Kiss of Heat (16 page)

Her fingers clawed at the stone; her back arched as she drove herself harder on the wedge of flesh parting her, pistoning inside her now with hard, powerful strokes. A low cry built in her throat, then grew in volume as the conflagration of pleasure suddenly exploded from her womb and rushed through her body.

Kane was only a few strokes behind her. His teeth raked her neck as he drove in deep, then he bit her—he actually bit her—making her scream as another surge of violent reaction overtook her, shuddering through her body, bowing her back as she felt Kane’s cock pulse, his semen, hot and rich, spew inside her.

“We’re going to kill each other like this.” He was breathing roughly long minutes later as he steadied her before weakly adjusting his pants and then helping her with hers.

Her hands were shaking, her body still wracked by occasional shudders of pleasure as the echo of her orgasm worked through her.

“Yeah well, I did try to warn you.” She tried to inject a small measure of waspishness into her tone, but it was impossible with the languor stealing over her. Damn, she could sleep now if there was a bed handy.

She drew in a deep, relaxing breath, then stilled. She felt her heart suddenly race in her chest, fear exploding in the pit of her stomach.

“What is it?” Kane rose from picking up the flashlight.

She turned, drawing in the scents from one end of the tunnel, then from the other.

“Fuck,” she whispered. “Let’s go. Fast. Somehow we’ve triggered an explosive.”

It was close, but she didn’t know how close. She could smell the damned thing heating up, preparing to blow, and knew there wasn’t a chance in hell of finding it. According to the strength of the explosives it could be contained behind them, or the force of it could blow out the rest of the tunnel. With her and Kane inside it.

They ran.

Chapter Eighteen

The blast of the explosion sent Sherra and Kane hurtling through the main cave opening; the sense of sudden weightlessness, of flight, was almost terrifying as she saw the boulders that surrounded the area looming below her. She tucked her body as she landed, rolled and came to her feet as she fought to catch her breath.

Kane was on his knees, choking against the dust settling around him as he too fought to get his bearings and to clear his head.

“Jonas,” she yelled furiously as the Feline breeds rushed around them. “Head count. I need a head count.” There had been others in the main cavern, as well as several of the smaller tunnels earlier.

“Everyone accounted for, Sherra,” Jonas called back roughly. “I have an ASAP out to a medic and Callan. Are you okay?”

“Do we have wounded?” She narrowed her eyes, seeing several Breeds sitting on the ground as the others attended them. “Status.”

He jumped up from examining Kane. “We had major debris collapsing from above the mine entrance, we have minor injuries, a few broken bones. What the hell triggered that explosive?”

“Hell.” She was breathing roughly, drawing in deep gulps of oxygen as Kane jumped to his feet. “It must have been wired for sound. There was no scent of it, no sign of it, Jonas, before it started heating up. I’m starting to wonder if the whole system isn’t one big grave in there.”

Kane snorted sarcastically, though she fought to ignore him.

“Callan is arriving,” Jonas called out. “Get ready to move the wounded out. Sherra, do we stay or go?”

“You fucking go!” Kane turned on the Lion Breed furiously then. “Pack your shit up and get back to the compound. Now!”

Jonas blinked at him with a blank look. “Yes, sir.” He finally nodded before turning away from him. “Load up, boys and girls, we’re being sent home.”

Kane was growling. Sherra tilted her head, watching him curiously as he kicked a stone, muttered something and flashed her another dangerous look.

She smiled brightly. “Ain’t adrenaline a fine thing? Want to fuck it off?”

He frowned, lifted his lip in a violent portrayal of fury and stomped over to where Callan had pulled up in the pickup, followed by several Jeeps.

As she watched, Jonas sidled up to her. “Can humans be infected and turn Breed?” he asked her curiously. “I swear, I think he growls better than I do.”

She stifled her laughter, elbowed the snickering Breed and hurried over to Callan. Only God knew what Kane was telling on her now.

Chapter Nineteen

Kane could feel his flesh sensitizing in ways he had never expected. He couldn’t understand it, couldn’t explain it. He paced outside Sherra’s bedroom after their return to the compound, running his hand over his hair as he fought the insane compulsion to storm into her shower and take her where she stood. He needed his cock buried inside her heat, and he needed it now.

He shook his head; even after that first kiss it hadn’t been like this. This was consuming, an urgent compulsion, a desire unlike anything he had known to this point. He tried to explain the sensation away on the fact that they had nearly died in those damned caves earlier, but there was no logic in that. There was no way to explain the sudden surge of lust that burned brighter, hotter than anything he had ever known before this point.

God help them both if she had any intentions of refusing him, because he didn’t think he could leave her. He knew he couldn’t deny the hunger for her. He could taste her on his tongue, craved the feel of her against his flesh.

He shrugged his broad, bare shoulders; the caress of the air generated against his flesh had him flinching at the sensation. Dammit, a man shouldn’t be that sensitive.

The shower shut off and he tensed in preparation. He could imagine her—her flesh all slick and wet, creamy and pink and more tempting than anything he knew. He still remembered the feel of her in that cave. Her kiss had tasted more delicate, the spice of the hormone filling his senses as he fought to keep some measure of sanity.

His cock had still been hard when he pulled from her. Even after spilling himself inside her with a violence he hadn’t known a man was capable of, he still needed more of her.

He turned away from the bathroom door, pacing the floor, trying to make sense of his emotions and the strange feelings moving through him. He wanted so much. Things he had never thought of before, never considered.

Damn, he loved her. That was the one thing that had always been a constant in his life, but he was starting to feel as though the mating heat and the sex alone was all that bound them. And that was the crux of the matter.

He winced at the knowledge. He had lived to avenge her all these years, had fought to find justice for the woman he thought he had lost, only to feel his world brighten once again when he found her. He hadn’t allowed his confidence to be dented by her anger or feigned hatred. He hadn’t let her resentment sway him. She belonged to him, heart and soul.

“Damn.” He sat down on the chair in the corner of the room and braced his elbows on his knees as he covered his face with his hands. Why hadn’t he noticed this before? Why hadn’t he seen what was happening?

“I warned you there was little satisfaction to be had, Kane.” Sherra stood in the doorway, a towel covering her lithe body, her long hair damp and framing her somber face.

He grimaced at the words, giving his head a quick jerk as he stared back at her and for the first time, he saw her. Her shoulders were tightened defensively, her eyes wary, always watching.

“Is the heat easing for you?” he asked her.

She shrugged negligently. “It’s in its last phases.”

“Have you seen the doc?” He knew she hadn’t.

“Not yet. I’ll go in the morning,” she assured him, faint confusion showing in her expression.

“You told Taber you’d go in tonight,” he reminded her. “I’ll be waiting on you in the doctor’s office in the morning.”

He rose to his feet, suddenly tired. Despite the hard-on making him crazy and the hunger eating away at his soul, he felt old. Shaking his head, he moved to the door and opened it slowly.

“Kane?” He paused, keeping his back to her, knowing if he looked at her he would go to her, touch her, take her. And once again the truth would eat him alive.

“Yeah, babe?” He kept his voice soft, hoping to hide the regret.

“You aren’t staying?” she asked, her tone equally soft, though confused.

He drew in a deep, hard breath. “Not tonight, Sherra. If you need me, you know where to find me.”

The silence behind him was louder than fury could have been. He tapped his fist against the doorframe as he kicked himself. Damn, he’d made more of a mess of this than he had the first time around.

“Night, Sherra.” He left her bedroom, ignoring his arousal, the pain slicing through his chest, and realized that perhaps the love he had seen in her so long ago truly had died.

* * * * *

Sherra stared at the door in bemusement. What the hell had happened? Had he cracked his head during the explosion earlier? And what the hell did he mean that she knew where to find him? Since when did he expect her to find him? He had been on her ass since finding her in Sandy Hook, never letting up and damned sure never giving up.

She propped her hands on her hips, more confused now than she ever had been. She had smelled his arousal, hotter, more demanding than it had ever been. And he had just walked away.

She turned from him; pulling the towel from her body she threw it into the bathroom before dressing in a long caftan and quietly leaving her room. She padded downstairs, drawn by Callan and Merinus’ voices in the kitchen and a need for advice.

Advice wasn’t something she usually looked for. She had tried, over the years, to burden Callan the least amount possible with her own problems, knowing that the protection of the Pride was more important.

“Hi, Sherra, I thought you had retired for the night.” Merinus smiled as she sipped a cold glass of milk.

Sherra watched her with a faint grin.

“I see you found the Oreos Kane sneaked in for Cassie.”

Merinus grinned in conspiracy. “I knew he would do it. Kane’s kept me in cookies all my life.”

Sherra frowned at that as she looked at Callan. “Why don’t
you
buy her cookies? You’re not exactly a pauper, you know.”

Callan grinned as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers playing with his wife’s hair as he watched his sister.

“It pleases him to provide them and allows him to retain a feeling of possessiveness. Why would I take that from him? Kane’s protected her all her life, cared for her, even now. I don’t have a problem with the cookies.” Callan shrugged carelessly.

Sherra looked at her brother oddly.

“But she’s
your
wife,” she stressed. “Your responsibility.”

Callan’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully for a moment. He was her beloved older brother, but she could see where Merinus had been unable to refuse the story once she saw his picture. He was exceptionally handsome in a rough sort of way. High cheekbones, a narrow, savage face. Sensual lips. He had the Lion’s cast to his face, but it didn’t detract from his looks in the least.

“She is.” He nodded. “But Kane was a part of her life first. And for longer. Why should I resent or interfere in the relationship that he cherishes so dearly?”

Merinus hadn’t said anything. She dipped her Oreos placidly in the glass of milk and watched Sherra with eyes that were far too knowing.

Sherra shrugged. “I was just curious.”

“You are never just curious, Sherra,” he reflected. “What’s the problem? You’re still in heat, yet you stand here asking me questions rather than taking time to bond with your mate.”

She stilled, blinking over at him in confusion. “It’s sexual…”

Callan breathed out heavily. “Sherra.” He shook his head. “I won’t argue your beliefs with you, though I highly disagree. The heat isn’t just physical, I’ve warned you of this.”

He had. He had lectured on emotional, physical, and spiritual bondings. It hadn’t made sense then, and it didn’t make sense now.

She hunched her shoulder as she walked over to the doors that led to the sheltered grotto outside.

“So where is Kane?” Merinus asked casually, though Sherra could hear the hint of anger warming her voice.

She shrugged. “His room, I believe.”

“And you’re here, why?” Merinus asked. “What happened?”

She turned back to them, frowning in confusion. “I don’t know. I came out of the bath and he appeared…almost sad…melancholy, as though the weight on his shoulders was too heavy to bear. I assumed the heat was the cause and reminded him that I had warned him of the consequences.” She looked to her brother. “He just walked away, Callan. I can’t understand why he just walked away.”

Callan grimaced. “Kane is different, Sherra. You can’t see him as you do me, or one of the others. In many ways, his life has been just as hard, the inner scars as deep as the outer. Perhaps you should ask him.”

“He wouldn’t tell her,” Merinus said at that point, leaning back in her chair and laying her hands on her distended abdomen.

Sherra frowned over at her. “Why not?”

“Because you should know. You know him better than you think you do, Sherra. You’re just trying to deny that you do.” Merinus shrugged as her hands smoothed over the light blue cotton smock she wore. “Besides, if he thought you didn’t know what the problem was, then he wouldn’t have hesitated to tell you.”

“So I’m supposed to read his mind now?” Sherra growled. “The man is the most exasperating, confusing male I have ever met in my life, Merinus. How am I supposed to know what goes on in his brain?”

He was going to drive her insane.

“Kane’s brain isn’t what you should be worrying about,” Merinus assured her. “From the way you said he was acting, you’ve hurt him, Sherra. Somehow, you’ve hurt him deeply.”

Emotion glittered in the other woman’s eyes, a sheen of tears that caused Sherra’s heart to clench. In all their conversations about Kane, Merinus had never shed tears. Why would she now?

“How could I have hurt him?” She spread her hands wide in confusion. “I didn’t
do
anything, Merinus.”

Merinus’ look was hard, cold. “Evidently you did do something. You defeated Kane. And until now, I could have sworn no one could.” With the help of her mate she rose to her feet, her gaze never leaving Sherra’s. “If I lose my brother because you’re too damned stubborn to admit the truth to yourself, then I’ll never forgive you. Remember that one, sister-in-law.”