when she turned twenty-five.

She missed her dad so much, and yet he was the cause of her problems right now. A thought hit her. Pulling her lip between her teeth, she nibbled on it. Could she do it? She glanced over at the dark lykaen sitting in front of the flames. For him, she could. Before she had to go, she had to help him. Cassie shoved the nasty thought aside with brutal force. She realized during her conversation with the lykaen just what she had to do.

The one time he was vulnerable to her was when she pleasured him. At least that was the road she was willing to take, because this whole baring your soul thing was too rough for her.

She had no idea if her plan would work, but she was thrumming with excitement to find out.

Darien, get ready to have your socks knocked off.

Chapter 7

It took hours before Darien’s eyes closed and he finally drifted off to sleep. Cassie whispered a thank you that at least he had moved to the floor and not stayed in that blasted chair. Her plan would hardly work otherwise.

She crawled down next to him, gingerly testing the floorboards for squeaks. When it was safe, she laid down, resting her head in his lap as gently as possible. When he didn’t move, she sighed. The man really was a heavy sleeper. She almost laughed remembering how bad she’d been before. She’d never put her mouth on a man that way before and damn if she didn’t like it.

The idea of waking Darien up again by sucking his cock had her nipples tightening into points. She sighed. Soon, my lykaen. Soon.

She relaxed against his big warm body and drifted off to sleep with him. Tomorrow she’d start her seduction.

The second she fell into the dream world, he was there. His eyes were cold as he stalked towards her. She started to take a step back but he grabbed her shoulders.

“I saw you today. I’m close, Cassandra. I’m going to find you.”

She shook her head. “No!”

“Come back to me now. I won’t hurt you, you have my promise.”

Her wretched laughter grated on her own ears. “I remember how well you keep your promises. You might keep them in one way but you still punish in others.”

He pulled back his hand and slammed his fist into her face. Her head snapped back and sharp, hot, blooming pain burst around her nose and mouth. It was only a dream, yet the pain felt so real. He had the power to make it that way just like he had the power to invade her dreams.

“Where are you sleeping at, Cassandra?”

“In a tiki hut.” He pulled her hair hard, ripping several strands out.

“Try again,” he hissed in her face. She dragged open her eyes and cringed at the menace in his face.

“Bangladesh. I took a little trip there heard the food was good.” The environment around them shifted and contorted like a black tar monster rising from the ground. Globs rained down around her and turned white into the shape of a wall. The shapes fell flat and straightened into a tiny four-cornered room. Fear clogged her throat, sent her heart racing as he slammed her whole body back against the wall.

She needed to run. Just move! He could invade her dreams but they were still hers. She could make a door appear if she just focused hard enough.

She didn’t see his fist coming but she sure as shit felt it. Her head cracked into the wall and dry wall fell down around her.

“You are mine. You will always be mine and no one else’s.”

“Oh, yeah. Says who?”

“Said your father. Says me.” Cassie pushed him away with everything she had and made a dash to the left. She pushed her mind hard, envisioning a swinging door she could push right through. Relief filled her as it appeared. She ran into it but it wouldn’t budge. She screamed and slammed her fists into it, kicking it as footsteps came closer behind her.

“Nu uh uh. I’m not ready for you to go.” He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, trapping her arms to her side. A hand moved, cupped her breast, started fondling her it with a possessive touch. Revulsion and spitting anger engulfed her like fire.

“No!” She whipped her head back and caught his nose in a hard smack. He loosened his hold and she willed the door open again. This time it opened, and she ran through it.

“You better fucking run, Cassandra because I’m closer than you even know. I’m going to get you back!”

Cassie was running through the forest again, but suddenly the scenery changed. The cold in her bones left her in a quick rush that had her faltering to a stop. Her face no longer hurt from the hit nor did the top of her head from where she’d lost her hair.

Cassie looked around as suddenly she was back in the cabin with Darien. She wasn’t laying on his lap anymore because he had slid down beside her and now spooned with her from behind.

Was this a trick from Daniel? No it couldn’t be. He didn’t have those kinds of powers. He didn’t even know what Darien looked like if he could conjure a fake one up.

This must be her own dream now. Darien was pressed against her back; his heat like a big blanket around her.

He pulled up the front of her shirt and cupped her naked breast in his big hot hand. She sucked in a breath as his scratchy palm grazed over her soft nipple. He growled, thrusting his hips against her ass. He acted like a pleased animal, encouraging her sexual prowess with his growls and thrusts.

She’d never had a wet dream before but if this was what they were like then she was totally on board. He pinched and tugged at her nipple before making a frustrated sound and turning her to face. With a roll, he grabbed her waist and lifted her until she was on top of him. Then he popped her hard nipple into his mouth and sucked fiercely.

A deep throb began pulsing inside her. He made her nipple wet and puckered then switched to the other one so that the chilled air teased it like an icy feather.

“Darien,” she whispered.

“You’re beautiful,” he said pulling away from her breast. “You make me crazy. I don’t think I can wait. I want you so bad, Cassie. Lumara.” He started pulling off her clothes, and then his own until they were both naked before the dim fire.

Her heart fluttered in her chest as he kissed his way down her stomach. Her arms couldn’t sit still, and she had no idea what to do with them so she grabbed onto his thick hair, pulling most of it out of the tie he always kept it in.

“What are you doing?” She swallowed over the lump in her throat terrified and excited to hear the answer.

His big hands grabbed her thighs then slowly pushed her legs open. His eyes lingered on her open sex before they slowly traveled up her body, taking in every inch of her bare skin before stopping at her eyes.

“I’m going to fuck you. It’s not going to be slow and easy. I can’t do that. Not even for you, Cassie. I’m going to take you hard, but I’ll make it good for you, I promise.”

Cassie panted at his deep-spoken words, struggled to take in everything he was saying because a second later his tongue darted between her soft, wet folds and was teasing her clit with a dexterous move that had her writhing against him.

She’d never felt anything like it. Intense, burning pleasure centered solely on her sex as he tongued her with feverish passion. A hard trembling started quickly in her hips. It trailed down to settle in her thighs, then moved out to tingle in her fingertips.

She stammered his name, “Darien.”

He growled ruthlessly against her, vibrating her flesh, and then she exploded into a million pieces. Her head flew back as she jerked hard against his tongue, harsh cries coming out of her dry throat. She saw nothing but black as if her vision had to shut down just to deal with the energy of her orgasm.

It seemed like it took forever for her to fall back down into her body. She felt like a feather in a gentle wind softly gliding back and forth, lower and lower until finally she landed back on earth.

Two big hands settled on her waist and jerked her a foot closer to him. Cassie’s eyes shot open and she looked first at his glazed, burning eyes then down his big hard chest to his cock. She licked her lips. Either he was bigger than she remembered or it was the angle because the man was thicker than her wrist and much too long to be natural. / Or her imagination had just taken over at this point.

He leaned down and kissed her. It was only their second kiss. Do dream kisses even count? Yeah, she was totally counting this because he tasted like her sex and thrust his tongue inside her mouth like he was trying to tell her what he was about to do to her.

The kiss was rough and hard, and she loved everything about it. He pulled back and growled at her, his voice no longer the smooth timber it usually was but a raw, hoarse sound that sent shivers down her spine.

“I can give it to you this way or from behind. Tell me now because it’s the only choice I’m giving you.”

Her mouth opened and closed several times before she remembered to actually use words. “Like this.” She was desperate to see his face when he came, to touch him everywhere she could reach.

He sat back on his knees and spread her legs around him. He loosely fisted his cock, then rubbed it up and down her creamy core. She shivered; his face pulled into a mask of pain.

Cassie’s eyes closed to half mass and all she could do was watch him work. Sweat glistened off his temples, dampened his hair to his forehead and shoulders. She wanted to lick it away. Wanted to sink her fangs into him as he took her...as he made her his. The dying firelight danced orange flames around his back, giving him a golden halo around his dark skin.

The head of his cock circled around her clitoris, making her hips jerk in response. He growled, pleased by her reaction. Then he dipped his cock back down through her soft, wet folds and pushed at her entrance, testing her.

Panting, Cassie dug her fingernails into the wood below her, flexed her stomach, and waited for the first thrust. He didn’t take her hard, but teasingly pressed into her until only his head was wrapped around her tight channel.

His lips parted as his breathing quickened. “You’re...tight.” He pushed in another inch, and she watched as the muscles in his biceps flexed hard, the veins thickening and bulging, as his hands squeezed her waist. He was working himself into her, and it was excruciating; it was wonderful. Spread so full and open. So this was what it was like.

“You’re perfect. Just for me, little vampire.”

And then his hands curled around her hips, holding her still, and he slammed inside.

Her barrier gave, and she cried out. The room vanished before her eyes and she jerked awake. Confusion then satisfaction settled in.

Darien Kategan was inside her. Their clothes were not completely off as in her dream, but now they both looked at each other in confused wonder as they took stock of everything.

He was seated hard, full, and deep inside her leaving no spare room for anything. Her virginity was gone, and the slight burning pain was fading into something much stronger, much better inside her where he was planted.

His mouth opened and closed several times and she waited, wondering what he would do.

He pulled back his hips an inch then pushed back in on a heavenly groan. His face fell to her neck and he trembled above her.

“Cassie,” he said raggedly.

Profound relief surged through her. He won’t stop.

His breath was a hot, moist heat against her neck. She took the opportunity to wrap her hands around his back. She’d never done this before but something hot and wild was inside her. It nagged at her to move, to touch, to do something.

Her hips started pumping gently against his, and with each little movement her breath kicked up a little higher, and her orgasm came a little bit closer.

“No, dammit. This is wrong.” His hips pulled back and she wrapped her legs around him, prepared to pull him in if he tried to leave. He didn’t leave though. He retreated the barest of inches, then shoved back in her tight flesh. He shuddered again above her. Then his hand was in her hair, cupping her head close to him. “Baby this isn’t right.”

Cassie could only moan as he dragged his big cock out partway then pushed back in again. Her breathing grew ragged and her hips couldn’t stop trembling. Her pussy muscles were stretched tight and wide around him, gripping him so hard. This was what she’d always wanted—to feel this. To have this man inside her. Nothing else had ever felt so perfect.

“Please.” It was the only word she could say and even then it was a soft, broken whisper.

He let out a bestial growl that sent a hot shiver over her. Then something snapped inside him. His hands palmed her hip, squeezing her tight, and then he was sliding in and out of her.

Each thrust set her body moving up against the floor, rocking below him with the power of his movements. Each drag out of her had her tensing against him, prepared to stop him if he’d leave her. Fast. Hard.

He only moved faster and faster inside her, breathing loud and ragged against her ear. She shook her head side to side as intense pleasure built to a roaring crescendo inside her. She tightened her grip on his back so hard she must have drawn blood.

It wasn’t enough. She shook on the precipice of pleasure. She needed something more to toss her over into the abyss.

“Harder,” she said raggedly.

“Cassie.” He sounded just as ragged as she did, but he drew his cock out, then slammed back in hard. No longer was he gentle. He fucked her. Her newly used muscles cried out in pleasure, dousing his cock with a fresh wave of cream to let him slide even easier inside her. He was growling, his hand clenching and releasing against her as he worked himself in and out between her spread legs.

He hit her in just the perfect spot and sent her spiraling into a blinding orgasm that electrified her senses. She let out a long cry as her legs scrambled around his thighs and her hips shook against his. Her body acted on its own, holding him close as her pussy milked his tunneling cock.

He roared above her, pressed deep, and then she felt the hot splash of his seed filling her deep. It was hot and thick inside her.

It took long minutes before he finally pulled out of her and collapsed next to her. Cassie struggled between wide-eyed amazement and a huge grin. She’d just lost her virginity to the lykaen giant. It wasn’t how she envisioned it happening in the least, but it was perfect.

She cuddled into his arms but she didn’t relax until his big arm came to rest over her shoulders. For the first time in a long time, she felt really good.

He felt so right. He felt so perfect.

* * *

“We need to talk about this.”

Oh no. “No, I really don’t think that’s necessary. I mean unless you want to tell me it was good because I thought it was great.”

The serious note in his voice had her jerking away from him. He reached for her but she slapped his hands away and began yanking on her clothes.

The last thing she wanted to hear after the most intense orgasm of her life was how this was all a mistake. Blah, blah, blah.

“Cassie,” he said a warning in his voice.

“Fine,” she said throwing up her hands, “talk but the second I hear the words, in any way shape or form, that ‘this was a mistake’—I’m out of here.” She snapped her fingers together. “That fast and I’m not coming back.”

Engulfing fear filled her throat, created a dead space in her stomach that felt like a bowling ball. God she was stupid. She just opened herself up for him to kick her out so easily. She waited to hear the words. It was for the best really. She had to leave anyways, and soon, very soon. Daniel was coming; he would find her.

The damn giant didn’t even have the decency to put his clothes back on. He just sat there looking like some...sexy lykaen man just to tease her. Whatever. She turned to stare at the fire.

“You’re in trouble, Cassie.” She gulped. He knew. Somehow he’d figured it out. “I think you’ve known that we were coming to this from the moment we met.” Wait, what? He stood and started dragging his jeans back up those long, thick legs.

“You have my seed inside you right now. You know what that means. And I took your virginity.”

“Yeah, so,” she grumbled, butterflies dancing in her stomach. She honestly hadn’t thought it’d be this awkward after sex.

“I do not take my responsibilities as a man lightly, Cassie. Nor do I regret what we did.”

Her eyes shot wide-eyed to his. He didn’t regret it? She wanted to dance around the room, jump up and down, do a fist pump or something, but she had to be mature so she nodded gravely instead.

“You don’t?” He shook his head with a sigh.

“I’ve had the thought more than once that our meeting was no coincidence. I came out here to journey. To find myself again and I found you. That isn’t something I can ignore.”

Cassie’s heart pounded fast in her chest.

“My beast likes you. I like you.” He said the words so flat and lifeless like they were just mere facts and he was reciting the weather forecast. And honestly that didn’t really bother her; it didn’t. She knew there was still work to be done with him, but this was progress. Except that she couldn’t be with him. Not when she already belonged to someone else.

She opened her mouth to tell him that to tell him the truth--but she couldn’t do it. She hung her head in her hands and wanted to sob. She’d helped him. Not by much, she was sure, but she’d actually helped the pained lykaen to move forward from the past. Even if it was only a few steps. But she was only setting him up to leave again in the future.

A million thoughts were ricocheting in her mind. She had no idea what to do. She couldn’t stay and endanger him. If she left, she might hurt him though. Or worse, he might come after her. The thought of doing that made her heart heavy.

The cot dipped down next to her. A big arm wrapped around her, pulled her down with him on the cot. She was forced to stay close to him so they could both fit on the little mattress.

“Don’t worry about it now. Go to sleep. We have a few more hours before daybreak.”

Surprisingly she found herself yawning and snuggling into his big chest.

She slept hard and for once Daniel wasn’t there. The thought sent a dark foreboding inside her.

Chapter 8

Three days passed and they were some of the best days of her life. She learned more about her lykaen. From his childhood to learning carpentry under a well-established woodworker in the city, to his family and the Kategan pack. He continued to press her about who had struck her, but who had her running in town and still she evaded the questions. Yet it was getting harder, and he was getting angrier.

In all those three days he never touched her once. That wasn’t quite true, she amended. He’d touch her hand or shoulder and even once brushed the hair out of her face and she’d been sure he was going to kiss her. Would that technically only be their second kiss? Did the dream one count? He didn’t kiss her though. He just looked at her like she was some kind of puzzle he wanted to figure out.

Cassie didn’t know what to do. She was growing restless with worry. Time was quickly running out, and he would find her. But what did she do? Leave the lykaen when in the first time in three years he decided to take a chance on a someone and open up? Or did she stay and risk her enemy Daniel finding them and killing Darien?

The answer was clear—she couldn’t stay.

And what was he doing this whole time? Chopping more wood! She wanted to scream, to burn the damn cabin down and all the stupid wood he cut with it.

What kind of a man puts a claim on a woman and then doesn’t touch her? Well she was done with this. She stood and started pulling off her clothes. The chill of the air bit at her, tightening her nipples and breaking goosebumps out all over her arms and legs.

“Stupid lykaen giant,” she muttered and stormed out the cabin.

He didn’t turn to look at her, though she was certain he knew she was behind him. She sauntered around him and came to stand on the other side of the log he was chopping. His eyes fell like a magnet to her body and traveled slowly down her breasts, to her stomach, to the strip of hair at her sex.

A tic started above his eye, and he turned away, planting the axe in the dirt. “What do you want?”

“What does it look like I want?” He turned away and started walking, not towards the cabin but into the woods and towards the lake he’d shown her the other day.

“No,” was all he said. She followed him, uncaring of the wood jabbing into her feet.

“What do you mean no? Did you or did you not lay some kind of claim on me, lykaen?” They reached the water and he started pulling his shirt over his head. The sight of his sweaty muscles was enough to make her melt. “Please.” Her soft plea was enough to have him turn to her. The look on his face was an obvious war.

He pulled his gaze from hers and undressed all the way before marching into the frigid water. What seemed like an eternity later, he said, “You have no idea what you’re asking.”

“Actually I’m pretty sure I do, but please enlighten me, oh great one.” He dipped his head under the water, letting his hair out of the tie. It spilled in wet, thick layers around his shoulders. Cassie nearly whimpered, wanting so badly to touch the thick mass again.

“I hurt you before. I’ve never been a gentle lover, Cassie. You were a virgin. You didn’t deserve how I took you. Especially since I started to take you while we both were sleeping. That was even more dangerous.”

She scowled and crossed her arms. “First, you didn’t hurt me. Second, I think you took me just fine considering I’ve never come so hard in my life.” He rinsed himself off, trudging back to her. She took an instinctive step back from the lykaen giant. When he didn’t immediately start pulling back on his clothes, she took that as a good sign.

Her eyes couldn’t help themselves as they traveled down over his hard chest. The sight of his cock had her eyes widening.

“You want me,” she whispered.

He sighed. “Of course I do. You’re beautiful. Stunning. But that doesn’t mean I have any right to your body.”

“I say what goes on with my body, and I’m saying I want you. What the fuck,” she said, throwing her hands up in the air. “What did you mean by all that talk of finding me at the right time and taking care of me? No offense but if your way of doing that is to ‘hang out’ with me on occasion and never touch me, then no thanks. I’ll just be going.”

She spun on her toes and started towards the cabin. What was wrong with this man? Or was it her? She’d never been in a relationship before. Unless you counted what her and Daniel were as a relationship—she shivered in disgust, surely not.

She was halfway to the house when suddenly something hit her shoulder, sent her spinning around.

“You hit me,” she said accusingly. Darien crowded her, backing her up until her back met with tree. His gaze bore into hers.

“You have a decision to make, lumara. If you want me then say so now because there is no turning back. I don’t date, Cassie. I don’t have casual sex. When I want something I get it, and I keep it. I’m a possessive son of a bitch like that. If you really want to be my woman, say so right here and right now because I won’t give you another chance.”

Of all the things she could say, were the right things to say, and the wrong things to say, she made a choice she could never undo. Every worry over her future faded so easily. She knew deep inside what she wanted.

She opened her mouth, but he stopped her. “Be sure, Cassie. There is no turning back, no matter what your decision is.”

She nodded, meeting his beautiful brown eyes. “Yes.”

His mouth came down as she was still saying the word and stole the breath from her.

This kiss definitely counted.

His lips commanded her, possessed her, and had her clinging by his tongue like a lifeline. She was wrapped up in sensation, in a dizzy motion whirring around in her head. He pulled back too soon. Her lips searched for his.

He turned her away, taking her hands and settling them above her head.

“Don’t move,” he warned. She didn’t. She couldn’t. She was shivering, waiting for him to touch her, to take her. Her nails bit into wood and she arched her hips back at him.

“Darien.”

The first touch seemed to come a millennium later. The anticipation of it sent pleasure zinging through her body from her nipples to her core then all the way out to her toes. His hands cupped her ass cheeks. Gripped them, learned her, squeezing then spreading her wide. She gasped at his touch, never had she felt anything like this, his touch was possessive. Like he owned her. And he did.

His thumbs slid into the crevice of her cheeks and stroked her flesh, rubbing closer and closer to her wet center. She whimpered as his hand dipped down then she was being filled with his fingers. She was so wet she knew she was coating him. He growled and she heard the beast riding him hard.

His fingers pulled out and then she felt the hard, wide press of his cock. Crying out, she gripped the tree for support and waited as he pushed the head of himself into her. Her pussy closed around him, gripping his wide girth.

“You’re mine, Cassie.”

Yes, yes! She realized she couldn’t talk so she nodded furiously. His hands trailed up her body, reached across her front, and grabbed hold of her breasts. She’d never had much in the way of breasts, but the way he touched her made her feel womanly and sexy as hell.

He tightened his scratchy palms over her, then thrust hard inside. He landed deep but just stayed there as his fingers moved to capture her nipples. He rubbed them, circled them softly, then tugged on the turgid peaks. Slowly, he dragged his cock back out of her. Where was the rough sex he kept going on and on about? That she could take, this was driving her mad. She let out a long, husky moan as he squeezed his entire length back into her to the hilt.

He made an approving sound. “So wet, soft and tight. You’re so beautiful. Presenting your luscious backside like some virgin temptress.” He moved, then she felt his heat at her back, his voice near her ear. “Get used to my cock, Cassie, because when you’re ready I’m going to take you hard.” He punctuated his words by a sudden thrust that slapped his hips against her ass and made her cry out.

Oh, she wanted more of that. Now. He hit something in her, some button that only he seemed to reach, and each time it sent her spinning into a world of pure pleasure.

“Take me,” she whispered raggedly. He growled behind her, then several things happened at once. His hand swept the hair at her neck to the side then his cock started fucking through her tight muscles as he bit down at the back of her neck. His teeth sank into her neck and shoulder muscle on a growl, and she cried out blissfully.

He’s marking me. For the whole world to see, he was leaving his mark on her.

He kept her from falling into the tree by holding her breasts like handles. Then he was hammering into her, stretching her, and filling her again and again.

Sexy sounds graced her ears. His hips slapping her ass, his ragged breathing in her ear, and then her own moans that she couldn’t stop.

Finally he tore his mouth away from her shoulder. She was so close. The pleasure was so intense it tormented her. She struggled to breathe while her heart threatened to explode in her chest. She felt the blooming heat spread across her chest, up her neck, then across her face and knew she was close.

“Let me feel it. Come for me, Cassie.”

Her head fell back as all-consuming pleasure swallowed her up. She screamed his name to the sky as her body burned red-hot in an explosion that blinded her. She didn’t have time to come down from it, because he was turning her, pushing her back up against the tree.

She barely managed to open her eyes to ask why he stopped, because he palmed her breast with a hand and started stroking his cock with the other.

He groaned a sound that wasn’t human, and then started coming in long, hot white spurts. It splashed onto her breasts, her stomach, her nipples. He kept stroking as more hot, thick seed landed against her belly button.

Finally he slowed his strokes to a passing caress. Leaning forward, he kissed her for a long time. He cupped her head and for the first time in her life she wondered if this was what love felt like. This feeling he created inside her was new and different from anything she’d ever experienced before. He made her feel protected, cared for, and wanted all at the same time. Was this love?

He pulled back and looked down at what he did on her chest. She looked at it too and couldn’t help but ask, “Not that it wasn’t sexy, but what was that for?”

His lips curled into a smile so dark and sexy, her toes curled into the dirt. “To mark you. You’re mine, Cassie. In every way. Come on.”

He took her hand and led her back to the lake. The water was cold but he held her close, warming her as he gently washed his semen from her body. It was soothing, almost sweet. He moved her hair aside and kissed where he marked her. Then her shoulders were being rubbed in sensuous, relaxing circles that had her body turning into melted butter.

She moaned gruffly when he stopped. But he didn’t stop there. His hands traced down her arms, then over her stomach to her core. He palmed her, wiping away her own essence but drawing forth a new ache with his touch. He reached down and rubbed the muscles of her thighs, her bottom, her lower back.

She was mass of aroused, putty woman when he turned her around and lifted her legs around him. He held her hips as he pressed his cock to her entrance and slid smoothly inside her.

He loved her with hard, long pumps of his hips. It wasn’t rushed. She came to her peak slowly, sweetly clinging to his wet back as he held her tightly, gushing hot and thick inside her.

He carried her back to the cabin, which was good because she was certain she couldn’t move after all that, and laid her on the cot.

After he laid down the logs for the fire he said, “It’s time you told me about your past. You’re mine to protect now.” He turned to her with the most serious, beautiful brown eyes she’d ever seen. “And I won’t let anything or anyone hurt you.”

All the joy from their time together vanished as if it’d never happened. She couldn’t tell him about Daniel, could she?

Chapter 9

Cassie quickly weighed her options. Tell him and risk his life in the process or lie, which sent her stomach in knots. She didn’t know what she was doing now. In less than an hour’s time, he’d manage to completely usurp her previous plans of leaving.

It was hard to complain though when the thought of leaving him had her heart pulling tight in her chest.

“I can’t,” she finally said.

He finished lighting the fire and crossed the room to her. She flinched when he reached for her, which only made him scowl. She hadn’t meant to, but he looked so angry. He pushed the hair out of her face and pressed a kiss to her temple. The act was so sweet, so heartwarming that she had to blink back tears.

“Yes you can. Don’t you trust me to protect you?” She shook her head; she didn’t doubt his physical strength. Yet, she’d known Daniel since she was a child. He was an old vampire and had incredible strength.

“Yes, I do.” It was an honest answer. Her heart told her the truth--that this lykaen was stronger than Daniel. Logic told her that was impossible. Yet she believed it all the same.

“Then tell me,” he encouraged. His voice was so lovely, and the way he said the words were as if he had all the time in the world to listen to her talk. Fine, she’d tell him. He deserved to know after all he admitted to her.

“Daniel—”

“Shh!” Darien pressed a palm over her mouth and cocked his head to the side. “Stay here,” he ordered and vanished out the front door.

Panic set in fast. Oh, no, oh no. He’s here. He found her. He said he would. Cassie drew her knees up to her chest and rocked back and forth.

She heard a sharp snap, and then an agonized cry pierced her ears. Was that Darien? She ran to the cabin door, her eyes darting out into the night looking for some kind of movement. She wanted to collapse when Darien burst through the trees. He ran to her. She saw the blood a second before she smelled it. The smell made her want to gag.

“It’s not your blood,” she said dumbly.

“No, it’s not. Come on, honey. We have to get out of here.” He grabbed her hand and started pulling her. He started to run but shock had her legs dragging slowly. She tripped over the ground and started to fall. He caught her in one quick move, ducking down and picking her up in his arms. He carried her the rest of the way; the trees moving by so fast they were a blur.

They reached the thicket where his truck was parked but two men were there. No, not men. Two vampires. She jumped out of his arms, tugging on his hand to go back. She recognized them.

“Please,” she heard herself saying. These were Daniel’s guards. Some of his best. She’d felt the pain of their anger many times. “Let’s go now.” Her eyes frantically shot around looking for the face of her nightmares. He was nowhere to be seen. The coward.

“Stay here, and don’t move, Cassie.”

Cassie cried out just as he exploded into action. He jumped, leaping into the air and landing on the first man’s chest with his feet. The vampire fell down hard to the ground, his body bouncing on the dirt.

The second vampire attacked without hesitation. He landed a blow to Darien’s side that must have cracked ribs. But Darien never made a sound. Darien used the vampire’s closeness to his advantage and snapped his elbow back into his face. The vampire howled, his hands flying to his shattered nose.

Darien lifted his knee and slammed his boot into the vampire’s chest. The vampire flew back like he’d just had a bomb go off in front of him. His back wrapped around a tree trunk with a nasty crunch and then he slumped down to the ground, unmoving.

Then Darien was in front of her, picking her up in his arms and carrying her to the truck. He took her to the driver’s side with him and held her close as his truck started with a roar.

“They’re not dead,” she whispered raggedly.

They wouldn’t stop coming after her either. They would tell Daniel they’d found her. It was all over. Her fun little fantasy with Darien was finished.

“No, they’re not dead. How do you feel?”

She snorted and rested her cheek against his shoulder. With him near, she felt safe. “Been better. Where are we going?”

“To my brothers. I need to talk to him about this.” She went stiff as a board.

“What do you mean?” His eye cut to hers. For a moment, she thought he’d figured out her secret.

“We’ll protect you. I’ll protect you, Cassie.”

“Why?” she asked softly. She had to know. Even as her gut tightened and her heart constricted in her chest, she had to know why.

“We had sex. Even now you could be pregnant. I protect my own, Cassie.”

Whatever answer she wanted or was expecting she was certain that wasn’t it. Stiffly she moved off his lap and sat in the passenger side.

“What’s wrong?”

His eyes cut to hers again. She turned and smiled at him as she buckled herself in. It wasn’t because she was afraid of getting into an accident and flying through the windshield but because the secure belt around her helped her to feel stabilized.

“I just don’t want to get your family bothered with my problems.” That was putting it lightly.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re mine now, and we take care of our own.”

What was the point of being his if he didn’t even...? No, she couldn’t let herself think like that. Don’t be stupid, Cassie. The man loved once in his life and that particular emotion wasn’t saved for her. It had long been spent and buried under six feet of dirt.

So what was she to him now? Some sort of breeding mare that he felt inclined to protect because she might be pregnant. A wave of hysteria must be building up inside her because she just had the craziest thought. After she got the latest beating from Daniel, she should have run upstairs and gotten a package of condoms—not that she actually had any anyways—but then at least they wouldn’t be in this predicament. He’d be safe from any and all involvement with her.

Honestly, she couldn’t help but wonder what the lykaen giant would do then. If they’d somehow magically been able to use condoms while they had sleep sex and fantastic, outdoor wood sex and then later in the water....

Sighing, she pressed her temple to the cold window and stared out at the dark woods.

The urge to cry wasn’t even there. No, now she was onto a deep sadness that bypassed tears and settled deeply into her heart. Was it so crazy that she wanted this lykaen to just like her? To want her for herself? Obviously it was and that hurt so much worse than any physical pain Daniel ever caused.

She was really stupid too because even that was a lie. She didn’t want Darien to like her, she wanted so much more.

The drive to Darien’s brothers took two hours. It went by silently, tensely. He pulled to a stop in front of a big cabin surrounded by woods. What’s up with these lykaen and the woods? She’d always pictured her dream home as a typical suburban two-story. Okay or maybe a fancy loft in the city with an elevator for a front door. Sweet.

Darien got out of the truck and walked around to her side. Suddenly she had a hard time breathing. She didn’t want this. She didn’t want any of this. These people could get hurt. And they were going to for someone they didn’t even know or care about. No matter what, she couldn’t let that happen. Especially not to Darien.

“You ready?” he said opening her door. She nodded mutely and let him help her down from the big truck. The walk to the front door felt like she was going to the electric chair. Each step sent her anxiety soaring higher and higher. Darien knocked and she flinched. He looked down at her, a frown on his face.

“You okay?” Just smile. There. She smiled at him, nodding. He cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes. “Don’t be scared. I promise nothing will happen to you.”

It’s not you I’m worried about, she wanted to say.

Instead she nodded with a tight-lipped smile. The door whipped open a second later.

* * *

She had to give it to the Kategans—they could move quickly. Within twenty minutes the entire gang was cornered in Darien’s eldest brother’s living room.

Vane was an imposing man with hair even thicker, darker, and longer than Darien’s. He stood behind his mate on the couch who had a belly happily full with a baby. Cassie felt an odd pang inside her at the thought of a baby. What would a baby with Darien look like? Pale with red hair like her or dark and handsome like Darien.

His other brother, Rome, sat with his wife in his lap. He’d clapped Darien on the back so hard when he first saw him she wouldn’t be surprised if there was a cracked rib back there. He had shaggy, dirty-blond hair and incredibly, good looks—most of which he used to send his mate winks and kisses with.

She’d always wanted something like that. She was going to embarrass herself in front of these people if she didn’t stop thinking about these things. She was definitely going to get a version of what she was seeing with the mated couples, just minus things like smiles, happiness, and love. Daniel was not exactly sentimental.

The last to arrive at the cabin was Darien’s sister, Vera. She was beautiful in a classical way with short hair and a set of straight bangs. The scent in the air changed as Vera and her mate—God were they all mated— came in. Vera shook her hand with a big, lovely smile and introduced her man as Jacks, the former human turned vampire. The man Jacks discreetly squeezed his mate’s ass as they walked away.

Vera wore a t-shirt with a face Cassie recognized, Jacob from the Twilight series. As a matter of fact, she glanced over at Rome and saw that he was wearing pajama pants with Bella’s face floating all over them with little moons next to her.

She was in a dream. This was a nightmare dragged on by stress combined with meeting her first lykaen. Of course, that would explain it. This meeting was turning out worse than she’d ever thought possible. Everyone was nice, smiling, thrilled to have their brother back.

I’m going to get them all killed. I’m going to get their precious brother killed.

The conversation came and went and she didn’t say a word the whole time. Darien didn’t press her for information in front of everything for which she was grateful. He kept things simple: she was in trouble, and he was going to take care of her.

The girls frowned and threatened the bad vampire on behalf of her, and then men frowned and vowed to protect her. Not one person stood up, said “no thanks,” and left the room. What kind of people would so easily sacrifice themselves, put their lives in danger for a complete stranger?

They didn’t even act like she was a stranger. They looked between her and Darien with wide, happy eyes like they were mated.

She closed her eyes tight and swore at herself. Don’t you dare cry now, stupid woman. I swear if you do, I’ll kill you myself.

She didn’t cry. The mated females who introduced themselves as Sarina, Alison, and Vera came up to her after the meeting was over. They said that tomorrow night they wanted to take her away for some private time.

“Oh no, I can’t do that,” she protested.

“Don’t be silly. We’ll bring the booze, get away from the men for awhile. It’ll be great,” Vera said with a wink.

A thought clicked into place and suddenly getting drunk with the Kategan’s mates didn’t sound so bad.

“You know, I think I’d like that.”

“Great! I’ll bring snacks,” Alison said with a clap of her hands.

Darien broke away from his huddle with his brothers and the vampire, Jacks, to come back to her. He held his hand out to her, and she slipped her own into his. A spark of heat flared between them but it was dulled under the weight of her stress. She couldn’t seem to wipe the frown off her face no matter how hard she tried. She just kept thinking how much she wanted a snack, a bath, a soft bed and for all of this to disappear.

He tugged her to the door and said goodbye to everyone. They climbed into the truck silently. She looked over at him and saw that his face looked relaxed. Hell she felt like she was about to snap and he almost looked happy.

“It feels good to see your family, doesn’t it?” He stiffened but nodded. They drove off, and sometime later they arrived in front of another cabin. He came around to her side and pulled open the door. This time instead of helping her down, he pulled her into his arms and carried her to the house.

She protested, but he shushed her and unlocked the front door. She yawned into his shirt and closed her eyes. She was just so tired. So much was happening too fast for her mind to process.

He set her on the bed upstairs. She blinked open her eyes, but relaxed as he started taking off her shoes. He pulled down her jeans not in passion but gently. A big soft cover fell over her and she sighed.

His eyes met hers and she something so deep and strong filled her, made her heart skipped a beat. She loved this man.

He started to pull away, but she snatched him by the back of his neck and tugged him close for a kiss. She tasted him gently, tried to tell him without words, what she felt for him. When she pulled back, his eyes held a strange light to them.

Closing her own, she turned away from him and tried to hide the pain deep inside. She heard his fading footsteps as he left. She should feel better now that he was gone, but she didn’t.

What was she expecting really? That she’d kiss him with all the love in her heart and he’d magically know it and embrace it?

Yeah, she was stupid.

Chapter 10

Daniel and her sat at a round, stone table. Goblets filled with red liquid and empty golden trenchers covered the table like a variable vampire feast.

Daniel smiled at her from across the table. The look chilled her blood. Guards came up and took seats on either side of her. She recognized two of them from the attack in the forest.

She looked around and recognized where they were—the hall at Daniel’s home. A grand chandelier hung high above the table and was lit with real candles that flickered and cast the table in a dull orange light. It was dark enough that Cassie knew a human wouldn’t be able to tell whether the glasses on the table were filled with wine or blood.

She didn’t run. The sense of fear she had in her other dreams weren’t in this one. Instead she was left with a dark foreboding, trepidation that had her sitting resolutely across from Daniel and meeting his gaze. Perhaps some of Darien’s strength was rubbing off on her because a small part of her felt she could take Daniel on.

He didn’t try to scare her. He acted like he had already won. He smiled at her, and it turned her stomach.

“Are you excited, Cassandra?”

She couldn’t look away from him, either by some force of his power or to show him she wouldn’t back down anymore.

“Your silence is answer enough, I suppose. I must say I’m excited. Why, your escape has actually benefited me. I never thought I’d be one to love the thrill of the hunt so much, but I do.” His fingers toyed with the tops of his glass, spinning round and round the top with a hissing sound.

“Maybe it’s all this talk of lykaens that has me enjoying the hunt so much.”

Cassie’s reaction was instantaneous. Her eyes widened, and her fingers clenched on the armrests. He didn’t miss it either. He smiled wider.

“I know all about the lykaen. I never would have thought you’d run into the arms of someone like him. I thought you’d keep running and be long gone by now. You made it as far as the first handsome face you saw.” He laughed, the sound creeping along her skin like a thousand spiders.

“Did you think he could protect you? Or were you just so selfish that you gave no thought to his life and what I’m going to do with it? Because you do know what I’m going to do, Cassandra, don’t you?”

“No!” she protested and jerked her gaze away from him. “This has been fun, Cassandra. I’m going to gut that lykaen male I hear you’re so fond of and make you watch as he takes his last breath. I might even take your body while he watches. Do you think he’ll mind or will he like it? Will his eyes be opened or closed when he dies? I bet they’re beautiful eyes. I bet you just love the way he looks at you, traitorous bitch.” Trembling started in her hands and moved up to her arms.

“Answer me this, Cassandra, do you think he’ll die easy? Do you think I would let that happen?”

“What if I just come back?”

He slammed his fist into the table. Stone cracked beneath his fist and crumbled to the ground. He picked up his goblet and threw it at her. She almost didn’t move in time as it whizzed past her cheek.

He stood and screamed at her. “He dies! It doesn’t matter. I don’t care if you come back tomorrow, naked and submissive as you rightfully should be. He dies because you let him touch you!”

Cassie’s eyes flung wide. How could he know?

“I know what you did!” he screamed. His face flushed a deep red. He stalked to her. She backed away from him even as she waited for what was to come.

He hit shoulder, sent her sprawling back against the wall, then he crowded her close, shouting.

“You spread your legs for a beast? A dog. Then I shall treat you no better than one.”

“As if you have ever treated me any other way.”

He hit her so fast, she didn’t see it coming. Pain exploded in her face, and then she snapped awake.

Cassie briefly glanced around the room before threw back the covers and stumbled into the bathroom, tearing off her clothes in a rush. She hopped into the shower before it was even warm.

The cold water had her gasping, shaking. She sat down in the tub and let it rain over her. Her mind buzzed, while horrific images of Daniel popped into her mind. She had a feeling that whatever he’d done to her in the past was going to be candy compared to when she returned. .

Minutes went by and slowly she calmed. Turning the water up, she rinsed herself with a dried bar of soap sitting on the shower ledge. She knew what she had to do. There were a few things she had to do first though.

The door squeaked and she turned to see Darien coming in looking disheveled and sleepy. He was amazingly cute.

“Are you all right?” he asked hoarsely.

“Of course, why?”

“You got out of bed like the hounds of hell were after you.” Not hounds, but something else from hell yes. Cassie’s eyes widened as she realized that he’d slept next to her and she hadn’t even known.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just wanted a shower.”

He pulled back the curtain and looked her up and down. The man must have a sun living inside him, because everywhere he went he turned the temperature up. The water felt warmer against her skin, her heart felt lighter. The cold in her fingers faded to tingly warmth.

“Sounds good to me,” he said and started pulling off his clothes.

Her eyes widened. Oh no. She couldn’t do this. Not now.

He stepped big and naked into the shower. “God that’s cold, baby.” His hypnotic voice was even deeper than usual from sleep; it held a gruff edge to it than teased along her body. She wondered if he only called her baby because He was still half-asleep.

He reached around her and turned the temperature up. Cassie was learning a few things about Darien. She had a feeling it was just going to break her heart later, because the more she learned, the more she liked. And the more she craved.

Arms wrapped around her, pulling her close to the rich heat of his body. He was so hard against her. Rivulets of water ran from the thick locks of his hair down to where their chests pressed together before sliding off the side.

Her hands fell against his chest, feeling the wet hairs moving with the water under her fingertips. His hands moved too, across the span of her back to hold her close while the other dropped down to gently cup her bottom. He did not shape her but simply held her.

“You feel good to me.”

Ridiculously pleased by his compliment, she smiled and pressed her forehead to his chest. “Ditto.”

He turned her, and she let him press her back into the wall. The hard steel of his cock branded her skin. She gasped, a wave of cream flowing through her core.

His lips found her cheek, trailed down to her mouth to nibble there. Nipples beaded in response to his soft touch. Speaking between kisses he said, “I know it’s early, but I want you.” Gruff, sleepy words.

His mouth captured hers in a demanding kiss that curled her toes as he lifted her, wrapped her legs around him. Hot trailed down her neck and shoulder, wreaking havoc on her senses. He bit her shoulder, then nudged her entrance with his cock questioningly.

“Do you want me?”

More than anything. “Yes, Darien. Yes.”

He groaned and caught her lips again as he slowly slid inside her. His thick length spread her wide as he pushed through her tight muscles. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to this feeling. To the rush that swept through her blood, made her heart pound and her skin tight as he filled her.

The instant he touched her deep inside, he retreated only to do it again and again. His moves were slow, torturing her with agonized pleasure as he pushed again and again through her wet pussy.

She found his lips and darted her tongue between them. What he was doing was killing her inside. She didn’t want this sweet lovemaking. Because it wasn’t love. He didn’t love her. He wouldn’t let himself.

Anger and desperation blinded her, had her clawing at his back and biting his lip. He pulled back to look at her with stunned, wide eyes. His hand caressed her thigh gently, up and down. She hated it. He wanted her for one thing, and if there was no love for her than how dare he treat her so sweetly. He’d leave her with only the bittersweet memories of his touch if she let him.

“Take me,” she growled between tight lips.

His smile was slow, sure..., and sexy as hell. He reached down to cup an ass cheek in one big hand and open her up further with the hand on her thigh. He was spreading her, making her open and submissive to him.

She sighed blissfully as he started to move again, but now his thrusts were even slower, dragging through her sensitive flesh until she was sweating. Her hips rocked against his, urging him to move faster, to take her. In and out. In and out.

Somehow his touch was so much more intense this way. He started moving harder inside her, letting each thrust pound against her. He growled and nuzzled her hair away from her neck, then his teeth claimed her, locking her in place.

Cassie’s pleasure exploded out of her. She tried to scream, but her throat closed up and all she could do was gasp in chunks of air.

His teeth sank further into her and for a moment she thought he’d break the skin and taste blood. The thought made her wild, had her setting her nails into his back and scratching at him as the waves of her orgasm rippled through her.

His thrusts turned urgent in a second. He hammered into her, taking her with a savagery that curled her toes and sent moans out from her throat. His hands squeezed her hips so tight she knew he’d leave marks.

He took her with a ferocity that threw her into another orgasm. She couldn’t believe it, but he tunneled through her wet flesh so fast, each stroke hitting against her aching clit, and she exploded again. She wrapped her legs tightly around his thighs as her cries echoed off the bathroom wall.

His cries joined hers as he took her in rough thrusts. He landed deep inside, his hips jerking against hers as his cock jetted his release into her. It was hot and thick and dripped out of her as he pulled himself out of her.

He held her for minutes, then methodically soaped and washed her from her hands to feet, even though she’d done it already. It was so sweet, so like him that it broke her heart. He cleaned himself quickly and then carried her back to bed.

The only thing she could think as he set her down was that she loved him. She loved him so damned much. And she could never have him.

Chapter 11

“I need to tell you something,” Cassie said after they were dressed. Darien turned to her with a sharp look in his eyes. He nodded, giving her permission.

“I’m ready to talk about Daniel.” I’m ready because I won’t be here much longer. She hated that she had to lie and keep that part from him, but she couldn’t risk his life, or the Kategan’s, any more than she already had. The only chance Darien had now was if she ran and didn’t stop.

Darien took the seat across from her and just looked at her. His eyes didn’t judge, he simply waited. Patient, gentle.

She thought of the a thousand different places where she could start her story, but couldn’t choose one. Finally she shrugged and said, “I don’t know where to start.”

“Tell me who hurt you and why you went running the day I found you.” Okay. Deep breaths.

“Daniel, his name is Daniel. I guess he hurt me because I made him mad again. It wasn’t the first time and—” she nearly finished, and it won’t be the last but she caught herself at the last second, “he’s always had a temper like that. Ever since I can remember.”

She looked up at him, wanting to see his reaction. His body was still, his hand rested neatly on his thighs. His eyes gave him away. They held anger so potent and terrifying, she’d only ever seen one person come close to it...Daniel.

“How do you know him?” She squeezed her eyes shut. This was going to be much harder than she thought. She’d never talked to anyone about Daniel, because the only people she knew were members of his clan. And all of them knew how he was.

“I’ve known him since I was four.”

“Are you his family?” You can do it, Cassie. Do it because you won’t have any other chance. He spilled his guts to you about his past, the most you can do is share yours. It was easy to give herself a pep talk, but it was much harder to actually make the words come out of her mouth.

“I guess there’s no other way for me to say it, but to come right out and do it. I’m Daniel’s fiancé.”

Darien exploded from his seat and. She couldn’t help but cringe and look away. She never should have come into his life, then her heart wouldn’t be breaking and the man whom she loved wouldn’t be in danger.

“Continue,” he growled, stalking in front of her like a caged lion.

Somehow the words just came. “I have no living family, so when my father died, what happened to me was left to the eldest of the clan--Daniel. It also didn’t help that dad left a mission that stated Daniel and me had his blessing to mate when I turned twenty-five, which I just did two weeks ago.”

“Daniel was his closest friend. I was raised by nurses through Daniel’s care, and when I turned eighteen he brought me to live with him.”

His eyes cut to hers, filled with barely contained anger. “Did he touch you?” Her cheeks grew how under his gaze.

“Yes, but not how you think. If I made him mad...well he’s always had a heavy hand.”

Before Darien could growl or hit something, a knock sounded at the front door. Darien stormed to it and threw it open.

“Oh hey, Darien.” Alison bounced on her toes with a cute smile on her face. Suddenly she turned and spoke to someone behind her. “When’s his birthday? He needs a Twilight hoody or something. I could totally see him wearing that.”

“Oh, good call.” Cassie recognized that voice as Vane’s mate—Sarina. What were they doing here so early? Surely when they asked her to hang out with them, they didn’t mean at ten in the morning.

She heard a commotion at the door, then Vera was pushing her way past the two girls. “Listen big bro, we’re here to take Cassie. And we’re not leaving until she comes with us.” She turned behind her to the girls and said, “What do you think would be a good size for him an XXL?”

Darien gripped the doorframe and it groaned in protest. “Cassie and I are busy right now. Come back later.”

“No can do, bro. She may be your woman, but she’s already been promised to us for the day. Sorry, but we have dibs.”

“And who the hell gave you permission to have her for the day?”

Alison poked her arm in and pointed at Cassie. “She did.”

Darien turned to give her a withering glare. She laughed, she couldn’t help it; it just came out of her. His eyes flickered then narrowed on her again.

“They’re right. I did.” She shrugged as if to say sorry. She wasn’t.

“You can’t have her yet. We’re in the middle of a conversation.”

“Well have it later. We’ll bring her back in one piece...we think,” Sarina said.

Throwing up his hands he said, “Fine.”

Poor lykaen. Cassie sidled up to him, and even with all three gals watching on, she reached way up and pulled him down for a kiss.

She heard several bow chica bow bows and some clapping in the background so she pulled away from his soft lips and smiled at him.

“Bye,” she said.

“You’ll be back later.” He said it almost as a question.

“Of course.” She was fairly certain that was a lie, too.

“Come on Cassie we have some awesome girl time to get to,” Vera said and tugged her out the cabin.

Now that Cassie was away from Darien, she actually felt both excited and overwhelmed at the prospect of hanging out with these women. She’d never done anything like this. She honestly didn’t even know what girls did in a situation like this.

She was thankful though—boy wasn’t that the understatement of the year—that she didn’t have to share the nastiest part of her life with Darien. At least not yet. She didn’t want to do that. She didn’t want to mar the beauty between them. Well perhaps beauty was too strong a word. What was between them was a mess of problems, layered with anxiety, and topped with a dollop of crap.

They piled into a bright red sedan. “Where are we going?”

“First we’re going to get a bite to eat at Alison’s cafe.” At once, everyone stopped buckling their seatbelts and turned to her.

“Wait, you don’t eat food, right?” Alison asked, a blush creeping over her face. Vera elbowed her in the side and rolled her eyes.

“No she doesn’t eat food. She drinks blood.” Vera turned to look back at Cassie from the driver’s seat. “Listen, is it cool if we eat and you watch? If you want something before we go, then I’ll get Darien for you.”

Wow. Cassie felt her cheeks heating with a blush. “Uh, no, that’s okay. I’m fine really. I’d like to see your café, Alison.”

Alison smiled big and melted back against the seat. “She’s after my heart you guys. Let’s go!”

The drive to the cafe was one of the best experiences of Cassie’s life. Alison had cranked up the radio and all three of the girls started singing loudly, and mostly horribly, to some song with a catchy beat. Cassie had no idea what song it was, but the girls managed to make her feel accepted and welcome.

She put on a smile as they entered a lovely and cozy little cafe. There were tables outside with big maroon umbrellas to block the sun and inside the café, the tables were simple and neat. They were covered in a draping white cloth with a little maroon vase in the center of the table with fresh flowers in them.

It was lovely, and she could easily see Darien eating here. Her gut clenched with sadness. And of course across from him would be some lovely, non-vampire, woman who could actually eat with him. Not once in her life had she ever wished to be anything else. Sure she wished to still have her parents and to not be living under Daniel’s rule, but she’d never wished to be human or lykaen.

Cassie followed the women into the kitchen. They all got to watch Alison work, which was really a sight to see. How she managed to plan and make meals for the three of them, at the same time, was incredible. When she was done, the food was hot and perfect. Cassie had never seen a chef actually work aside from some Food Network shows she caught on TV. It took a lot of skill. However the smells were completely unappetizing to her vampire senses.

They took a seat at a table and while the girl’s ate, Cassie silently made her plans. After her nightmare last night, she was thinking Daniel was on to something. She didn’t have to go running back to him. She could just keep running. Something she should have done from the beginning. Of course passing out near Darien’s hadn’t been planned. She should have just left when he wanted. Then at least her heart wouldn’t be breaking.

“So Cassie, we’ve been dying to know...” Cassie looked up from the empty spot on the table in front of her and realized that all the girls were looking right at her with eager eyes.

“What,” she asked hesitantly.

Vera and Sarina both asked questions at the same time. “How did you meet?” “Is he amazing in bed?”

Vera turned a disgusted glare at Sarina. “Gross. He’s my brother.” Sarina smiled and shrugged.

“But he’s not mine,” Sarina snorted.

“Shut up and let her answer,” Alison said. All eyes turned on her again. She smiled, she couldn’t help it. She was falling in love with more of the Kategans. They must be contagious or something.

“I met him in the woods.”

“What do you mean? Were you like hiking? None of us even know where Darien was staying. He left to go on a journey to figure out his life and problems or whatever, but I figured he was in Siberia or something,” Vera said.

Cassie bit her lip, unsure how much she should tell them. She opened her mouth to lie, but found that she couldn’t do it. Her shoulders sagged in defeat. She really couldn’t do it. And they didn’t deserve a lie.

“My fiancé had beaten me again. I swore that it would be the last time. I ran and didn’t stop until I collapsed. I guess I was exhausted. Apparently that was somewhere near Darien. He said I was on his own land.” She shrugged. “I don’t know much more about his cabin than that.” She sighed a huge exhalation of air. The weight on her shoulders lessened so that she could actually stand up straight. It felt good to say that. Really good. Except she knew it wouldn’t be so easy to tell Darien that.

“You have a fiancé?” The girl’s expressions were a mixture of confusion, shock, and anger. She only hoped it was anger about the beating and not about the fact that she’d technically cheated on her unwanted fiancé.

“Yes, I do. I was raised by my father until he committed suicide when I was four. I have no living relatives, so what happened to me was left in his will and up to the judgment of the clan’s elder. I was to be to be mated to Daniel, a good friend of my father’s, and when I turned twenty-five, I’d have to mate with him.”

Sarina looked angry enough to chew nails. “Your own father gave you over to an abusive man? I’m sorry, but that’s horrendous.” A flicker of pain cross her eyes.

Cassie squirmed in her seat. “Well, Daniel didn’t use to be like that. At least not that I remember. I remember him and dad talking and laughing together. They were close. Daniel didn’t start to get cruel until I was older.” Now that she thought about it, she didn’t remember ever seeing Daniel laugh or smile like that after dad died.

“I went through something similar with my father too. Though he did it because he’s a controlling piece of shit. He tried to sell me into a marriage with a woman abuser. Vane stopped it all from happening, thank God, but then Alison...” Sarina looked away, tears in her eyes. She fanned herself with a hand, “I’m sorry, you guys. It’s the hormones. I swear.” She rubbed a loving hand over her rounded belly.

Alison laughed and took over the conversation. “The woman abuser was an ex of mine who later started pursuing me again because he was angry he couldn’t have Sarina. It was all one big, complicated as hell mess, but it’s over now. He’s sitting in a cell and won’t ever be coming out of it again.”

“Damn straight.” Sarina cheered and high fived Alison. Turning back to Cassie she said, “So about the sex...”

“No!” Vera said, a shiver of disgust rolling through her. Cassie laughed at them all. This camaraderie they had was always something she’d wanted.

“The Kategans will protect you.” Cassie turned a startled look to Vera. She looked so serious, they all did. “You don’t need to hide with us. You can tell us anything. It’s all up to you, but just know that we really do care.”

“I don’t know why you would,” Cassie heard herself saying.

“Because we’re nice people, but also because you brought something precious back to us,” Vera said. Her voice clouded with emotion. “Darien’s been lost to us for so long. This is the first time any of us have seen a glimpse of what he used to be.”

Cassie couldn’t hide the shock on her face. “Wait, you mean to tell me that the gruff, tight-lipped lykaen is just how he is?”

Vera broke out in laughter. “Yes! That’s exactly how he is. Well, okay, maybe not totally. Add in a couple of smiles, some insane generosity and sweetness, and you got it.”

“I don’t understand. I’ve been trying to reach through to him since I met him. I don’t really think I’ve gotten anywhere. Just once though he did finally tell me about the...problem from his past but I think I was just lucky. J sot of happened upon him at the right time. That’s all.”

Vera’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her skull. “He told you about Dana? Wow, see. He never talks about it. We know about it, but when the accident happened we mostly heard about it from her family. Her brother Tom especially, man was he a dick. He blamed Darien for the whole thing.”

“The man’s crazy for you,” Alison piped in.

“No he’s not. I’m just an inconvenience for him now.”

“Why do you say that?” Sarina asked.

Cassie shot a look at Vera who threw up her hands and said, “Fine, fine. I’m going to the bathroom. Any and all sex talk about my brother needs to be done now. I don’t want to hear a peep about it when I get back.”

As soon as she was gone, Alison bounced in her seat. “Oh my God, dish the details. That man is huge.”

Sarina rolled her eyes. “All the Kategan men are huge, Ali. Darien is just...a little more imposing. It’s all that bad attitude he carries around him.”

“He’s not all bad though. He’s actually really sweet. After the...thing with Conlin he was there when I woke up. He carried me down to Rome’s room so I could be with him.” She had a soft, happy smile on her face that Cassie was completely jealous of.

“He doesn’t even like me,” she blurted out.

“What? Of course he does. Why do you say that?” asked Sarina. She blushed.

“No, he doesn’t. He’s tried to get me to leave from the moment I woke up. I refused because he just intrigued me. And okay, he’s really, really sexy. I’ve never met a lykaen before him.”

“Wow, really?” Alison asked.

“Really. He’s only trying to help me now because...because we,” her face burned hot and finally she had to look away.

“Because you guys had sex? Was it amazing? Seriously, do tell. Because Rome is just devastating in bed. I can hardly keep my hands off him, honest.” Cassie thought on the couple of times they’d had sex. It’d been smoldering, sexy, passionate, and beautiful.

“I loved it more than anything,” she finally said softly. The girls smiled at her and sighed at the same time. Just then Vera came back to the table with her fingers plugged in her ears.

“Is it safe?”

They all nodded. “All right let’s get out of here,” Vera said.

“So what are our plans for today?” Boy did it feel weird asking that.

“Clean up these dishes, then it’s off to a Twilight and Harry Potter marathon at Sarina’s place until the sun goes down enough that we can start drinking without looking like crazy people.”

Cassie looked at Sarina. “But what about you?” Sarina patted her rounded belly lovingly.

“Don’t worry. I’m in a milk faze, so tonight I’ll be having my share of chocolate and strawberry milk.”

“Cassie, would you be a doll and go start the car. It’s getting chilly out lately and me and the baby just can’t stand it.”

“Sure. See you in a few.” Cassie left the girls to clear up their lunch while she went out to Vera’s car. She smelled him the instant before he slammed her into the trunk.

She spun around, her heart beating painfully hard in her chest. All the blood drained from her face.

“I’ve found you, Cassandra. How easy you are to track now that I know you’ve been fucking that lykaen. Do you think he can protect you? Is that why you’re hiding behind him like a scared child?”

She shook her head. “N-no.” Suddenly she heard the girls inside leaving the kitchen. “You have to get out of here now. Please,” she said desperately.

He only stood there, even as their footsteps got closer and closer. Any minute now and they’d all be in danger. He’d kill them all without a single regret.

He smiled at her, his fangs terrifying in that moment. “We’ll be together soon, Cassandra.” He grabbed her chin in a bruising hard grip. “And you will never leave me again. I know where you are now. There is no hiding from me.”

Cassie’s eyes filled with tears at the pain. The door opened, and he let go of her and sprinting away in the blink of an eye.

“Cassie are you all right?”

“Fine,” she said numbly. The girls crowded around her.

“What happened to your chin?”

“Why do you look so scared?”

She shooed them off with false smile. “It’s nothing. I just tripped and hit the concrete. Sorry I didn’t get the car started for you, Sarina.”

She waved it away and hugged her tight. Cassie hesitated, then hugged her back. They all piled into the car, and she wanted nothing more than to run and hide.

Chapter 12

“It’s good to have you back,” Vane said, clapping Darien on the back.

A smile tugged at Darien’s lips. It felt good to be back, though he didn’t say so. He’d be leaving just as soon as everything was taken care of with Cassie. There was no use in hurting his family any more.

Rome took a swig of his beer and said, “You can’t fix your problems by staying away, Darien.”

“Maybe I can’t, but I can’t fix them staying here either.”

Rome shrugged a big shoulder. “How do you know that when you never even tried? The thing happened with Dana and then you were out of here so fast, none of us were even sure what happened.”

Darien ground his teeth together. It was none of their business. It wasn’t then, and it wasn’t now.

“Did you love her that much?” Vane asked. There was no hostility in his voice, only curiosity. Still, Darien hated him for asking. Because right now he was being pulled apart inside over that same question.

“I wanted to mate with her.”

Vane grimaced and chugged some of his brew. “Ouch.”

Darien couldn’t help it, he laughed. His brother’s response was so inadequate, so surprisingly underwhelming that all of them burst out laughing. It almost felt like old times again. Before the mess in his life happened.

“I understand a bit of what you’re feeling,” Rome said. A hard, shadowed look crossed over his eyes. “When I found Alison at Conlin’s...I’d never felt that kind of fear before. To know that at any second someone else can take her life from you. She almost died.”

Three hard knocks sounded at the front door. Vane hollered for whoever it was to come in. Darien let out the breath he’d been holding. There was a reason why he’d left the pack. He sure didn’t want to have some long conversation about his feelings with Dana and the baby.

“Jacks, it’s about time you got here. I thought you were always a prompt man,” Rome taunted. Jacks grinned big.

“Yeah well, Vera called me at the last minute and said she needed a kiss and another six-pack of that damn lemonade she likes. So I stopped by and gave it to her.”

“TMI, bro,” Rome said. Jacks grinned and plopped down in a chair by the fireplace.

Darien sniffed the air then turned to him. “Since when are you a vampire?”

“See, you’ve missed out on all the cool stuff. Some vampire clan tried to steal the Kategan land. They also tried to kill me and your sister. In the process, I now have fangs and your sister gets to spend her nights with me for the rest of her life.”

“TMI,” Darien agreed, “but I am very happy for you and my sister. I’ve never seen her so happy.” The vampire Jacks was practically beaming as he grabbed a beer out of the cooler on the floor and popped it open.

“Damn right.”

“So what do you want to do about the situation with your woman, Darien?” asked Vane.

“She isn’t my woman,” he automatically said. Three sets of eyes turned to stare at him, then each of them burst out in a roar of laughter.

“Right,” Rome said.

“Whipped,” agreed Jacks.

“Goner,” Vane said.

Darien growled, his beast slashing its claws across its cage. “Fuck off.”

“Who are you kidding besides yourself? We’ve all seen the way you look at her, touch her. You’re practically mated with her already,” said Vane.

“Enough!” Darien roared. The room quieted, leaving only the crackling of the fire and Darien’s hard breathing.

Lesser beings, lesser men wouldn’t have had the nerve to speak to a ripping mad lykaen, but the Kategan men weren’t lesser men.

“You know, Darien, you’re right. We’ve had enough. Do you think it’s been easy for us to have our brother gone? While you’ve been away drowning yourself in misery we’ve had horrible and incredible things happen to us. I wanted my brother to be there for that. Your selfishness took that away, not only from me, but from Rome and Vera,” Vane said.

Darien’s hands curled into fists, his eyes clouded over with anger. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. None of you do. You didn’t lose your mate that day. You don’t have to live knowing that if you’d just been there, you could have done something, could have saved them.”

Rome shook his head, clenched his jaw. “How do you know that? How do you know you could have saved her? The doctor said that it was a severe complication with the baby, that even if she’d been in an emergency they would have been hard pressed to save her. He said she died in minutes from a clot or something. She wasn’t your mate, Darien,” he said the last gently.

Darien exploded to his feet and marched up to Rome. Rome narrowed his eyes and stood.

“I love you, Darien. We all love you. But somewhere in your heart you know that she wasn’t it. Maybe you wanted it to be, and it’s obvious you loved her and the baby, but there’s a time when it’s right to let go. It’s been years. She was leaving you to go back to Greg.”

Darien shoved Rome in the chest, sent him stumbling back. “How would you know that? How the fuck do you know that?”

Rome cocked a brow. “I talked to Greg. I saw him in town a while ago. He was guilt-ridden about everything. About leaving her to begin with. He said he was just scared. The man loved her, really. I think she saw that and that’s why she was going back to him, because he really loved her.”

Darien’s fist flew before he could even think to stop it. He caught Rome’s jaw and sent him down to the ground. Rome stood in a rush and plowed his own into Darien’s stomach. Suddenly Vane was roaring, stepping between them and pushing them both apart.

“Enough!”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’ve had enough. I’m out of here,” Darien said.

“Stop,” Vane ordered. Darien stiffened and slowly turned around to face him.

“What?” The lykaen inside him garbled his words.

Vane got in his face, unflinching at the sight of Darien’s anger. “If you don’t smarten up, then you’re going to lose something great. I’ve seen the way you look at her. You care. And she cares about you.”

“That’s where you’ve got it wrong, Vane. The only thing I care about with Cassie is making sure she stays safe from the man who’s trying to hurt her. That’s all.”

“Looks to me like you’re the one who’s trying to hurt her,” Jacks said.

Darien flinched and backed away. They didn’t get it; they didn’t fucking understand. He didn’t care about Cassie. His heart panged, and he looked away from them all. He couldn’t care for her, there was no more love left in him. He‘d buried it years ago.

“You’re wrong, Darien. I just hope you see it in time.” Vane shook his head and left the room.

Darien didn’t meet the other’s eyes; he turned and stormed out the front door. He came to a stop fast his heart skipped a beat trying to catch up.

“What are you doing here?” Cassie looked up at him with raw pain glittering in her eyes. He swore he could feel his own eyes mimicking hers.

She wobbled on her feet, leaning to the side. He reached out to catch her, but she swiped his arm away and took an unsteady step back.

“You are so mean.” She looked like she was bravely trying to hold back tears. The sight of it was killing him slowly and surely like poison.

“What are you doing here?” A sickening feeling was filling his gut heavy as a bowling ball.

She hiccupped. “I came to tell you that I love you, but obviously I’m just a stupid, hiccup , girl.” A tear slid down one cheek and she rocked unsteadily on her feet.

“Are you drunk, Cassie?” She glared at him and pointed a finger at him.

“This isn’t about that. Yes, I totally drank enough to get a boatload of sailors drunk, but that’s besides the p-point. You are mean. ” She lifted her chin bravely as more tears started rolling down her cheeks. The sight was tearing open his gut. He reached for her, but she stumbled back so fast she nearly fell.

“Dammit, Cassie, let me take you home. You shouldn’t be out here like this. Those girls never should have let you drink.”

She threw out her arms. “I came here to tell you that I love you and I get to here is that you still love her. I would be so good to you, Darien.” Her arms fell loosely to her side. When she spoke her voice held all the misery in the world, “I’ve never been in love before. It sucks. Big time.” She wobbled, trying to turn around but stumbling around instead.

Darien’s heart wouldn’t stop panicking in his chest. He went after her, tried to pull her to a stop. “Let me take you home.”

“I have no home!”

He flinched because she was right and because he was an ass. “I’m sorry, Cassie. I am.”

“Sorry about what?” she said rounding on him. He backed away from her and her pointing finger followed. “Sorry for making love to me. Because that’s what you did. You didn’t screw me; you were sweet, tender, caring. You...you are a tease! ”

He jolted back. “You’re just drunk, Cassie. Let me take you to my place and put you to bed.”

“Aaaargh! I am not a child. I am not just drunk. Do not patriotize me. No, I mean patronize. Yeah, that one. Don’t do that because I’m not going to be here forever.”

He stilled. “What do you mean, Cassie?” She looked away from him with a sad, rueful smile that built the pain in his chest near to a breaking point.

“Nothing. I’m going to go now. I just came because I finally had the courage to say something I’ve been wanting to for awhile now.” She wiped her tears with her sleeve and stood a little straighter as she looked him hard in the eye. “I love you, Darien Kategan. I think we met that day by something far greater than chance. Obviously we’ve had our run, and it wasn’t meant to be forever. Thank you for the memories and ado.” She bowed, had to brace her hands on her knees to keep from toppling forward then slowly teetered around and walked away.

The woman had no idea what she was talking about. She was drunk, and when she sobered up she’d apologize that she’d embarrassed herself so badly.

“Where are you going?” Silence met him, except for the scratch of her shoes on the road. “Answer me, Cassie.”

She lifted a small shoulder and let it fall. He growled, grabbed her by the shoulders, and pulled her into his chest. Her eyes flared with need and heat. If her eyes could pack a punch, he’d be on the ground right now. He cupped her cheek in a hand and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. It was so soft, just like everything about her.

He was a rotten, miserable bastard, but he couldn’t stop himself from leaning down and kissing her. Her lips clung to his softly, bittersweet. Her hands clutched his arms like she was afraid to let go. Darien pressed her closer, kissed her harder, trying to express something that he didn’t know how to say.

She pulled away first and something in him wanted to stop her, bring her close again and just hold her. When she looked at him, her eyes were shut off. He had no idea what she was feeling, but no matter how badly he wanted to know, he couldn’t make himself ask.

He walked her back to Sarina’s. The girls flung open the door when they arrived. All of them wore wide grins and glossy eyes, except for Sarina who held a big glass of milk in her hand.

“You’re back! Yay!”

“How did it go? Did you tell you totally love him?” Alison gushed loudly. Sarina shushed her with an elbow to the stomach.

“He’s right there, Ali!”

“Oh, right.”

Cassie turned so suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. He saw a tear fall down her cheek. He did the only thing he could think to and wrapped his arms around her. She sniffled against him, making him feel even more like an ass. She didn’t’ deserve someone like him, someone with enough baggage to fill an airport. She deserved someone clean and simple.

She squeezed him tight, then let go and walked into the cabin. He hoped she’d look back, but she didn’t.

Frowning, he looked at the girls. “Tell her I’ll be by to pick her up tonight.” The girls looked between Cassie and him then leveled him with hard glares.

“You fucked up,” Vera said simply. “You know, brother, I used to think you were smart. Obviously I overestimated your intelligence by mucho .”

“Totally,” Alison said, nodding quickly.

Sarina stepped forward and glared feminine daggers at him. Damn these women were like a pack of lionesses. “You better get your shit together before you lose something that not everyone gets a second chance to have.”

“Mind your own business, Sarina.”

She arched a dainty eyebrow then shut the door in his face.

What a night. Darien headed back to his cabin. His gut felt sick like he’d eaten something bad, and his damn chest hurt. He wished he were back in his single cabin in the middle of nowhere.

He looked back at the cabin where the feisty little vampire was and wished things were different. He wished he could give her what she wanted.

Chapter 13

“Tell us everything that happened,” Sarina said.

Cassie took a deep breath that did nothing to steady her or her wobbly head, and told them everything.

Alison was biting off her fingernails by time she finished and Sarina had grumpily chugged her glass of milk. Vera frowned though, shaking her head.

“My brother’s always been stubborn. I don’t know what it’ll take to make him realize that he does care for you.”

Cassie scoffed. “He doesn’t care. The only thing he cares about with me is that his ‘seed is in my belly’. I never should have had sex with him. Then at least he couldn’t use that as some kind of lame excuse.”

“He’d probably just find some other excuse to use as a crutch,” Sarina said.

“Maybe I should go talk to him,” Vera said thoughtfully. Her words were slurred from the amount of hard lemonades she’d drunk.

“Don’t.” Cassie shook her head and the room spun a few extra times with the motion. “I heard your brothers going at him before I got there. Looks like they already had the convo with him. Didn’t make a lick of difference. He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t want me. But I love him.” She said that last with such ferocity that the girls all quieted.

“He’ll come around,” Sarina said stoutly. The others didn’t look so hopeful.

“Hey guys, what does ‘lumara’ mean?”

Everyone looked turned to look at her with openmouthed astonishment?

“Did he call you that?” Vera asked with a big grin.

“Well yes, today when we were in the shower. He was still pretty tired. He’d just woken up, but I’ve never heard that word before.”

The Kategan women turned to grin at each other before turning back to Cassie. “It means truemate or bondmate. That’s a special term we use with some we really love, usually our mate,” Alison explained.

Wow. Cassie’s heart leapt at the news. The fact that he called her this didn’t make her feel better though, it made her feel worse. This only gave her more questions. Did he only say it because he was half-asleep? Did he actually mean it? Maybe some part of him did recognize the connection between them like she did.

Cassie wanted to curl up and cry herself to sleep. Her heart was breaking in her chest and the alcohol was only making the pain more depressing. He didn’t love her. He didn’t even want her. He only cared about making sure she wasn’t pregnant. He’d protect her long enough for that, and then go back to brooding in his stupid little cabin.

Cassie perked up at the thought of burning it down. But he’d built it with his own two hands, he’d just build another. If her declaration of love wasn’t enough to turn him around, then nothing she could do work. The thought was like a blow to the heart.

“I’m gonna go use the bathroom,” Cassie mumbled and came to a shaky stand. The room teetered around her and she grabbed onto the back of a chair to steady herself.

“Careful now. When you get back, we’ll trash the male species and make a list of better, hotter guys we can totally set you up with,” Alison chimed.

The girl’s applauded the idea while she escaped to the bathroom. She tossed the lock on the door and went to the sink to toss some cold water on her face. The water felt frigid against her hot cheeks. She blotted her face dry with a hand towel but couldn’t do anything to staunch the flow of fresh tears running down her cheeks.

She glanced out the bathroom window. The drop to the ground was probably about twenty feet. The distance to the forest was about fifty yards. Even now she could see a sentry guard walking along that area.

Her gut clenched with fear and anxiety. She grabbed her stomach. Or maybe she was just going to hurl?

No, she hadn’t drank that much. Okay, maybe she did. She sniffled and went back to the faucet, turning on the water. She checked to make sure it was clear out the window, then she unlocked it and slowly lifted it.

The window made an awful squeak and she winced, pausing. When no one came banging on the door, she lifted it all the way. She glanced down at the drop and swallowed hard. Tossing first one leg out the window, then the other, she took a seat in the window, then jumped down.

The fall went by quickly. Now her heart was pounding hard and fast and loud in her ears. She looked left and right, then focused on the sentry. Using her vampiric speed, she raced across the field to the sentry and tackled him straight to the ground. He moved to attack her, and she stifled her surprise. Well of course he was going to fight her back!

She had no clue how to actually fight a trained warrior like this. Quickly, locking her arms and legs around his big body she looked into his eyes and quickly said, “Please don’t tell anyone. I just want to go. Darien can’t know. Please.” The sentry stopped what was probably going to be a painful attack and relaxed against her.

He looked from her, back to the window that was still open. What seemed like forever later, he finally shook his head and said, “Go but I make no promise. My loyalty is to the Kategans. The first thing I will do is tell Vane. If you want to leave then I suggest you hurry.”

Instead of feeling a burst of happiness at her freedom, she felt overwhelming sadness. She nodded her thanks to the guard and sprinted into the forest.

It was dark and her vision wasn’t the greatest at night. That coupled with the amount of alcohol she’d drank, and she’d pounded them back, had her tripping over tree limbs and her own damned feet.

She kept looking back over her shoulder, panic making her think that at any second she’d see the big lykaen barreling after her. Her heart was tightened with pain, and tears fell faster the further she got from the cabin, from Darien. Soon the tears were cascading down her face.

She tripped over a fallen tree and went flying through the air. Her stomach bottomed out from her like she was falling on a roller coaster. She skidded against the dirt with her landing, scraping her cheek, hands, and legs against the wet dirt floor.

She started to lift herself back up, but collapsed back down with bone-numbing exhaustion. She was pathetic, a miserable weak woman that couldn’t even run.

She smelled him first. Her heart stuttered in her chest and the tears flowed faster.

A big hand grabbed her shoulder and turned her over. His smile was cruel and very happy.

“I told you, I’d get you back, Cassandra.” She saw the fist flying at her but didn’t move. For once in her life, the fresh pain was welcoming. She saw blurry trees before her eyes, and then another hit rocked the other side of her face and she was out.

Chapter 14

Darien slammed the cabin door behind him. It croaked in protest and shuddered at the treatment.

What’s wrong with her? What did she expect from him? That she’d spout her love for him and he was supposed to forget about the past and mate with her right there. God dammit, she’d be a good mate too. He couldn’t deny that, even his beast agreed.

His mind flashed with the image of her holding a small baby with a full head of dark, Kategan hair. He held his breath, the image seemed so real. He could easily see her kissing the baby with that big beautiful smile of hers. He roared, turning and slammed his fist into the wall. The wood crack and splintered, bloodied his hand.

He’d protect her from Daniel and see to it that she got her happy life with a good male. He just couldn’t be that man for her.

A rapid knock at the front door had him flinging it open. It wasn’t the face he was hoping to see though. He recognized the hard look on Vane’s face.

“We got a problem.” His gut tightened so hard that his heart restricted in his chest, it was a wonder he could still breathe.

“What happened to her?” A part of him already knew. Could feel the wrongness of the situation. His beast was whipping its tail back and forth in agitation and crying out in pain.

“She left.”

“What do you mean she left?” he growled, his beast garbling his words.

“She climbed out the bathroom window, tackled Mike at his post, and ran off into the woods.”

Darien was already walking past him. He’d get her back if it were the last thing he did. Vane grabbed his arm.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going after her.”

“She doesn’t seem to want to be around you.”

“Fuck off, Vane. She’s drunk and hurting.” Because of me, he thought. “She doesn’t need to be alone right now.”

Vane shook his head and softly said, “And can you give her what she needs.” Darien’s chest expanded and slowly he exhaled.

“Yeah, I could at one point in my life. But now, Vane? I’m not so sure.” It was the truth, which was startled the hell out of him.

Darien started on a run back to Vane’s house. He knew her scent as good as his own. He’d track her down, kiss her for scaring the shit out of him, and then carry her back to his cabin. Vane’s feet pounded next to his.

“I’m coming with you.” Darien’s head snapped towards his.

“Why?”

“Because she might not want to come back with you,” Vane said simply. Vane was right, and the thought was like taking a knife to the heart. God dammit. He was such a fucked up asshole. He had to apologize. He had to get her back. He...cared for her.

He ran around the back of Vane’s cabin and looked up at the bathroom window.

“Jesus that’s at least a twenty foot drop.” Vane nodded grimly then pointed out to the forest. “Mike said he was on post there when she tackled him, asked him not to tell you that she was leaving.”

“She was trying to get away from me.” He froze. The realization ripped a burning hole in his chest. It was his duty, his honor to protect her, and yet all he’d done was drive her away, possibly into danger.

He took off running. He caught her scent easily—flowery and fresh. Lovely just like her. He opened up his scenes and followed the scent like a tracking hound.

He leaped over a particularly large fallen tree and came to a hard stop. He walked past the spot just behind the tree, but the scent wasn’t there. It lingered only here in this one area. An entirely new fear swept through him.

He took in the area like it was a crime scene. She’d tripped over the tree and skidded along the dirt. The earth was shoved like someone had slid hard against it. Dropping down on his knees, he felt his breath whoosh out of him at the sight of three single drops of blood.

His hand was shaking as he touched them. He brought them to his nose and sniffed. It was hers.

“Do you smell that?”

“She was here,” Darien said. “This is her blood.”

“That’s not what I mean.” Darien looked up at his brother. Vane looked around the perimeter of the forest. “It’s vampire.”

“Of course it smells like her, Vane.” He growled the words, anger suffusing his words. He didn’t have time for this shit. He was losing minutes already. Guilt overwhelmed him, eating away at him.

“God dammit, Darien, get over here and stop thinking. Use your fucking senses.” Darien growled but came over. The scent struck him so fast, it was like a blow to the face. His head snapped to the left.

“Another vampire. It’s got to be him. He took her.” An incredible force filled Darien, so powerful, so tremendous that his beast tightened against his skin, and his eyes glowed in the night. He took my woman, was his only thought.

“I’m going after her.”

“No, you’re not.”

Darien turned to his brother and shoved him. He went flying back against a tree. “Yes, I am.”

“She isn’t yours, Darien. That man has a right to her. If you go and try to steal her off his land, he’ll have justification to kill you.”

“If it’s a challenge he wants, then that’s what I’ll do. I cannot leave her there. I can’t let her go.”

Vane stilled then slowly straightened from his slouch against the tree. He stalked to his brother, grabbed his face in his hands growling, “I know you have it in you. Do this because you love her, Darien. Or you will lose her forever.” He clapped Darien close and hugged him fiercely, then spun around and left.

Darien’s mind was spinning. Love. Did he love her? He didn’t have time to stop and think, to debate such a complicated topic. His beast drove him now, primitive and raw. He knew only a few things in that moment. That Cassie was his woman, and that he was going to tear Daniel’s throat out for touching her.

He didn’t know if he was doing the right thing. He seemed to have spent most of his life making terrible choices; he just hoped this one wasn’t.

He followed the cold male scent that lingered with the beautiful scent of his woman. He would find her, just don’t let him be too late again.

His feet pounding into the ground, his heart a loud beat in his ears, he heard only the harsh sound of his breathing. As one mile turned into two and three, he realized that he would do anything to get Cassie back with him, and he was going to spend the rest of his life with her at his side.

It was as if his beast had been waiting for this moment to speak its mind, to voice its thoughts. How he’d ever, even for a second, thought he could let her be with another man. It was impossible. She was his. He growled into the night and ran harder, faster. She was his.

Chapter 15

Daniel dragged her through the crowd of his clan. They laughed at her, taunted her with cruel names, while some gave her apologetic glances. The faces swam by one another then blended until she didn’t know who was laughing and who was taunting. Her face throbbed and burned where he’d hit her, she no longer knew if it was the alcohol that was making the world spin out of control or if her brain was still shaking from the hit.

She recognized the big open lawn Daniel had brought her to—his house. Daniel’s clan congregated around a huge bonfire that flickered into the night, casted shadows along sharp grinning faces. A wooden post was sticking straight out of the ground near it.

“We have our soon-to-be queen back, ladies and gentlemen!” Daniel announced grandly. The clan applauded and cheered. Cassie knew she was completely sober now. The tears were dried up. She was left now with only resolution. She was done. It was all over now.

Daniel tossed her over to the guards, and they grabbed her roughly, dragged her kicking legs over to that pole. Never had anything so simple terrified her before. They pulled her arms behind her while the crowd cheered on, and then her arms were tied roughly behind the pole. One guard held her up straight so the other one could tie her feet with a thick yellow rope. Humiliation and fear consumed her.

They tied her wrists together with rough, hard movements that bit the rope into her soft skin. Her hands started fighting against the rope anyways until she, felt her skin breaking. Only then did she stop, hanging her head in defeat.

Daniel paced around the fire. “Tonight is a great night for our people. Not only will you have a new queen, but I will finally have my mate.”

Cassie’s stomach lurched and bile rose up her throat. She swallowed it back down.

Daniel stopped in front of her. His smile had her cringing away from him, standing as far against the wooden post as she could get.

He grabbed her face in two hands then slammed his mouth down on hers. Cassie did the first thing she thought to, and opened her mouth and bit him. He pulled back with a hiss then landed a wide, open-palmed slap against her cheek.

The crowd grew quiet around her, watching her and Daniel with weary eyes.

“Take her clothes off,” he ordered to the guards. They didn’t hesitate. They pulled out knifes and started cutting at her shirt and pants. She gritted her teeth and swore to herself not to cry. Be strong.

“As if that would stop me from cutting the dog out of you.” His cruel words were a shock even to her. A reminder just how low he was.

Once again donning a smile for the crowd, he said, “Come on everyone, turn on the music. Tonight is a night for celebration. She has come back to us. To celebrate this fantastic occasion, I shall mate with your queen here for all eyes to see.”

Cassie paled. Her nakedness in front of the crowed was disgusting, humiliating enough. But he was going to...

She shuddered and lifted her chin. He would not best her this night or any others. Free me, her eyes dared, glowing with anger.

“I will kill you,” she said in a quavering, powerful voice. Daniel spun to her and grinned as his eyes trailed down her body.

“Then I will lock you up and ensure that you never have that chance, my darling Cassandra.” Cassie leveled a hard gaze at him. She would not go out without a fight. She would fight for herself, and she would fight for Darien. Because she loved him so much that the thought of never seeing him again was like acid burning over her heart. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t live like that.

“Untie me and let me fight for my freedom.” Daniel held his side as a loud laugh bellowed out of him. He stalked close to her, still chuckling. He pushed his body hard against hers. She kept her body still but couldn’t stop from twitching when suddenly his voice was in her ear.

“Your freedom has never been in your hands, Cassandra. It’s been in mine since you were only a wee thing. Do you want to know how startled your father looked when I stabbed him in the heart?”

Cassie jerked and looked at him with disbelieving eyes. His were wild and wide, his expression evil with insanity.

“My father committed suicide, because he missed my mother too much.” Her words were weak and soft even to her own ears.

He gripped her chin in a bruising grip and kissed her hard. When she opened her mouth to bite him again, he pulled back with a delighted chuckle. “Your father never committed suicide, Cassandra. He loved you too much for that, no matter how much he missed your stupid mother. No, I killed him.”

There was no stopping the sudden, horrible pain that stabbed through her heart like a stake. Tears filled her eyes. For so long, she’d thought....

“Why?” she asked hoarsely.

His mouth fell into a flat line. “Besides the fact that I hated him? He always had everything I wanted. The beautiful wife, the good daughter...it should have been mine. Didn’t your father ever tell you that she was with me first?”

Cassie shook her head side to side in his grip, tears falling loosely down her cheeks. Her mother died that night. Pieces started pulling together like a puzzle.

“Did you...kill her too?” He pulled back and looked at her with dead, vacant eyes. He did. He didn’t need to say it. Cassie tore her head away from him and bellowed her grief to the night. Cries shook through her. A part of her realized the clan had quieted, the music stopped, and everyone was looking at her curiously.

In that moment, she wanted to kill them all. She wanted to rip Daniel’s heart out for killing her parents, for destroying the family she should have had, and she wanted to burn his useless clan for standing by and doing nothing.

She thought of her father, of the pictures he’d shown her of her mother. That’s where she’d gotten her red hair from, her father had said. You have my eyes, and your mom’s hair. You’re the most beautiful girl in the world, doll. Those were his last words to her on the night he’d died. He’d tucked her into bed, kissed her on the forehead, and left.

A power filled her. A serene calm that cooled the fire in her blood, and the rage in her heart to a tranquil level. She looked out over the clan, at Daniel, at the guard’s who’d tied her up. She memorized their faces and made sure they’d remember hers.

“My father made one mistake in his life. He trusted this man Daniel. In giving him his trust, his wife was murdered, and then he was in return. As the ultimate payback, he now tries to have his daughter—the worse revenge to a man like my father. I want all of you to know that the will that binds me to Daniel is wrong, and that any of you who stay here tonight will either spend the rest of your lives rotting in a Justicar’s prison, or will die by my own hand.”

Murmurs and whispers broke out among the crowd. She had to speak up to be heard over it. “Leave now and I will not pursue you in any way, but if you stay and support this murderer, then I will not rest until you are dead beside his cold body.”

The crowd grew restless, looking from her to Daniel. Then, slowly, people started to edge away. Daniel roared and grabbed one of them, a woman. He snatched her by the hair and pulled a long knife out.

“Leave and she dies,” he growled. The crowd came back. No longer were there whispers or even smiles.

Good, Cassie thought, his people should be afraid of him. They had no idea just how mad he was.

“That’s it,” Daniel said, turning to her with anger blazing in his eyes. “We finish the mating ceremony now! Guards, if anyone tries to leave, kill them.”

Daniel stalked back to her. The first time he touched her, had her cringing. The next, she clamped her mouth shut and held her body rigid. He will die for this.

His hands found her breasts, her hips, between her legs. She blinked quickly as he started taking off his shirt with quick, jerky movements. The mating ceremony did not require sex, merely the blood exchange to bond the individuals together. Most couples did have sex while mating, to share the experience at the most intense and wonderful of levels.

His cold pale eyes found her. “Will you beg me not to touch your body?” His hands fell to his jeans and he unbuttoned them, then pulled down the zipper. “Will you beg me to stop?” Cassie stared into his eyes and said nothing.

A sudden, heart-pounding howl ripped through the night. Cassie’s heart stuttered in her chest so hard, she gasped. He’s here! Darien. Her body broke out into a sweat and she fought against her ropes, no longer feeling the biting pain of the cuts in her wrists.

Everyone whipped to see what made that sound, but she knew. She held her chin higher and worked at the ropes. Her real mate was here. She could have laughed in that moment. She’d worried before that Daniel could hurt her lykaen. Impossible, her mate was a primitive beast.

She heard another growl, this one so loud it echoed into the forest around them. She almost smiled.

There was a commotion at the back of the clan. Cassie strained to see him, to see anything, but heads blocked her way. Suddenly, there was a grunting sound, and then a guard went soaring impossibly high into the air. He landed across the other side of the clan with a bone-cracking landing.

“Cassie!” The sound of him roaring her name was the beautiful thing she’d ever heard.

“Darien!” The crowd parted as he stormed towards her. When the crowd didn’t move fast enough, he shoved them out of the way. Cassie gasped at what she saw. Darien had gone full beast. His lykaen glowed from his eyes bright amber. His chest was rising and collapsing with great big gulps as he panted. His fists were huge masses of angry meat ready to give a pounding to someone.

His eyes fell straight to hers, and she wanted to cry so badly. She never thought she’d see him again. His eyes, somehow, impossibly grew angrier as they fell over her naked form, then to Daniel’s half-naked body.

Daniel snapped his pants back together, then stepped in front of her. Darien growled a warning that clearly said back away from my woman or lose your throat.

Daniel laughed, the sound genuinely amused. “Well isn’t this turning out to be one of hell of a night. This is quite the bang, I must say. You must be the dog that’s been fucking my woman.”

Darien’s hands curled into fists and Cassie heard bones popping. “She is not your woman. I challenge you to the rights of her.” He pointed straight at her, and Cassie’s heart wept with love. Had she even told him she loved him? Because she did so much. She couldn’t remember now. Too much was happening too fast, she had no time to just stop and think.

Daniel crossed his arms and she could hear the laughter in his voice. “You challenge me, lykaen? This is just too good. I accept. Move out clan, give me space to beat this pup to a pulp.” The clan moved back in a wide circle, leaving the bonfire in the center and her near it.

Cassie watched wide eyed as Darien stalked Daniel like a predator, sidling to the side, his eyes narrowed and focused. Cassie couldn’t help herself, she had to say it, had to just in case....

“I love you, Darien!” His eyes shot up to hers, and then Daniel made his move.

Daniel used his incredible speed to get behind Darien and wrap his arm around his neck in a brutal grip. He landed a dozen hard, bruising punches to Darien’s side in under a second. The moves were so fast, the motions were blurred with his speed.

Cassie gasped and winced as Darien yelled and kicked back his head, hitting Daniel square in the face. Daniel lost his grip on Darien and stumbled back. Darien turned to the side and executed one perfect kick to Daniel’s stomach. Daniel flew to the ground, and the predator jumped on top of him with a ferocious growl, landing two blows to his face before Daniel spun them so fast, Cassie never saw it happen.

One second Darien was on top, and then he was on bottom and Daniel was feasting at his throat.

“No!” she screamed. Darien used his incredibly lykaen strength to flip Daniel off. Before Daniel could even land on the ground, Darien was boxing his face with savage, hammering fists. A sharp crack sounded and Cassie knew something had broken. Whether it was in Darien’s hand or Daniel’s face, she didn’t know.

Hope filled her. Darien would win. But then Daniel disappeared. Cassie looked everywhere for him and suddenly he reappeared behind Darien. He hit Darien in the back and sent Darien sprawling to the ground with a heavy thud. Daniel didn’t hesitate to leap on top of him and pound into that same side he’d hit before.

This time she heard bones crack and snap with a nasty crunching sound. Darien roared in pain but managed to buck Daniel off him.

They both stood then, circling each other. Daniel wore a cocky smile and Darien wore a look of grim determination. He held his side with one arm and Cassie saw blood around his lips. Panic the likes of which she’d never felt came over her then. She no longer struggled at her ties. A horrible sickness filled her stomach.

Daniel exploded after him. He grabbed hold of Darien’s wrist and bent the arm backwards, twisting it until a disgusting crack happened. Darien roared and kicked out of his huge, strong legs into Daniel. He went flying back again. Cassie watched him with wide eyes. He didn’t use his speed. In fact he slowly got up, his smile looking more like a grimace now.

Her eyes flickered back to Darien and saw more blood coming out of his mouth and down the side of his lip. The bite wound at his neck was bleeding messily down to his chest, and his arm hung uselessly at his side.

Still he stalked to Daniel as he stood. That determination never wavered, not even for a second. Using his one free hand, he snatched Daniel by his hair and threw him. Daniel went flying through the air and landed in the bonfire. He roared a hideous sound and rolled out of the fire. His skin was charred black and burnt. He rolled on the ground to subdue the flames.

Darien stalked after him with brutal steps. “She’s my woman,” he growled. He stopped next to Daniel who was gasping and shivering in agony. Cassie watched as flesh became blistered and swollen before her eyes.

Darien shoved a booted foot into Daniel’s throat. Daniel gasped and choked under the pressure, and grabbed the foot to try to break the hold.

“You will die for touching her, for every time you hurt her.” Cassie watched slack jawed as Darien leaned close to Daniel’s face and growled garbled words. “She is my mate.” And then he struck. Cassie couldn’t watch. She heard the nasty wet sounds of meat and flesh and blood over a growl.

It seemed like a minute passed until the noise finally stopped.

“Open your eyes baby.” Sweeter words had never been said. Her eyes shot open.

“Darien,” she choked, emotion clogging her voice. He ripped the ropes from around her and only then did she look over to see the torn up throat and chest of Daniel. There was a whole in the cavity of his chest where his heart should be. Her gaze fell to Darien’s mouth, which was surprisingly devoid of blood, but then she saw the big red splotch at the bottom of his shirt that he must have used to wipe his mouth.

No one stopped him as he pulled the ropes off her and picked her up. He was so incredibly warm, she cuddled against him and let him block the nastiness of everything from around her.

“The Justicars will be here. I have won her fair. If you try to stop me, you’ll end up like him,” he said to the crowd. No one moved. No one spoke.

He left on a run. How he could manage to move at the blows he took, she had no idea.

When they got deep into the forest, she finally stopped squeezing him tight. Sobs left her and he stopped running.

He dropped to a seat against a tree and pulled her close. Even more sobs broke out of her.

“Ah, babe, you’re breaking my heart,” he said. His voice was still filled with the lykaen but not nearly so garbled. She half laughed, half cried against his shoulder and held him tighter.

He winced with pain and she pulled back quickly. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” Tilting his head to the side, she inspected his neck wound. “My saliva can heal it. It won’t be super fast, but it can help,” she said, her own voice husky. She went to lick it, but he stopped her.

“No, Cassie. I don’t want your mouth where he’s been.” Cassie looked at him with teary eyes. She couldn’t stop herself from wrapping his thick hair in her hands and kissing him.

He kissed her back. There was so much said in that kiss. Passion, words, and emotion passed between them, and she felt the love he had for her. When she pulled back, gasping for breath, she was smiling feeling more giddy than she ever had.

“You love me,” she said, pressing her forehead to his.

His hand stilled over her back, and for a second her heart stopped beating. She slowly lifted her eyes to his. His good arm came up and he swiped his thumb across her bottom lip. She watched his throat swallow hard and then the next words out of his mouth had her trembling.

“Cassie, I love you so damn much.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “You’re my lumara.” He kissed her harder. “My woman.” His tongue swiped across her bottom lip. “My mate.” His slanted and captured her mouth in a kiss that stole the breath from her and breathed it back into her. Giving her life even as he took it.

She didn’t know how long they stayed that way, but she knew that time passed as they merely sat with each other and kissed and kissed. She hesitantly, finally, pulled away uncaring how big she was smiling.

“Let’s go, lumara. We need to get you fixed up.” He grunted his agreement and slowly came to a stand.

She leaned against him, and he wrapped his good arm around her and they walked in silence together.

Chapter 16

Cassie woke up to a wonderful sensation. The man she loved was wrapped around her like he never wanted to let her go. One hand cupped her breast and his other arm was under her head for a pillow.

Slowly, so as not to wake him, she turned her head to see him. He still slept deeply. Testing the waters, she scooted her butt back against him and wasn’t surprised to find a hot erection waiting for her. Biting her lip and grinning, she wiggled against him, and still he didn’t wake up. The man was seriously a heavy sleeper.

Her body was growing a different kind of warm remembering how she’d once woken him before. She turned in his arms. If she was worried that he’d suddenly bolt awake, it was really unnecessary. The man slept like a rock. She was silently laughing by time she had him flat on his back, her panties wiggled off, and was sitting astride him.

Her lykaen was wonderfully naked under the covers. She grimaced as she saw the dark purple and blue bruises along his side and back. She made sure she didn’t touch them as she rested her hands on his chest. See, all the better with her on top. She wouldn’t want him to hurt himself. She chuckled again and he made some nonsense noises in his throat.

Reaching between them she grabbed his cock in a hand. He filled her fist, stretched her hand open with his girth. She softly trailed her hand up and down his shaft, feeling the baby soft skin over hard flesh. Her body was growing wetter, softer by the second. She needed him. Sitting forward, she put him at her wet entrance, then slowly lowering herself, stuffed his cock inside her.

A low, soft moan left her throat and didn’t stop until he was seated deep within her. She nibbled on her lip and rocked her hips around, just enjoying the feeling of him so strong and hard inside her.

When two hands grabbed her hips, her eyes shot open. Darien stared up at her with hooded, sexy eyes. “You sure do know how to wake a man up, baby.”

Laughing, she leaned down and kissed him softly before pulling away. The ache inside her was rising quickly. She braced her hands on his strong, hard chest and lifted herself up and down his cock. Her wet tissues pulled and dragged along his shaft as he rubbed her everywhere that mattered.

He let out a deep, rough groan that had her nipples pulling into little puckered points. His hands gentled on her and ran up her sides to cup her breasts and tug at those hard peaks.

“How’s your arm feel?” she groaned as she sank back onto him. She was no longer breathing, but panting. Each time he landed inside her, he bumped something that pushed her towards something intense and incredible.

“I can move it enough to do this,” he said and tugged on her nipples. “God you feel amazing.”

She hummed softly in her throat and quickened her pace. Soon her pussy was slapping down against him, making a sexy noise. Her skin tightened and fiery liquid boiled through her body. Her release was building and building. Her head fell back and her lips parted as ragged gasps burst from her throat.

“Christ, that’s it.” Darien’s hands gripped her hips again and slammed her down onto him over and over, faster and faster. Her breasts bobbed heavily and his cock swelled inside her. He hit that wonderful spot again, and then she was crying out, her fingers curling into his chest, as her body rippled and shivered her hot release.

She felt his cock swell even more and then he was shouting his release, fucking her milking muscles as his cum doused the liquid fire inside her. She collapsed against him, breathing hard.

“Wake me up like that anytime.” She laughed and kissed him. “So are you ready?” he asked.

She pulled back and traced a finger over his lips. Soft, warm lips. “For what?”

“To become my mate.” Her finger stilled and the breath she’d been taking whooshed from her.

Her eyes rose to his. “Really?”

He smiled, and she was pretty sure it was the first time she’d ever seen him smile. It was wide, beautiful smile that had her toes curling, her breath catching.

“Yes. Yes!” She dropped down on him and kissed him until his cock rose against her. She wiggled against said length and whispered huskily, “Do you wanna...?”

He laughed and spanked her ass. “Not yet. I want to mate with you first.”

“Oh, I don’t know how you guys mate...”

Darien kissed her again, his tongue scraping across her. “Don’t worry about that. The Kategans will take care of it.”

He was right. And they did.

Later that afternoon, the entire Kategan family and their pack waited in attendance for the mating ceremony of her and Darien.

Vera lent her a beautiful dress that was a creamy white and fell neatly to the ground. Earlier they took a lock of her hair and cut it off. Cassie wasn’t sure what it had to do with the ceremony, she was too excited to even ask. She had a big stupid smile on her face that wouldn’t go away no matter how hard she tried. So what the hell, she thought and grinned happily.

Yet, every time someone asked her if she needed something her fangs started to drop. She hadn’t eaten in days. She was starving. But just the thought that Darien was going to mate with her, sent her stomach rumbling.

Would he let her mate with him her way too? Would he become part vampire for her? Gah, she was anxious and excited and nail biting nervous all at the same time.

A man came in then wearing a goofy smile. “Are you ready Cassie?” She nodded and stood.

“I’m Alfonse, the Elder who performs the mating ceremony. I must say I’m excited to be mating another Kategan off to a vampire. We will have some interesting children running around here someday.” He smiled at her and held his elbow out to her. She took it and walked out with him towards a great, wide-open field.

Hundreds of people were there. They looked at her with excited eyes and smiles. Butterflies danced even more in her stomach and wouldn’t stop.

“Don’t be nervous. See that man over there. That’s all you need to think about.” Cassie looked across the clearing and there he stood. He wore a suit. And damn did he look good. No, delicious. Yummy. Extraordinary. Darien filled the black suit out like an exotic bodybuilder. Her eyes traveled down his pants and landed on his bare, tan feet. She couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing. His eyes lit up at hers even from across the distance. She had the urge to yell, “I’m not wearing shoes either!” but managed to stifle it. Later, I’ll tell him later.

The pack knelt as she approached. She walked arm and arm with the Elder Alfonse as Darien strode to meet her with the gait of a happy and cocky man. He practically swaggered. Alfonse took his position before them, but Cassie couldn’t look at him. She only had eyes for Darien.

“I can’t wait,” she heard him say, and then she was in his arms and he was kissing her. She heard the pack go wild with cheers. She smiled against Darien’s mouth and finally pushed against his shoulders. He let her go, but not all the way. He pulled her close and kept her touching his side as they went through the ceremony.

They each held out their wrists as Alfonse took a band about a foot long made of locks of their hair and pieces of their clothing. She recognized the sight of her worn blue jeans—the same ones she’d worn when she met Darien and a piece of one of his black t-shirts.

They recited vows to each other. Darien said his words quicker, huskier than hers. He looked down as he said his, and she swore her heart melted in her chest. She said hers back and her voice wobbled. As the cloth was wrapped around her wrist and then his, Alfonse announced the ceremony complete.

Darien pulled her close, leaned down, and kissed her the kiss of a lifetime. His mouth captured hers and devastated her senses. It was a kiss that said my woman forever.

He pulled back, turned them to face the crowd, then held their entwined hands in the air. The pack came to a stand and cheered. Vera whistled loudly, Sarina had tears in her eyes, and Alison was jumping up and down clapping. Cassie shook her head at them and smiled.

Darien bent down low and whispered huskily in her ear, “It’s time to run, lumara.”

“Why?” she whispered back. Was this part of the ceremony?

“Because when I catch you, I’m going to claim my mate. I’m going to make you come until you can’t come anymore. And then you’re going to sink your little fangs into my neck.”

Shaking, Cassie looked around at the pack and then the open expanse of field that led to the forest beyond. “Okay,” she said on a trembling breath. “Give me a head start.” If he didn’t, she’d never make it and he’d mount her in front of all these people. He nodded at her, and then the corner of his lip turned up. Not in a grin, or a smile, but in a lecherous, devious smile that had her panties going wet. His look devoured.

Cassie waved her thanks to the crowd then stopped by the Kategan women. “Would someone mind holding this for me?” She cast a quick glance back at Darien to see him looking ready to pounce. “And hurrrry,” she sang.

Grinning, Vera took the bonding tie thingy from her. “Okay, Darien and I will be back later...don’t wait up.” Then she lifted the bottom of her dress and took off running.

Thank God she was a vampire and could move fast because his feet started pounding on the ground after her, not even a second later, like he couldn’t help himself.

She broke through the tree line but he was on her, coming fast. Her heart was pounding loud in her ears. She stopped running. Spinning around she backed herself up against a tree. She fought to catch her breath as she watched him approach. After all, she didn’t want to run form this man.

He came at her like he did when he attacked Daniel...like a predator after prey. He stalked her, grabbed her face in his hands, and kissed her. His tongue thrust into her mouth and she moaned at his delicious male taste.

She felt the eagerness radiating from his. His hands traveled over her body, cupping and shaping her against him. She felt the cool air against her legs and realized he was lifting her dress.

She wrapped her arms around him, bracing herself by his shoulders as his fingers teased the outside of her panties.

Soft, needy gasps left her. He turned to kiss her cheek, then down to her neck. “You please me, mate.” His fingers parted the soft, wet material of her panties, and then he was petting her wet pussy folds. He growled against her throat, the action vibrating through her to her nipples and pussy.

“Darien,” she moaned.

His finger thrust through her lips to circle around and around her little bud. Her hips jerked against him, and he growled his approval. Then the touch was gone and his finger thrust up into her.

She cried out and struggled to get him deeper, bigger, anything. Her body was crying for him with mindless desperation. Her shaking hands fell down his chest to his waistband. She wasted no time in ripping his pants open and pulling out his cock.

He bit her again, in reprimand or something else, she didn’t know. She just knew what she needed. His finger thrust in and out of her, dragging along her flesh with its teasing touch, only making her want more. His other hand tugged at her bodice, and then her breasts spilled out.

He growled and took one hard nipple into his mouth to lick and suck on. “Oh yes,” she said. Her hand fisted his cock in a hard grip. She couldn’t stop herself, she started pumping her hand against his flesh. He was so hot, so hard. His mouth continued to work her breast, and then both hands were at her naked hips, lifting her dress up to her waist.

Cassie moaned and spread her legs, arching her hips forward. The head of his cock tickled the hair between her legs and she moaned. She went up on her tiptoes and caught him at just the right angle. He slid between her legs, bumping against her clit. His hips pumped then and each motion across her clit fueled her with ravenous passion.

Her hands clutched his cock, pumping him hard and fast. He was leaking furiously from the tip, his pre-cum wetting her hand. Finally, he tore his mouth away from her breast, grabbed her ass in his hands, and hefted her hips toward his. His cock thrust in on one hard dive.

They both cried out, and then he was taking her. He hammered into her with driving thrusts that bounced her against the tree and stretched and filled her pussy again and again

There was no building up to her orgasm, it was already here. She started coming loudly. She screamed her release to the whole forest, uncaring who or what heard her. He growled, his breathing hard and loud against her ear as he took her.

He bit into the muscle at her shoulder and neck one more time and then his hips pushed deep were jerking against hers as jets of semen surged inside her. She moaned and worked her hips against him, trying to keep him there forever, trying to prolong the delicious sensations.

A minute passed and their breathing quiet to gentle hums. Darien pulled back, and his eyes were smoldering with sexual heat. He pulled his still rock hard cock out of her.

“Get on the ground.” Cassie was shaking with anticipation. She wanted to come again and again with this man, on this night, and for the rest of her life. She got on the ground and then looked at him. “Take off the dress,” he said as he started ripping his off from his body. Cassie obeyed quickly and wiggled the dress off. She tossed it and her panties aside just as he was coming down over her.

He kissed her knee, then traveled up her inner thigh. When his lips first touched her sex, she tried to close her legs. When his wide, raspy tongue darted out and spread her wet lips open, she cried out. When he growled huskily and settled between her with darting flicks across her bud, she went rigid with pleasure, her hands shooting his hair.

“Darien!” He was brutal against her. “I’ve never— I’ve never—” she mumbled, and then blooming heat was building inside her. A fine trembling started in her pussy, spread to her thighs and then hips.

A sharp, hard release rocked through her, exploded inside her. She screamed as her hips jerked against his face. He dove back against her sex and licked until every last wave swept through her and she was left twitching and panting.

He crawled up her then looking every bit the cocky man. “If you still want to mate with me your way then you better do it now, because otherwise I’m going to fuck you and I won’t be able to stop.”

Cassie grew even warmer. Her cream was dripping from her thighs and yet she felt like she hadn’t even come once. Like everything before now had just been foreplay. She pulled his face close, then turned his head to the side. He rested his big sexy body on top of hers, and then she bit deep.

He sucked in a sharp breath and she drew his thick essence into her with deep, drugging pulls. His hands drew her thighs up over his arms, and then his cock found her wet channel and pushed inside. She nearly lost her bearing on his throat with the force of his thrust. But she wrapped her arms around him tight and drank.

He took her hard, his cock pounding into her wet pussy with hard, anxious thrusts. She moaned over his throat, and his cock swelled inside her. Yes, yes, she wanted to scream. Come inside me!

She took one long, last pull and then he slammed in deep and groaned. She felt his cum jetting inside her. It triggered her own response, and then a deep release exploded inside her. She tore her mouth away and screamed ‘till her throat was hoarse.

When the last of the effects faded, she lazily pulled her wrist to her mouth and bit into it; she turned it and held it to his lips. His tongue twirled over the beads before he latched onto it and took it in sharp pulls. The sensations were incredible. Each time he sucked, it felt like his mouth was back down on her. His cock amazingly pressed hard against her thigh again. When it was enough, she stopped him and pulled her wrist back. It was done. He was forever hers.

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you so fucking much. I’m so sorry about everything. I was such an ass. I didn’t know how to stop living in the past, but you helped me so much.”

She stared up at him with wide eyes. “Really?” He nodded then pulled from her. She saw that his cock was still hard and she shook her head.

“You’re insatiable.”

“I hope that’s not going to be a problem. I happen to have a thing for a little red-headed vampire.” Suddenly, he flipped her over. Her warm skin met the chill of the dirt beneath her.

“No problem,” she gasped as his hands cupped her cheeks, trailed down to her thighs, then back up her spine. He grabbed the back of her neck in what she could only define as a dominant, lykaen gold, and then his hard cock was pressing against her core. He entered her slowly. Muscles spreading wide over the hard press.

“I love watching my cock go inside you. You’re so small, yet you spread so wide and tight around me.” Finally, he made it in all the way, only to pull back out just as slowly. Her hands curled into the dirt. “My beast likes you.” She moaned in answer as his hips picked up pace. Each thrust pounded inside her, slapping her ass and tantalizing her with pleasure. She moaned, but it wasn’t enough.

“Darien,” she said raggedly. She felt torn between an incredible orgasm and never having one at all. He must have understood though because he bore her down to the ground until she felt her nipples dragging along the dirt. And then he was pounding into her with animal savagery.

He grunted with pleasure as her sex started constricting. This was it. Surely she was about to die from this. No one could survive this kind of pleasure. He was relentless, hard and fast, hammering into her tight slit. It was just what she needed, the culmination of their mating.

She exploded, flying apart like fireworks, screaming her pleasure into the ground and her body contorted and squeezed, milked and wrung his cock.

He grunted harsher, his hands tightening her with his possessive touch. He landed deep, his cock shooting endless jets of hot cream inside her.

He pulled out and collapsed next to her as she collapsed. They watched each other, panting, then burst out laughing. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

“We’re going to have a good life together, Cassie.”

“Yes, we are. And we’ll name our first daughter after your mother.” His eyes widened.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yes. I love you.”

“I don’t think I deserve you, lumara.”

She shrugged and chuckled. “Well, I think you do.” She leaned closed and kissed him and didn’t stop for a very long time.

About the Author

T. A. Grey lives in Missouri where she spends her days writing and reading heart pounding stories in the comfort of her home. She has two wild cats that never leave her alone and a loving fiancé who surprises her with gifts of cherry taffy. She has a weakness for feeding stray cats, listening to old music, and trying out new recipes. After graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing, she has since spent her days filling up pages with sexy and imaginative stories. You can learn more about her books at www.tagrey.com.

Content

Eternal Temptation
The Kategan Alphas 4
By T. A. Grey

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

About the Author