Dark Protectors: Provoked Part 12

The slap to her thigh made her gasp.

"Yes." His shoulders settled into place, keeping her open to him. Whether she liked it or not. "You have quite the rebellious streak, don't you? Let's see what we can do about that."

Who was this guy? She levered up to tell him off when his mouth got serious. Coughing out a sob, she dropped back to the blanket. Man, he was talented.

A rumble of pleasure echoed against her flesh as he went to work. Alternating between soft caresses and more intense licks, he had her mind spinning and her body gyrating within minutes. A bite to her thigh made her cry out. Then his mouth went back to her core. Minutes later she couldn't tell the difference between pain and pleasure.

Minutes after that she was begging in incoherent sobs.

Finally, he lifted up, a pleased smile curving his lips. "Now that's better."

The words didn't register. Her entire body was alight, in definite pain, in a craving too intense to be real. Yet it was. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, she knew she was going to kill him the next day. But for now, she almost sobbed in relief when he yanked off his briefs and settled against her. Finally.

He plunged inside her with one strong stroke.

Pain. Her entire body arched in denial. He was too big. She shoved against his shoulders, her breath catching.

"Give it a second," he whispered against her neck, his heated breath sending s.h.i.+vers along her collarbone.

With a catch in her throat, she nodded, settling back down.

Her body relaxed, accepting him. Her eyes fluttered shut at the exquisite pleasure. Who knew?

Slowly, he drew out and then plunged back inside her.

She gasped, both hands clutching into his tight a.s.s. "Again."

Warning hinted in his sudden smile. She should've kept quiet. He shook his head, dark hair moving around his shoulders. "Giving orders, are we?"

"No." Quick, her response burst out before she could think.

"Hmm." Staying inside her, filling her beyond what she thought she could take, his mouth dropped to her right breast and engulfed her nipple in fire. His wet tongue flicked and teased the peak.

Her nails dug into his b.u.t.t, trying to get him moving again.

His teeth closed and nipped.

The breath swooshed out of her lungs as she paused. Too fast to track, he grabbed both her hands and flattened them against the blanket under his. "Not that I mind wearing your marks, sweetheart, but a man does like to take his time."

"I'm going to kill you." She wrapped her legs around his hips, holding him in place. "Tomorrow." After their one night.

His smile lightened something inside her. "Then I really should enjoy my last night on earth." Deadly fangs dropped low. His eyebrows rose in question.

All instinct and without conscious thought, she turned and exposed her neck.

His low growl of satisfaction echoed throughout her body to where they remained joined.

Seconds later sharp points embedded in her flesh. A flash of pain was brushed away by intense satisfaction.

But the intense pleasure wasn't hers. The feeling, dark and deep, came from Kane. Was this part of her gift? Or was this part of Kane's talents? Either way, she relaxed into the sensation, letting the raw thrill take hold.

She'd accidentally taken some mushrooms once that apparently were as strong as LSD. That was nothing compared to the feeling shooting her neurons into flight as Kane Kayrs took her blood.

Giving a low groan, Kane released her hand to grab her b.u.t.t, moving out and in. His fangs retracted and he licked her neck. Increasing his speed, he began to pound in a fierce rhythm.

The pounding matched the wildness pouring through Amber's veins. Her thighs tightened as she clasped her ankles together, meeting his thrusts. A spiraling started deep inside her. Breathing became impossible. Then breath became unnecessary.

The only thing that mattered was where that spiraling sensation wanted to take her.

His c.o.c.k was hard, pulsing, somehow demanding. He thrust harder, angling over her c.l.i.t.

She broke with a cry, tidal waves of pleasure cras.h.i.+ng through her. Her internal muscles spasmed around him as he continued to thrust, sharp fangs embedding in her neck again.

With a low growl, he stiffened against her as he came.

Sighing, her entire body went limp against the blanket.

Kane licked her collarbone, raising up to flash a satisfied smile.

She smiled back. "That was well worth the one night."

His grin turned wicked through the firelight. "Ah, darlin'. We're nowhere near done."

CHAPTER 11.

A weak morning sun tried to filter through the swirling snow outside the small cabin. Amber had been awake for about ten minutes, listening to the crazy storm and wondering where Kane had gone. She gathered the blanket closer and stumbled toward the window. Multiple muscles flared to life in protest.

She had been well and truly f.u.c.ked.

Kane Kayrs, vampire, now knew her body better than she did. He hadn't missed a millimeter in his exploration.

Like the scientist he was, he'd discovered her every secret. And then some.

Jesus. She could barely walk.

Stifling a whimper, she glared out at the still raging storm. Just how long could Mother Nature keep up the violence? No way could Amber survive another night with Kane, and no way would she keep her hands off him if left alone into the darkness again. Her well-used body needed a doggone rest.

Closing her eyes, she repeated her grandmother's chants. Never again would she forget that morning ritual.

The door opened with a bang. Kane stalked inside, raking her with that serious gaze. "Are you all right?"

She straightened and forced a smile. "I'm fine."

"Good. Get dressed." He turned and began gathering the weapons he'd left on a sofa table. "The storm is still raging, but we need to get out of here. The Kurjans will have been watching Talen's house and are not smart enough to wait for the storm to pa.s.s."

"I'm not going back in that boat." She reached for the clothes Kane had laid out on the mantel to dry the night before. Holding them against the blanket, she s.h.i.+fted her feet. "Um, turn around."

Sinful and quick, his smile flashed. "No."

"Yes." The urge to stomp her foot tightened her leg muscles.

"Amber, I know every inch of your body," he drawled. "It's a little late for shyness."

Some scientist. The guy was actually a rake. Vulnerability lifted her chin. "The night is over. Now turn around."

He prowled toward her and covered her hands with his. Dropping his head, his mouth pressed hard against her lips, his tongue sweeping inside. Taking. Warm, sure, and demanding, his mouth took hers like he owned it. Maybe after the previous night, he did.

She was gasping for breath when he lifted his head to survey her neck. A slow glide of his thumb along her jugular sent electricity zapping through her veins.

He smiled. "The puncture wounds haven't quite healed. Interesting." Raising his head, he pierced her with a dark gaze, intrigue filling his eyes.

"Why is that interesting?" she asked, her voice hoa.r.s.e.

"Usually when we lick a wound, if we lick a wound, it disappears. You're still wearing my mark, darlin'."

She lifted her chin farther. "Why does that please you?"

He started. "I have no idea." Both eyebrows slashed down. "Though I have to admit, the fact pleases me greatly." His frown intensified.

She drew back. "Last night was a one-shot deal." If she ever recovered, she was running fast in the other direction. One more night like that, and the vampire would own her. Without question, he'd claimed her in a way she'd never forget, probably never find again. But she couldn't stay with him. "I believe, remember?"

He growled low. "Yes. Happily-ever-after and all of that. Love and emotion." Then he sighed. "Okay, get dressed. There's an old truck in the shed outside. We'll head to town and find a land phone that actually works." Releasing her, he moved to blanket out the fire.

She hurried to dress, scrambling to yank on slightly wet jeans. A warm shower would be heaven.

Kane finished and reached the door. "Do you want a gun?"

"Yes." Well, actually she didn't want a gun. But she took the one he offered and shoved it in her waistband. The metal chilled her flesh.

He held out a hand. "The storm is pretty bad, so hold on and we'll get to the shed."

She hesitated only a second before sliding her hand into his. Warmth enveloped her fingers.

Tugging her outside, he led her over the deck and around a small side yard. There he stopped cold and lifted his head into the wind.

Two tall figures rushed around the faded shed, guns drawn.

Amber gasped. They were the stuff of nightmares. Blood-red hair with black tips, swirling purple eyes, crimson lips, and skin bleached of any possible color. Beyond white.

Dressed in all black, they stopped and pointed weapons.

Kane shoved her behind him. "d.a.m.n Kurjans. Don't move, Amber."

She couldn't move if she wanted to. Her feet grew heavy, fear weighing down her limbs. Monsters. True monsters existed.

Kane held his hands up, body relaxed. "You need to get out of here. The entire property is land mined, and only I know where the explosives are located." He yelled to be heard.

The monster in the lead threw back his head and laughed, the grating sound echoing even through the storm. "We've had this entire lake under surveillance for years, and you can bet we conducted satellite imagery of the ground. Nice bluff." He yelled louder than Kane.

Amber wasn't going out like this-not with creepy, white-faced monsters. Sliding forward an inch, she pressed the side of her gun into Kane's back, tucking the barrel in his waistband. Everything she'd ever been taught centered around the fact of not hurting another being. She couldn't shoot them.

But she could hand the gun to Kane. Yeah, it was a moral gray line, one she'd worry about later.

Movement sounded behind her. She whirled around to find a tree spinning by in the storm. Holy Mother Earth. An entire tree.

Kane blocked her completely from the Kurjans. "Maybe so, but there's no way you have reinforcements coming in this storm. You're all alone out here-and will be until morning."

"And everyone says you're the smart one," one of the monsters yelled.

Kane partially turned his head. "In two seconds, you hit the ground. Understand?"

"Yes," she stuttered, her mouth almost too cold to make sound.

"Now!"

She dropped, covering her neck with her arms and making herself as small as possible. Snow slid down her s.h.i.+rt, freezing her skin. Cold pierced her eyes, but she kept her gaze on Kane.

Quicker than she could track, he grabbed the gun and fired. The odd ping of those green bullets echoed. They slammed into the closest Kurjan, throwing the wide-eyed monster three feet back.

Fangs flas.h.i.+ng in his nightmarish face, the other guy charged.

Kane crouched for the blow, waiting until the Kurjan reached him before throwing his weight to the right and away from Amber. The guy hit like a truck. They landed hard, sending snow spraying. Kane grunted as his ribs protested.

All emotion shut into a box, he jabbed his knuckles under the soldier's throat, impacting the larynx. Leaping up and back, he calculated the Kurjan's weight and arm span-about an inch shorter than Kane's. Interesting. Most Kurjans reached almost seven feet tall. Not this guy.

The guy rolled backward through the snow to his feet, purple eyes swirling with fury and pain.

He charged again.

Kane waited until the last second and kicked out, breaking the guy's jaw. Even through the furious storm, a painful crack echoed.

The soldier staggered back.

Tuning in his senses, Kane counted the Kurjan's breaths. Yeah, he was panting. One more blow to the face should do it.

Darting forward, he punched for the nose and karate-chopped the throat of his opponent. The Kurjan dropped to the ground.

Yanking his knife from his boot, Kane dropped to his haunches and jammed the blade in the Kurjan's sternohy-oid muscle to the side of the jaw. Shoving in harder, he yanked to the right, slicing through bone.

Blood sprayed along his chest.

With a grunt, he forced the knife the other way, effectively decapitating the soldier.