Cass' head tilted. "What about what's right for you?"
Her voice caught in her throat. She studied him, her own thoughts flipping across her face like pages from a book.
He put the towel around himself and began drying as she stood there, working through her own emotions and thoughts.
"I…" She stopped, and then her eyes glistened with something new—something sad—a deep realization. "What kind of woman am I to be falling for one man while still in love with another?"
The words stung his chest as did the sadness and self-condemnation in her eyes. He tucked the towel around his waist and came to her, placing his arms around her waist. She looked way from his eyes and her guilt nearly broke him. He placed a hand on her chin and turned her head to face him.
"Don't ever be ashamed for being loyal and having a heart that loves like yours. I don't fault you for having feelings for both of us and you shouldn't punish yourself for it either. I know this is hard for you, which is why I'm doing everything I can to take it slow for you. I'm trying not to make it harder, but I can't just walk away from you. I can't leave and forget what you mean to me. You're the woman I'm meant to be with. I couldn't have asked for a better mate. You're everything I've ever wanted and more. You're beautiful inside and out. You're loyal, caring, sexy, passionate, a strong leader, protective, and you have an incredible ass."
She laughed and rolled her eyes. He enjoyed seeing the sparkle that gleamed in them.
"I've never said this to another woman before, but you need to hear it, you need to know, so everything is on the table for you to make your choice."
"Cass—" He placed a finger to her lips and watched her eyes fill with fear and anticipation.
"I love you, Kat. I fell in love with you when you came to Colorado, when you got jealous that I pretended to exchange numbers with the waitress at the bar, when your eyes lit up when you looked at me, when an equal hunger filled your eyes at the sight of me. I knew you belonged to me the day I met you. You're my equal, Katerina. You're the woman I've been waiting for and I love you."
"Cass—" He heard the tremble in her voice. His chest tightened, awaiting the rejection he feared.
"I told you it scares me that I'm falling in love with you because I don't want you to leave. I don't want you to forget about me. I don't want you to touch another woman or look at one the way you touch and look at me. I want you all to myself, just as you want me, but it scares me because I can't let go of Adrian. I don't know what to do, but hearing you say that, hearing that you love me, makes me want to be open to you. I want to give you the chance you deserve. I want to see where my heart will take me. Can you give me that? Can you be patient with me? I know I'm asking you to give me all of you without having all of me. Can you do that?"
Cass' shoulders relaxed. He could give it. Easier than she knew. Being an alpha gave him patience like no other and he could wait, he could wait for her to be ready. To him, her heart was the ultimate challenge and he'd do everything in his power to win it.
"You're my mate. I'll wait as long as it takes for you to be ready."
He could see it in her eyes. She loved him, but she wasn't ready to let go of Adrian yet.
"I know I said no intimacy, but I need to kiss you. Will you let me kiss you?"
She bit her sultry lips and nodded. That was enough for him. His hand went to the nape of her neck, taking her damp hair in his hand as he pulled her to him. He pressed his lips against hers, flicking his tongue over hers, enjoying the taste of her and her body's reaction as he gave her the passion that roiled through his body.
He pulled away slowly, admiring her golden vampire eyes.
"Ready for me to braid your hair?" he asked, his breath heavy.
"Yes," she answered with an eager smile.
His strong hands pulled the knots from her hair. Every tug sent a burst of painful pleasure rushing over her skin. She closed her eyes and focused on retracting her fangs.
"Did you really pretend to exchange numbers with the waitress?"
A deep rumble of laughter escaped his belly. "Still thinking about that?"
"Yes," she admitted.
She could sense his wolfish grin as his hands continued folding her hair.
"She approached me and started flirting. Wasn't doing a bad job at it either. I kept her talking, waiting for you to return. When you walked in the door, I pulled my phone from my pocket. She did too. I told her thanks for the conversation, but I had to get back to my date. She scowled at me and probably called me a few choice words as she walked away, but I needed to see how you'd react. When I saw your jealousy, it gave me a chance to explore it, but instead, you were stubborn and refused to admit it."
He tugged at her hair, pulling her head back toward him. "Had to be stubborn, didn't you?"
She smirked at his playful gesture. She felt him tie her hair band around the end. He laid it over her shoulder and tucked his solid hands around her hips, swiftly bringing her back against his chest.
He leaned in next to her ear, his warm breath against it, teasing her with it. "Remember when I told you in the elevator that your defiance makes me want to drive you into submission?"
Her nipples hardened at the thought. She closed her eyes and exhaled. "Yes."
"I felt that way again when you refused to admit you were jealous. Will you admit it now?"
She licked her lips, running her tongue across her fangs. She turned to look at him. His piercing wolf eyes penetrated her deep. She could see the longing and hunger resting just beneath them. The man had limitless self-control. As the hunger itched at her insides, she wondered if she had enough.
She'd agreed to no intimacy, but now regretted it. Her body yearned to have him touching her, caressing her, kissing her, as if only he could soothe the desire burning within it. He obviously knew it. He seemed to enjoy the torture it caused her. She could see it in wolfish grin.
"You take great pleasure in knowing I want you, don't you?"
His sexy, arrogant smile lit up his face. "I do."
The corner of her mouth raised. "All right, yes. I was jealous."
His eyes penetrated hers. "Know what I like even more than that admission?"
She awaited the answer.
"When you told me you didn't want me to look at or touch any woman the way I look at and touch you. You're possessive and I like it." He gave her a wink. His modest fangs escaped his perfect curved lips—lips she wanted to kiss.
She turned away from him and leaned into his chest. He leaned back against the headboard, taking her with him. His hand caressed behind her ear, sending a shockwave of pleasure down her neck and across her body. She closed her eyes and focused on his hand slowly caressing her neck and shoulder. She tilted her head, giving him better access, indicating she wanted him to continue.
His fingers smoothed over her skin, running along her arm and then back to her shoulder and neck, settling behind her ear with just enough tenderness to spread the waves of pleasure once again. His velvet touch repeated until she purred with satisfaction.
"Cass?"
"Yes, beautiful?"
"You really love me?"
"Yes."
She smiled, holding that knowledge close to her heart, as her eyelids grew heavy and his warming touch sedated her body.
Chapter 10
She woke suddenly, grasping for her surroundings and reality, her head heavy with fog. It'd been the best night sleep she'd had in months. She reached over to find her bed empty. A frown developed as disappointment crept into her chest. She smelled bacon in the air and heard noises downstairs.
Knowing she'd find him downstairs drove away the disappointment. Excitement took its place. She dressed quickly, brushed her teeth, and evaluated his handy work of a braid. He'd done a better job than she expected. She chose to leave it in, assuming he'd appreciate the gesture.
She came down the steps to find Cass and Alex listening to music and chatting as though they'd been friends for years. She stop
ped near the bottom step to listen.
"Did you two even sleep last night?"
Cass chuckled. "Why? Did we keep you up?"
Plates clanked and she heard bacon leaving a skillet.
"Nah, I was messaging with a friend, then crashed pretty quickly after that."
"Girlfriend?"
Plates were set on the table, then the crunching of bacon.
"Yeah, her name's Elise. She's a friend of Kayci's."
A humored laugh escaped Cass' lips. "Does Katerina know you've been talking with her?"
"She's been busy. I didn't want to bother her with it."
"You're not afraid to tell her, are ya?" he teased.
"No…maybe."
They both laughed.
"You better tell'er," Cass said a little more seriously. "I don't imagine she likes finding things out later that she would've liked to know sooner."
"I hear ya. I'll tell her when I get a chance."
"Was Kayci her adopted name?" Cass asked.
"Yeah. Kayci Pierce. Ever since she became a vampire, she's gone by the name Thorne gave her."
"And you're her uncle's son?"
"Yeah, my father, Aleksandr, and her mother, Katriana, were brother and sister."
"I'm glad she has you. It gave me relief that there was someone to keep an eye on her when I couldn't."
"She missed you, you know? She wouldn't say it, but I knew it. It's good that you came."
A fork hit a plate. Someone was finished.
"She still loves him—Adrian. I'm competing with a man that's stuck in a coffin. He has a tight grip on her heart and she doesn't want to let him go."
"You gotta understand. He was there for her when she discovered that she was a half-breed vampire. He protected her when the Covenant and Danika threatened her, and then he was there for her when she transitioned. That's not something you easily let go of."
The refrigerator opened. Something was poured into a glass.
"If he wasn't in the way of me having my mate, I'd probably like the guy."
A plate landed in the sink.
"You would. You two are alike in some aspects."
"Oh, yeah?" She could hear the tension in Cass' voice. "How so?"
"Well, for starters, you're both decent guys. You both love her and you're both a couple of badass fighters willing to do anything for her. If I hadn't pulled you two apart that night, the world would probably have one less werewolf and vampire in it."
Another plate landed in the sink followed by a glass.
"I could've taken him," Cass responded confidently.
"Yeah, that'd been real good for trying to win Kayci over."
Kayci tiptoed back up the stairs and pulled her duffel bag from her closet and tossed it onto her bed. Apparently, she'd been so busy trying to free Adrian that the last month and half of her life had gone on without her. She'd been so consumed by her grief and determination to free him that she neglected to notice Thorne and Sofia's budding relationship and now Alex and Elise's. She hadn't even spoken to Elise since the incident. What kind of friend had she become?
She flopped onto the bed and laid her head back, staring at the ceiling. Her life was a mess—a complete and utter mess. When Cass had told her he loved her, she felt elated. His words meant the world to her, but she couldn't accept them with an open heart because Adrian already possessed most of it. Adrian. What would he think of everything? What would he think of Cass' declaration that she was his mate? Would he believe him? Would he want to fight him? Would he want her to choose just as Cass had asked her to? Who would she choose?
She tried to picture herself the dog between two owners. Who would she walk to? She put her palms to her face and closed her eyes, embarrassed by her desperate attempt to figure out the answer. What if she never found a way to free Adrian? Would he forever linger in her heart and mind? Would she ever be happy with Cass, if there was a way to bring Adrian back? If she brought Adrian back, could she say good-bye to Cass? The idea of it swelled in her chest and throat. She didn't want to lose him. And she didn't think her body could handle going without his touch. Her brutal attraction to him was insufferable. She remembered what he'd told her about finding his mate.
Pheromones will elevate. Equal amount of attraction. Want to dominate and protect. Hard time denying him. Want to be claimed. Drawn to one another.
It was all there. It always had been, yet she refused to accept it because of her love for Adrian. But now, she could see it. She could see it had always been there and if she hadn't been devoted to Adrian, she would have given Cass a chance. She would have made him work for her affection, but she would have given it, eventually. She would've believed him when he told her she was his mate and she probably would have been proud to be his mate.
There was a deeper side of Cass that she was quickly discovering—a side of him that breathed passion, loyalty, protection, unrestrained pleasure. The heat between her thighs awakened. Yeah, there was no denying it. She wanted to know the pleasure he'd bring. Her fangs extracted and her mouth salivated at the thought of sinking her teeth into him and him taking her, roughly and passionately. The fiery need at her core pulsed aggressively. Why'd I agree to no intimacy?
Her door swung open. She'd been too buried in her thoughts to hear him approaching. She popped up from the bed. He stared at her golden eyes and fangs, clearly intrigued by the cause.
His head tilted and his charming arrogant smile appeared. "Were you thinking about me just now?"
She flopped back on the bed and sighed. "Yes."
His heavy feet crossed the floor to her.
"I'm very interested to know what you were thinking."
He slid over her, arms on both sides of her, his face inches from hers. She reached up and gently caressed his lips. His hazel eyes sparked with wolf blue.
"I was thinking about what you told me. How you know when you've found your mate."
His brow raised. "And?"
"I believe you. I believe I'm your mate. Those indications have always been there. I didn't want to acknowledge them. I didn't want to admit it to myself."
"But now you have?" She could hear the eagerness in his voice.
She nodded.
He didn't hesitate. He lowered the weight of his body onto her, wrapped her in his arms and hands and loved her mouth with his. His kiss came with eager passion and hunger, then leveled out with tenderness she hadn't received before. His kiss stopped and she took a breath, finding herself again.
"You're an amazing kisser."
"You have no idea how good it is to hear that."
"That you're a good kisser?"
He chuckled. "No. That you believe me. That you know you're my mate and well, yes, that I'm a good kisser. But that, I knew."
She laughed and his eyes brightened as he watched her. She could see it in his eyes. His love for her had grown the moment she admitted she knew she was his mate.
"It's too bad your cousin is awake. I want to take you now."
He pressed himself against her and her body warmed in response. The pulsing ache she'd felt before he entered her bedroom now throbbed, begging for release.
She pushed herself against him, revealing how much she wanted him too. "It is unfortunate, isn't it?" She leaned up and bit his lip, releasing it slowly.
A small groan escaped his lips. "I'm tempted to take you anyway."
His hands reached beneath her shirt as he lowered himself. He raised her shirt above her breasts and put his lips to her stomach, kissing and then licking across her abdomen. His fingers pawed at the top of her jeans, revealing her lace underwear. A deep, guttural growl escaped his lips. She looked down to see the fierce hunger in his wolf eyes as he unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off with ease.
She wanted those eyes on her as he took her, pounding his way into her. A moan escaped her own lips as his kiss turned into a nibble and then a bite over top her lace underwear. Her body jerked from the pleasure of his erotic touch. With one swipe of
his finger, he pulled her underwear aside and licked his way up and down, flicking his tongue across her clit. She spread her legs wider, opening for him. His tongue dove deep and rolled wildly. Heavy breaths escaped her as her fangs stabbed her lip. His hand held her hip steady as she lurched forward, wanting more of him. She heard his jeans unfasten and her chest beat rapidly from what she knew laid beneath.
His lips left her, leaving her aching for more of him. His wicked smile gleamed down at her as he slid his jeans from his hips. He raised his shirt over his head and she admired the stunning masculine body sculpted with roped muscles and the dark dusting of hair leading her eyes right to his thick, immense erection.
Her heart beat fanatically in anticipation. Her vampire need overwhelmed her senses. This man, this wolf, her mate, could make her body dangerously hungry for his.
As he stepped forward, she trembled with need. She raised herself and lifted her shirt and bra over her head. He stared down at her, his wolf eyes gleaming brightly. He admired her breasts before raising his hand and curling his finger, indicating she should come to him.
Her body responded instantly. She rose and took the two steps to him.
She heard the footfalls in the hallway and she froze. Cass' eyes shifted, turning dark and protective. He pushed her behind him, covering her body with his.
Knuckles tapped on the door. "Hey, sorry to bother you two. Thorne and Sofia have arrived."
A deep, painful growl escaped his lips. "Damn it."
The footfalls drifted away and he turned to her, his eyes a mixture of pain, irritation, and intense desire. He pulled her to him, grazing his erection between her thighs. Her sex ached for him to fill her. He gripped her backside as his voice lowered, just for her to hear, "After we meet with the Southeast clan, I'm going to have you."
His lustful, demanding tone excited her. "You will, will you?"
He nodded his head as his eyes penetrated hers. He gripped her tighter, and stroked himself against her. She closed her eyes and exhaled as her body trembled, longing for him to take her.
"Yes, beautiful. I'm going to have you and I'm going to take my time exploring every part of you."
Dark and Beautiful Nights (The Vampire Covenant Series Book 3) Page 8
