“So, what do you want to eat?” Devin asked as he looked at his menu.
Kaisa scanned hers. “I think I’ll have the steak, as rare as I can get it.”
“I’m going to have the ribs.”
The waitress returned with their drinks, then took their meal order before she left them alone once again.
Kaisa looked around. Being a Saturday, the place was fairly busy. There was quite a few people filling tables or seated on stools at the bar. Two guys sitting at a table waved in their direction, and Devin waved back.
“Friends of yours?” she asked.
“Yeah. Don’t worry. They won’t come over and try to talk to us since I’m with you, and they’ll know we’re on a date.”
“Great,” she said sarcastically. The town was small enough for everyone to almost know everyone. So it wouldn’t be long before the news got around that Devin had been seen with her there.
Devin reached across the table and captured her hand. He rubbed his thumb back and forth across her knuckles. “Can you at least look as if you’re enjoying yourself?”
“Why? Are you afraid it’ll give you a bad rep as a lady’s man?”
“No, but I’d feel better if you did seem to like being with me. Right now, I can’t shake the impression that I’m putting you through torture or something. I didn’t realize I was so terrible to be around.”
Kaisa winced inside. She wasn’t actually going out of her way to make the date enjoyable. She was being a bit of a bitch. If she wanted to get through this night and not completely ruin the friendship she had with Devin, she needed to tone it down. Trying to push him away with her bad behavior obviously wasn’t going to work. It would only make things between them strained. Her older brother’s mate was Devin’s sister, after all. Waverly would feel uncomfortable if this date went terribly wrong and Devin could no longer stand the sight of Kaisa.
“Sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t want to give you that impression.”
“Let’s have a few drinks and eat, then we’ll take it from there. I don’t want to make it so you hate me for this.”
“I wouldn’t do that. You know I have reasons for…” Kaisa let her words trail away.
“I know there’s something. Maybe if you explained it, it’ll help me understand.”
She bit back the urge to snap her teeth at him. Having Cameron bring up the subject of Thad earlier made it a sore point for her. It was as if she’d picked at a cut and it had bled again. She wouldn’t take it out on Devin. She strictly held Cameron responsible for it.
“I’m not comfortable getting into it with you. Suffice it to say, I once was in a serious relationship with a human male and it ended badly. Really badly, to be honest.”
“You can’t let one bad experience make you paint all men with the same brush. I would never cheat on you, if that’s what the jerk did. And you don’t have to worry about me freaking out about what you are, since I already know you’re a hybrid.”
Devin had no idea how close to home he’d hit with that last comment. If only Thad had been cheating on her. She would have gotten over what he’d done to her a long time ago. Not even Torger or Cameron knew the full story of what had happened.
She was saved from saying anything else when the waitress arrived with their meals. Kaisa focused on her food. The steak was as rare as she’d asked for it, and it was really tasty. It was the first time she’d eaten at the bar. She, Torger and Cameron had come there for drinks before Torger had met Rikki, but they’d never ordered anything to eat. She’d have to tell Cameron how good the steak was since it was one of his favorite things to have.
Once their silence was on the verge of becoming uncomfortable, Devin saved Kaisa by starting a conversation about a prank he’d pulled on one of the other cooks at the coffee shop. Brolach had told her how Devin and his other coworkers were forever trying to one up each other on pranks, and how Trevor, Waverly and Devin’s dad, was always giving them crap for it when he found out.
“Did your dad catch you this time?” Kaisa asked in between laughs.
Devin chuckled and shook his head. “Thank god, no. He’d already left for the day, and since Paul and I were closing, we cleaned up the mess before dear old dad would see it. I’m sure he would have taken a strip off me if he had.”
“One day you’re going to go too far and he’ll get really mad at you.”
He waved her comment aside with a flick of his hand and a snort. “What’s he going to do? Fire me?” Devin chuckled. “That won’t happen. I have a share in the family business. I know for a fact he expects Waverly and I to take over the coffee shop once he’s too old to work.”
Kaisa took her bottom lip between her teeth. “You mean you will. Brolach and Waverly will have to move away before it gets to that point. Your parents will question why your sister isn’t aging.”
“We’ll see.”
The conversation moved on to other things. They finished their meals and then ordered a second round of drinks. Kaisa had to admit she enjoyed being around Devin when she wasn’t trying so hard to push him away. He was funny and laid back, traits she liked in a male.
After they decided to leave, they left the bar and headed outside to her car. She drove them to Devin’s place. According to the time, they’d only taken an hour and half at the bar. It was too early for Kaisa to go home or she’d have to face Cameron’s displeasure.
She put the car into park and then turned off the engine. Without looking at Devin, she said, “Ah, I can’t go home yet. Can I come inside?”
*
Devin looked at Kaisa. “Sure you can. Honestly, I thought you’d fight me on the idea. Why can’t you go to your place?”
She gave him a look that said she wasn’t too thrilled with what she was about to say. “Cameron is the reason. He said if I didn’t spend what he deems as enough time with you, he’d march me right back here. And he said he’d call to check to see if I was actually with you, and not just hanging around someplace else to make it look as if I was.”
“Seriously?” he asked with a laugh.
“Yes.”
As if on cue, Kaisa’s cell rang. With an irritated look, she answered it. “Hello, Cameron… Yes, I’m still with Devin… You really don’t believe me to the point you have to talk to him?… Fine. Hold on.”
She held out her phone to him. “It’s Cameron. He wants to talk to you. The dumbass.”
Devin took the cell from her. “Hello, Cameron.”
“So she still is with you,” Cameron said on the other end.
“Yes. Kaisa has been a great date. We’re going into my house now, so I’m have to hang up now.” Devin didn’t wait for Cameron to say goodbye before he ended the call. He handed Kaisa her phone. “Did I get rid of him quick enough?”
She chuckled. “Yes. And I’m sure Cameron loved the fact you hung up on him.”
With her sensitive hearing, Kaisa would have had no problem hearing both sides of the conversation. “Forget about him. Let’s go inside.”
They climbed out of the car. Devin walked ahead of Kaisa to the front door. He unlocked and then opened it before he stepped aside for her to enter ahead of him. After he was inside, he switched on the foyer light.
“It’s not much, but it’s home,” he said.
Kaisa followed Devin into the living room. She looked around. “I have to say it’s cleaner than I expected. Cameron is forever leaving his crap all over the place in our house. I reach a point where I get totally disgusted, gather up everything that’s his and dump it onto his bed, usually when he’s sleeping in it.”
“I can’t stand clutter. It drives me nuts.” He gestured toward the couch. “Take a seat. Would you like another beer? I have some in the fridge.”
“Sure.” Kaisa sat on one end of the couch.
Devin quickly left her and went to the kitchen. He took beers out of the fridge, then twisted the caps off. He’d hoped to somehow convince Kaisa to come inside after they’d gone to the
bar. He’d have to thank Cameron later for making it so pain free. Now alone with her, he was going to use it to his advantage. There was something between them, and he wouldn’t let her deny it.
He returned to the living room and passed Kaisa a beer before he sat next to her. Devin reached for the TV remote and then turned on the television. He flipped through the channels until he found a movie.
They sat in silence, drinking their beers and watching television, for a few minutes before Devin shifted closer so their thighs touched. Since she didn’t move away, he oh, so casually put his arm around her shoulders. She stiffened, but didn’t do anything to get out of his embrace.
Being this close to her had his heart beating faster and arousal surging through him. God, he wanted her. Spending this time with her proved how much he enjoyed being around her. And how good they could be if they were together.
Devin played with Kaisa’s hair as he took a sip of his beer. The lock he wrapped around his finger was soft and silky. He ached to have the long strands draped over his chest as she kissed it. His blood heated, and his cock hardened.
Kaisa turned her head to look at him. He met her gaze. “Devin, you have to stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Whatever you’re thinking. I can smell your arousal.”
“I can’t help what you do to me.”
“That doesn’t cha—”
Devin cut Kaisa off with his mouth on hers. He thoroughly kissed her, not holding back any of the pent-up need that had built inside him. He didn’t let her deny him. He pushed his tongue past her lips and tasted her, giving each of her fangs a swipe.
She let out a defeated-sounding moan, then placed their beer bottles on the coffee table before she turned fully toward him. He did the same and wrapped her in his arms, tugging her closer. Her breasts flattened against his chest, her taut nipples scraping against him with each of her rapid breaths.
Their kiss deepened. Devin took hold of Kaisa’s thighs and spread them apart before he yanked her hips toward him. She ended up on his lap with her long legs around his waist. Her jean-clad pussy landed on his cock. Even though their clothes were between them, it still felt damn good.
Kaisa pushed against him, and Devin fell back onto the couch. It wasn’t wide enough for the two of them. He couldn’t stop them from falling to the floor between it and the coffee table. He landed on his back with a grunt and her still on top him, her lips not once leaving his.
She ground against him as she growled, making him even harder. He moaned. He’d lost count of how many times he’d fantasized about having her in his arms just like that.
Kaisa left his mouth and kissed along the side of his jaw before she worked her way down the side of his neck. Devin turned his head to the side and groaned loudly as she dragged a fang across his skin. He lifted his hand and buried it in her hair at the back of her head to hold her there, wanting more than anything for her to bite him, to feed from him.
She nipped him and rode him faster. He lifted his hips to match the pace she set. He panted, and just when he was at the point where he’d beg her to sink her fangs into him, she did.
Intense pleasure shot through Devin. With each pull of Kaisa’s mouth, it was as if she set his body on fire. She continued to rock against him as she fed. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever experienced, and wanted to be buried deep inside her pussy the next time they did this.
Just as he thought he couldn’t take any more of the building pressure, he came, moaning, and feeling lightheaded. He closed his eyes. She cried out against his skin, but didn’t stop drawing at his neck. He drowned in the pleasure of it all.
*
Kaisa growled and moaned as her pussy clutched and released at nothing with her orgasm. Devin’s rich blood continued to fill her mouth, and she greedily swallowed it down. The taste of him was like no other. She wanted more.
Once the last wave of her climax subsided, she realized Devin had gone completely limp, and how much of his blood she’d taken. She quickly pulled out her fangs, then dragged her tongue across his skin to seal and heal the wounds.
She sat up and looked down at him. His eyes were closed, and he was passed out. His heart beat steadily, but it seemed to work harder than it had. A skidder of unease ran down her back. She had taken too much.
Not once out of her entire long life had she ever fed so much that she’d put a human at risk. Her adoptive native parents had known exactly what she and Torger were, and had taught them both at an early age to only take what they needed from donors, to never lose control.
Kaisa didn’t hesitate. She sank her fangs into the inside of her wrist. Once the blood welled to the surface, she bent down, cupped the back of Devin’s head and put her wrist against his mouth.
“Drink, Devin,” she said as she gave him a little shake.
She breathed a silent sigh of relief once he closed his lips around her skin and took a deep pull. Her pussy clenched at the pleasurable sensation, but she pushed it aside. She’d fucked up. She’d let herself get too carried away.
After she figured he’d had enough, she tugged her arm away and sat up straight. Devin let out a sigh, but didn’t open his eyes. He’d slipped into a deep sleep.
Having what she’d done hit her, and hard, Kaisa quickly scrambled off Devin and stood. She had to get out of there. Now. Without looking back at him, she raced to the front door and then left. She drove away as if the hounds of hell snapped at her heels.
Chapter Four
Devin came awake and then let out a groan at the soreness in his back. He blinked open his eyes to find he lay on the floor between the coffee table and couch. He shifted and grimaced at the wetness inside the crotch of his jeans.
He jerked upright and looked around as everything came back to him in a rush. Damn, Kaisa wasn’t there. She must have run after she’d fed from him, and he must have passed out afterward since he didn’t remember her leaving. He wished she would have stuck around.
He looked at the clock on his cable box and had to do a double take. According to it, he’d been asleep for a couple hours, at least. No wonder his back was sore. He licked his lips and scowled at the coppery taste. It tasted like…
Devin shot to his feet and raced to the bathroom. He flipped on the light before he leaned closer to the mirror above the sink as he stared at his reflection. There was blood on his lips, and he was pretty damn sure it wasn’t his. He turned his head to the side and looked at his neck where Kaisa had bitten him. There was no mark to show she had.
He looked directly into the mirror again, his gaze focused on his lips. Kaisa had given him her blood. It was the first exchange that put him onto the road to being turned. He didn’t think she’d done it with that in mind. Devin would bet anything she’d fed too deeply from him, which would explain why he’d passed out. Waverly and Brolach had done their first exchange for the very same reason. Brolach had lost control, and had fixed it by giving Waverly his blood in return.
Devin grimaced again at the cool wetness in his jeans. He’d come all over himself. Nothing like embarrassing himself in front of Kaisa by acting like a virgin making out with his first girl.
He unbuttoned his shirt and then took it off before he peeled out of his sodden jeans. A shower was in order. And a load of laundry, which he’d do in the morning. After he turned the water on to the right temperature and then stepped into the tub, Devin couldn’t help but smile.
Even though Kaisa would state tonight had ended in disaster, he didn’t think it had. She no longer could push him away and say they weren’t good together. She’d do her best to make sure the second blood exchange didn’t happen, but he wasn’t about to let her off the hook for that. He’d already settled his mind to the fact that the only woman he wanted was her.
* * * *
Kaisa drove through town and ended up at the grain elevator. She parked in the lot and rested her forehead on the steering wheel as she mentally kicked herself for being an idiot. She should have nev
er bitten Devin. It was the worst thing she could have done.
Now it was way too late. For both of them. She still had the taste of his blood in her mouth, and she wanted more. More of it and the pleasure she’d found in his arms. She wanted him in the worst way. The attraction she had for him had increased to the point she couldn’t just push it away. She’d thought she’d fallen for Thad hard and fast, but it didn’t compare to what she felt for Devin. She was so screwed.
Kaisa lifted her head and straightened. She had no fucking idea what to do. All it would take to turn Devin was one more blood exchange. A small part of her said no way in hell would there be a second. A larger one wanted to rush back to his place and do it right there and then. And she knew damn well he’d be more than willing.
She put the car into drive and then headed back into town. She needed to talk to someone. The one person she always turned to in times like this was Torger. She and her twin would always have a close bond. He knew her better than anyone else, as she knew him.
Kaisa parked at the side of the road in front of Torger and Rikki’s place. She stepped out of the car before she went to the door that led upstairs to their apartment. At the top, she knocked on their entrance door.
Rikki answered it with a smile, flashing her fangs. “Hey, Kaisa. We weren’t expecting you. Come in.”
She crossed the threshold. Rikki shut the door behind her. “It was a last-minute decision. Is it okay if I talk to Torger?”
“Of course. You don’t need to ask. I was about to get into the shower.” Rikki looked toward the open bedroom door. “Torger, Kaisa wants to talk to you.”
Torger came out into the living room as Rikki headed to the bathroom. Kaisa sat on the couch next to her brother once he took a seat. He turned sideways to face her.
To Win a Hybrid Page 3
