Kate seemed puzzled, even hurt by the way he stayed away from her, and he didn’t blame her. He wasn’t normally such an ass, but he couldn’t risk hurting her physically. Hurting her feelings was one thing. Putting his hands on her and hurting her physically was an entirely different thing and something that he couldn’t let happen. He had to protect Kate from the beast inside him. He was the biggest danger to her now. Him.
So Mitch went hunting at night to satisfy the predatory instincts in him. He’d killed a gazelle the first night after Kate woke from her coma, hitting the beast directly in the heart with an arrow. Other nights he took down warthogs, rabbits, wildebeest... He brought back some of the meat to share with Kate, but he always left the carcasses behind for the drifters to finish off so they would have full bellies and be less interested in attacking Kate if she happened to encounter them again.
Mitch had now discovered his new gift that he’d received from the bites he’d gotten while protecting Kate from the drifters. This new gift would help him elude Ronin while he went back to Aftermath to search for Ethan. Now that he knew what this new gift was, and how to control it, he planned to head back to Aftermath to search for Ethan once more. He would go at night, after Kate had gone to bed. She would be safer if she stayed here. She wouldn’t even know he was gone. If all went well, he’d be back with Ethan before morning.
Now, he watched as the sun went down, the predatory instinct to hunt raging inside him. He needed to release it, somewhere far away from Kate.
Mitch slipped into Ethan’s bedroom to make sure Kate was asleep. She wasn’t a night owl like him and generally settled down early. Her soft breathing easily reached his ears from across the room. He’d originally believed his superior senses had come from the cheetah he’d bonded with, but now he was beginning to believe they were from the drifters, because with each new drifter bite, his senses—and even his strength—became stronger, and the predatory instincts in him grew more powerful, harder to ignore.
He turned away from Kate before he gave in to the animalistic urge to slip into the bed with her and bury himself deep in her soft heat. And make her his.
Fuck! What’s gotten into you?
With a soft growl, he turned away. He needed to stay away from her. He was afraid if he touched her, he might hurt her.
The drifters met him at the surface, eager to hunt, their yellow eyes glowing with their excitement. With practice, and concentration, Mitch had learned how to control the glow in his eyes the same way the drifters controlled the glow in their eyes, making it brighten or dim at their leisure. By dimming the glow, making it disappear, the drifters could make themselves nearly invisible in the darkness. There were times when Mitch needed to hide, blend into the background like a predator, and learning to control the glow was the only way to make himself invisible in the dark. Mitch had now mastered the skill and could turn his eyes “on” or “off” whenever he wanted.
The pack fixated on him, their eyes slowly dimming, as they waited for his next move.
And in that moment, it hit him with a startling clarity, a horror that he’d been trying for days to deny: he was now more beast than human.
He was now a true drifter.
* * *
Kate waited until Mitch left the bedroom, then slipped out of bed and yanked on a pair of sweats and pulled a T-shirt over her head. She’d sensed him standing over the bed, watching her. She’d kept her eyes closed, pretending to sleep, hoping he wouldn’t discover she was still awake. She didn’t know where Mitch went or what he did at night, but she was pretty sure he didn’t sleep. It was time to find out what he was doing while she slept. It was time to discover some of Mitch’s secrets.
Quietly, she followed him, barefoot, not wanting to make a sound.
Kate reached the surface of the crater just in time to see Mitch striding off into the savannah. He wasn’t alone. There was a full moon out tonight, lighting the land. Ten or fifteen sets of glowing yellow eyes bounced after him.
Her breath caught. Oh my God! Are those the drifters?
She opened her mouth to shout a warning to him, but she quickly swallowed the words as she realized the beasts weren’t chasing him. They jumped around excitedly, the way a pack of dogs would to a human handler, eager for his attention.
The drifters weren’t hunting him. There were joining him.
An unexpected chill crept down her spine. Mitch had lied to her. He’d said he was more human than beast. But if he was out walking around the savannah with a pack of drifters, he’d either weaved a spell over the beasts or he wasn’t human.
Kate swallowed hard.
Was Mitch a drifter?
He stopped suddenly and pulled his bow back. Moments later, a soft grunt followed as the arrow struck an animal of some kind. Mitch strode forward again while Kate stared, unable to look away. It was hard to see what he was doing in the dark, but the moon enabled her to catch a glimpse of his movements as he bent, leaning over something. Several minutes passed. Then he rose, carrying what looked like an animal leg. It wasn’t very big, so she guessed it was a gazelle or maybe an impala.
He began striding back toward the crater while the drifters gathered around the animal carcass and began to feed.
Oh my God.
Kate’s heart rate picked up an uneven tempo, pounding wildly in her chest. Mitch had just gone hunting with a pack of drifters. He’d left the majority of the carcass for them to feed on. Maybe he was just feeding them so they would leave her alone.
No. It was more than that.
Her stomach roiled. Her breathing accelerated until she was nearly hyperventilating.
Mitch teleported across the savannah. Flash. Flash. Flash. Until he was only about thirty yards away.
Mitch’s step faltered, his gaze landing directly on Kate. There was something distinctly non-human in his eyes. Something predatory.
She froze. Terror slammed through her. Oh crap. He had to know that she’d just witnessed him hunting with drifters. Would he hunt her now? Would he kill her?
Run, Kate! He’s not what you thought he was. He’s dangerous. A beast.
His eyes blazed golden in the darkness. “What are you doing out here, Kate? You should be in bed.” He moved forward again, with intent, heading straight for her.
Kate’s breath caught in her throat. For a terrifying moment, she couldn’t breathe. Then she sucked in a breath and spun on her heel.
“Don’t run!” he shouted, but it was too late. Gripped with fear, she raced back into the crater, searching for a place to hide. His footsteps pounded after her, thudding down the tunnels and echoing across the walls.
She needed a weapon. Fast.
Kate had left her bow and the quiver of arrows leaning against the table in the main room with Ethan’s fossils. She careened around the corner into the room and snatched up the bow, plucking an arrow from the quiver. She spun around just as Mitch entered the room behind her.
Heart pounding furiously, she raised the bow, pointing the arrow at him. “Stay back!”
He didn’t stop. He kept coming toward her, his strides purposeful.
Kate’s hands trembled. Terror gripped her. She nearly dropped the bow. What was wrong with him?
“Please,” she whispered. “I don’t want to shoot you.”
He paused, cocking his head, and eyed her intently. “Do it.” His voice was huskier than normal. “Kill me before I hurt you.”
Kate backed away, keeping the arrow aimed at him.
He strode forward again.
Her heart slammed into her ribs. Oh God. He’s serious.
Kate released the arrow.
It pierced his shoulder. He flinched, his arm jerking back. He bared his teeth in an animalistic snarl, his eyes blazing with predatory intent. He yanked the arrow free.
He kept coming.
Kate let out a terrified squeal. Turning on her heel, she dropped the bow and fled.
Two steps.
Three.
Th
en he was right behind her, his hard body slamming her into the dirt wall. She gasped, her heart galloping out of control, her breath coming in quick pants.
“I warned you not to run,” he growled in her ear. “I can’t control myself around you when you show fear. I want to fuck you hard, Kate. Right here. Right now.”
Kate swallowed hard. An unexpected heat spiraled through her. Oh God. He’d said he wanted to fuck her, not kill her. There was a big difference. Even with her shock and fear at what she’d just witnessed, she still wanted him. The feel of his hard length behind her, pressing against her, reminding her how strong he was, how dangerous—should have terrified her. Instead, it filled her with unexpected desire. “You’re s-scaring me. You lied. You’re not a human. You’re a beast.”
“Yes.” He nipped at her ear with his teeth. She moaned at the sharp sting, tipping her head back, and pressed her ass into the hard mound in his pants. He growled deep in his throat. His arm came around her, his hand splaying across her stomach. Then lower. Cupping her between the legs, he yanked her back against his erection and rocked against her ass with soft growls. Kate whimpered. Her body betrayed her, pressing back against him. Oh God, how could she want this when she was afraid of him?
“I can feel your lust, Kate. You want me.” His voice was a husky whisper in her ear. A hot, all-consuming desire surged through her. What was it about Mitch that made her crave his touch like this? He’d just admitted he was a beast, yet her body didn’t care. Her body wanted him to take her. Right here. Right now. She wanted him to take her.
“Yes. I want you.” The admission came from her lips before she could stop it. Heat pooled between her legs where he still held her. She throbbed there, wanting more, needing him to ease the ache inside her. Kate squirmed, trying to turn around, wanting to feel his mouth on hers. His arm tightened around her, holding her against the wall.
“Don’t move.” His other hand slid up to cup her breast. His thumb rubbed across her nipple, making it harden with need. He nipped at her neck, his teeth pinching her skin. Kate gasped and shivered, rubbing her breast against his hand and pressing her neck closer to his mouth. Her inner core throbbed with need.
Yes. More, please.
He let out another growl, his hot breath on her neck sending shivers along her spine. He slipped his hand inside her pants, his fingers seeking, finding, then pressing intimately inside her. She closed her eyes, letting out a soft moan.
“Mitch.” Her breathless whisper seemed to excite him even more. He yanked the sweats down to her knees and ground against her again while his fingers stroked deeper, faster.
She bucked against his hand, gasping, moaning, as wave after wave of heat and mind-numbing pleasure gushed through her core and spread slowly outward. At last she went limp, her body throbbing, as he removed his hand and spun her around. Kate opened her eyes and looked up at him. She was pretty sure she’d just had her first orgasm. And Mitch had given it to her.
His eyes blazed down at her, glowing hotly with lust. He fumbled with his pants, ripping them open and freeing his impressive erection. Kate stared, swallowing hard. He lifted her against the wall, spreading her thighs.
She didn’t try to stop him. She wanted this. Her body craved this. Despite her initial fear, Mitch hadn’t hurt her and she sensed he would never hurt her. He might be a beast, but he was still human too. They were both consumed by lust. It was a normal, natural human need. Right?
Kate wrapped her arms around his neck, staring into his eyes. “Take me,” she pleaded. Before I chicken out. Please.
He didn’t.
He yanked her shirt up, his mouth closing around a breast. She squirmed, moaning as he swirled his tongue around her nipple, then pulled it between his teeth and softly nipped, making her gasp and arch her breast into his mouth.
“Mitch. Oh God. If we do this…” She swallowed hard, trying to catch her breath. “Does it mean the bonding will be complete?”
He froze. Releasing her abruptly, he stepped back. Her feet hit the dirt floor and she grabbed at the wall behind her, trying to keep her balance.
“Fuck.” Mitch spun away from her, fixing his pants.
Kate stayed where she was, pressed against the wall, unable to move, unable to speak.
He turned back to her, his eyes blazing with remorse. “I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean to do that.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Please…just stay the hell away from me.”
He strode back down the tunnel, his footfalls echoing across the walls.
Until she was left with nothing but silence.
* * *
An hour later, Mitch returned to the crater. He’d spent the past hour berating himself as he paced back and forth beneath a small grove of acacia trees outside, his mind in a turmoil. He’d come to the conclusion he had to send Kate on her way. Keeping her here was far too dangerous. He was far too dangerous. He’d damned near fucked her against the wall. And that wasn’t him. He’d never been so consumed by lust. He owed her an apology.
He found Kate sitting at Ethan’s large table that was filled with some of the dinosaur bones that Ethan had excavated. She had all the lanterns in the room lit, lighting up the table and everything on it. Kate had been intrigued by the fossils and over the past few days he’d caught her reading all of Ethan’s notes and diagrams and drawings that were scattered across the table. She’d also come across Ethan’s notes on the drifters. Mitch had expected her to ask a lot of questions about the beasts, but so far she hadn’t. Ethan’s notes were quite detailed, so it was possible she’d found answers to all her questions right there in Ethan’s findings.
She didn’t look up as he approached, though he knew she was aware of his presence.
“I owe you an apology, Kate.” He paused on the opposite side of the table. “What I nearly did to you was unforgiveable. I could have hurt you.”
Still she didn’t look up. “But you didn’t. You would never hurt me.”
Mitch sighed. How could she know that? He didn’t even know if he would hurt her.
The silence stretched.
“You need to leave here, go somewhere far away from me. I’m too dangerous.”
She let out a soft snort. “Is that how you deal with things that scare you? Push them away? Make them leave so you don’t have to face them?”
He growled in frustration. “You don’t understand what I might have done to you, Kate. I could have hurt you. Don’t you get it?”
“Yeah, I get that you lied to me. You said you were just a man with supernatural abilities. But you’re not. You’re a drifter.”
Mitch puffed out a breath. Damn. Why did the truth hurt more when it came from her lips? “Yes. I’m sorry. I didn’t…want to frighten you.”
She lifted her head, impaling him with her dark gaze. “But you’re also a man, a good man. Do you know how I know that?”
He waited, unsure what she was getting at.
“Why did you stop earlier?”
Heat crept into his cheeks. “Because I couldn’t risk bonding with you and passing on my empathy.”
Her stare turned into a glare. “Exactly, and that makes you human. A drifter wouldn’t care about whether or not he hurt someone. But you can’t possibly know what gift you might share with me. You said so yourself. I wanted you to make love to me, Mitch. And I’ve never wanted that with any man before.” She paused. “I’m sorry about your shoulder. I thought…you were going to kill me.”
Mitch shrugged. “It’s already healing. By tomorrow you won’t even be able to tell an arrow was stuck in it.”
Her gaze searched his. “You have miraculous healing abilities too?”
“Yes.”
She was silent a moment, absorbing that. “Please don’t push me away. There’s something between us. You know there is.”
He groaned. “I don’t trust myself. I’m too dangerous. That’s why it would be best for you to leave before I do something to hurt you.”
She sighed. “Ther
e you go again, trying to scare me away. You know what? I’ve been on my own since I was seventeen years old. I lost my entire family the night of the asteroid shower. My only experience with men after my family died was brutality. I witnessed them raping and abusing women, breaking their spirits, forcing them to bend to their will, treating them like animals. I swore that would never happen to me. That I would never let a man near me. But then I met you.” She paused again, her gaze searing his. “I knew almost immediately that you were different. I felt different around you. For the first time in my life, I was attracted to a man. I wasn’t afraid of what could happen between us physically. With you, I craved it, I wanted to know how it could be without all the violence.”
Mitch’s heart pounded. How could she say that? How could she know he wouldn’t ever be violent with her? Especially after what he’d nearly done to her an hour ago?
“I admit I was scared at first when I saw you hunting with the drifters, but deep down I knew you would never hurt me. You’d already proven that. What hurt was when you stopped and just walked away. You left me hanging, Mitch. Wanting you so bad. Aching for you.”
He shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “Kate…”
“I think you’re scared to get close to me. You’re just using the bonding thing as an excuse to keep your distance.”
He let out a harsh sigh. “You’re right. I care about you, Kate. I don’t want to hurt you. There’re things going on here that I haven’t told you about, dangerous things, things that won’t make any sense to you, even if I try to explain.”
She shook her head back and forth. “Why don’t you tell me and let me decide for myself whether it makes sense or not?”
He rubbed a hand roughly over his face. “Not now, Kate.” He couldn’t talk about this right now. He needed to get out of here. Away from her. “I’m going to go try to find Ethan. I’ll be back as soon as I can. The drifters are probably out hunting. The gazelle I killed for them didn’t feed very many. Don’t leave this side of the crater. Stay in the areas I told you about and you’ll be safe from them.”
Drifter Page 10
