Heart of a Huntress (The Kavanaugh Foundation Book 1)

by Crista McHugh

  “They do when they’re wooden tipped.” Byron slipped his gun back into his holster and approached her. “Is that all of them?”

  “No, there’s two more, but I’m not in any condition to tangle with them now.” She hobbled toward him.

  “Smart girl.” He scooped her up into his arms. “I killed one of the females below. Let’s go before more show up.”

  Byron ran down the ramp to the outside, cradling her with each step. Her heart was still pounding in her ears. Thank God he’d followed her into the parking garage, or she’d have ended up being ripped to shreds. She knew she should be scolding him for being so reckless, but being alive and this close to him blurred her thoughts.

  Sucking in a deep breath filled her nose with his scent. The aroma of warm, sun-baked leather mingled with the unique smell of his skin.

  So raw, so male, so arousing.

  Her cheeks flamed, both from the direction her thoughts were heading and from being carried in his arms past the throngs of shocked tourists. “You can put me down now. I know how heavy I am.”

  “You’re not heavy at all.” His breathing slowed and his face showed no sign of strain. He seemed to be moving a pillow, not a person.

  “But people are staring.”

  “Let them stare. This is Vegas. They probably think we’re some newlyweds anxious to get back to our hotel room.” He flagged a cab.

  Her flush spread lower. If only that were the truth. She’d love to see the body hidden under the twill shirt and blue jeans. Not that their snug fit left much to the imagination. Lean muscle ripped under her fingers that splayed across his chest.

  When the taxi stopped, he climbed into the backseat with her, keeping her balanced in his lap. “Give the man an address.”

  Oh, dear Lord, he wanted to go back to her place. What else did he want? “Um, this is really too much, Byron.”

  “I’m not letting you out of my sight until I know you have your ankle propped up with a bag of ice on it. Now tell the man where to go or I will.”

  His voice almost growled the last sentence, like he wasn’t used to people challenging his orders. A shiver coursed down her spine. Normally she didn’t like domineering men, mainly because she could kick most of their asses when push came to shove. But Byron looked like the type that could match her, tit for tat. An equal. A challenge. She rattled off the address to her condo just off the Strip and nestled into his arms. It would be a short ride, but she might as well enjoy it while she could.

  His arms wrapped around her, warm and comforting. How long had it been since she allowed herself to get physically close to someone like this? She knew getting involved with him was out of the question— too many complications—but would one night disrupt the balance of her life?

  “Let me take a look at your ankle.”

  He slid his hand down her leg and her sex tightened. An amused light shone in his eyes when she met his gaze, like he knew exactly how horny he was making her. And if she wasn’t mistaken, he was struggling to contain his arousal as much as she was.

  He cleared his throat. “It’s already starting to swell a bit. Can you move it, wiggle your toes? Do we need to take a detour by the hospital to make sure it’s not broken?”

  She followed his commands, wincing as she did. “I think I’ll survive. It’s just a sprain.”

  “Good. Anything else?”

  “Maybe some bruised ribs,” she admitted. Her mind played back the encounter with the last vampire, and a cold chill washed over her insides. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For saving my life. And for taking care of me afterwards.” God, she hated to admit she needed help. It gnawed at her gut, but if she had to be rescued by anyone, she would’ve picked him. “But you need to be careful. You saw what they’re like, and from what I overheard, they were setting up a trap.”

  “For me or for you?”

  “Me.”

  A reckless grin spread across his face. “Then maybe you’re the one who needs to be more careful. Maybe you should take someone with you when you hunt.”

  She glanced up at the driver, wondering how much he’d overheard and understood. “Let’s change the subject.”

  “Of course,” he said as he ran one callused hand over her legs and massaged the base of her neck with the other. “What did you have in mind?”

  One look told her exactly what he had on his mind. Even if she closed her eyes, the firm ridge in his pants pressing against her thigh made her all too aware of his thoughts. “Are you always this forward with women?”

  “Sometimes. Actually, I’d say I’ve been holding back on you.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because you’re different than most women.”

  That was an understatement. How many women prowled the streets at night with a wooden stake in their purse?

  “You seem to be the type who likes to call the shots,” he continued. The sensuous curve of his lips rose into a smile, making his implications clear. He was waiting on her to make the next move.

  Her heart raced. One kiss wouldn’t cause too many problems, would it? Plus, it might calm the growing curiosity inside her. Before common sense could talk her out of it, she gently brushed her lips against his. They were warm, soft, yielding to hers.

  When she tried to pull away, his fingers threaded through her hair. Her breath caught. The hunger in his hazel eyes told her he wanted more than that, and frankly, so did she. This time, when their lips met, she did the yielding. Her mouth parted and his tongue swept in.

  Mmm…this is how a kiss should feel.

  Each sweep of his tongue, each nibble of his teeth, fanned the smoldering fire inside the lowest pit of her stomach. The stubble on his chin grated against her skin, adding a new sensation to her already hyper-aware brain. She curled his short hair around her fingers and held on for the ride, not wanting it to end.

  A soft moan formed in his throat and he grew bolder in his advances. The hand on her leg worked its way under her dress. He stroked her seam through her already-soaked panties. Now it was her turn to moan. He repeated the action and she pressed against his hand, urging him to keep doing it, to go deeper next time.

  A loud cough interrupted them, and Lana pulled away. The taxi was idling in the driveway of her condominium complex. Her cheeks burned. Had she really been so caught up in making out with a relative stranger in the backseat of a cab that she hadn’t realized they’d reached their destination?

  Byron’s hand withdrew from under her dress. “Let me walk the lady upstairs, and I’ll be back in a moment.”

  “Yeah, right,” the driver replied. “Just so you know, the meter’s running.”

  “No problem.” He opened the door and scooped her back into his arms. “Got your keys, Lana?”

  She searched her purse while she gave him directions to her unit. Despite the fact that she’d been sucking his face a few seconds ago, she couldn’t meet his eyes now. Once they entered the elevator, she whispered, “Sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “For acting that way in the cab. I usually have better control over myself.”

  His laughter echoed off the stainless-steel walls. “So you’re saying you don’t normally hook up with random strangers?”

  “You don’t have to say it that way!” She tried to wiggle out of his arms, but he held on to her tighter. “You really don’t have to carry me all the way up to my condo, you know.”

  “What if I want to?”

  Although she hated to admit it, she wanted to stay in his arms. For once in her life, she felt less like a tough-as-nails huntress and more like a fairy-tale princess. Of course, what she wanted to do to him didn’t belong anywhere near a Disney movie.

  The elevator doors opened, and something sank into her stomach like a lead weight. The end of the line. The end of the night with Byron. Why did that disappoint her so much? She should be focused on work, on composing a report to the Foundation about what had happened tonight
and researching whoever this Klaus fellow was, but all she wanted to do was taste his lips again. Years of sex deprivation had finally caught up with her.

  He set her down in front of her door. “Will you be okay from here?”

  No, her mind screamed. He’d left her body aching and needy for more than just a kiss. She should be flattered that he’d left the taxi waiting downstairs, a sure sign that he didn’t want just a random hookup with her. Oh, dear God, was he disappointed with her? Had it been so long since she’d kissed someone that she sucked at it? Only one way to find out.

  She seized the collar of his blazer and pulled him against her, her mouth devouring his. She tasted traces of the Jack and Coke he’d drunk earlier, along with something more primal, more sexual.

  Desire.

  All semblances of self-control got tossed to the side. He pressed her against the door, pulling her injured leg up until it hooked around his waist and the hem of her dress gathered around her waist. His erection rubbed against her intimate areas, tormenting her with the layers of material that separated them.

  He broke his lips away from hers and trailed them down her neck. The combination of his rough stubble mixed with the gentle flicks of his tongue and teasing nips of his teeth nearly sent her over the edge. Who cared if they were humping in the middle of the hallway? She wanted him to fuck her right here and now.

  “Lana.” He moaned her name like a starving wolf presented with a haunch of fresh meat. His hands cupped her buttocks, raising her ever so slightly so his cock stimulated the exquisitely sensitive nub between her legs.

  A shudder ripped through her body. She reached for the door handle, eager to continue this in her bed. Screw the cab waiting downstairs. She’d pay for the running meter at this point, so long as he left her a satisfied and exhausted puddle of flesh when he finished with her.

  The door flew open beside her, and if Byron hadn’t caught her, they would’ve landed on the floor in a tangle of limbs. A petite Latina woman stared at them with round brown eyes.

  Oh, shit, is this the wrong condo?

  Chapter Four

  Lana’s face burned as Byron released her and yanked her dress down. She checked the number beside the door. No, this was her condo.

  A mischievous grin spread across the stranger’s face. “Am I interrupting something, Lana?”

  The picture from the dossier Lana reviewed that morning flashed in front of her. “Espe, what the hell are you doing here? You’re not supposed to arrive until tomorrow.”

  Her new mentee shrugged. “I got an earlier flight, and Wade gave me a key to the condo.” She looked Byron over from head to toe. “I take it you had plans for the evening?”

  Plans wouldn’t be the right word. More like spontaneous fucking. And now that had flown out the window. Nothing cooled raging lust like getting caught by someone who supposedly looked up to her as a role model.

  Byron seemed to regain his composure sooner. “The taxi’s still waiting downstairs. I’d better get going.” He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, “I’ll see you later.”

  The husky tone of the last sentence sent a shiver down her spine. He considered this unfinished business just like she did, and she could hardly wait for next time. If there will be a next time, she thought with a grimace when she saw Espe out of the corner of her eye.

  “I mean it, Byron—be careful.”

  “Take your own advice,” he replied with a cocky grin as the elevator doors closed in front of him.

  A sigh of exasperation escaped her lips. The damn man was so infuriating at times. She hoped he wouldn’t try hunting alone when he left. “Can you give me a hand?”

  Espe studied her. Lana could only imagine how she looked. Swollen ankle, torn dress, hair probably tousled from her little escapade with Byron. Great first impression to make on a hunter fresh out of training. “What happened? Other than him, I mean.”

  She leaned against the younger woman and hobbled into the condo. “I twisted my ankle during a hunt.”

  “And where did he come into play in all this?” Espe helped Lana to the couch.

  “He’s a rogue hunter.”

  “Uh-oh.” The playful grin fell from her face.

  Thank goodness she knew enough to realize that spelled trouble.

  “Yeah, but tonight he came in handy. I doubt I’d be standing here if he hadn’t shown up.”

  “And you decided to thank him properly, huh?”

  Lana placed her best scowl on her face. “That’s none of your business. Go get me something to put on my ankle.”

  Espe got the hint and scampered over to the freezer. “One bag of frozen peas, coming up.” She tossed them across the room and sat on the edge of the leather footstool when she came back. “So, tell me what happened during the hunt.”

  “What has the Foundation told you so far?”

  “Just that you’ve noticed an increase in newborns lately. They figured it would be a good training ground for me to get some kills under my belt since they’re easier to handle.” Her dark eyes lit up with excitement.

  Lana suppressed a groan. Rookies. They had such an oversimplified view of the job. “Yeah, the newborns are easy to kill, but what about the vampire who’s creating them?”

  Her face fell. “Oh, I didn’t think about that.”

  “That’s why they apprentice you rookies with more experienced hunters.”

  The smile reappeared on her lips. “And you’re one of the best. You’re practically a legend at the Academy.”

  “I’m scared to ask why.”

  “You’re one of the oldest living hunters. You’ve gotten more kills than anyone in the Foundation.”

  “I seriously doubt that. I can think of one witch in particular who’s been active longer than I have.” An involuntary shiver raced down her spine as she remembered the strange glow in that woman’s eyes during their one and only meeting. If she could finish out her career without running into Morwen again, she’d die a happy woman.

  Espe bounced on the cushion of the footstool. “Back to tonight.”

  “I followed three newborns into a trap.”

  “Oh my God! Really? How’d you escape?”

  She shifted on the couch, carefully choosing her words. “I killed two of them, and Byron got the other two. One escaped, but he’s the one who worries me. Does the name ‘Klaus’ ring a bell?”

  The younger woman grew statue still and dug her fingers into the leather. “Klaus, the two hundred and sixty-three-year-old German vampire created by Sergei?”

  Shit! One of Sergei’s creations. Just the headache she didn’t need. “Sounds like he fits the description. By the way, do you always sound like a walking textbook?”

  Espe giggled. “Sorry, but I loved vampire history at school. I fancy myself something of an expert at it.”

  “Better you than me.” She reached for her laptop. “I need to file my report for the evening.”

  “Anything I can do to help?”

  Lana eyed her over the screen. Way too eager for my tastes. Either that, or I’m becoming a big grouch. Hunting was no longer fun. It hung around her neck like an albatross, keeping her from living a normal life.

  “You can have that room.” She nodded toward the spare bedroom and then pointed to a binder on her desk. “Unpack, get settled in, and memorize this map of the Strip. If you get bored, that binder has the layout of every major casino in town. It’s important that you’re always aware of your surroundings.”

  “Will do.” She jumped to her feet and pulled her luggage into the guest room.

  At last, a few minutes of peace.

  Lana leaned her head back against the pillows and stared at the ceiling, mentally composing her report before her fingers typed it out. Her mind kept wandering back to Byron, reminding her how empty and unfulfilled she felt now.

  She sighed and started describing the trap in her report. “It’s probably for the best,” she muttered. “I don’t need to be encouraging a rogue hunt
er to get involved in these things.”

  Or with me.

  But he still ambushed her thoughts. The memory of his lips, of his hands, of his rock-hard erection against her body flared her simmering desire. She gritted her teeth and rushed through the rest of her report, glossing over the inclusion of the rogue hunter and focusing on the possible involvement of Klaus in the latest happenings. She ended by mentioning her injured ankle. Maybe they’d send Yuan over to heal her in the morning.

  She snapped the laptop closed and limped back to her room. For the second night in a row, her last thoughts revolved around the sexy man who made her wish she lived another life.

  ***

  The first streaks of dawn had appeared in the sky when Byron turned his Jeep Wrangler onto the dirt road that led to the ranch. The hour-long drive had been one of pure hell, and it all centered around one person. Lana. If he had any doubts about her being his true-mate earlier, they’d vanished the moment her lips touched his. No question about it—she was meant for him. And that was the part that stung the most. How would she react once she found out what he really was?

  He tried not to think about that as he pulled into the driveway. Instead, he focused on how hot and heavy things had quickly gotten between them. Her arousal had matched his, maybe even surpassed it. Yet another sign he couldn’t ignore. If her roommate hadn’t interrupted him, he’d probably be lying next to her right now instead of coming to the end of a bumpy ride with blue balls.

  Greg met him at the door. The porch light reflected off his glasses, concealing his eyes. “Any luck tonight?”

  “You could say that.”

  His closest friend sniffed him as he passed. “In what way? You smell like a woman.”

  “I killed two vampires tonight, so we now know the wooden-tipped bullets work. I’m gonna need more of them.”

  Greg nodded and crossed his arms. “You’re not going to tell me about her, are you?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Fair enough,” he said. “I’m sure it will come out soon. In the meantime, I’ll get busy making more of those bullets.”

  “Thanks.” He collapsed on the couch, grateful Greg didn’t press the matter. Two nights of sexual frustration had left him drained. Maybe tomorrow he’d get a room at one of the casinos and stay in Vegas for the rest of the week.