Desert Blood (The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch Book 2) (7 page)

Cody held her, snug and patient. Slowing long enough for her to pull her wayward nerves back together. The blur of the patio doors came into focus again, and suddenly, she wanted it all. No longer a ballerina but a woman possessed, she turned in his arms. Her kiss went deep, demanding, her leg winding around his.

Cody growled. An actual growl. “Bedroom?”

She shook her head. “Right here. Now.”

He chuckled at that then slid his arms around her, taking her weight and lowering both of them to the rug. Was the man an ice skater in his spare time, used to maneuvering women through the air? Her legs parted, her heels climbed his calves, then his thighs. Of their own volition, her arms stretched overhead as if waiting to be twirled once again. He took her hands in his and held on tight.

Heather couldn’t rate what happened next, it was so far off her charts. The feel of his cock, teasing at her entrance while his eyes found her pleading
yes
. The warm slide of him, inside at last. His exhale on her cheek, the sound of a swallowed moan. Hers was much less subtle. And why should it be? Her soul was skipping with more than the physical rush of his cock sliding along her inner walls. Slow, hot, heavy.

“Condom,” he murmured, rising.

“Stay!” A desperate plea. She pushed her hips up and saw his eyes flutter. She let her sheath grip hard and milk him until he pushed deep again, his entire body quivering. Hers, too—so much, she had to suck back a lusty hiss.

His weight shifted again. “Be right back.”

She clutched at the space he vacated, aching at the sudden loss. But he was back in an instant, smoothing the condom over his length. She wanted to unroll it herself but was too shaky to manage. Next time.

Cody grinned at her exactly then, maybe reading her mind. So she thought it again, and harder. She wanted lots of next times. The patio curtain wafted in the breeze and tickled her leg, seconding that plan. His jaw scrubbed along her cheek; she’d take that as a yes, too.

When he slid back in, it was the first rain after a long drought. The sensation flooded her as Cody rocked ever harder, sweat gleaming on his chest. Heather found herself pumping in time with him, hips lifting right off the floor. That she was somehow doing it right was evident in the glow building in his eyes. A real glow, like an animal in the night. Heather put that down to her sensual state. She was seeing stars and all manner of pulsing lights, so why not a glow? It filled her eyes even when she closed them, feeling him plunge deeper, so hard and fast it should have hurt. But Heather was soaring, wrapped so tightly around him that when his climax shook him, it took her, too. Carrying her away, deep into the night.

CHAPTER NINE

Round one was a dream; round two took them to the bed. On one breath, Heather inhaled Cody’s sea breeze scent. On the next, she drifted into sleep.

Into the nightmare.

“Tonight we’re living dangerously,” Cathy declared.

Every time she replayed the nightmare, it started with those words. If only she had screamed her warning then.

Why she had listened to Cathy, she didn’t know. Wild Friday nights in techno bars were really not her thing. Or maybe that’s why she did it, because how often could she turn down her best friend’s admonitions to get out on the town?

“I can’t wait for you to meet Alon,” Cathy squeaked, primping her hair. She’d been talking about him all week, using terms like aristocratic, steamy, and hot. “And he’s got friends!” She winked.

The dim bar was jamming, a crush of bodies swaying in the dark. The beat of the music so loud, Heather could almost felt it pushing the blood through her veins. She was barely through the door before she started looking for a way out.

“There he is!” Cathy motioned to the back of the bar and plowed through the crowd, a woman possessed. Two men stood there, shadows against the far wall. They were tall and angular, with raven-black hair that shone, even in the shadows. Delicately chiseled cheekbones on strangely pale cheeks gave them the look of elite male models. But Heather didn’t find them hot in the least. An icy feeling gripped her throat as they eyed her approach. She wanted to turn and run right there. Wanted to grab Cathy and go.

Too late. “Alon!” Cathy practically leaped into a kiss. He let her, but his eyes were on Heather. And didn’t let go all night.

Not when she went to the bathroom, telling herself to calm down. Not when she deliberately maneuvered away from him at the table. Every inch she gained, he sucked back up. The man was a black hole, spinning her way, and she was flailing helplessly in a vacuum.

“Heather,” Alon said, lacing every letter with greed. The man barely breathed, barely moved. He was a coiled cat, studying its prey with hypnotizing eyes. “Tell me about yourself, Heather.” Something inched into her as he spoke. A potion, a poison, she didn’t know what. Only that it was hard to focus on anything but his face. Her mind was distant, almost dull. The only thing that really registered was a warm shot of lust when Alon leaned into her space, eyeing her neck. His nostrils flared, and he exchanged a look with his friend.

If it hadn’t been for the fire door beside them opening, Heather would have closed her eyes and let him close in. But the cool, fresh air slapped her back into thinking. Jesus, had the man spiked her drink?

Out! Get the hell out!
She tried pulling Cathy with her, but the woman’s eyes were vague, lusty. Bewitched. Another tug, but Cathy just slapped her hand away. Alon’s face curled in a cold smile, and Heather backed away, plunging through the crowd and out the fire door. After the stuffy bar, the crisp air of the street was a relief. She felt cleaner, clearer as she gulped the fresh air.

Until the bar door swung open. “Leaving so soon?” Alon’s voice was deep, silky.

She spun and speed-walked away, barely holding back from a run. A glance back revealed only shadows. When she faced forward again, he was there. Right in front of her, one hand pinching her arm. Shock rooted her in her step. How did the man move so fast?

He reached out and stroked her cheek, and the touch was cold and clammy. Reptilian. His nails were perfectly groomed, his skin, an unnaturally smooth alabaster. Like a deer in headlights, bracing for impact, Heather waited for her doom. His hand brushed her hair behind her ear, smoothed her neck. Why couldn’t she move? Why couldn’t she scream? The hand was behind her now, pulling her close as his head tilted. A glint of red rimmed his eye and his teeth—his fangs—flashed white.

Heather stopped breathing. Almost stopped thinking. Then survival instinct struck her and she struggled to break free. He only smiled and gripped her harder, fingernails digging deep.

That’s what did it, that pinch. It snapped her together just long enough to ram a knee into his groin and twist her wrist free. She stumbled away, horrified at the hungry flicker in his eyes. The look of a hunter, eager to play.

If it hadn’t been for the half-drunk bachelor party that staggered around the corner then, Heather would be dead.

“Hey baby, join the party!” One of them grabbed her arm and pulled her along. She went willingly, feeling Alon’s eyes bore into her back, right down the alley and around the next corner. Even there, she could feel his presence reaching for her.

A police car rolled by, and she nearly screamed for help. But what would they say to a woman straight out of a bar, reporting a vampire? They’d probably book her, not him. So she ran all the way home, bolted the door, and yanked down every shade. She’d ended up locked in the bathroom all night, phone in one hand, kitchen knife in the other, wishing desperately that Buddy had lived longer, if only to see her through this awful night.

A tickling sensation where Alon had grabbed her neck told her she was anything but free. More like a fox released just long enough to make for a better chase. His eyes had promised as much.

Throughout that night, Heather called Cathy every half hour without a response. She called her all the next day, and every minute, another of her nerves frayed through. Finally, she steeled herself and went to Cathy’s apartment. The police were there amidst teary neighbors who shook their heads and tsked.
A terrible crime.
The woman had her wild ways, they whispered, but she didn’t deserve this. To be raped, beaten, ritualistically bled.

Cathy was dead, a victim of some sadistic group. What kind of monster would do something like that? No one could say.

No one but Heather.

Within an hour, she’d thrown a couple of hastily packed bags into her car, withdrawn as much cash as her cards would allow, and hit the highway. Heading somewhere, anywhere. Away from the red-rimmed eyes that pierced the night. The ones staring at her now, as she slept.

She jackknifed up, screaming. Her heart was racing by the time she realized that the red came from her alarm clock, and the hands were Cody’s, callused and calm. But the wingbeats outside were real—the sound of bats taking flight. Had they been hanging around her roof again? Heather collapsed into Cody’s chest. He curled around her, whispering softly. If that solid body couldn’t shield her from harm, nothing could.

He’d check her into the nearest mental ward if she said it. Vampires. No, she wouldn’t say a word. She’d run from that world and into his, and damn it, she’d take refuge as long as she could.

CHAPTER TEN

Cody breathed in Heather’s sweet scent and held her close. Tight as his arm was around her chest, she squeezed it even closer a dozen times in the night until she’d fallen asleep, peace inching its way cautiously through the consuming darkness.

It took him another hour to get to sleep after that. His canines pushed at his gums and every muscle roared for the blood of whoever created that nightmare. He’d find the scum, rip him limb from limb. But he had to force his wolf down—again. The beast had nearly fought his way out twice tonight. First in the temptation to mark her as his mate, and now with the urge to destroy an unknown enemy. But there was a right way of doing things and a wrong.

He wouldn’t give Heather the mating bite until she wanted it as desperately as he did and understood what it meant. Neither could he kill the enemy until he knew where to direct his rage. Right now, all he could do was soothe and protect. Love her, as he’d never loved anyone before. Even if it killed him to wait.

He took solace from that scent—his and hers, intertwined. He’d have to scrub her good and hard in the shower before he let her go to work. Much as he wanted to shout it to the world, no one could know about them. Not yet.

Her heart beat steadily under his hand. When she stirred, he kept his eyes shut, wondering what she would do. He’d gone to bed with plenty of women. But waking up with one? He’d never tried that. Never even been tempted. But with Heather, it seemed totally natural. Instinctual even.

Not a good thing, because every thought, every responsibility had fled his mind the minute he walked through her door. How was he ever going to earn his father’s respect if he was distracted by a woman? He couldn’t afford that now.

His wolf gave a grumpy snarl.
She helps us. We keep her!

Cody fought back a response.
Damn it, I want to keep her, too! I just have to keep my head screwed on!

An internal snarling match ensued that only died down when Heather’s muscles shifted then flexed. When she slid away, hair brushing his shoulder, his wolf nearly let out a whine. Cody calmed the beast, determined to see what she would do. Would she bury her face in her hands and shed tears of regret? Hide in the bathroom for an hour then breeze out to work, pretending nothing had happened? Would she—

A kiss. A long, silky kiss, right on his cheek, one that sang with barely restrained hope. Just that light touch was enough to set his heart hammering. It was all he could do not to reach out for more or promise her everything.

Cody gulped. If this woman wasn’t destined for him, no one was.

The pad of her finger made a slow, lingering journey over his shoulder, leaving a warm trail that reached his bones. It traced the curves of his ear, lingering over the scar, then smoothed his eyebrow. If there was anything better than making love to her, this might be it. He could have howled when it ended, the bed shifting as she stood. Cody fought hard to control the growing desperation of his inner wolf, who wanted to tug her back and keep her close.
Mine!

He managed to keep all that down and only crack open one eyelid. In the fire of dawn, Heather was practically glowing. She took two steps across the tiny cottage, fumbled with the coffee maker, then reached for some clothes. So soon? Was she ready to let this night pass?

Maybe not entirely because she hesitated, and then dropped the clothes. Gloriously naked, she stepped out the back door. It was a sight reserved for Cody’s eyes only, thanks to the high stockade fence surrounding the small property. She unrolled a mat and settled cross-legged on it, arms reaching up to frame Venus in the pinkish-yellow light of dawn.

Yoga. She was doing yoga. Much as Cody preferred her at his side, he kept still and soaked in the view. With the leisurely stretch of a sleepy cat, she rose and faced the east. A satisfied cat with a full stomach and a warm place to bask. The fear was down to a mere whiff now, the nightmare pushed far, far away. A rush of pride registered in his gut, knowing that part of her calm came from having him there. He could feel it the same way he could feel a solid lump in his chest—one that pulsed with every beat of his heart, whispering.
Home. This is home.
Not the place, but the person. He was sure of it.

Surer still when she let him pad over and sit wordlessly in the doorway with a mug of coffee, watching her. She carried on, a smile playing on her lips as she worked through a series of balances and stretches in a pantomime of nature. She was a waking cat, a steady oak, a hovering bird, each move melting into the next. Dancer, dreamer, beauty: Heather was all of those things.

She came to her knees, reached high, and extended one leg to the side. Reaching her arms wide, she paused, then slowly leaned over the outstretched leg. Palm skyward, she swooped up, hand scooping the air like a flower waking in the desert. Cody found himself suspended between arousal and artistic delight. After she repeated the move on the other side, she straightened on her knees and paused. An invitation?