Suddenly a horrible, burning sensation stung her face. She cried out in pain as her hands shot to her face to put out the flames that were not there. “Nick!” she whispered, knowing the pain was from him. So he had discovered she was gone and had tried to come after her. She resisted the urge to go back. She wouldn’t even try to explain how she was able to feel his pain or even to know what caused it.
“Lady,” the cab driver called out. “You all right?” Her eyes lifted and met his in the rear view mirror, and she nodded.
“Yes, I’m fine.” Megan wiped the tears from her cheeks and stared out the window at the scenery as it passed by.
Megan, please don’t do anything foolish. Forgive me!
Megan bit down on her lower lip and refused to answer him. His apologies meant nothing anymore. Not as long as he continued to treat her as he did. The only thing that she was glad about was that he was okay.
The cab pulled up in front of her condo, and she pulled some money from her purse. Climbing out, she paid the driver and made her way to her front door. Entering her home, she closed the door behind her and sagged against it. Home at last. It had been a strange week. She still couldn’t believe that vampires existed, and she was in love with one! In the quiet sanctity of her own home, surrounded by the things she knew, she began to question her own sanity. She moved to the stairs and went up to her bedroom, where she stripped her clothes off and entered her bathroom, never noticing the solitary figure that followed and watched her every moment from the shadows.
Turning the water on in the shower, she stepped in and let the hot water ease her tension. As she shampooed her hair and washed her body with soap, she allowed her thoughts to roam back to Nick. Feeling the ache in her heart, she quickly redirected her thoughts and finished up her shower. Turning the water off, she opened the shower door and grabbed a towel and towel dried her wet hair. Then she dried off her body and stepped out of the shower as she wrapped the towel around her slim figure.
Exiting the bathroom, she shrieked when she found Richard sitting on her bed. “Richard!” Megan exclaimed and grabbed at the towel wrapped around her and held it tighter to her. “How the hell did you get into my home?”
“I’ve been waiting for you, Megan,” he answered. His eyes looked unfocused, his voice sounding almost robotic.
“Richard?” Megan stepped closer to him. “Are you alright?”
By the time she noticed the puncture marks on his neck, it was too late. Richard moved quickly, grabbing her arms. Megan started to scream, but Richard pulled his arm back and punched her hard across the jaw, knocking her out. She fell limp into his arms, and he stripped the towel away and laid her on her back. Mindless to her nakedness, he dressed her in a pair of pants and a blouse. He was under Rovenski’s control and his only thoughts were to obey his master.
Megan woke up several hours later in a strange room. She was dressed and laid out on a bed unfamiliar to her. She winced at the pain in her jaw and reached up to touch the slightly swollen flesh. Slowly she sat up and took in her surroundings. The room was fully furnished with a large oak dresser, night stands on either side of the bed, a small desk and chair, and the windows were heavily draped.
“Richard,” Megan whispered out loud. She remembered now what had happened. Her friend and editor had betrayed her. Rovenski had gotten to him and turned him into a mindless robot. Tears burned the back of her eyes as she thought about the loss of a good friend.
There had to be a way out of here. Megan tried the door first, but naturally it was locked. She checked the large window only to find it nailed shut. She searched the bathroom, but found no way to escape. Finally after about half an hour of trying to work the window loose, she gave up and sat down on the bed. She jumped when the door to the bedroom suddenly rattled as a key was inserted and the lock turned. The door opened and Richard entered the room.
“Richard!” Megan leapt up, hoping maybe she could still reach him.
Richard looked at her blindly. He held a tray with food and water on it. Shutting the door behind him, he relocked it and placed the key in his pocket. Moving over to the small desk, he sat the tray of food down and turned back to Megan.
“You must eat,” he commanded.
“Richard, listen to me.” Megan approached him. “It’s me, Megan. You must let me go, Richard. If you keep me here, Rovenski will kill me.”
Richard looked down at her with no expression. “Rovenski will be here in a few hours. He will be pleased with me.” He turned and walked back to the door, taking the key from his pocket. “Eat,” he commanded again, then left the room, locking the door behind him.
Tears filled Megan’s eyes as she realized that Richard was truly gone. There was nothing left of him but a mindless robot programmed to do Rovenski’s bidding.
Nick! Her mind cried out. Please, Nick, I need you!
Megan . . .
Nick’s voice was so weak and sounded so far away. Megan located the clock and checked the time. It was almost three in the afternoon. It was still at least two or three hours more before Nick could rise. Megan looked at the tray of food and wondered if it was safe. She was starving. Deciding to risk the chance, she ate, then settled down on the bed to wait.
She woke up with a start and looked around the dark room. Reaching over, she flipped on the lamp on the nightstand and screamed when she saw Rovenski sitting in a chair by the bed.
“Hello again, my dear.” Rovenski smiled devilishly.
Megan looked around desperately for a way to escape. She spotted Richard on the other side of the room and called out to him, “Please, Richard, help me!”
“Oh, I’m afraid your friend is incapable of helping you anymore.”
“What do you want from me?” Megan screamed at Rovenski. She was fed up with all the cloak and dagger. This monster had killed her sister and turned her editor and good friend into a mindless robot, and she wanted him destroyed!
“Everything, my sweet. I want everything,” Rovenski answered simply. “Ever since I saw the picture of you that your dear sweet sister showed me, I was captured by you. Utterly fascinated. And to my pleasant surprise I discovered you actually wrote books about us. Truly amazing! I knew you had to be mine!”
“Nick will stop you,” Megan threatened confidently.
“Ah yes, my dear friend, Nicolae!” Rovenski smiled. “What an added bonus to find he was connected to you, makes it more sweet. Now I will have taken two women he’s loved away from him.”
“What do you mean?”
Rovenski blinked in surprise, then laughed loudly. “He hasn’t told you of Marianne?”
Megan shook her head in the negative, causing Rovenski to laugh again. “Who is Marianne?”
“Long ago, Nicolae and I had only been vampires for a few hundred years. We were in England, and Nicolae was smitten with a servant girl. I admit she was beautiful. Not like you at all in coloring. In fact it surprises me that Nick even finds you attractive. He was never much for redheads, though I admit the color of your hair is one of the things I find most fascinating.” Rovenski paused as if he was thinking, then continued.
“Anyway, Nicolae began to pursue Marianne and quickly won her heart. I thought it was such a waste. I truly did not understand Nicolae and his need for human love, but he did and he wasted his time and efforts on the bitch until one night, he decided to reveal himself and ask her if she would spend eternity with him.”
“You mean, he asked her if she wanted to be a vampire like him?” Megan asked.
“Yes,” Rovenski answered.
“And?”
“And she rejected him. She was appalled and afraid of what he was. She told him to leave,” Rovenski explained. “It was then that I knew I must have her. To feel her fear as I took her innocence and then her blood was the most exhilarating thing that I’d ever experienced.”
“You are disgusting!” Megan snapped angrily.
Rovenski’s eyes narrowed as all humor left his face. “Watch yourself little girl, or the big bad wolf will eat you up!” His eyes glowed lightly as his fangs flashed in the lamplight.
Megan backed up until she was against the headboard, unable to take her eyes off of the horror before her. It was funny how Nick could do this and she was not afraid, she found him beautiful, but Rovenski was evil, pure and simple.
“I was doing Nicolae a favor by killing the bitch. She had rejected him and hurt him.”
“But Nick still loved her,” Megan guessed.
“Yes, Nicolae still loved her and when he later learned what I had done, he swore to hunt me down. In fact, the last time Nicolae and I fought was about 500 years ago. I was injured bad enough that I had to go to ground. Nicolae almost won, but in the end it will be I who win.”
“You can’t have me,” Megan replied bravely, flickering a nervous glance over at Richard.
“Oh can’t I?” Rovenski saw the look and he glanced over at Richard, who stood passively in the corner. Standing up, Rovenski called Richard to him. Richard approached immediately and stopped before his master. Megan couldn’t believe this was the same handsome man who was her friend.
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“Would you do anything for your friend, Megan?”
“Leave him alone!” Megan cried out as she began to guess his intent.
Rovenski circled Richard until he stood behind him. Richard remained motionless. Rovenski placed one hand on Richard’s shoulder and with the other, he bent Richard’s head to the side, exposing one side of his neck.
“Tell me, Megan. What would you do for your friend?”
“No! Stop, please I beg you!” Tears began to fill her eyes and run down her cheeks as the scene played out before her.
Rovenski bared his fangs, his eyes glowing. He leaned forward and scraped the sharp tips of his fangs across Richard’s neck. Blood beaded up and Rovenski licked it off with his tongue. Megan cried softly as she watched the monster before her destroy another life. She had it within her to stop him, but she knew to do so, to give herself freely to Rovenski would be the biggest mistake. She had to hang on until Nick could find her.
“Will you give yourself to me, Megan?”
Megan wiped her tears and lifted her chin in defiance. “Go to hell!”
Rovenski’s eyes flashed angrily at her as he hissed and sank his fangs into Richard’s neck and proceeded to drain him. Megan screamed as she jumped off the bed and launched herself at Rovenski.
NIIIICK! she cried out in her mind just as Rovenski batted her away easily, and she flew across the room to hit the wall with a grunt. The force of the impact knocked the breath out of her, and she lay there stunned.
Rovenski dropped Richard’s lifeless body to the ground and moved towards Megan. He had just reached her when he felt as if a freight train had hit him as he was propelled across the room to crash through the window.
The moment that it was safe to do so, Nick burst forth from the mound of healing soil that Valerian had placed him in. The soil had been imported from Romania and Nick only used it when he was injured and needed a healing, rejuvenating sleep. Valerian was instantly by his side as Nick shook the soil from his hair and clothes.
“Richard Tate has her,” Nick informed Valerian coldly.
“Her editor?” Valerian asked, a bit shocked.
“She called to me, but the sun was too high. I could only whisper her name.”
NIIIIICK!! The force of her cry nearly drove him to his knees. Valerian caught him and held him steady.
“What is it, Nick?”
“Megan, she’s in trouble.” Nick pulled away from Valerian and concentrated on his connection with her. Moments later he had it, and with Valerian following, they disappeared from the room.
Seconds later they appeared in a bedroom in time to see Rovenski bending over Megan. Nick moved with lightning speed and struck Rovenski hard, propelling him across the room to crash through the window, ripping the iron bars off the outside.
Nick stopped short of the window and turned back to Valerian, who was already scooping up Megan into his arms. “Get her out of here!”
“Nick, you are still too weak to fight Rovenski,” Valerian pointed out. Even though Nick’s injuries from the sun that morning had healed, he hadn’t fed yet, and it left him weak and vulnerable.
“This must end now, Valerian. I have no choice,” Nick answered, his mind made up.
“Nick,” Megan called out to him. His eyes shifted to the woman in Valerian’s arms. Their eyes met. “Please, I need you.” Her body shuddered in a sob. “He killed Richard, Nick.”
Nick cursed softly as he warred within himself. He needed to go after Rovenski, but his heart told him he needed to comfort Megan now. Taking a quick glance out the window, he saw that Rovenski was gone. He sighed, knowing there was nothing he could do now, and he turned back and crossed the room to take Megan from Valerian.
Megan clung to him, burying her face in his neck as he held her weight easily in his arms. “Are you all right, amore?” His lips grazed across her forehead.
“He killed Richard right in front of me, Nick,” Megan cried softly. Nick tightened his arms around her, cursing himself for putting her in this position. And it was his fault!
“You take Megan back home, Nick,” Valerian suggested. “I’ll take care of Richard’s . . .” He’d almost said corpse, but realized Megan might not appreciate that. “…body and then check in on our lady detective.”
Nick nodded his agreement. Gathering Megan tighter against him, he disappeared. Moments later, he was laying Megan down on the bed in the room she’d been using at his home.
“Please don’t leave me, Nick,” Megan pleaded as she clutched at the front of his shirt.
“I must feed, cara.” Nick sat next to her on the bed. He laid the palm of his hand against her cheek, stroking her tears away with the pad of his thumb. “Valerian was right, I’m weak from the injuries I received this morning.”
Megan sat up and framed his face with her hands. “I felt it, Nick. You were burned by the sun trying to come after me, weren’t you?”
Nicolae looked at her, amazed. “You felt it?”
“Yes, I felt a painful burning sensation on my face while I was in the cab on my way home.”
Nick couldn’t believe that they had become so connected. He had never bonded with a human before. He had heard that it was possible, but had never seen it. Megan was a wonder to him, and Valerian was right about another thing: if he didn’t straighten up, he’d lose her.
Leaning forward, he kissed her lightly on the mouth. “I must feed, amore. I will not go far and will return quickly.”
Megan clutched the front of his shirt tighter. “No, Nick,” she said forcefully. “Take what you need from me. I don’t want to be alone.”
Nick had already begun shaking his head. “No, Megan. I will not risk you like that.”
Megan tilted her head to the side and exposed her neck to him. “I trust you, Nick.”
“Megan –”
“I love you, Nicolae Kristof,” she whispered softly. She watched as Nick’s dark eyes left the beating pulse in her neck and flew up to meet her steady gaze. “Take what you need.”
There was no disgust or revulsion in her eyes, only love for him. Nick’s body reacted as he leaned close and kissed her lips again, melding his mouth to hers. His tongue stroked across her bottom lip and slid inside when her lips parted on a sigh. One of her hands moved up to tangle in his hair as his mouth continued to move across her jaw to her ear, nipping at the tender skin. Megan shuddered in his arms with pleasure as she moved closer to him, his arms circling around her to hold her to him. He teased the lobe of her ear before moving down her throat to where her pulse beat rapidly.
“Ti amo,” he whispered against her skin just before his fangs sank deep into her throat. Megan gasped at the sudden sharp pain, then it was gone and passion like she’d never known filled her until she thought she might go mad. She clung to him as he held her tight against his chest and drank of her sweet life’s blood.
Nick knew that he did not deserve a woman like Megan. Even after the way he had treated her, she still offered herself to him. Gently, tenderly, he removed his fangs and swiped his tongue lovingly across the puncture wounds. He lifted his head and looked down in to her beautiful face. Her hazel eyes stared up at him with love shining out at him, and he felt ashamed.
“Forgive me, cara mia,” he began. “For the way I have been treating you. I get crazy when I think of losing you.”
“You’re not going to lose me, Nicolae. I’m not like Marianne. I love you and I know you will keep me safe from Rovenski.”
Nick blinked and stared at her. “How do you know of Marianne? Has Valerian been blabbing his mouth?”
“No.” she smiled. “Rovenski told me.” Nick sighed. “Come here and lay down beside me. I’m tired and I want you to hold me.”
Nick nodded and stretched out beside her as she lay down on the bed. Megan snuggled up against him, and he held her tight. Nick began to stroke her back with his hand and soon Megan was fast asleep, leaving him to his thoughts. He would have to find Rovenski soon. He needed Megan to be safe, and the fact that she trusted him with her life did much to boost his morale. With a sigh, Nick closed his eyes and rested beside her, holding her tight, knowing that for now, she was safe.
Chapter 11
Rovenski had formed an opinion based on hundreds of years of research. The only problem with this theory was there was no way to test it. Rovenski believed that a bond could be formed between a vampire and a human when three elements were presented: 1) They had sex; 2) The vampire took blood (those two things in themselves meant nothing, but combined with the third??); and 3) The vampire was in love with the human. And by Nicolae’s reaction, Rovenski was pretty certain that Nick was in love with Megan Taylor and if Megan returned the feelings, well then it was a sure bet!
This unexpected turn of events had messed up all his plans! He had even sacrificed one of his own pawns in order to get a reaction from Megan, knowing that Richard Tate had been a close friend. Now he had to start over. Megan Taylor would not be as easily taken from Nicolae now. He would be guarding her, staying close, but the bond . . .
“Hey baby, you looking for some action?”
Rovenski stopped as he saw the hooker staring at him, her eyes roving over his body. She stood there in a red too small mini skirt and a red and white striped tank top that hugged her large breasts. Her hands were propped on her hips and she had her hip thrust out to one side in that cocky manner that hookers use. She was also smacking gum, which was another manner that hookers used that annoyed the hell out him.
“Come to me,” he commanded softly, staying in the shadows.
“Oooo, I love the accent.” The hooker grinned as she started towards him. “Where you from, honey?”
“Romania.”
“Well, welcome to America, honey,” she said as she moved deeper into the shadows. “I’ll even throw in a free blow job as a house warming gift.”
“How very kind of you,” Rovenski smiled continuing to move back until they were out of site of the street.
“Hey, no problem, honey. By-the-way, I’m Starlight.”
“Interesting name.”
“Thanks.” She moved up to him, her hand coming out to rub his crotch. “Well now, I just love a well endowed man.” Dropping to her knee’s she started to carefully unzip his pants.
Rovenski smiled, he closed his eyes as he allowed himself a moment to enjoy her touch. After all, isn’t that what hookers were for? It had been a long time since he’d felt a burning lust. He had that lust for Megan. Damn them both, he would have Megan if it was the last thing he ever did. Megan’s face appeared behind his eyelids and when they snapped open, his eyes were glowing red with anger.
“Sorry, my dear,” he growled as he grasped her by the hair and yanked her up hard. Starlight gasped as she felt her hair nearly being pulled out by the roots. “But I have more fun things planned for you!”
“Hey!” her eyes widened when she saw Rovenski’s eyes and she opened her mouth to scream. His hand clamped down over her mouth as his fangs flashed in a wicked smile.
“Tell me, Starlight,” he began as he leaned close. “Have you ever been fucked by a vampire?”
Moments later, the alley was empty.
Valerian stood in the shadows of the dark parking lot as he watched the police drag a naked woman from a dumpster. His eyes shifted as he watched Detective Kaitlin Sanders approach to have a look at the body. Her partner trailed close behind.
“Damn it, Peter,” she cursed softly as she turned away from the mutilated body. “Have I told you lately how much I hate these weird cases?”
“Every damn day, Katy, every damn day!” Peter walked passed her to the dumpster and peered in. He began asking questions to a police officer that stood nearby trying to find out more about what had happened.
Kaitlin moved away from the crime scene taking in the surrounding scenery. It was a large parking lot, bad lighting. Perfect place to dump a body and not be seen. Valerian watched her closely as she moved between several parked cars, her eyes to the ground as if she were looking for something. Slowly she made her way towards him, unaware that he was nearby watching her.
Valerian frowned as he felt his heart begin to pick up speed as she drew closer. He smelled her long before he had seen her appear at the murder scene. She smelled of lily’s and as she came within a few feet of him, the fragrant scent nearly flooded his senses.
“You will find nothing here, Kaitlin.”
Kaitlin jumped startled and reached for her gun. “Come out where I can see you,” she demanded as she trained her revolver towards the shadows. Valerian stepped forward and Kaitlin’s heart nearly skipped a beat. “Who the hell are you?”
“I am Valerian Romano.” He bowed at the waist flashing her a charming smile. Kaitlin felt her knees weakened as her fingers tightened around the handle of her revolver. She detected a slight Italian accent that made his already deep voice sound sexier. Good God, what was she thinking? Yes he was tall; yes he had long thick, gorgeous tawny mane of hair and the greenest eyes she’d ever seen. His faded blue jeans looked like a second skin surrounding his muscular legs and trim waist. His shirt was white, tucked into the waistband of his jeans; it buttoned up to about the middle of his chest then opened up to reveal a thick patch of chest hair that was the same color as the hair on his head. His shoulders were broad, his arms well muscled, but they didn’t bulge as if he were a body builder. All in all, Kaitlin thought he was probably the most perfect male specimen she’d ever seen and most likely their killer.
Her palms began to sweat.
“What are you doing here and how did you know my name?” she asked, keeping the gun trained on him.
“If you will allow me to reach into my back pocket, I will show you my identification. I work for Nicolae Kristof.”
“The private investigator?” Kaitlin had heard of him, though she’d never met him. He was known around the department as being very thorough.
“Yes.”
“Alright, slowly, very slowly and with your left hand.” She directed.
Valerian obeyed her command not once dropping his gaze from hers. He could hear her heartbeat he could smell her arousal. She was attracted to him as he was to her and this knowledge only added to his need to have her, to make her his. He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and handed it to her, his long fingers grazing her hand sending an electrical shock through them both. Valerian didn’t know who was more startled by that electrical shock, him or her. The tension between them intensified.
Kaitlin took the wallet and opened it and found Valerians identification and P.I. license that stated he worked for Nicolae Kristof. “Satisfied?”
Kaitlin looked up meeting Valerian’s direct gaze, “Not really, but it’s a start.”
Valerian grinned, “Did you think I was the killer?”
Kaitlin put her revolver away and took a deep breath. He really had a charming smile and she suspected that he knew that. “It occurred to me that you might be.”
“Sorry to disappoint you. I imagine you are anxious to catch this guy.”
“Why are you here, Mr. Romano?”
“Please, call me Valerian. I simply hate formality.” Kaitlin sighed and rolled her eyes, causing his grin to turn into a full-blown smile nearly melting her toes.
Damn it, Katy, get a grip on your hormones girl, she chided herself silently. “The question, Mr. Romano?” Ignoring his request.
“I am here for the same reason you are. To catch a killer and to pass on a warning.”
Kaitlin cocked an eyebrow in question. “A warning?”
Valerian took a step forward, he towered over Kaitlin and she had to crane her neck to look up at him. “Back off this investigation, Kaitlin. You don’t know who you are dealing with.”
Kaitlin read nothing threatening in his stance. He had lowered his voice until he was almost whispering, but there was no hint of malice in the warning. Still, she didn’t like being told what to do, especially by a P.I.
“And I suppose you do?”
“Nicolae is investigating a murder that took place in Romania a few weeks ago. We believe the same person is here now.” Valerian took another step closer. He could almost feel the heat coming off her skin. Suddenly the beast within him fought to break free and Valerian had to swallow hard, his nostrils flaring as he took several deep breaths to get it back under control.
“My god, you know who the murderer is and you have said nothing?” Kaitlin was stunned. She suddenly had the incredible urge to hit Valerian Romano.
Valerian cocked his head to one side. “I never said I knew who it was. I said we believe it’s the same person who committed a murder in Romania,” he clarified.
“It’s the same thing to me,” Kaitlin snapped. “This guy is changing his m.o. now. Before it was just murder, but he raped this one. If you have important information regarding this case you should be sharing it with the police. I could have your P.I. license revoked.”
Rovenski was raping the women now? This was not good! Valerian thought to himself. A smiled played around his lips as he was really enjoying the sparing between himself and Kaitlin. “Ah, but I have passed on important information to you, cara mia.”
“You told me to back off and that is passing on important information?”
Valerian leaned closer. Her eyes widened as he stopped mere inches from her mouth. “It is if it will save your life,” he whispered softly. Kaitlin was mesmerized as her gaze was frozen on his lips. She felt like a deer that had been caught in the headlights of a semi-truck.
“Hey Katy,”
Kaitlin jumped, the moment was gone. Valerian backed off with a slight growl as his eyes lifted to see the very person he did not want to see.
“Mac,” Kaitlin breathed a sigh of relief. “You scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry, is everything okay?” his eyes flickered over to Valerian who looked none-to-happy about something. Mac leaned down and kissed Kaitlin’s cheek and suddenly found himself being shoved hard away from her. He nearly fell on his ass, but caught his balance quickly.
“You touch her again and I’ll-”
“Whoa Tarzan,” Kaitlin grabbed Valerian by the arm and pulled him back. “Go beat your chest somewhere else before I have to arrest you for assault.”
“New beau, Katy?”
“Oh bite me, Mac!” Kaitlin glared at him. Then sighed as she made the introductions. “Mac, this is Valerian Romano. Valerian, my ex-husband, Matthew Mackenzie.” Turning back towards Mac, she added, “Valerian is a P.I., works for Kristof.”
“I see,” Mac answered eyeing Valerian carefully. “So are you two comparing notes or something?”
“Something like that, yes,” Valerian chose to answer that particular question. For the first time Valerian got a taste of what Nick was going through with Megan. The jealousy that raged through him was making him crazy. This “Mac” person seemed like a nice enough guy, but the very fact that he had been Kaitlin’s ex-husband and had known her intimately at one time made Valerian want to rip his throat out. He wasn’t accustomed to behaving like this. It was one thing to know about the jealousy of a vampire, quite another to actually experience it.
“Okay, well as long as you are alright, I need to get back and help Ralph.” Mac stepped towards Kaitlin to kiss her cheek again and met with Valerian’s chest. He looked up and swore he saw the guys eyes glowing an eerie red, but then Valerian blinked and they were green. He also swore he heard Valerian growl, but the sound had been so soft and so low pitched that he shook it off as just his imagination.
“Damn it, Valerian,” Kaitlin snapped pushing him hard away from Mac. She had the feeling that she was only able to move Valerian because he let her, not because of any great strength on her part. “Back off now!”
Mac took a step back, “Watch yourself with this guy, Katy.”
“Yeah, yeah, just go before I have to chain him.” She waved him off, and he turned and left. Kaitlin whipped around to face Valerian. “You want to tell me what the hell that was all about?”
“He won’t touch you again, Kaitlin.” His voice was low, soft, deadly.
“I don’t think you have any say in the matter and I think you had better leave.”
They stared each other down for several moments before Valerian suddenly smiled changing the whole tone of the tension between them. Kaitlin was quite unprepared for that devastating smile so when Valerian reached out and brushed his thumb across her bottom lip, she froze.
“You are mine, Kaitlin Sanders.” And then he was gone, disappearing into the darkness. She watched as the night swallowed him up then shook her head.
“Ah crap,” she whispered as her fingers came up to touch her bottom lip. It still tingled from his light touch and her body warred with her mind over his claim. Her mind screamed out that she belonged to no one, especially not to some arrogant jerk she just met 5 minutes ago, but her body’s reaction betrayed her mind. She wanted him and there was no denying that!