A whisper of sound floated toward her as he moved, and the scent of male and musk wafted her way. Languishingly opening her eyes, she stared at the vampire. On his knees, he settled between her legs. His heated hands dropped to her thighs.

She should be angry. But her gaze dropped to his lips, and she met him halfway. He swallowed her moan in a kiss that started with anything but logic. Fire engulfed her. Leaning forward, she clamped both hands in his thick hair, opening her mouth to take more of him.

He delved deeper, his tongue possessing, his lips firm and demanding. With a low growl, he tumbled her to the rug, his hard body stretching atop her. Settling an impressive erection between her thighs, his hand slid down and secured her a.s.s, rubbing her against him.

Releasing her lips, he pressed hot, openmouthed kisses along her neck to her collarbone.

The warmth in the brain receded.

She arched up against him, so much need in her b.r.e.a.s.t.s they seemed on fire. "Kane."

"No talking." He yanked open her blouse, eyes flaring at the plain cotton bra. A smooth movement had the front clasp springing open. "Very pretty." His tongue flicked out to tease one nipple.

She whimpered, her hands still tangled in his hair and holding tight.

He lifted his head to pierce her with a gaze full of need. "See how good we could be together?"

For two beats her brain failed to connect. Then reality crashed harder than a sledgehammer. "Wait a minute." Her voice emerged husky. "The brain. You stimulated my brain. You planted desire."

"You can't plant desire." He settled himself on his elbows. "I just stimulated the amygdala and nucleus acc.u.mbens in your brain-one regulates emotion and the other controls the release of dopamine."

Desire flashed to anger. "You b.a.s.t.a.r.d." She'd known him only a day and had already used words she never spoke. "You manipulated me."

"No." His frown matched the slow burn in his eyes. The flash of anger combined with a heat of l.u.s.t in his rapidly darkening irises. "First, I wanted to show you how else demons could mess with your brain. Then . . . well . . . things got out of control."

Okay. While he was giving his lame explanation, he really shouldn't be pressing the strong line of his erection against her aching c.l.i.t. Worse yet, she was two seconds away from ripping his pants off. "Get off me. Now."

"No." The grip on her a.s.s tightened. "Not until you at least consider how good we could be."

"From a logical perspective, I can't stand you. In fact, I'd probably kill you in your sleep." She released his hair and shoved both hands against his hard chest. The d.a.m.n man didn't move.

"Some pacifist."

"See? See what a few hours with you does to me? No way will I mate you."

"Famous last words, gorgeous." He rolled off her, smoothly pressing his shoulders against the floor and leaping to his feet without using his hands.

What a show-off. But . . . well . . . the move was impressive. Balance, coordination, and strength. If she went crazy and actually wanted a vampire mate for all eternity, he'd make a good choice. Lucky for her she wasn't going crazy. She grabbed the chair and heaved to her feet. "You're a manipulative jerk."

"That's nothing compared to what the demons will do if they get a hold of you." Kane shrugged. "Well, without the kissing part, usually."

His face was flushed, his eyes burning, his body tense.

Oh yeah. She hadn't been the only one affected by the kiss. Slowly, she dropped her fingers to the b.u.t.tons of her shirt to refasten, pleasure filling her when his gaze followed. Take that, buddy.

Then her shoulders started to itch. She glanced down at the old rug still wearing her b.u.t.t print. "Tell me that's not from a real animal."

Kane sighed. "I don't own this place, for goodness' sake. However, once you get to Realm headquarters, you should be pleased. We have allies who are shifters. To the best of my knowledge, most animal-type fabric, rug, and coverings in every house we own are synthetic."

"Most?"

"I'll make it all' as soon as possible."

She smiled. "You're not as much of a jacka.s.s as I thought."

"That's the nicest thing you've said to me." He dropped back into his chair.

She nodded, fighting to keep from shivering. Whether from the cold or Kane's kiss, she wasn't sure. Man, she wished they were still rolling around on the floor. She'd never felt such need. While she wasn't going to mate him, they still had this night. A tremor racked her shoulders.

Kane sighed. "You're not warming up."

"Yes . . . I . . . am . . ." She shivered again.

He turned to eye her.

"You mess with my brain, and I'll kick your a.s.s." The time had ended for nicety. "Don't even think of warming me up by manipulating some weird cortex in my brain-stem."

"Okay." He tore off his shirt. Defined muscles showed in his broad chest that tapered into an intriguing six-pack. The scientist worked out. He'd healed from the bullet wound completely. His pants followed suit, leaving him in dark briefs. His legs were as s.e.xy as the rest of him. He lifted her and sat on the sofa.

"Hey," she protested as he sat back down with her on his lap. "Why are you getting naked?"

"I have briefs on-and my clothes were wet." He yanked the blanket free before pressing her skin against his and rewrapping the blanket.

His heat slammed right through to muscles and bone. She bit her lip to keep from groaning in pure pleasure. "Stop manhandling me." Her voice came out weak and not nearly as angry as she'd like.

"I like handling you." That deep voice turned thoughtful and a bit rough.

The storm raged outside, the fire crackled inside, and she was sitting on the hottest guy she'd ever seen. "Okay. This is not some big, s.e.xy seduction, we're lost in the storm, let's get it on situation." Her mouth formed the words, but deep down, her body howled in protest.

He chuckled, turning her to straddle him. "Let's warm your back."

Heat from the fire licked down her spine . . . not nearly as hot as the warmth from the hard body heating her front. His thighs warmed the inside of hers. "Kane, stop it." Again, her body ignored the very simple words by her hands pressing against his hard chest, feeling the very, very nice muscles there.

"Stop what? " Dark amus.e.m.e.nt lifted his lip while those eyes swirled a deep violet.

"Playing with me," she coughed out.

"Darlin', I'm not playing. If I were playing, I'd do this." He leaned in, his tongue flicking along her jugular. His mouth was hotter than possible. "And this." Clever fingers wandered across her rib cage to sweep under her breast.

She pressed toward him, her breath catching.

"And this," he murmured against her neck, tweaking her nipple through the cotton.

With a sigh, she pressed against his sudden erection. "I'm not sure I even like you."

"Most people aren't sure if they like me," he said, lifting away and flashing a grin.

Disarming and charming, the grin heated her insides.

Vulnerability gentled her hands as she framed his face.

"What are you really like?" She frowned, her body on fire, her mind curious, her instincts whispering she should run.

He tilted his head. "I don't know what you mean."

"I think you do." She settled against his erection, enjoying the instant flare of l.u.s.t in his dark eyes. "I'm not easy, and I'm not simple, Kane. I want you. But even though we're fleeting, I don't want a rational, this-is-a-reasonable-way-to-calm-down-and-ride-out-the-storm lay."

His eyebrow lifted. "Did you just say lay?"

"You know what I mean."

"Darlin', I'm all brain, no heart. That should make you happy considering the pleasure centers are in the brain."

"No." She shoved against his chest, the movement rubbing her suddenly aching s.e.x against a hardened c.o.c.k too impressive to easily ignore. "This isn't about thinking. This is about feeling." Staring him right in the eyes, she tried to penetrate to his hard brain. "We both know you can feel, whether you like that fact or not."

Irritation flashed bright in those eyes to be quickly blanketed with humor. "That was a secret."

Her hands dropped along with her gaze. "Whatever."

He sighed. Running both hands through her hair, he gently tugged her head back until her eyes met his. "Amber, I like you. Against all rational thought, I like the way you think, the way you move, even the way you feel everything too strongly. And I want to have one night with you-not to relieve some stress, although it would-not to cement your help, although it might-and not to further any of my rather pressing goals. I just want to get inside you and drive you crazy until you scream my name."

She opened her mouth but no words formed.

His hold tightened. "But you should be very careful what you ask for." The predator he'd been hiding rose to the surface.

All amus.e.m.e.nt and charm disappeared.

Awareness slammed through her. She'd misjudged him. Sure, she'd seen him kill demons. And she'd known he was a vampire. But he'd seemed like an intellectual, somewhat safe. The male trusting her enough to reveal himself right now was nowhere near safe.

"You want the real me?"

She nodded slowly.

"Then say yes."

Her mind spun. Rational thought whisked away. She should think about this. There was no doubt they'd be parting ways after she fulfilled her promise and helped him with Jase. She had to get Grandma Hilde to safety and off the demon radar. But she never wanted to look back on her life and wonder . . . what if? So they had one night. "Yes."

At her acquiesce, she expected him to react. To delve deep, to pounce.

Instead, his eyes darkened to beyond black. A slow smile, wicked and sure, slid across his handsome face.

She shivered.

He tugged her sweatshirt over her head. His hands went to her bare shoulders, sliding down until reaching her wrists.

Then he tugged her to him and kissed her. Warmer than imaginable, his mouth slanted over hers, his lips firm and demanding. His tongue swept inside her mouth, sending her sliding full force into arousal. She tried to lift her hands to his chest, but they remained in place.

Strong hands banded around her wrists and trapped her hands on her thighs. She couldn't move.

Shock, then fire ripped through her. Her panties dampened even more.

His mouth worked hers, taking. Long fingers threaded through hers, sliding her hands behind her back to press against her hips, dragging her c.l.i.t along his shaft. Sparks flashed behind her eyes. She whimpered.

He lifted away, a dark flush across his high cheekbones, his nostrils flaring. Hunger glinted strong and bright in his eyes. "Now that's a pretty sound. Make it again." Pressing her hands against her b.u.t.t, he rubbed his c.o.c.k against her.

She whimpered again.

His smile revealed more of the animal he'd kept hidden.

Doubt broke through the clouds in her brain, and she opened her mouth to protest.

"Too late." His mouth found her nipple, his strength easily keeping her in place.

Where he wanted her.

Sharp teeth nipped and then his tongue soothed. Electricity flared from nerve to nerve, making her nearly desperate to move against him. Yet his hold stayed firm, not allowing her to move an inch.

The helplessness compared to his strength rippled shivers of need down her spine. "Kane."

The world tilted and she found herself lying on the blanket near the fire, the vampire kneeling between her legs. He ripped her pants and panties off. "Oh," she protested, mind whirling, her hands suddenly free and reaching to push against his shoulders.

One dark look froze her in place.

"Hands down." The set of his jaw hardened.

She couldn't move . . . could only stare.

"Put them down or I'll tie them down." No mercy showed in his deep eyes.

Her hands dropped to the blanket as if gravity worked for him. She shook her head. "I don't . . ."

"You do." He plunged one finger inside her easily. Too easily.

She arched up in response, a strangled groan emerging. Internal muscles flared to life and clamped down on him. Her arousal was obvious. "Stop playing."

"I'm not playing." His finger found her G-spot, and she nearly shot off the blanket. With a deep chuckle, his mouth dropped to her c.l.i.t.

No easing, no teasing . . . he sucked hard.

She exploded with a strangled cry, the entire room sheeting white. His fingers prolonged the o.r.g.a.s.m until she wanted to beg. Whether for him to stop or keep going, she wasn't sure. Finally, she came down, her entire body nowhere near sated and truly on fire. Her body protested when he removed his hand.

While it had been awhile, in the past, one o.r.g.a.s.m did her just fine. Now one wasn't nearly enough. Somehow Kane had driven her even higher, somehow he'd perched her entire body on the edge, waiting for him. "I hate you."

He chuckled against her c.l.i.t, sending her senses spiraling. "I'll have to change your mind on that." Slow, delicious licks had her squirming on the blanket, her hands itching to grab and take him. But she had no doubt he'd meant the sensual threat. He really would tie her down.

The idea almost sent her into another o.r.g.a.s.m. She shifted to the side to get his mouth where she wanted it, and he clamped both hands on her thighs. "Hold still, darlin'."

" No. "