I know that’s not true, my little panther. “It’s time for the truth, Emma.” Caine’s voice turned serious as he slid his knuckles down her cheek. Now that her skin wasn’t frozen, the tingling started the moment his fingers touched hers.
Emma gasped and pressed her face closer to his hand, surprising the hell out of him that she seemed to crave the humming sensations between them. “I’ve told you everything already. While I was out in the woods looking for our cat, Casper, early this morning, someone took my aunt. The note they left behind at my house told me to come back to the club tonight and to not call the police. That’s why I had initially thought the note was from you, because I’d never been to Squeeze before last night, and you were the only person I’d spoken to while I was there.”
“What else?”
Her eyes widened. “There is nothing else. You seem to want an answer I can’t give you. I told you I don’t know who they were, why they kidnapped me or why they wanted a sample of my blood.”
Why did they take a sample of her blood? Caine wondered while he trailed his fingers down her throat.
He wanted to shake her for not telling him everything, yet at the same time he ached to explore every part of her. From her beautiful dark head to her frozen toes, he wanted to run his hands all over her skin, to warm her everywhere until she writhed and moaned and spread her legs, pleading for him to touch her in every intimate, sweet place on her body.
He’d revel in her moist heat and in the intimate act of sliding his fingers deep inside her, of pleasing her and stroking her body to orgasm. His groin heated and his erection hardened instantly as the fantasy played in his head. Nothing would be more erotically satisfying than revving Emma up and hearing her beg him to take her, to claim her body and soul—nothing more…than the act itself.
As the spark of electricity charged higher between them, he felt her swallow beneath his fingers and his entire body tensed in need. The more they physically connected, the more sensitized his skin became, making the electric sensations between them highly arousing. Caressing Emma had quickly turned into an addiction. As easily as breathing, it had become a necessity to touch her, to feel their connection every chance he got.
“And this electricity between us?” he said in gruff voice. “Why do you think we’re like two live wires when we touch?” He waited for her to speak, hoping she trusted him enough to tell him the truth.
Emma tensed and lowered her gaze, then rolled onto her side away from him, whispering, “I don’t know.”
Why had she turned away? He’d heard the uncertainty in her voice. Caine instinctively reached out to comfort her, but caught himself and fisted his hand above her hip. He couldn’t believe just how much he’d grown to care for this woman in such a short time—a woman whose DNA alone should give him reason not to trust her.
When he’d scented her at the café, an involuntary predatory awareness splintered through his mind and senses, quickly followed by an intuitive need to dominate. But her scent, combined with their unique physical connection, had ignited his predatory awareness of her, shifting his natural domination instincts to a strong physical need to stake his claim and protect. Every time he looked at Emma, Caine felt savagely territorial over her, to the point that…if it came down to it, he’d go up against his own brethren in order to keep her from harm.
Anger weighed heavily on his chest that she’d burrowed so deep under his skin, twisting his mind and disrupting his steadfast loyalties. He clenched his jaw so hard his teeth hurt. Why was she pretending to be human? Did she not smell his musk? Scent how much he wanted her? He was supposed to be her deadly enemy, yet the way she’d looked at him earlier, her beautiful golden eyes reflecting vulnerability and trust, made his chest burn like hot coals had been raked across it. Why wouldn’t she trust him enough to tell him the truth?
When Emma’s shoulders began to shake again, Caine realized he’d pulled his warmth away from her too soon. He quickly gathered her chilled frame against his chest and wrapped his arms tight around her. “Rest now. I’ll keep you warm.”
Emma’s slight frame began to relax in his arms and when her body temperature leveled off, she murmured, “Thank you,” right before her breathing finally evened out in sleep.
The lantern closest to them finally flickered, then died, dousing their area in darkness. Caine brushed his lips lightly against her temple and thought about the kiss they’d shared on the dance floor that evening. Her avid participation had been damned convincing. But the fact she’d turned away from him just now made him wonder…had his chance meeting with Emma in the club the night before really been a random encounter? She’d have nothing to gain by using him. He was no longer with the pack. Then again, maybe she didn’t know that.
Caine’s gut tightened at the distrustful thoughts that slammed through his mind. He’d wanted Emma to tell him what she was on her own without him confronting her and forcing her hand. He’d proven he would protect her, but that apparently hadn’t been enough to convince her to tell him everything and admit who and what she really was.
The fact remained, she was Velius. Even now, her black hair reflected the truth. Spread across the white pillow, her hair sparkled as if covered with flecks of iridescent glitter. Caine’s mind warred with his heart.
She whispered his name in her sleep and his grip on her tightened as his gaze shifted to the log walls around them. The cabin had been assigned to the zerkers before their deaths a few months ago. It would become his permanent home the day he discovered he could no longer shift back from Musk to human form. As he stared, the logged surface appeared to slowly move inward, closing in on him.
Caine closed his eyes against an inevitable future and focused on Emma. Inhaling her earthy scent, he hoped she’d been sincere about her fear of the panthers who’d kidnapped her. In the brewing conflict between the Velius and Lupreda, he had to know for certain that Emma’s loyalties weren’t firmly ensconced with the panthers—that she hadn’t played a part in the Velius’ torturous murders of the three Lupreda zerkers in an effort to start a war between the vampires and the werewolves.
When she woke up, he would get the answers he needed.
One way or the other.
Chapter 6
S omething smelled strong and delicious. Food. And it smelled like chicken. Emma inhaled deeply and the sensation of steam touching her nose made her eyes fly open. Her gaze swept the muscles along Caine’s shoulders and his bare chest as he pulled the oversized coffee cup away from her face and sat down on the bed bedside her.
“Your stomach kept growling while you slept. This is the best I could come up with.”
When she quickly checked to see that he’d pulled on a pair of jeans, his lips quirked upward in the dim light. “Disappointed? Here, take this. It should stave off the hunger pains until I can go out and hunt for something to eat.” He glanced back toward the main window where streaks of light shone through the crack in the closed curtains. “It stopped snowing a little over an hour ago.”
The room was still cold, but nowhere near as frigid as it was earlier. Emma sat up and held the covers around her chest with one hand, while she took the mug with the other. “Thank you.” Her words came out in a low, husky rasp, and she instantly put the warm mug to her lips. When she leaned forward to take a sip, her hair fell in her face.
Before she could blow it out of the way, Caine reached over and tucked the errant strands behind her left ear. His fingers lingered on her skin for a couple of seconds and she shivered at the humming sensation arcing between them. Lowering his hand, he watched her take another swallow. His gaze held a mix of desire and avid interest, making the steaming chicken broth the most provocative meal she’d ever had.
While Emma was busy gulping down the broth, she had an excuse to remain silent, which meant she wouldn’t possibly make an embarrassing faux pas and ruin the charged moment between them like she had before she’d fallen asleep.
When Caine ran his fingers down her t
hroat earlier, sending sparks ricocheting throughout her body, and then asked why she thought there was such an electric charge between them, she’d frozen up. She’d wanted to say something worldly and sexy, but she didn’t have a clue how to go about that.
And the truth was, she honestly didn’t know what was going on between them. Only that the amazing pull felt seductive and irresistible. Whenever he cupped his hand around her neck, electricity vibrated between them, but it was more than that. She literally couldn’t move. It was both scary and incredibly erotic that he had that kind of power over her, because instinctively, even though he came across as an intense, dominant man, she knew he’d never use his control to hurt her.
Now that she wasn’t shivering uncontrollably and her loud stomach had calmed to a random low gurgle, her confidence was bolstered. Setting the cup on the nightstand, Emma bit her lower lip.
Caine cupped her cheek and turned her face toward him. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling okay?”
Emma sighed into his palm, then met his concerned gaze. “I’ve never been very good at small talk or making friends. I wouldn’t have gone to the club on my own the other night, but there was just something about your smell when you came into the café that day that I couldn’t let go. It felt familiar and comforting.”
Caine’s eyebrows shot up. “My smell seemed comforting to you?”
She nodded and her cheeks heated with embarrassment. “I know it sounds crazy, but I just wanted to get a glimpse of your face—to see if I’d met you somewhere before. I planned to run in, assuage my curiosity and leave. And then you were there, standing beside me wearing ‘women’ as a second set of clothes and offering to buy me a drink.”
Caine chuckled as he ran his thumb along her lip in a gentle caress. “I saw you watching me on the dance floor.” He moved his fingers in slow reverence along her skin, as if he couldn’t resist touching her. “But when you refused my offer to buy your beer and then slammed me all in one shot, I had to get to know you better.”
Emma shook her head. “I wasn’t trying to play hard to get.” Shrugging, she continued. “I always speak my mind. It’s a character flaw, but there you have it.”
Caine moved closer until his thigh brushed against hers. Sliding his fingers into her hair, he locked gazes with her. “Honesty is very important in a relationship.”
Pulse racing, Emma’s eyes widened and she gripped the covers against her chest. “We have a relationshi—”
Caine’s warm mouth covered hers, cutting off her question. She laughed at the sizzling pop that zinged between them, but Caine nipped at her bottom lip and Emma gasped in excitement, opening her mouth to his intense kiss. A low growl rumbled in his chest as he traced his tongue alongside hers. Her insides melted at the sexy, primal sound. Emma teased him with slow swipes of her tongue before she pressed quick kisses against the corner of his mouth and along his jawline.
“You’re everything I want,” he murmured at the same time big warm hands cupped her face. When he tilted her head and slanted his lips across hers in a harder, deeper kiss, the intensity sent shocking heat splintering through her system. Her entire body lit on fire, the flames singeing every intimate place at once.
Emma groaned when her sex began to throb deep inside her in a near-painful physical ache. Holding the covers against her chest, she used her other hand to clutch him closer, inhaling his fresh outdoors scent. Primal and musky, and full of sensual promise, his smell surrounded her in a blanket of arousing seduction.
“Your smell is…I can’t describe how good you smell to me. It makes me feel so free.” Emma’s heart thumped and her breasts tingled in response to his strong essence inundating her senses. Sliding her fingers into his thick dark hair, she was shocked to hear herself moan as she pulled him closer.
“I have a pretty good idea,” Caine grated out and pressed hot, electric kisses across her jaw. Easing back, he met her gaze. “What do you smell?”
Emma couldn’t believe how much his aggressive smell called to her inner temptress, melting away her insecurities and inhibitions. She might not have much sexual experience, but when it came this man, pure instinctual desire drove her actions beyond her own conscious thoughts or understanding. Closing her eyes briefly, she inhaled. “You smell musky and exotic, masculine and…unique. I could pick you out of a crowd by your scent alone.”
His fingers traced her jaw. “The musk you smell is heightened interest, Emma.” He leaned close and pushed her hair out of the way to press a kiss behind her ear. “Tell me what you hear,” he whispered.
Her breathing turned erratic and her heart ramped up at the things he was making her feel. She closed her eyes once more and listened. The rapid whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of her pulse rushed in her head. She heard his heart beating steady with a slow upward tick. Jerking back, she met his gaze with wide eyes. “You have a powerful heartbeat. I can hear it rising.”
He touched her chin, his smile darkly feral. “That’s excitement.” Placing his hands on the bed on either side of her, he shifted his weight very close as if he were going to kiss her neck. “What do you feel?” He moved his chin to within an inch of her shoulder, then slid it along her collarbone. Not touching but close enough that they’d connect if she moved forward the slightest bit.
His magnetism pulled at her, but more than that, she felt his heat. Glorious, primal heat ran along her skin, warming it. “I feel how hot your skin is, even though you’re not touching me,” she said in a breathless voice.
Caine’s penetrating gaze snapped to hers. “That’s lust and desire. I want you.”
His declaration slammed her hard in the stomach, making her feel light-headed. Emma opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
What does all this tell you about me? About us? he demanded, suddenly serious.
Emma blinked. She had just heard him speak in her mind. It wasn’t some drug-induced imagining when he’d rescued her. How was that possible? Her pulse raced and she searched his gaze for some clue as to what he wanted her to say. She had a feeling that whatever words she spoke next would be very important. “That you’re different.”
His expression hardened. “We’re different. You and I. Tell me, damn it!”
The ferocity in his expression scared her, not because she was afraid, but because she thought he was going to push her away. She tried to blink back the tears of frustration that burned behind her eyelids and answered him as honestly as she could. “You’re unique, and we have a connection that’s undeniably mind-blowing, but…” Tears began to roll down her cheeks anyway. “I don’t know what you want from me!”
Caine’s hand encircled her neck. He’d moved so fast, she didn’t have time to react other than to wrap her fingers around his wrist. His firm hold locked her in place as his thumb slid along her throat, stopping at the hollow where her pulse thumped a staccato beat.
His steady gaze held both frustration and desire. Emma remained still. She didn’t take a breath. If he wanted, he could apply pressure to that spot and cut off her air. Permanently.
Survival instincts demanded she push his hand away, but she refused to act. Instead, she listened to her heart. Her hand slipped away from his wrist and she closed her eyes, tilting her head back.
What do I want? The raw hunger tapped into her primal senses. He was on a ragged edge, barely hanging on, despite his langour. She forced herself to remain calm as his thumb rubbed lightly on her pulse. For now…this.
Emma gasped when his lips replaced his thumb. He nipped at her collarbone, then kissed a hot trail along her chest, branding her skin with tingling, fiery kisses. She bit her lip to keep from moaning. His warm mouth felt so good on her skin. Placing her hands on the bed behind her, she arched her back and murmured his name.
Large hands encircled her waist through the covers, cinching tight. “Never whisper your desires, Emma. Always demand them!”
Emma was shaking inside with the need to feel his lips and hands caressing her skin. Her body felt l
ike it was on fire. Tilting her head forward, she met Caine’s gaze. His fingers flexed against her waist and his musk grew stronger. The evocative scent made her skin prickle and her breasts tingle in response.
Caine slid the sheet down until only her nipples were covered. His hungry gaze lowered to her chest, then lifted back to her face. “Once we start, our primal natures will take over. Are you prepared for that?”
Emma gave a nervous laugh. She was afraid to tell him she’d never been with another man. What if the thought of her inexperience was a major turnoff? “I’m as prepared as I’ll ever be. I want to feel the electricity sparking between us. Everywhere.”
Caine’s warm hands moved up the sides of her rib cage at the same time he lowered his dark head to press his lips to the curve of her breast. Electricity zinged through her as he slid his lips down her cleavage, his movements slow, reverent and achingly tantalizing.
Cool air brushed her nipples as the sheet slipped away, baring her breasts. The sensitive tips puckered and her stomach fluttered when she felt his warm breath bathing her responsive skin. He slid the sheet the rest of the way down her waist and said in her mind, You’re beautiful and…all mine, right before he ran his tongue around a hard pink tip.
Emma’s sex began to throb from his intimate attention. She crossed her legs to keep from crying out and demanding he make the thrumming ache go away. She arched closer and moaned low in her throat.
His hot breath rushed over her nipple once, twice, a third time to the point she thought she might go insane. And then his lips grasped the aching pink tip tight. Emma cried out and dug her fingers into his hair, clutching him close. The spark sent tremors all the way down her limbs. When he began to suck in long drawing pulls, she moaned and gripped his shoulder, digging into the muscle. “More,” she begged.
He grunted his approval and his thumbs pressed on the sides of her breasts as he moved to her other nipple and gave it the same provocative treatment. You taste so good, I could kiss your breasts for hours, he murmured in her mind.
Scions: Revelation Page 9
