by Kari Thomas
“What about that guest Slade brought in? Aleta is guarding him. That can’t be good. She’s his best warrior, despite her little escapades. If Slade hasn’t told us who it is, something is up.”
Summer didn’t wait to hear any more. Knowing that Aleta was here, too, didn’t help her confidence in thinking she’d make a safe get away. She could only hope the woman was busy with whoever their guest was. She stood for a long moment, contemplating the surrounding area. The six houses were all in one large circle, facing inward. Across a long stretch of green lawn she could see the edges of the forest. In different directions there were other houses scattered here and there. She didn’t know how large the compound was, but she had heard rumors it was big enough to easily contain one hundred people and their homes.
Who would have ever guessed at the deadly secret the compound really contained?
She shivered despite the day’s heat. This was a living nightmare, one she had dreaded all her life. The complications that came with it were unbearably heartbreaking. She had come to care about Slade. She couldn’t help it. He made her feel things she’d never experienced with any other man. She had even harbored the dream that they might explore this strong chemistry between them one day. Now it could only be a dream and nothing more. He had hurt her with his dishonesty and his threats, and she couldn’t forgive him.
“Time to get out of here,” she whispered. She checked one last time and saw no one in sight. Saying a quick prayer under her breath, she started running across the lawn leading to the forest beyond.
She reached the forest without mishap. She hurried into the concealing area and stopped to catch her breath. Thank God for those daily walks-runs with Leo or she’d be too out of shape to make this escape.
She could use the big cat now. In her opinion, there wasn’t anything scarier than dense, dark woods. “Okay, I can do this. Nothing to it.” She’d already faced her worst nightmare and managed to stay sane. Getting through a proverbial dark and scary forest should be easier.
She wanted to go slow, but she knew that any minute now Slade would realize she was gone. The thought made her run. Several times she stopped and peered up at the sun, trying to figure out the right direction to go. She knew what direction the city was in, so she tried to keep a straight path heading that way.
Less than fifteen minutes into her escape, she heard the sound of pursuit. God help her, she knew it was Slade. Even though his preternatural speed kept his feet from barely touching the ground as he ran, she could still hear the subtle sound, and it made her shake hard. There was no way she was going to get away, and there was nowhere to hide. Some small voice inside her told her it was stupid to try, but she had to do it. She started running again, hoping to reach the narrow river she saw yards away. In the back of her mind, she remembered hearing that a scent was harder to follow in the water.
She made it to the river just as Slade shouted out behind her. She spun around to face him and immediately lost her footing. The slope was steep, and she lost her balance completely. She fell hard into the fast moving waters and was swallowed up.
Mustering all the strength she could, she managed to surface and get her head above the water, but the current was too strong and she wasn’t a good swimmer. It took her under again. She swallowed a mouthful of water and choked out a scream as she surfaced again.
Suddenly, Slade was there. His strong arms reached out and grabbed her, one by her long hair, then the other by her waist. He pulled her to him. “Hang on, Summer! Don’t fight me.”
She locked both arms around his neck and hung on, shaking and praying that they would both get out alive. Slade was a strong swimmer, and it didn’t take much effort for him to take them to the shoreline. He gained his footing and then pulled her straight up into his arms. He carried her back up the slope and then to a smooth grassy area. He gently placed her on the ground and then came down beside her. They fell back, lying side by side. Summer’s breathing was unsteady. She still shook hard and felt like her stomach was going to heave all the water she’d swallowed. She took several slow, deep inhales and exhaled just as slowly. Finally she managed to get control of her body.
Getting control of her emotions was an entirely different deal. She could feel the heat from Slade’s body next to hers. She listened to his steady breathing; he wasn’t out of breath like she was. Even after a situation like this, she was still deeply affected by everything about him, and she didn’t want to be. She was angry with him. She wanted to hate him for everything that had happened. Her mind agreed, but her body denied it with every breath she took.
Slade made a growling sound under his breath. Here it comes, she thought. He was obvious very angry. Too bad. So was she! “Stop growling. You knew I would have to try to escape.”
He lowered the arm he had resting over his eyes. “I knew it. In fact, I would have been surprised if you hadn’t.”
“Then why the angry growls? What? Dragons hate getting wet or something?”
“Or something.”
The way he said the words caused shivers to caress over her skin. It was low. Husky. Sexy. Darn, she had it bad for this man, whether she wanted it or not.
“The swim wasn’t my idea.” She had to point that out. It was unsettling to feel like he had the upper hand all the time. “You startled me when you shouted. So if you’re mad because you’re wet now, you can only blame yourself.” There, that sounded tough enough.
Slade turned his head to look at her. She caught her breath at the stark look of heat radiating in his amber gold eyes. Her heart stuttered.
“I don’t mind being wet, sweetheart. In fact I swim a lot. In the nude.” He rose up on his elbow and stared down into her face. She had to remind herself to breathe. “But I’m a little angry because I can’t stop wondering one thing.”
Her voice was breathless-sounding as she finally asked, “Wonder what?”
Slade reached out and touched her lips with his fingers. He caressed slowly across them and snared her gaze with his at the same time. Her heart went crazy, beating so hard and fast she was sure he could hear it.
“I’m wondering just how hard it’s going to be to get you out of those wet clothes. With or without your participation.”
Chapter Eighteen
Electrical arcs of sensual tension hovered in the mere space between them. Heat wafted off him and sunk into every pore of her trembling body. Summer nervously wet her lips with her tongue. Slade’s eyes darkened to a pure gold fire as he watched the movement.
She finally found her voice, shocked that it came out sounding so soft and encouraging. “With or without?”
“Yeah,” he murmured huskily and lowered his head until his mouth was a breath away from her waiting lips. “But it would be so much more pleasurable if it was the with decision.”
Just as his lips touched hers, she pushed away all her trepidations, all her inhibitions. She didn’t care. She wanted him, more than she’d ever wanted anything or anyone in her life. His open mouth settled slowly, gently on hers. She whispered softly, “With.”
Slade claimed her lips and her heart. In the back of her mind, she knew this couldn’t work out. He was the enemy, but her heart had already made the choice.
He kissed her thoroughly, albeit still so gently. His mouth moved over hers, his tongue swiping over her bottom lip before easing inside as she opened her mouth more to his encouragement. He tasted all male and hot, like whiskey and melted honey. Summer sighed into his mouth, wanting more of the intoxicating taste.
Slade deepened the kiss, a groan rumbling in his throat. She cupped her hands behind his neck, tangling them in his long hair and held him as his kiss became hotter, his tongue stroking hers with an erotic rhythm that caused heat and desire to build deep inside her.
His hands moved slowly over her, lightly touching her everywhere he could reach. She arched up into him, wanting the touch to be harder. When she did, he slipped one arm around her waist to her back and the other beneath her hi
ps. With one roll of his body he had her completely beneath him and their bodies aligned. He settled over her with another husky groan, and she answered with a heartfelt moan of pleasure. She wanted him to kiss her forever. She wanted him to hold her like this, pressed tight to his hard body, forever.
God help her, she knew she was falling for this man.
How could she? He wasn’t a full man.
He was part dragon shifter, her enemy and her nightmare all in one.
Summer gasped, the trepidation returning full force. She yanked on his hair, and tried to pull her mouth from his.
* * * *
Slade felt the tug on his hair the same time he felt her suddenly stiffen beneath him. He’d been so lost in the taste of her sweet lips and the feel of her soft body beneath his that he wasn’t even thinking clearly. This woman did things to him he couldn’t even begin to understand. She’d been affecting him, one way or another, since the first day he’d seen her picture. Now she was flesh and blood woman, and he couldn’t–wouldn’t–walk away from the chance to find out why she was already so settled so deep in his heart and soul.
He didn’t want this. His dragon scoffed at the denial. You want her. You need her. You just have to decide what you’re going to do about it.
Later. Right now, all he wanted to do was go on kissing her, drowning in her sweet addicting taste and feeling her soft curves as she arched up against him. His body was on fire, his dragon stoking the flames deep inside. He settled more firmly against her, pushing his jean clad erection into the vee of her thighs. He was hard and aching, desperately needing release, but knowing he couldn’t rush this. This thing between them was too fragile yet. She’d just suffered a shock that would take time to assimilate. His protective instincts wanted to keep her from any more pain. Especially any caused by him.
His primal instincts simply wanted her.
She yanked on his hair again, and he reluctantly lifted his head. Breathing hard, he stared down into her violet eyes. “What?”
She closed her eyes for a moment. His heart stuttered. Was she trembling because of the desire controlling them or was she afraid? Realization hit him, hard, like a slap in the face. Damn. Why hadn’t he thought about that? With her extremely unusual sheltered life there was every chance she was still a virgin. He felt like he’d been suddenly punched in the gut. He just didn’t know how he felt about that revelation.
His damn dragon purred in approval of it.
“Slade,” she whispered his name, and he focused on her face again. “I have to think. I don’t know…we shouldn’t…we can’t do this.”
He tried to make the question as gentle as possible, but his voice still sounded rough and husky. “Are you a virgin, Summer?”
She blushed instantly, the rosy tint covering her lovely face and down her throat. Her eyes went wide, and she blinked rapidly several times. Damn, but she was adorable and oh-so-sexy, all in one. He bit back a groan of disgust. He had to keep control right now, and those kinds of thoughts weren’t helping any.
“What does that have to do with…” She stopped and her blush deepened. He wanted to kiss every inch it covered again and again. She closed her eyes. “Oh.”
“Answer me, sweetheart.”
She chewed on her bottom lip, and his gut clenched. It took a lot of willpower not to lean back down and kiss her. Finally, she nodded her head. Her answer gut punched him even though he already knew what it would be. “Yes.”
Hellfire! His conscience warred with his body and with his damn dragon, who was much too happy with her revelation. He forced the tension out of his body, but the ache remained, hard and demanding.
She sighed. “But that wasn’t what we need to talk about,” she said quietly, finally looking at him again.
“It’s a damn important discussion,” he muttered, angry with her and himself. “I should have asked you. Hell. I shouldn’t even be touching you.” He rolled off her and fell back on the ground by her side. Disgust settled like bile in his stomach. What the hell had he been thinking? That’s just it. He wasn’t thinking, at least not with his mind.
“That’s why we need to talk,” she answered, her voice low and sweet, touching him deeply like nothing else could. “Today has…changed my entire life. I haven’t had time to deal with what’s happened.”
“I’m sorry, baby.” He turned his head to look at her. She had her eyes closed. “I didn’t want this to happen, but Fate has a way of stepping in and forcing us to do things we don’t want to. I couldn’t let Ruliard and Ansel die. You are our only hope. We need you.” And God help me, but I need you. Desperately.
“I know,” she answered softly. The vulnerability in her tone made his heart clench. “Somewhere, deep inside me, I always knew I might face this day. I lived my entire life in hiding, afraid of having to re-live a nightmare that could so easily destroy me. I just wasn’t prepared. I don’t know what to do now.”
He rose up on his elbow and leaned over her. “I told you before, Summer, and I’ll tell you again. I will protect you. I would never allow anything or anyone to harm you. You don’t realize how precious you are to us. Every Clan member would willingly lay down his or her life for you. I know this is hard to accept, and I can’t make it go away even though I wish to hell I could.” He caressed her soft cheek. “You’re stronger than you realize, baby. You’ve got an inborn strength few people have, and it’s got you this far. Don’t give up on us.”
Don’t give up on me. The thought shocked him. Where had that come from?
Her blush had faded, but it suddenly tinted her cheeks again. He groaned. He wanted to kiss her again and never stop. God help them both, but kissing wasn’t the only thing he wanted to do with her, to her. His body hardened again, the ache going deeper. Damn. Damn. Damn.
“Slade,” she hesitated and he held his breath at the look in her eyes.
“What, sweetheart?”
“This feeling between us,” She met his gaze, uncertainty shining in the depths of her eyes, “I’m not sure it’s the smartest thing to…uh…follow through.”
He grinned; he couldn’t help it. He was fast discovering that with her, alluring and seductive went hand and hand, and he loved it. “Why not?”
She frowned at him, and he held back another grin. “You didn’t just ask that. Are you crazy? I could give you a million reasons why not.”
“I’m listening.” And ready to counter every excuse you come up with.
Her sigh was tinged with disgust. “You’re teasing me. I can hear it in your voice. You know as well as I do that we could never be together. And I don’t do…uh…flings.”
“Do you even know what a fling is?”
“Of course! I’m not that innocent.”
“Right.” He was having a hard time trying to decide if teasing her was better than doing what he really wanted to do with her. His control was precariously slipping by the minute.
She made an attempt to imitate his growl. He chuckled. “Sweetheart, that wasn’t even close. You’ve got to have the dragon in you, giving you that extra rumble.”
Dragon. Hell. He just had to say it, didn’t he? She paled instantly. He wanted to kick himself. “Summer, I’m not your enemy. The Clan isn’t either. We weren’t the ones who slaughtered the Fabrizio Clan. You have to believe me on this.”
“I want to,” she told him, her voice low and uncertain once again. He hated hearing that vulnerable tone. It made him want to shelter her, even from himself. “But I don’t know what to think. How convenient is it that your Clan and mine are the Bonded ones? I didn’t even know there were any more of you. My grandmother said you were all destroyed when the island was.”
“We left the island before the volcano erupted and the typhoon hit.” He ran a hand over his eyes, the memories still vivid in his mind after all these years. “We never found any survivors of the massacre, so we didn’t wait around. We ended up here in Kings Mountain after researching and finding it to be the best place for us to live and
remain safe and anonymous.”
“Fate again?” She pulled his hand away from his face. “Was it just Fate that put us in the same place at the same time? Do you really believe that?”
“Don’t you?” Although he’d been wondering about that very fact ever since he’d discovered who she really was, what were the odds that the only survivor of their Bonded Clan would end up living in the same city they did?
“Who or what is my stalker? You said you caught him.”
He’d debated on what to tell her. Revealing that Chen was an Air Dragon would surely send her into another panic. God only knew how she was going to react once she found out he was half Air Dragon.
“We’re still interrogating him.” It was the best answer for now. He didn’t want her afraid.
“Is he….” she paused and took a deep breath. “Is he a magic user?”
“Why would you ask that?” Smart woman. Her thoughts were on the same track as his. Although he was sure Chen was innocent of any wrongdoing, there was still the fact a possible magic user was out there stalking Summer. If this person–or whatever it was–had been around for a long time…
Then the fact that his Clan and Summer coincidentally ended up living in the same city…was every indication of manipulation, long ago set in motion. Everything primal and protective rose to the surface in a hot surge of rage. Whoever–or whatever–was behind this didn’t have long to live. He’d personally see to that.
“If this stalker is a magic user, then maybe he has other reasons for wanting to find me.” Summer still held his hand in hers, and she studied it, running her fingers over his palm and tracing the lines there. Every spot she touched felt like an electrical caress shooting into him. “Maybe he knows what I am.”
Slade curled his hand around hers and lifted it to his mouth. He ran his tongue over her palm and then lightly kissed the center. “It doesn’t matter what he knows, sweetheart. He’s a dead man if he even thinks of coming near you again.”
