Dark Protectors: Provoked Part 18

The world focused to one small, s.e.xy, dangerous woman.

The hunger in her eyes sparked a primal possessiveness deep within him. "Take off your shirt." Her tongue darted out to wet her lips, and he fought a groan. "Now."

Her hands shook when she reached for the hem of her T-shirt and slowly, so d.a.m.n slowly, tugged the cotton over her head. The saucy smile she gave as the shirt landed on the floor guaranteed she'd teased him on purpose.

He had no doubt his answering smile was predatory. "Be careful who you tease, darlin'."

She reached up to cup her b.r.e.a.s.t.s through a flimsy bra. "Why is that?"

A whisper of sound and he was on her, both hands encircling her wrists. The swift intake of her breath had his d.i.c.k surging for relief. "Let me show you." Quick as that, his fangs dropped into her neck.

She cried out, arching against him, an o.r.g.a.s.m sweeping through her body.

The taste of wild heather and honey exploded in his mouth. His c.o.c.k howled in protest. Two swipes of his tongue closed the wound, and he lifted to smile at her bemused face. He nipped her lip and that feminine mouth opened in surprise. Wandering his mouth along the soft skin under her jaw, an overwhelming need to protect almost banished the desire to possess.

Almost.

He licked the soft spot behind her ear, enjoying her sigh of need. Her hands tugged for release, and he tightened his hold. The pulse in her neck increased its pounding in response. He kissed the life-giving vein in approval.

His fangs dropped again, and he cut her bra in two.

"Hey," she protested, "that's my only bra here."

He lifted his head and slashed through the straps. "If you were mine, I'd never allow you to wear a bra."

She frowned. "Allow-" Then she made a strangled whimper as he flicked one nipple with his tongue. She sucked in a breath to try again, and he flicked the other nipple. She went silent.

Man, she had gorgeous b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Full and tipped with strawberry-colored nipples, she tasted like summer and smelled like forever. He swirled his tongue around a nipple, his mind spinning when she arched against him. They had too many clothes on.

Releasing her hands, he removed her jeans and panties in two seconds.

Her nimble fingers went to the b.u.t.tons on his silk shirt, making quick work of them. He shrugged off the shirt.

"Your pants," she murmured, dark gaze watching her palms sliding along his chest. A pleased smile lifted her swollen lips.

"What the lady wants . . ." He unbuckled his belt and removed his pants, kicking them with his socks across the room. He traced a hand from her knee to her inner thigh. Toned muscle trembled under his touch. Ignoring her sound of need, he played with her skin, marveling at the softness. When she arched her mound toward him, he bit back a smile and ran his fingers along the other thigh.

Would she taste as good as she had in the cabin? Had his imagination taken control?

She shifted on the bed. "Kane, I . . ."

"What, sweetheart?" He lifted up just enough for his breath to brush her c.l.i.t. Her very bare c.l.i.t. He did appreciate a woman who waxed.

Her gasp of breath filled the silent room. "You're killing me."

"Not my intention." He licked smooth skin, and she almost came off the bed. "Now tell me what you want."

She stilled. "Um, well, what do you want?"

His woman was shy in bed. Interesting . . . and not what he'd accept. "I want you to tell me what you want." Oh, she was wet and primed. He knew exactly what she wanted-but she'd have to ask. Nicely.

"You're kind of an a.s.shole in bed," she moaned.

A sharp slap to her c.l.i.t had her crying out. Need and intrigue filled the high sound. She liked this. He rose to pin her with a look. "Is that what you wanted?"

"No," she panted out.

"Then you'd better ask nicely." Her thighs had dampened even more after the quick slap. Interesting.

"Please put your mouth on me."

He smiled. "Gladly." Thank G.o.d she'd asked. He couldn't have held back much longer. He ran his tongue through her slit, nearly humming in appreciation. She tasted even better than he'd remembered. Sweet and slightly salty . . . and all his.

Her breath came out in pants, and her body gyrated on the bed.

"I love your responses," he murmured against her skin, smiling as her thighs began to tremble harder.

He pressed a finger into her and easily brushed the bundle of nerves that had her whimpering. The s.e.xy sound came from deep in her throat. Gently, way too gently, he pressed a kiss on her mound.

She pushed up against him, and his free hand flattened on her abdomen to keep her in place.

A frustrated hiss came from the woman.

Lowering his head again, he sc.r.a.ped his fangs along her thigh with just enough pressure to still her movements. Then he returned to licking her . . . never in the same place twice.

Her body drew tight in need. "Kane, please . . ."

"Please, what?" He sunk his teeth into her thigh with enough force to leave a small mark.

"I, ah . . ." She sounded almost mindless with want.

Exactly how he wanted her. Needed her. "You want something, sweetheart?"

She stiffened, no doubt biting back a sharp retort. Smart girl. "You know I do."

"Ask for it."

She huffed in obvious exasperation.

Kane gently drew her engorged c.l.i.t in his mouth. Then he released her.

Her whimper almost made him give in. But instead, he nipped her thigh again. "Ask me, darlin'."

"d.a.m.n it. I'd like to come." Her voice came out fast and hoa.r.s.e.

He figured she'd sworn more in the short time she'd known him than ever before. Poor thing. He lifted up, resting his chest on her thigh. "I'd like to end the war and make it mandatory for all people to take driving tests every year."

Her eyes narrowed. If the woman had a gun, he had no doubt she'd shoot him. So he wiggled the finger inside her, brushing against her G-spot.

Her eyelids fluttered shut.

Stubborn little thing. He added another finger, working the spot until a light sheen of moisture covered her forehead, and a fine blush covered her beautiful b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "Ask me nicely, and you get what you want." His c.o.c.k was ready to explode. "Keep being stubborn, and you won't like the result." He slid his fingers through her folds, barely brushing her c.l.i.t before plunging back inside her.

"Please let me come," she whispered, her entire body trembling.

"With pleasure." Rising up, he sucked her c.l.i.t into his mouth, flicking the little nub with his tongue while also working both fingers inside her.

She arched off the bed, crying out as the o.r.g.a.s.m whipped through her. He helped her ride out the waves, prolonging the sensation as long as he could. Finally, she collapsed against the bedspread, her eyes opening on his.

Dragging his fingers free, he smiled as her body jerked in response. Thank G.o.d she liked to play the same way he did.

One by one, he licked his fingers clean.

Her eyes darkened. Then she reached out and took him in both hands.

Fire ripped up his spine. He wasn't going to last long. Moving forward, he climbed up her body to press a kiss against her moist neck.

Grabbing both her hands, he held them immobile at the side of her head. "Ready for round three?"

Her knees widened while her legs encircled him, ankles crossing at his b.u.t.t. "More than ready."

His heart pounded hard.

A determined shove forward, and he embedded in her, b.a.l.l.s deep. Heat swallowed him. She was so tight his eyes almost rolled back in his head. "You're perfect."

She blinked in surprise.

Odd. The woman wasn't used to compliments. Even with his body raging for relief, his mind wondered at the fact. The woman was perfect. How could she not know it? "I've lived for more than three centuries, and you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Her eyes widened, and a shy smile played with her lips. "You confuse me."

"I do my best." He couldn't help the answering smile. "Keep your hands where I've put them."

Releasing her palms, he grabbed the back of her thigh with his unmarked hand and withdrew, plunging back in. The exquisite friction almost put him over the edge. He pressed the palm with the marking against the sheets. The animal within him, the one he never let loose, howled in protest. The hunger to mate clawed with rough nails through his entire being.

Ignoring the animal, Kane plunged out and back in. Holding her thigh, holding her open, he began to pound with a ferocity he'd never succ.u.mbed to. Faster, harder . . . the only thing in existence was that pinnacle he needed to reach. With Amber. Only Amber.

Her thighs tightened and she gasped.

He shifted his angle to slide over her c.l.i.t, and she exploded around him.

The waves crashing through her gripped his shaft so hard he saw stars. Increasing his speed, he raced for the end and broke, coming with a low growl.

The need to mark her-to mate her-shot fire through his arm. Coming down, taking a deep breath, he glanced at his hand. The mark pounded in angry pain.

The branding was darker than ever.

CHAPTER 17.

For once in Kane's life, the lab failed to provide him with a sense of purpose. What was the f.u.c.king purpose? He'd spent years trying to cure Virus-27 with limited success. Mates were still vulnerable. Witches were afraid. And now, the one species he'd been able to save was in danger from faulty vials.

The brand on his palm burned with jagged demand and had for several days. The marking burned when he trained Amber, when he touched her, when he sensed her. h.e.l.l, it burned even when he was just thinking about her.

"f.u.c.k." He threw a beaker across the lab, closing his eyes as gla.s.s smashed near the open window.

Walter the monkey screeched from his high-end cage. Then he frowned, much too serious for a monkey.

"Sorry." Kane had escaped from the earth to his largest lab so he could open the windows and smell the ocean. Aboveground he always seemed to get more accomplished.

Not today.

Today completely sucked.

Not only had he left the earth, he'd left a sleeping beauty in his bed once again. She'd moved right into his quarters because he'd pretty much insisted on it. An innocent, softhearted beauty he had planned to use against demons.

He felt Dage's anger and worry before hearing the king arrive. s.h.i.t. Now Kane couldn't even control his empathic abilities? No. Absolutely not. Shoving his face into calm lines, Kane turned to face his brother.

Dage took a deep breath. "The demons have Hilde."

A roaring filled Kane's ears. He swallowed hard. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Dage frowned, pacing to the window to stare at the ocean. "Satellite pictures are hours old, but there was some fight between the demons and Kurjans at the wolf compound in Utah."

Kane scrubbed both hands down his face. "What the h.e.l.l?"

"I don't know. Best guess? Whoever is messing with the inoculations tipped the Kurjans off about Hilde. How the demons got involved, I have no clue. But there was a b.l.o.o.d.y fight and the Kurjans lost." Dage leaned against the wall, facing Kane. "Talen is in the armory suiting up-we need to go."

"We have someplace to go?" Now that was finally some good news.

"Yes. We traced their movements to the Mexico border-it looks like a temporary stronghold. They won't keep Hilde there for long."

"Let's go, then." The idea of storming any demon stronghold had adrenaline ripping through Kane's veins. "I wish Conn were still here." Conn had taken off for Ireland already.

"Yes. He's halfway across the ocean by now."

The question lurking in the king's silver eyes had Kane's chin lifting. "Amber is not going."

"Your call." Dage headed for the door.

Kane ignored the relief shooting through his veins. "Is Talen trying to bring Terrent up via phone?"

"Terrent isn't at the wolf compound." Dage headed into the hallway. "The Council went after a h.o.a.rd of werewolves outside of Seattle yesterday morning." As the head of the Bane's Council, the group responsible for killing all werewolves, Terrent was always on the move. "The Kurjans probably knew he'd taken off before they attacked."