Blaze (The Protectors Series) Book #10

by Teresa Gabelman

  Her words seemed to soften his features slightly. “No, but—”

  “Never,” Katrina interrupted him. “I could never have friends. It was forbidden outside of the club. I could have all the friends I wanted who were associated with the MC, but outside, it was not even a possibility. There wasn’t one person inside the MC who I wanted to call a friend because every single one of them wanted something for that friendship, and most of the time the cost was too high, at least for me.”

  “Katrina—” Blaze tried to speak, but Katrina once again stopped him.

  “I’m not telling you this to make you feel sorry for me. That was my life, my past, and I’m dealing with it.” Katrina frowned at her words. “At least I’m trying to, probably not as successfully as I want.”

  Blaze cupped her chin, raising her face to his. All anger had left his hard features. “Telling you to do something for your own good is not forbidding you to enjoy something. You have missed your checkup appointments with Slade, and that will be corrected.” He placed his thumb against her lip when she started to speak. “And as of right now, you will be accompanied by a Warrior when you leave the compound.”

  “I was with two Warriors,” Katrina reminded him.

  “Yes, Jill and Steve are Warriors, but not with the experience needed to deal with this alone.” Blaze removed his hand but didn’t move away.

  Actually Katrina agreed with that. The Iron Drakes shouldn’t be underestimated. She had momentarily forgotten that because she was so ready to be done with them. “You’re right.” Katrina sighed. “I should have listened to you.”

  “I’m what?” Blaze cocked his eyebrow, and a tiny slip of a grin tipped his lips. “I don’t think I heard you correctly.”

  “You heard it, and I’m not repeating it.” Katrina rolled her eyes, but also smiled. “I’ll try to behave until this is over. But instead of acting like an overbearing ass being demanding, could you try asking? Being talked to like that was how I used to live. I want to forget.”

  She watched as Blaze thought long and hard about her request. “When it comes to your well-being and safety, I can’t promise you anything, but I will try.” When she remained silent, he continued. “But you will be seeing Slade sooner rather than later.”

  Katrina knew that was about as good as it was going to get with Blaze. A thought popped into her head. “What’s your last name?”

  That seemed to take him aback; his eyes darkened again. “Blaze.”

  “Blaze Blaze?” Katrina frowned. “Different, but catchy.”

  “Don’t be a smartass.” He growled as his eyes shifted away. “Blaze is all I go by.”

  She watched as he walked away, headed for the refrigerator, and pulled out a beer. When he offered her one, she shook her head. “Don’t drink.”

  Blaze flipped the metal cap off with his thumb and took a long swallow. “You’re different.”

  “Why, because I don’t drink?”

  “No. Can’t quite put my finger on it, but I will.” Blaze pointed at her with the hand that held the bottle.

  “Well, fill me in when you find out.” Katrina shrugged, then turned to walk deeper into the house. “I don’t think I’m different from anyone else unless it’s more boring.”

  “Boring would never be a word any sane man would use to describe you.” Blaze’s voice was so close to her ear, she shivered and leaned back.

  As her back touched his chest, his strong arms wrapped around her waist. “I’m supposed to be mad at you,” she whispered on a sigh.

  Blaze raked her neck with his fangs. “Plenty of time later for that.”

  A scream of pleasure escaped her as his fangs broke through the skin of her neck and one hand cupped her through her jeans. All anger left her; only pleasure resided within her mind, body, and soul.

  Chapter 16

  Blaze knew he was fucked; he couldn’t keep his hands off her. And when he wasn’t with Katrina, he couldn’t stop thinking about putting his hands on her. The attachment he had to her was stronger than anything he had ever felt, and now that he was tasting her blood for the first time, the connection slammed into him with surprising force. He knew she felt it as well. Her body responded to him as if they were one being. Pulling his fangs from her soft skin wasn’t easy when all he wanted to do was continue feeding. God, she was sweet. Her blood tasted like the most expensive whiskey that had ever touched his lips, and as intoxicating.

  “I’m going to take you, and it’s not going to be gentle.” Blaze hissed the warning softly in her ear. “Tell me now if that’s not okay.” He was already working her jeans down past her hips.

  Katrina didn’t answer, but she did help him lower her jeans, and then lay across the table bare-assed, looking at him over her shoulder, which was answer enough.

  “Jesus!” Blaze wasted no time lowering his pants and taking his rock-hard cock in his hand. With his free hand, he touched her and probed to make sure she was ready for him. She was more than ready; her sweet juice ran onto his fingers.

  Careful of her shoulder, he grasped her arm to give himself leverage as he slowly pushed his cock into her silky smoothness. Her body accepted him inside, clutching him to the point he cursed from the pleasure.

  True to his word, he was not gentle. Careful, yes; easy, no, and she received him with a frenzy that matched his own. He cocooned her body with his as he lay his chest against her back and pounded into her. Her head rested on the table with her flaming red hair fanned out around her. Her eyes were closed. Her bottom lip caught in her teeth, and he had never seen anything more beautiful.

  “You’re beautiful.” His voice spoke the vision he was seeing.

  As her eyes opened slightly, her swollen lip was released by her teeth. “I want to touch you.”

  She could have asked him for anything, and in that moment, he would have sold his own soul, if he had one, to see she got it. Her modest request to touch him did just that, touched him like nothing else ever had. Slowly he pulled out of her, his need to take her fast and hard vanishing. He eased her up, removed her shirt, followed by her lacy bra. He frowned at the bruise on her shoulder, but didn’t mention it; he would touch on that subject later. Before picking her up, he discarded his boots and jeans. Then with ease, he lifted her by the waist and with no problem, slid his cock into her warmth.

  Her small hands caressed his shoulders, her fingernails biting into his skin, but he welcomed the pain. The pain was the only thing keeping him in the moment. His hands remained on her hips, keeping a slow, sensual pace.

  She rode him with her head thrown back, so he let her pick the pace; he just steadied her with his strength. Blaze stood with his legs braced and gave her free rein, watching as she took control, something he never thought he’d enjoy, but he was fucking ready to explode witnessing her passion.

  Katrina’s head snapped up. Her eyes were black as night as they stared at him and then his neck. No words were spoken. Nothing needed to be said. He tilted his head so his neck was exposed to her. With a quickness that surprised him, she latched on. Her urgent but careful pulls had his dick hardening to the point of pain. As she drank, Blaze took back control and slammed her onto him over and over again until they were both spent.

  When her fangs released him, she licked his wounds closed. Her head remained resting on his shoulder as she breathed steadily.

  “Katrina?” He tried to see her, but her face was in the curve of his neck. Had she fallen asleep? But that was not possible. They didn’t sleep; they didn’t get tired. “Katrina?” he said, a little louder, with more force.

  “I love you.” The whispered words were just as clear as if she’d screamed them. She had said the words but still hadn’t moved. The soft snore next to his ear told him what he’d thought: she had fallen asleep.

  He stood with her in his arms, holding her close, and didn’t know what the fuck to do. He honestly didn’t know if the fear he felt, which was a first because fear wasn’t a normal emotion for him, was because
of her words or because she was sleeping, something a full-blood vampire never did.

  Carefully he pulled his semihard cock out of her warmth and gently laid her on the table. She curled up, and he grabbed his leather jacket and covered her body as well as he could. After quickly pulling on his jeans, he grabbed his phone. Finding Slade’s number, he called, pacing as he impatiently waited for him to pick up.

  “Yeah.” Slade answered on the third ring.

  “She’s sleeping,” Blaze said, his eyes never leaving her. The silence on the other end said a lot.

  “Where are you?” Slade finally said, his voice concerned.

  “At my place, but I’ll bring her to you.” Blaze rubbed his eyes, actually feeling a little tired himself. What the fuck was she doing to him? “This isn’t good, is it?”

  “Let’s just say it’s different and not jump to conclusions,” Slade responded. “I’ll be waiting in my office.”

  Blaze hung up the phone and remained staring at her. With a curse, he grabbed her clothes before reaching out. “Katrina.” He shook her until she finally woke up.

  “Was that a dream?” She sighed, then stretched, knocking his leather jacket off her and to the floor. She looked down at herself and smiled. “Guess not. Did I pass out?”

  “You fell asleep.” Blaze helped her sit up. “Are you okay?” He really tried to forget those three words she had spoken, but every time her lips moved, he was afraid she would speak them again. He honestly didn’t know what he would say in return. The word love had never been in his vocabulary, ever, and he never expected it to be.

  “Perfect.” Katrina was watching him closely. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “No,” Blaze lied. Well actually, he didn’t lie. She hadn’t done anything wrong. What man in his right mind wouldn’t want to hear those words from a woman like her? He just wasn’t in his right mind, and he definitely wasn’t the right man for Katrina. He knew that, but he couldn’t fucking keep his hands or thoughts off her. “But you are going to see Slade.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, now,” he replied. “Get dressed.”

  Katrina took her clothes he handed her. As the sleep seemed to clear from her eyes, she dressed. It wasn’t until shock crossed her face that he knew she remembered the words she had spoken. The only thing he could do was turn away like the coward he was. Fuck!

  ******

  Katrina once again found herself on the back of Blaze’s motorcycle, but this ride was different. His body was stiff, almost foreign to her, and she knew why. She had once again spoken her thoughts aloud, a habit she’d had since she was a child that had earned her many slaps. She had told him she loved him and he’d rejected her words. He may not have said it, but his actions sure did. What did she expect?

  Her fingers tightened on his jacket as he turned a corner, but she refused to put her arms around him, and he didn’t force the issue. Rejection hurt, and she refused to knowingly put herself in that position. She blamed his stupid dick for her blunder. She knew she was being ridiculous, blaming his dick, but she was pissed at herself. When would she ever learn? Friendships and love came with a price, always. She had known she was in love with Blaze a while ago but had sworn to herself she would take the knowledge to the grave, whenever that would be. Unless he was to express the emotion first. Well, she blew that plan all to hell.

  They arrived at the compound and Blaze stopped by the front door. “Go to Slade’s office. I will be there in a second.”

  Katrina slipped off the bike without a word, but before she could take a step, he stopped her.

  “I mean it, Katrina.” Blaze eyed her. “Straight to Slade’s office.”

  Nodding, Katrina pulled her arm from his grip as she walked away. Yes, thoughts of disobeying him again filtered through her mind, so maybe, just maybe, she’d end up bare-assed and facedown on a table. She was absolutely insane to even think that. She knew this wasn’t a real relationship. She knew her saying she loved him was not a dream. The words had left her lips, and his actions since then told her everything she needed to know. She would not make that mistake again.

  Before she knew it, and not even remembering walking down the hallways of the compound, she was at Slade’s door. It stood wide open.

  “Come in.” Slade’s voice echoed in the hallway.

  Katrina cringed, wishing she were anywhere else than here. She hated doctors, always had, even doctors as gorgeous as Slade. Actually, that made it worse.

  “Table.” He pointed, then turned to grab a file.

  She hopped on the table, then noticed Blaze had snuck up behind her and was leaning on the doorframe. Wasn’t there such a thing as patient-doctor confidentiality? The look on Blaze’s face told her to keep that thought to herself.

  “How have you been feeling?” Slade asked, looking up from the file.

  “Fine.”

  “She has a large, painful bruise on her shoulder,” Blaze answered. His eyes narrowed at her frown.

  “Pull your shirt down from your shoulder.” Slade set the file on the desk and headed her way. She did what he asked, making sure to remain still when he touched the sore spots. “When did this happen?”

  “Tonight,” she responded, pulling her shirt back over her shoulder. “During a takedown. Guess I landed on it wrong.”

  Slade frowned. He then turned to write something in the file. “Are you still having your menstrual cycles?”

  Okay, this was uncomfortable. Her eyes slid to Blaze, who was staring at her waiting for her to answer. She glanced at the floor. “Yes.”

  “When you were human, were they normal and regular?” Slade waited for the answer, and when one wasn’t forthcoming, he looked up from the file. “Katrina?”

  “They were.” She felt the warm blush of embarrassment rush her body.

  “And now?”

  “Not as regular.”

  “But normal or abnormal?”

  “Is this really necessary?” Katrina wanted to die. The only person she had ever talked about her period with was her mother, not some drop-dead gorgeous doctor and definitely not with a man she’d just let screw her on a kitchen table.

  “Yes,” Slade replied, then glanced at Blaze. “Maybe you should wait—”

  “Right here.” Blaze’s eyes narrowed as if daring anyone to tell him to leave. “She also fell asleep, as I said on the phone.”

  “Have you done that a lot since being turned into a full blood?” Slade leaned against his desk and crossed his arms just like Blaze.

  “I mean, not a lot.” Katrina shrugged. “I’m awake more than I sleep, but I do get tired.”

  “Do you get tired after a lot of activity?” Slade kept up his questions and then asked one she was in no way going to answer. “What were you doing tonight before you fell asleep?”

  Katrina’s eyes shot from the wall she had been staring at to avoid eye contact with anyone male, to Blaze, who was staring straight at her. What in the hell was she going to answer to that? Blaze looked away from her and gave Slade a cocked-eyebrow look that Slade obviously understood.

  “Okay, I’m just going to do an exam on you, nothing major.” Slade straightened. “Is that okay with you?”

  “Do I have a choice?” Katrina gave it a shot.

  “No,” Blaze answered for Slade. “But I will give you some privacy.”

  Katrina watched as he closed the door with him on the other side and realized how lonely she suddenly felt. She wondered if Slade had a cure for a broken heart, because she had a bad feeling she was going to need one.

  Chapter 17

  Blaze stood outside the door waiting and thinking. He knew for sure she was aware that he’d heard her. Fuck, what a mess. Why in the hell couldn’t things just be easy, no love involved? He cared for her, he did know that, but love? What the fuck was that anyway? Love, like, care—it was all the same goddamn thing, wasn’t it?

  “Oh, hey.” Steve turned the corner and came to an abrupt halt.

  Giving
Steve a nod, Blaze kept his pose against the doorframe, arms crossed.

  “You waiting to see Slade?” Steve glanced at the closed door.

  “No.”

  “Oh, ah, is he in?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hmmm, well, ah, is there someone in there?” Steve just didn’t shut up.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, well. Okay.” Steve leaned against the opposite wall. “I’ll wait. I’ve had this itch… well, never mind. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about it.”

  Blaze stared at Steve, knowing he was making the kid uncomfortable, but he didn’t care. See, this was the real Blaze. He made people fucking uncomfortable. He wasn’t made for love and all that stupid shit.

  He kept his face blank as Steve fidgeted, then ended up with his arms crossed like Blaze before realizing what he’d done, so he dropped them to his sides with a curse under his breath.

  “Hey, man, we good?” Steve finally asked, breaking the silence. “I seriously hate when someone is mad at me, and well, you look like you could, you know, kill me. Or is that just your resting face? Some people have happy resting faces, others have sad resting faces, but you have one of those rare ‘I want to kill something’ resting faces.”

  When Blaze continued to stare, Steve sighed then looked away. He really tried to not care for the guy, but Steve had a way about him that meant you just couldn’t help liking the asshole. That didn’t mean he couldn’t make the kid sweat.

  “Not that an ‘I want to kill something’ resting face is a bad thing.” Steve continued to hang himself by talking. “Actually, it would help a lot when you don’t want to talk to certain people and…”

  Blaze cocked his eyebrow, trying to clue Steve in that that was exactly what he was doing with him.

  “…and, well….” Steve seemed to get the message as the door to Slade’s office opened. “Thank God.”