thought embarrassed the hell out of her .
'I need to sleep.'
'Damn shame.'
She wasn't exactly sure what he meant and was reluctant to ask, simply because the line between common sense and lust was thin enough. Too much more, and common sense hadn't a hope.
She stood, gathering the cushion as she did. He rose with her, and suddenly the porch seemed far too small. She licked her lips, saw his gaze drop her mouth, and her throat went dry. He took the step that separated them, and all she could smell was freshly soaped skin and raw masculinity.
Her whole body tingled, as if brought to life by this man's presence. She'd never felt anything as powerful as this, and she so desperately wanted to make love to him. To feel his hands on her skin, his body on hers. In hers. But for Gran being in the next bed…
'Gran's asleep.' Her voice came out husky.
'I know.'
Their bodies barely brushed, yet she was intensely aware of every part of him. From the fire burning in his eyes to the rapid rise and fall of his chest pressing against her aching nipples to the heated hardness of his erection.
'We can't. Not here.'
'I know.'
But he didn't retreat and neither did she. He brushed a hand down her side to her hip, then moved his fingers across her bare stomach, searing her skin with the heat.
Then his touch moved up, under her T-shirt and her breath caught in anticipation. When his thumb rubbed one aching nipple, she almost groaned in ecstasy.
She swallowed hard and tried to stay sane. 'What you're doing could get us arrested.'
'Sure could.'
His attention moved to her other breast, and her legs quivered. Even if she'd wanted to retreat, she very much doubted if her legs would support such an action. His other hand cupped her cheek and his thumb outlined her lips. Her heart stuttered to a stop as he slipped his hand around the back of her head, holding her still as he lowered his mouth to hers.
His kiss was like nothing she'd ever felt before. A gentle, erotic possession that gave so much and yet left her hungering for more.
'You better go inside,' he whispered, his breath hot and unsteady against her lips. 'Because I want you so bad I'm tempted to finish this right here and now.'
She stepped back and suddenly remembered how to breathe again. 'Thank you.'
'For what?'
'For not pushing when you knew you could.'
His smile was a little wry. 'Trust me when I say it's little more than self-interest.'
'Meaning?'
He brushed his fingers down her cheek, and she had to check the urge to step right back into his arms.
'Because I have every intention of making love to you as often as I can over these next few days, and if I pushed now, that isn't likely to happen.'
His words did little to ease her heart's unsteady pounding.
'Self preservation indeed.'
He shrugged. 'I'm a werewolf caught in moon fever. I need sex. But it's you I want this phase, no one else.'
Then she had to thank the moon's presence, because without it she might not be standing here with this man.
Might not have the promise of mind-blowing sex to warm her dreams.
'Will you be able to sleep on the sofa, or would you prefer to take the bed?'
'I'm not going to be able to sleep anywhere.' His voice was ironic. 'Not for a while yet.'
Her gaze flicked down. 'Oh. Sorry.'
'I'm not.' He leaned forward and brushed a kiss across her lips. 'Pleasant dreams.'
She had a feeling they would be beyond pleasant. As she headed inside, she thought she heard a sigh of disappointment coming from her grandmother's bed.
Warmth caressed her face, warming her senses. Kat yawned and stretched then opened her eyes. Her watch showed it was just past twelve. She hadn't slept long enough, but it was all the time she could afford.
She found a clean shirt, dug up a skirt then headed into the bathroom. By the time she'd showered and dressed, her grandmother was awake and sitting at the table reading the paper. Ethan had come inside and was on the sofa, talking into a cell phone. But his gaze met hers and arousal was instant. The sooner they got down and dirty, the better off they'd both be.
She turned on the kettle, then crossed her arms and leaned a hip against the small counter. 'The aches better?'
Gwen grinned and said softly, 'Better than yours, I'd wager.'
'Don't start on me. It's likely to get unpleasant.'
'This is exactly what I was talking about. Totally disagreeable when unsatisfied.'
'Gran — ' Gwen held up her hand. 'All I'm saying is these old ears are deafer than you think.'
'Yeah, right.' The woman had the hearing of an elephant.
She just didn't have the floppy ears to go with it.
The kettle whistled shrilly. Kat made them all a cup of coffee, handing one each to Gwen and Ethan before sitting down at the table with her own.
'So, have you tried to do a reading yet?'
'Briefly. You know how difficult it is when I've just woken.'
She nodded. 'See anything of use?'
'One interesting point. It seems this thing knows about you and Ethan, but not yet about me, which is definitely in our favour.'
'But it doesn't mean we don't have to worry about your safety any less than our own.'
Gwen reached across the table and briefly squeezed Kat's hand. 'But if I'm not seen with you, then their thoughts will be concentrated on you rather than me and perhaps give me a clear field in which to see their minds and know their intentions.'
They could only hope. 'Even so, I want you to start using warding stones whenever we're not here.'
Gwen nodded, then gave Ethan a smile as he sat down with them. 'I also got a call from Seline. She thinks this thing is called a Mara. It's a Japanese spirit who enters houses as either a cat or as vapour to seduce men in their sleep then steal their souls.'
'It's stealing souls, but it's certainly not seducing men to do it.'
'No. But Seline's still digging around, so she might find a reason.'
'Seline being the chairperson of this Damask Circle you work for?' Ethan queried.
'He's a cop,' Kat said with a smile. 'They tend to dig.'
'They do indeed.' Gwen's gaze was amused as she looked at Ethan. 'And yes, she is.'
'Did she give you any idea how to stop this thing?'
'Not yet, but if it's some sort of vampire, then we could try all the traditional methods of killing a vampire.'
Ethan's expression shut down. 'I said stop, not kill. This thing has to be brought to justice and face trial.'
'You don't really believe that,' Gwen said. 'And besides, no court or jailhouse currently built could ever hope to hold this thing.'
'You know, I think white ash works against it,' Kat said, remembering the soul sucker's reaction in the warehouse.
'I think I wounded it when I slashed it with the stake.'
Ethan's expression was incredulous. Gwen patted his hand. 'Don't worry, dear, it's going to get a lot worse.'
