into the paint.
She kicked back, nailing his ankle.
He bit off an expletive and nudged her legs apart. The hard line of his erection pressed into her butt.
Her nipples pebbled, and she bit back a groan. Desire spiked her blood. Probably the aftermath of battle—of surviving. Yeah, right. It was Jase, through and through. Even though he was being a complete ass, she wanted him. All of him.
He leaned in, and a fang nicked her earlobe. “I’m not a man you want to push, baby.”
Oh, but she did. She wanted to push him hard and fast—make him lose control. Make him show her who he really was. Just her. “Don’t think you’ve noticed. I’m a witch, vampire. I could light you on fire.”
“You already do.” He licked along the shell of her ear. “But you knew who I was, what I am, before you mated me. There’s no putting yourself in danger unless I allow it.” His free hand slid under her shirt to cup her breast. “And Brenna? I will never allow it.”
She’d wanted to know him. The real him. Here he was in full Kayrs fashion. Her eyelids fluttered shut as he flicked the clasp open on her bra. “I’m trained, Jase.”
“I’m glad.” He ground his pelvis against her ass. “But headfirst into danger is my job, not yours.”
She’d never wanted to be on the front lines, nor had she wanted to run into danger. Not in the slightest. But she’d been mated for less than a week, and no way in hell would she allow the vampire to dictate her life. “We each have jobs.”
His nimble fingers danced down her belly and zeroed in with ruthless efficiency on her clit. “Think so?”
Her knees buckled, and he pressed her harder into the wall. “Jase—”
“Shhh, baby. Too late to placate me.” He slid one finger inside her, even as his thumb teased her clit. The rhythm he set was quick, hard, and just enough to keep her gasping for air.
The hand around her wrists tugged her up on her tiptoes, effectively pushing out her butt. Those dangerous fingers kept playing, holding her right on the edge.
Sparks of need rippled through her sex.
She was so close. So dang close.
“See how well your body obeys?” His voice turned guttural, heated breath brushing her face. “It knows, even if you don’t.”
She fought back the orgasm looming so close. “I don’t take orders from you. Period.”
“Come now, Brenna.”
She exploded into a million pieces, gasping his name, the waves engulfing her. Her mouth opened and closed. Electrical sensations swept her, and her eyelids fluttered shut. Finally, she came down.
He pressed her clit.
She whimpered, angling away. The aftershocks were too much.
He flipped her around, sliding his hand free. Then slowly, keeping her gaze, he licked off his fingers.
Desire flared awake in her again. Too much, and way too fast. Her knees trembled.
His eyes darkened. “You taste like raspberries and candy. All mine, Brenna. Don’t you forget it.” Grabbing the back of her head, he slammed his mouth over hers.
Heat engulfed her, hotter and faster than possible. He took the kiss deeper, taking her where he wanted to go. His free hand grabbed her ass and rubbed her against his cock.
She groaned, needing to be filled.
He slowly softened the kiss and then lifted his head. “I have work to do. You want to be here when I get back. Trust me. Don’t push me any further.” Adjusting his cargo pants, he turned and walked out the front door.
Brenna stood in the hallway, her mouth bruised, and body aching. Oh no, he hadn’t.
Fire sprang up her legs, scenting the air with ozone. Oh no! She tried to calm herself, and snuff out the fire. Flames licked along her arms. She clenched her fingers tight, but a small ball of plasma formed on her knuckles.
The ball wavered, morphed, and tripled in size.
Her shoulders shook as she focused.
The ball grew bigger. No! It flew across the room to slam into the wall of windows. The glass shattered, large shards falling. Cold air rushed inside.
She covered her mouth. Well. That’d teach him.
Chapter 19
Garrett Kayrs leaned against the wall, finally understanding why the damn world kept moving. First, the assholes were drugging him. Second, he was on a freakin’ boat. A boat. Which explained the carpet. His foot had been smarting all day, and upon removing his boot, he’d discovered they’d taken his tracker out.
Damn it.
But they’d underestimated his nineteen-year-old metabolism. He could finally force the drugs through his system fast enough to get rid of them. His head cleared.
The outside door opened and Kalin strode inside. “The plan is going well.”
“You’re a moron.” Garrett forced a bored look. “Unlock the door and let’s end this thing. You die or I die. Either way, stop being a chicken-shit.”
Kalin smiled, showing sharp white teeth. “Have to say, I like you, young Kayrs. You might want to be nice, considering we’re going to be family.”
Garrett maneuvered closer to the bars. “Why are you so intent on this?”
Kalin’s eyebrows rose. “You know why. Every species in the world has prophesied Janie’s gifts as something extraordinary that will change everything. Whomever your sister mates will gain those gifts.”
Maybe. But there was something else. “You like her.” Garrett fought the urge to puke.
Kalin’s eyes narrowed. “She’s a means to an end.”
Touchy. “She’s more than that to you.” Garrett studied the soldier. “You like to kill women, but you saved Janie. That was instinct and not calculation, wasn’t it?” Who the hell was this guy? If his one weakness was Janie, how could Garrett use that?
Kalin lowered his chin. “No. That was pure planning for the future. I can’t very well mate her and gain her gifts if she’s dead, now can I?”
Sounded a bit defensive, now didn’t he? Garrett grinned. “All of these oracles, seers, prophets . . . and not one has said what her gifts really are. Sure, she can see the future. So what?”
Kalin shrugged. “I want those gifts.”
“No. You want my sister.” For whatever reason, the psycho did want Janie. Garrett slid his hands around the bars. “I’ll kill you before you get near her. I promise.”
“You’re a good brother, young Kayrs.”
Irritation snapped up Garrett’s head. “We are not bonding here, dumbass.”
Kalin chuckled. “Oh, I’m fully aware I’ll have to kill you and probably soon. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like you.”
The Kurjan really did have a screw loose. “Janie will feel a lot warmer toward you if you let me go.”
“Nice try.” Kalin shook his head. “I don’t want her feeling warmer toward me. The sooner she understands this life, the better.” He kept his face stoic, but an underlying stressor lifted his consonants.
The guy did want Janie to like him, but he really didn’t want to want that. Garrett’s head began to pound. “Has your attack failed yet?”
“The first one failed as per my plan.” Kalin picked his fingernails.
Caution whispered through Garrett. “Meaning?”
“The first was a decoy . . . the second included a full frontal assault as well as tunnels A and D.” Kalin’s grin slid across his lips, slow and sure.
Garrett stilled. “We don’t have tunnels A and D.”
