Alpha Mine (The Alpha Council Chronicles) (8 page)

“Marcus, can I ask you about Stephan?”

Marcus tightened his grip on the leather wrapped steering wheel. “Yes.” His voice was as even as the expression on his face.

“I have to know. Does Stephan really like me or is he just attracted to me sexually?”

“That is a complicated question for a vampire. Our desire is different from humans. It’s not just sexual, or bloodlust or companionship. Our hunger can be a combination.”

“So how does Stephan hunger for me?” she asked, turning to look at him.

“Honestly, I don’t know for sure. He has blocked me from his mind. I can tell you that physical changes come over him when you enter the room. His muscles tense, his testosterone increases, pupils dilate. I’ve never seen him react to a woman the way he reacts to you.”

“Oh.”

“In fact, in the two hundred and fifty years I have known him, he has never been so cranky. I think that’s because of you too.”

“Thanks a lot!” Kat shot him a perturbed look, and Marcus smiled.

“That’s not a bad thing. I think you have gotten under his skin, and he doesn’t know how to react. It’s making him edgy.”

“Huh, that makes two of us.”

“Yeah. I know. If you two don’t hook up soon, I’m going to have to move out. I can’t take much more of your moods.” Marcus laughed as he pulled the car into valet parking.

They rode the elevator in companionable silence up to the penthouse. Before the doors opened, Kat turned to Marcus and gave him an affable hug.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what’s this for?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her back.

“For being such a good friend.”

Marcus stifled a moan. It felt good to have Kat in his arms. He loved the way she felt against him, and he knew that if she and Stephan became a couple, he was going to lose the ability to be close with her.

Most vampires didn’t share their mates with another, and Stephan was definitely the possessive type. This might be the last time they ever got to hug, and he wasn’t going to let it slip by. He rested his chin on the top of her head, absorbing the scent and feel of her, memorizing it for all time.

A pang of regret tightened his chest. Kat would not have an easy time if she became involved with Stephan. He was not a gentle man, but a warrior long ago hardened by battle. However, Marcus knew he would not stand in their way. They each deserved happiness. He only hoped they might find it in each other’s arms, without Kat getting hurt in the process.

He hugged her close, refusing to let her go even when the elevator door opened to reveal Stephan standing with his arms crossed over his thick chest. As his gaze drifted over the friends, his expression changed from one of welcome to a glaring sneer that left no question about whose arms Kat belonged in.

Chapter 10

Kat entered the living room dressed in black skinny jeans that accentuated her long legs, and her eyes immediately found the tall vampires in the middle of the room. Stephan stood next to Marcus rolling up his sleeves. He wore dark blue jeans and a fitted white oxford tucked neatly into his pants, emphasizing how his body created a Vee from his broad shoulders to his narrow waist. Yummy. Damn, she’d never seen anyone rock an oxford like him.

His eyes locked on her. Was he watching her hips? She gave them a little more swish than normal just in case as she crossed the room in her bright green T-shirt with the swirling design across the bosom. Her hair flowed down her back in smooth waves with each step. His gaze roamed over her then locked on her eyes. She felt as if she was falling into his dark, hungry gaze.

“Ready to go, Kitten?” he inquired, snapping her from her daze.

Kat brushed her sweaty palms down the thighs of her jeans. Her heart raced, aflutter with the anticipation and excitement of this evening’s events.

“I guess I’m ready.” She smiled up at him. “You still haven’t told me what we are doing.”

“I know. It’s a surprise, for me to know and you to find out,” he answered, cryptically, with a wink.

The phone rang, making Kat jump. Marcus picked up the receiver and murmured, “thanks” into the phone. “Your ride is here,” he called to the couple. “Have fun.”

“Shall we go?” Stephan asked and formally offered his arm to Kat. She slipped her arm in his, feeling the tight muscles and sinew through his shirt. Wearing what looked like a forced smile, Marcus waved the pair off, bidding them goodnight.

Once downstairs, the parking attendant opened the limousine door for the couple. Kat crawled into the vehicle, giving Stephan a nice view of her derrière. Realizing what she had done, she peeked over her shoulder and smiled sheepishly at him.

Returning her grin, Stephan chuckled. “Nice view, Kitten.”

Stephan slid in beside her, tucking her under his arm. Kat watched out the window as they left the strip, and headed toward the airport.

“Are we going to the airport?” Kat asked with raised brows.

“Yes, that is where our journey begins this evening.”

“Journey?” Curiosity widened her eyes. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see, my little kitten.” A sexy smile spread across Stephan’s face. “I’ve planned a little adventure.”

A surprise. She loved surprises
.

They arrived at the airport in record time. A moss green EC-130 helicopter awaited them. Inside, theater seating, covered in the finest leather, welcomed her. The spacious interior gave them freedom of movement, while the wrap around windows, allowed for an unobstructed view.

Once they settled in the soft leather seats of the aircraft, they donned their headsets.

“Ready to go?” cut in the pilot over the headset.

Kat nodded, looking up into Stephan’s eyes.

“We’re ready.” His deep voice rang through the intercom system causing a shiver down Kat’s back.

“We’re off,” said the pilot as the rotors spun to life. Small swirls of dust danced like mini tornadoes on the tarmac outside. Stephan reached up and hit a button on the ceiling of the craft, creating a private channel on which she and her date could speak.

Once in the air, he gestured out the window. Kat turned sideways to glance where he pointed. Stephan leaned his body against her back as he tapped on the glass.
“Look, you don’t want to miss that view.”

It was difficult to concentrate with him pressed against her, but somehow she managed, and it was definitely worth the struggle. The view of the Vegas strip mesmerized her. She’d seen an aerial shot of the strip at night on TV, but it didn’t compare to the buffet of colors that fed her vision tonight. Below them an ocean of gold flowed where red, orange and pink neon creatures flitted about the blue and green neon coral.

As they flew, Stephan continued to describe points of interest. They flew over the Hoover Dam admiring the architecture and its grand scale. Lake Mead seemed smooth like blown sugar as they went by, the boats tucked neatly into its harbor for the night. With the hum of the rotor blades in the background, they listened to music in their headphones, lovely music. And she wondered if Stephan had specially chosen it for its romantic quality.

They arrived at the Grand Canyon and followed the Colorado River as it snaked through until they came to a cascading waterfall. The helicopter descended into the canyon past the rust colored waves on the rocky walls. They touched down beside the base of the falls, where the falling water met the still river causing a white wake that crashed with a purring sound. Kat watched as the full moon’s reflection shimmered and shook in the ripples of the water.

Once the rotors settled to a stop, Stephan handed Kat out of the helicopter, then grabbed a blue cooler and quilt from their hiding place in the chopper. He tucked her under his arm and escorted her to the falls. It felt natural, tucked up against his side. The smell of his cologne wafted on the breeze. She couldn’t help herself. She took a deep breath and knew she’d remember that delicious woodsy scent for the rest of her life.

When the sound of whirling rotors caught Kat’s attention, she turned and watched the helicopter ascend. Her long blonde hair whipped around her in the wash from the blades. She looked back at Stephan whose own hair was tied neatly back in a leather thong at his neck. As she worked to gather her whipping hair Kat asked, “Where is the helicopter going? It’s not leaving us here, is it?”

Stephan looked down at Kat, a mischievous smirk on his face. “Why so worried, Kitten? Are you afraid to be alone with me?”

“I don’t know. You are a big bad vampire after all. Should I be afraid of you?” she teased.

Suddenly serious, Stephan replied, “No, Katrina, you never have to worry. I would never hurt you. Never!”

Kat watched as a flash of emotion crossed Stephan’s face. Could he have been hurt by what she said? She was only kidding. She knew she would be safe with him.

“I feel safe with you, Stephan.”

She knew him through Marcus, knew he was honorable, knew he would never hurt her, at least not physically.

But emotionally was another issue.

Being here with him, alone, made Kat’s heart race, not from fear, but from the strength of emotions running through her. She could fall hard for this man. And therefore, he could break her heart.

“I hope you mean that. I would hate to think you were regretting coming out with me. The thought that you might be afraid to be with me is inordinate.”

The sincerity in his voice stilled her feet. She looked up into his handsome face, easily reading his concern. “I’m not afraid to be with you,” she assured him, putting all the sincerity she could behind the statement.

He paused for a moment, his eyes searching her face as if he could see into her mind. Her breath hitched as she fell into the sapphire depths of his intense gaze and then the moment was broken by him giving her shoulders a squeeze before releasing her to fling the quilt onto the floor of the canyon. The fluffy white quilt was a stark contrast, in both color and texture, to the hard, red canyon floor.

Kat sat on the soft quilt listening to the sound of the rushing water, watching as Stephan withdrew the items from the cooler. He removed the contents one by one and laid each carefully on the quilt before Kat.

It looked amazing. He’d brought all her favorite foods. For the appetizer, Stephan produced a nutty Manchego cheese with crisp apples. He followed that by a loaf of French bread with a bruschetta made of diced tomatoes with onion and basil. A vinaigrette-based potato salad and cold sliced ham with a fruit glaze comprised the main course.

Katrina licked her lips and wondered how he knew just what she liked most. She didn’t miss the knowing smile that graced Stephan’s face. It was as if he had read her mind.

The food tasted delicious. As Stephan fed her, Kat chewed each bite slowly, savoring the exquisite taste. The conversation remained light while they ate, Stephan alternating between feeding her and himself.

Sated, Katrina leaned back on her arms. “I’m stuffed. I can’t eat any more,” she said as Stephan tried to feed her another bite of the glazed ham.

He dusted off his hand. “Want to walk off our dinner? We could explore the canyon,” he offered, rising to his full height beside her.

“That sounds lovely.” She allowed him to take her hand in his. The warmth from his large hand encircled her delicate appendage as they walked.

They strolled along the shore of the Colorado, hand in hand. Katrina took in her surroundings. The walls of the canyon rose around them, the jagged rock face casting shadows under the moonlight. The aromatic smell of shale and limestone mixed with the river to create a primal, outdoorsy scent that surrounded them as they wandered.

The soft scuffling sound brought them to a stop when they came upon a tan and black coyote with her three pups. Stephan squeezed her hand in a friendly gesture, as she watched the three pups nuzzle into their mother. A smile graced Katrina’s face when she heard one of the pups sing out, his cry high pitched and long, almost joyful.

Stephan stepped up behind Kat, his arm tightening around her waist, as he rested his chin on her shoulder to watch. She couldn’t ignore the fact that her back pressed firmly against his perfect, muscular body. The scents of dark sandalwood and honeysuckle mingled, surrounding her while they watched the coyotes. The feel of him mixed with his unique scent in a heady combination that made white-hot desire course through her veins. Kat sighed, her body screaming with the need to turn in his arms and feel his lips on hers.

His lips brushed her ear as he whispered, “They are beautiful, aren’t they?”

“They are so cute,” she replied, careful to keep her voice low. “Why is that one crying?”

“They’re singing. Coyotes love to sing. They sing to each other, at the moon, to show emotions.” The feel of his hot breath ghosting over her sensitive ear sent a tremor through her body.

“Oh look,” she practically squealed.

The couple watched as the pups began to wrestle. On shaky legs they stumbled over one another, nipping each other’s ears and paws. Stephan laughed, the sound stirring something within her chest that caused her heart to flutter. Katrina tilted her head, looking up at him. “I love the way you laugh,” she said on a sigh. He didn’t do that nearly enough.

The look on his face softened, making butterflies dance in her stomach. She pulled her eyes away from his and gazed on the coyotes as a flush heated her cheeks.

The mother coyote ended the match when she noticed they had an audience. With a quick nip she brought the wrestling to a halt and led the pups into an opening in the canyon wall.

They stood for a minute longer, Stephan still holding Kat. She loved being in his arms. Being held by him seemed so right, and she was in no rush to let the moment pass
.
Unfortunately, as moments in time do, it moved on too quickly.

Slowly Stephan’s arms fell from around her. “Shall we?” he invited, gesturing back toward the area from which they came.

As they approached the quilt, Kat stopped and cocked her head to one side. She could hear a soft melody drift along the wind. “Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Stephan held a straight face.

“Either I’m losing my mind or I hear classical music.”