Bound to be Taken (Emergence) (38 page)

Nevertheless, Kaitlyn Winston was in for a rude awakening. Even though they weren’t currently experiencing some sort of life-threatening event, she might disagree after he told her about him and his brothers.

One thing was for certain—the first item on his list of things to do tonight would be to introduce his mate to the way of wolves. No way could he claim her without first informing her completely about the Durhams’ shifting abilities.

With a long inhale, Micah jerked the door to his room open and stepped into the hall. He regretted the inhale immediately. Yep, his entire end of the house smelled like Kaitlyn.

As though headed toward the guillotine, Micah dragged himself to the door next to his.

Hand shaking, he knocked lightly.

“Come in.” Her response was quick.

Micah turned the knob and opened the door. She sat curled up in the window seat with a book in her lap. Her glorious long black hair hung around her face like a curtain as she lifted her head and smiled at him. In one instant she was soft and sweet. In the next she uncurled her legs, jumped from her perch and stood next to the window. Her book fell to the floor.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were Juliana or Brianna.” She wiped her palms on her jeans, and her gaze met his for a few seconds before she looked down and away.

Why did she seem so uncomfortable?
Oh yeah. That’s right, doofus. You acted like a dolt earlier in the barn. She probably fears you’ll fire her and send her away
.

Man, how he wished he could. If he could put her on a plane to anywhere but here, she’d remain safe. Unfortunately, fate didn’t work that way. He’d needed a few hours to wrap his mind around it.

“Sorry—about earlier,” Kaitlyn said in a halting manner. “I know you weren’t expecting me to be there…in the barn, I mean. And I know you aren’t too thrilled about your family hiring me, but I assure you if you give me a chance, you’ll see that—”

Micah held up a hand to stop her and shook his head. He needed to set her straight, but his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. Plus, it was hard for him to concentrate because she looked so fantastic. Her jeans hugged her to perfection. He wanted her to turn around so he could see her ass. He hadn’t had the opportunity earlier. The snug fit from the front left little to the imagination. His jeans suddenly felt too tight…again.

He took a deep breath. He could smell her arousal. It gave him the confidence to say what needed to be said. “Kaitlyn—”

She interrupted him. “Sir, I promise I’m qualified to train your horses. More than qualified actually. And—”

He shook his head again and her shoulders fell in dismay.

What was this “sir” business? He winced. She was totally misunderstanding his intentions.

“I didn’t come here to fire you, Kaitlyn.” He shut the door behind him with a quiet snick, stepped farther into the room and took a seat on one of the winged chairs by the television.

The proximity to his mate stiffened his c*ck even more. She smelled so damn good. She hadn’t showered yet tonight and he was glad. Her personal musk still stood out and combined with her expensive perfume. The two seemed incongruent—a woman who worked with horses for a living wearing some designer perfume—but he never wanted her to stop because he would forever know her by the scent. It burned itself into his brain.

Kaitlyn didn’t move an inch. She stood rigid by the window, staring at him with her brow furrowed. “Oh,” she muttered. “Well, okay.”

He needed to expound on the reason for his presence in her space, but words escaped him—again—as he stared at her.

He cleared his throat. “Sit.” He nodded to the other chair across from him. It might not have been the best idea, since she would have to get even closer and he could barely concentrate as it was, but he needed to look her in the eye and tell her a dozen things.

Stiff, like a robot, his woman approached. She perched on the edge of the seat and set her palms on her knees, rubbing them again. He knew he made her very nervous.

“Relax. You aren’t in trouble. You’re staying.” He smiled at her; at least he hoped he did. It was hard to get his facial muscles to do what he commanded. Perhaps it had been more of a half grin.

Her shoulders relaxed infinitesimally. “Okay. Good. You won’t be sorry. I promise.”

“I’m sure I won’t. I just hope you won’t be.” Now he smiled for sure. He was about to turn her life upside down. “You can’t imagine what you’ve stepped into here.”

Her eyebrows rose as she flinched. “Huh?” She shook her head. “No, I’m sure I’ll love it here. Horses are my passion and I have wanted to return to the Smokies for many years and find a job doing what I love most—horse training. This is the most perfect place on earth.”

Now Micah was shocked. If she only knew how not perfect the Appalachians were right now… But she was human. She had no knowledge of vampires. He hoped to keep that tidbit to himself for a while too. He had enough information to share right now as it was. Vampires did not make the short list for this evening. Wolves. Mating. Claiming. Screwing. That was the short list. Vampires could wait for tomorrow…or another day when he and his mate came up for air.

“Your farm is gorgeous. I’ve been introducing myself to your horses all day. They are clearly loved and have always been well taken care of. I hope you’ll be pleased with what I can add—”

“Kaitlyn…” he interrupted.

She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and chewed on it.

Micah had a hard time dragging his gaze back to her eyes. He wanted to suck that lip into his mouth and bite it himself. “I’m not here to discuss the job.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. It brought him within a foot of her face. He didn’t release the lock on her gaze.

There will be pain…but only if she asks nicely.

You Really Got Me

© 2014 Kelly Jamieson

Kendall Vioget fell hard for Police Chief Jason Holloway, until the best sex of her life became something more, something she wasn’t ready for. Afraid of what he asked of her, afraid of her own desires, she walked away.

Now her brother’s fiancée has gone missing a week before the wedding, bringing Jason back into her life. She needs his help, but her body is losing the battle to resist the hunger to satisfy the dark cravings he can set free.
 

Jason understands what she needs, and when her increasing submission banishes the self-doubts he’s been carrying around, he knows a perfect match like this comes along only once in a lifetime. Until the missing persons case becomes a murder investigation, and suspicion falls on her brother.

Kendall will do anything to protect the only family she has left, and Jason will do anything to make sure a killer is put behind bars. If he doesn’t handle this case right, the most precious gift she could have given him—her trust—will be destroyed. Permanently.

Warning: This book contains bondage, spanking, a sexy police chief determined to catch a killer, a woman determined to protect her family, and wine…lots of wine.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
You Really Got Me:

Jason followed Kendall into his bedroom. As she took in the flickering candles he’d placed around the room her steps slowed. Music pulsed quietly in an urgent, erotic rhythm and the scent of beeswax hung in the air. A smile curved her lips as her gaze roamed to his big bed, then landed on the rope and the blindfold lying there. Her eyes widened.

She swallowed and turned to look up at him.

Candlelight gleamed on her shiny dark hair. Her big brown eyes shadowed with questions and her pretty lips parted. So beautiful. So perfect.

 
In the time they’d been seeing each other, things between them had developed from a spine-tingling attraction to a deep, urgent need. Innocent dinner dates at charity events and restaurants had eventually led to sex, the best he’d ever had, sex that had become harder and faster and darker. Yeah, he’d pushed it, but she’d gone there with him. Perfect.

“What is this music?” she asked of the techno beat pulsing around them.

“Lords of Acid,” he said, holding her gaze. “The song is ‘Rough Sex’.”

Her long eyelashes fluttered rapidly. “You really need to start listening to rock n’ roll,” she muttered.

His lips twitched. They’d had this conversation about their divergent musical tastes before. Although before, they’d been talking about the differences between Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban, and the Doors and Cream, including a lively discussion comparing Keith Urban’s guitar skills to Eric Clapton’s.

“This music suits my mood tonight,” he murmured. “Tonight…I’m going to give you what you’ve been wanting.”

Her eyes widened again and she sucked in a breath.

Rough sex.

“You need this,” he said, keeping his tone gentle, holding her gaze steadily. “You know it, Kendall.”

“Need what?” she whispered with another nervous glance toward the bed.

“Need me to take control.”

She bit her lip, studying him.

“Been watching you, babe.” He reached out and touched gentle fingertips to her jaw. “Every time…I know you want more.”

“I’m afraid,” she confessed, still in a whisper.

“Afraid of me?” His thumb brushed over her bottom lip.

She shook her head, and pressed into his hand. “N-no.”

“Afraid of yourself.”

“Maybe.” She closed her eyes briefly. “I don’t like to let someone else be in control.”

“I know that, sweetheart. You look after everyone else…but who’s looking after you?”

He knew the answer to that. There was nobody who looked after her.

“That’s why you need this. Total emotional release. I promise you, baby, you’ll learn about parts of yourself you never have.”

He wanted to give that to her. Damn, he wanted to so much.

He caressed her face and she closed her eyes again and rubbed into his palm like a cat, encouraging him. “You have to trust me. And trust that I take that responsibility seriously.”

He watched her face as she considered his words. Her gaze went out of focus as she stared past him.

“Kendall.” His voice a soft command, her eyes snapped back to meet his. “I want to do this…for you.”

She lifted her chin. “I don’t want to be tied up.”

He resisted a smile, his chest expanding a little as her words signaled her partial agreement. “Being restrained can set you free,” he said, pushing a bit more. “Knowing that another person has complete control over you is the only way to be completely free.”

She shook her head. He studied her face. But she held firm, keeping her chin up.

Admiration and warmth rose inside him. She was strong. Another reason she was so perfect. “All right,” he finally said. “Not tonight. I’ll leave you unbound. But you have to do everything I tell you to do.”

“Always negotiating,” she murmured.

Now he had to smile. “That’s part of it.”

“I don’t have to do everything you tell me.”

“Yeah. You do.”

“No. I don’t.”

His lips twitched again. “I see you’re not getting this control thing.” He slid his hand along the side of her neck, below her ear, so gentle. He leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth.

“All right, fine.”

He let his smile free. “Gonna blindfold you.” His fingers worked open the buttons of her blouse, one by one, then tugged the silk from the waistband of her trousers, leaving her standing in front of him with her blouse hanging open, revealing nothing, really, besides the satin bow in the center or her lace bra. So sexy.

With his head bent, focused on his task, he unbuckled her narrow belt then unfastened her trousers. Loose and low on her hips, they easily slid down her legs to crumple at her feet. She toed off her heels and stepped away from her shoes and pants.

“Sit on the bed,” he ordered, his voice husky.

She moved to the bed and climbed on, giving the side eye to the rope and the blindfold.

He’d promised her he wouldn’t tie her up. Tonight. And he would never go back on a promise. He picked up the rope and tossed it across the room.

Sitting there in her bra and panties, still with the open silk blouse over them, she watched him take off his clothes, unbuttoning his own shirt and shrugging it off, then stepping out of the dark dress pants he wore. He watched her face as she studied him, watched her eyes darken, watched the corners of her mouth lift.

He stepped toward the bed and touched her face again. “Look at you,” he said hoarsely. “So sexy, in your pretty underwear, your blouse hanging open like that.” His fingers trailed down her neck, then brushed the blouse aside to expose one breast in sheer lace. Her breath hitched. “Your skin’s all flushed. Your nipples are hard. I can smell how aroused you are.”

She made a small noise in her throat, her eyes drifting closed.

He slid his hands inside the blouse over her shoulders, then pushed it off. Her wrists caught in the cuffs, and for a moment he gripped the fabric in one fist and held it. Trapping her.