When Russell woke up that evening, he found Jia asleep in the bed, wearing one of his T-shirts. There were signs that she’d been busy during the day. His clothes and coat, which he’d left soaking in the stream, were washed and drying. All the laundry had been done, and the cave cleaned up.
He lit an oil lamp, then retrieved a bottle of blood from an ice chest. As he sipped his breakfast, he wandered over to the bed to watch her sleep. He wasn’t sure what to make of what had happened. It seemed like she’d been driven by some need beyond her control. Had death traumatized her to the point that she’d had to confirm her life by having sex? Why the sudden desire to rid herself of her virginity?
How on earth was he supposed to give her up now? He’d tried to resist her. He knew better than to sleep with a woman who was engaged. But in the end, his desire had won the battle. His love for her was greater than his sense of honor.
He guzzled down the rest of his bottle and dropped it into the plastic crate with the other empty bottles. There was a primitive caveman inside him that had urged him to take her and stake his claim, as if she’d been a prized possession. And that same caveman wanted to destroy any competition.
He took a deep breath and forced his mind out of caveman mode. Jia was a strong, independent woman, and he loved that about her. The fact that he couldn’t bear to give her up was his problem. All he could do was be honest with her and try to convince her that life with a penniless vampire would be better than living in a palace with a were-tiger prince.
Shit. He was so screwed.
Even so, falling in love with her had been the best thing to happen to him in years. It made him feel hopeful and alive, instead of dead and full of hate. But he wasn’t sure how she felt. Last night, she’d seemed desperate. For him? Or just for sex?
He heated up some water and took a hot shower. He wasn’t in any hurry to wake Jia up. Not when he was afraid of what he might hear. Besides, there was no point in hunting for Han tonight. He would remain hidden until tomorrow, when it was time to lead his troops into battle.
As Russell toweled off and dressed, he considered what to do with his brother. He needed to be alone with Markos so he could talk some sense into him. So the second he spotted Markos tomorrow night, he would teleport behind him, catching him by surprise so he could kidnap him.
Without Markos there to lead the army, the soldiers would probably hesitate to attack Tiger Town. They might even desert. From what Russell had seen from the guards last night, their morale was low. They no longer wanted to die for Han and risk going to hell.
Once he and Markos were alone, they would decide the outcome of the battle. There was no need to put anyone else in danger. Russell sighed, not wanting to think about that final confrontation. Would Markos surrender and give up his plan to rule the world? Somehow Russell had to convince him to stop. If not, he would be forced to kill him.
His heart constricted in his chest. God, help me. Spare me from that pain. Hadn’t he been through enough?
There was a rustling sound from the bed. Jia was waking. She blinked at him sleepily, and his heart squeezed again. Was he going to lose her, too?
“I’ll go topside for a few minutes to give you privacy.” He grabbed a sword and the sat phone, then teleported out to do a perimeter check. Nothing but a few small animals that ran away as he approached.
He wondered how preparations were going at Tiger Town, but he didn’t dare call one of the Vamps, since they might teleport to him and learn the location of his hideout. So he called Howard in Transylvania.
“Guess who’s here,” Howard said. “Last night, Angus had Neona, Norjee, and Xiao Fang teleported here. Neona agreed not to take part in the battle, since she’s expecting.”
“That’s good. How is Xiao Fang?”
“He’s coming along,” Howard replied. “Neona has healed his injuries, and he’s talking to Norjee quite a bit. He hasn’t said much about his captivity, though. He keeps asking if Jia is all right. He says she was stabbed.”
“Tell him she’s fine. Her wound is completely healed.”
“That’s a relief. The poor kid is afraid to be happy. He’s worried that Darafer will find him.”
Russell winced. That was a possibility. “Is there any way to get rid of Darafer?”
“We’re not able to kill him,” Howard grumbled. “As far as I know, only the Heavenly Father and archangels can destroy him. The God Warriors can banish him back to hell, but it takes seven of them. And they can only do it if he breaks the decree of free will.”
Russell sighed. Even if he solved the situation with his brother, Darafer would remain a problem. “What’s going on at Tiger Town?”
“Angus has gathered an army of two hundred. As soon as the sun sets here, Mikhail is supposed to teleport me there.”
“Any sign of Han’s army?” Russell asked. “Do I need to spend tonight tracking them?”
“No. You can relax. Queen Nima’s owl is watching the army and having other birds report to Winifred, so Angus knows where the army is. He expects them to arrive at the Mekong River tomorrow afternoon. We figure they won’t attack until after sunset, when Han shows up.”
“Tell Angus that as soon as I spot Han, I’m kidnapping him. That should keep the army from attacking.”
There was a pause, then Howard said, “You should stand down, Russell. Don’t get involved. He’s your brother—”
“That’s why I have to do this. I can’t allow him to kill another person.”
Howard groaned. “I get that, but I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret. You’ll have to live with the consequences forever.”
“I know. Later.” Russell hung up and stood still as despair threatened to engulf him. Did he have to lose everyone he ever loved?
With a heavy heart, he teleported back into the cave.
Jia was sitting on the bed, dressed in her second set of clothes and braiding her hair. “Hi.” She smiled at him, then glanced away, her cheeks turning pink.
Great. Things were going to be awkward. “How do you feel? You look . . . beautiful, but then, you always do.”
Her blush deepened. “I’m fine.”
“Do you have enough food here to eat? When the sun sets in Transylvania, I could steal some of Howard’s donuts for you.”
That made her smile. “I’m fine, really. Just . . . embarrassed.”
“There’s no need to feel bad.” Having sex with him was embarrassing? Dammit. He plugged the sat phone in to recharge. If she apologized or called it an accident, he might lose it.
“It was my first time to die and come back.” She slipped off the bed and wandered toward the table. “I wasn’t sure what exactly would happen. I didn’t expect to shift.”
“No big deal.” He grabbed another bottle of blood from the ice chest and wrenched off the top. Not that he was hungry, but he had to keep busy or he might rip something apart. “You’re a were-tiger. You shift. No need to apologize for it.” Not when I love you the way you are.
“I . . . hope I didn’t scare you.”
He shrugged and took a sip of cold blood.
She winced. “Rajiv warned me I might behave . . . strangely.”
“You mean like a sex goddess?”
Her mouth fell open. “No! I mean, he said I might feel an overwhelming desire to mate, but I’d never mated before, so I didn’t think—”
“You knew?” He plunked the bottle down on the table. “You knew that would happen?”
“I’m sorry! I didn’t—”
“Don’t—” He clenched his fists. “Don’t apologize.”
“I didn’t think anything would happen!” She stepped toward him. “I’m sure it was shocking for you, but it seems to be a completely normal occurrence for were-cats. Think of it as a cultural thing.”
Anger shot through him. “A cultural thing?”
“Yes.” She waved a dismissive hand. “It’s just something that happens when a were-cat progresses to the next life.”
“Well, thank God you had a convenient dick nearby!”
With a gasp, she stepped back.
Dammit! He slammed two handguns down on the table along with his cleaning supplies, then sat on a stool to get to work.
“Russell?”
He ignored her as he dismantled the first gun. This was worse than he had thought. She’d simply been driven by an innate need to mate. He’d just been expedient. It hadn’t meant anything personal to her at all. No wonder she was embarrassed. She’d used him. And now she intended to go on with her life, her second life, as if nothing had happened.
“Russell?”
He cleaned the handgun at vampire speed. Tomorrow night, he’d end things with his brother. She would have the revenge she wanted. And then she would be free to marry her prince.
“Russell!”
He glanced up. Damn, she was staring at him with tears in her eyes. Maybe she was taking it personally after all. He set his tools down. “What’s wrong?”
“I—” She closed her eyes with a pained look. “I made a mistake.”
Damn. Why didn’t she just cut his heart out and throw it into a blender? “I thought our night together was a cultural thing. Now it’s a mistake.”
She winced. “That’s what you think?”
He jumped to his feet. “I don’t know what the hell to think!”
She bit her lip. “I made a mistake when I acted like last night wasn’t important. I made light of it because I was trying to hide my shame.”
“You’re ashamed that you slept with me?”
“No! I’m ashamed of the crime I committed.” She squared her shoulders. “I abused you. You tried several times to stop me, but I ignored your wishes. I— I forced you to mate with me, and I—”
“Forced?”
“Yes. I know it’s unforgivable, but I hope—”
“Forced?” He skirted the table to stand in front of her. “You’re forgetting something really big.”
Her gaze lowered to his groin. “I don’t think so.”
He scoffed. “I’m referring to the fact that at any point last night, I could have teleported away. I stayed because I wanted to.”
She blinked. “But you kept trying to stop me.”
“Because you’re engaged. Not because I didn’t want you.” He stepped closer. “Did you force me to kiss your breasts and suck on your nipples?”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Did you force me to push you onto your back so I could thrust deeper inside you? Did you force me to have the biggest damned climax of my life?”
She stared at him, her eyes wide. “Y-you wanted to mate?”
“Yes! So you can stop apologizing or feeling ashamed. I did exactly what I wanted to do. It’s what happens when a man falls in love.”
“You mean—”
“Yes! I’m in love with you.”
She gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
He shifted his weight. Now that his heart was out, she would toss it into the blender by reminding him that she planned to marry someone else.
A tear rolled down her cheek, and she moved up close to him. “I was so afraid I had abused you. I couldn’t bear the thought that you would hate me.”
“Never. I love you.”
She gave him a wobbly smile as more tears came down her face. “That’s good. Because I love you.”
He stiffened, his breath caught in his chest. “You . . . ?”
“I finally realized it last night, but the feeling was already there. That’s why I insisted on being with you when I died.” She reached up to touch his cheek. “If I was going to need a mate, I wanted it to be you. It could be only you.”
Something hard but fragile seemed to shatter in his chest, and he cupped his hand around the back of her neck to pull her into a kiss. The sudden move caught her by surprise, so her mouth was open. He took advantage, molding his lips to hers and slipping his tongue inside.
She stiffened, most probably still surprised. He cradled her head in his hands so he could devour her mouth. God, how he needed her. His chest tightened. His groin swelled.
Her hands smoothed over his shoulders and around his neck. Soon her mouth was moving with his, her tongue was stroking his. They kissed till they were breathless and panting against each other’s lips.
He rested his brow against hers. “That’s a kiss.”
“I think I like kissing after all.”
When he opened his eyes, she was tinted pink.
She grinned. “I love it when your eyes turn red. It makes me feel so powerful.”
“You are powerful. You could destroy me with a single word.”
Her fingers delved into his hair. “What word would that be?”
“Good-bye.”
Her eyes widened. “Then we’ll never say it. It would destroy me, too.”
He pulled her close for another kiss. She held him tightly, kissing him back. Her body pressed against him, and his groin grew hard. After ravishing her mouth to the point that she was limp and breathless, he planted kisses along her cheek to her ear.
With a moan, she tilted her head.
He sucked her earlobe into his mouth, then whispered, “I want you naked so I can kiss you everywhere.”
“Oh.” She shivered. “Well, if you insist.” She tugged at his T-shirt, but he pulled it off before she could rip it in two.
“Wait.” She grabbed his hands when he reached for his belt. “I want to undress you.”
“Well, if you insist,” he repeated her words. “Then I’ll undress you.”
“Deal.” With a grin, she unbuckled his belt.
With vampire speed, he unknotted her belt and took off her tunic. Then he undid the drawstring on her trousers and dropped them to the ground. She was down to her panties and camisole before his trousers were unzipped.
She gave him a wry look. “Are you in a hurry?”
“Once I have you naked, I’ll go as slow as you like.”
Her golden eyes gleamed. “Well, if you insist.”
“I do, princess.”
“Cowboy.” She tugged his trousers and underwear down, and his swollen manhood popped out. “Oh, hello. I remember you.”
“You’re going to talk to it?” He kicked off his shoes and trousers.
She stroked him with her fingers. “I may do more than talk.”
“Well, if you insist.” He swooped her up to carry her to the bed. When he sat her down, he pulled the camisole up and over her head. Her breasts bounced free, round and firm, topped with plump, pink nipples.
“Last night happened too fast,” he murmured as he cupped her breasts and felt their weight against his palms. “I wasn’t able to give you the attention you deserve.”
He brushed his thumbs over her nipples and they pebbled. “Look at that. How pretty they are.” He leaned down to run his tongue over the pebbled skin.
She shivered, then slid her hands up his arms to his shoulders. “I love touching you. You’re so beautiful.”
He snorted. “Guys aren’t beautiful.”
“You are.” She smoothed her hands down his chest to his abdomen. “So many muscles.”
“So many curves.” He grazed his fingers along the curve of her waist and hips.
“So soft, but wonderfully hard.” She curled her hand around his erection.
He sucked in a breath as she gently stroked him, then rubbed her thumb over the crown. With a groan, he removed her hand. “That’s enough.”
She frowned. “But I like touching you.”
“I’m about to explode.” He kissed her hand. “I want to be in charge for a while. I’m going to make you writhe and scream with pleasure.”
“Really?” She gave him a dubious look, then her mouth twitched. “Well, if you insist.” She lay back onto the bed and lifted her arms overhead. “All right, cowboy. Let’s see what you can do.”
He tapped the end of her nose. “Your wish is my command, princess.”
“Don’t call me princess.”
With a smile, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of her panties and pulled.
She shifted her hips, lifting them up tantalizingly as he dragged the panties over her rump and down her legs. Now that she was stretched out naked on the bed, he took his time to study her. She had the lithe, muscular build of an athlete, but all the luscious curves of a beautiful woman.
Her nipples hardened and her hips squirmed a bit. “Why are you just looking at me?”
“I like what I see. You’re beautiful. And you’re already writhing.”
She snorted. “Because you’re making me nervous. Where’s all this pleasure you promised me?”
“I’m getting there.” He stroked the bottom of her feet.
She pulled them away. “That tickles.”
“Ah.” He grazed his fingertips along her ankles. “Does that tickle, princess?”
“Yes.” She kicked at him.
He moved up her calves and tickled the back of her knees. “And this?”
“Yes.” She stopped him by bending her legs at the knees, then gasped when he shoved her knees apart.
Now he could see the pink folds of her sex, and his groin grew harder.
“Why are you staring?”
“Does it disturb you?” He grazed his hands up her thighs.
Her legs trembled, and moisture glistened on her folds. He breathed deeply, catching the scent of her arousal.
“Russell, do something. This is starting to drive me crazy.”
Smiling, he stretched out beside her. “Are you ready to writhe with pleasure?”
“Yes!”
He planted kisses down her neck as his hand smoothed down her belly. By the time his mouth reached her breasts, his fingers were delving into the black curls that covered her mound.
With a moan, she lifted her hips, pressing against his hand. He smiled to himself, loving how assertive and free she was. He teased her nipple with his tongue and was rewarded with another moan.
“Russell,” she breathed as her hands raked through his hair.
He drew her nipple into his mouth and sucked. A few hard pulls, then he glanced up to see her reaction as his hand slipped between her legs. She was wonderfully slick with moisture and already swelling. Her eyes flew open when he pinched her clitoris.
“What . . . oh my . . .” She gasped as he gently massaged her.
He kissed a trail down to her belly as he stroked her. Soon she was panting and pressing against him. He nuzzled her black curls with his nose, then slipped his fingers between her slick folds. One finger slid inside, then two. So hot and wet.
With a groan, she writhed her hips. He settled between her legs and gave her clitoris a lick. She cried out, her legs thrashing.
What a wild one she was. He grasped her buttocks to keep her still so he could drag his tongue over her folds, then between them. Moisture seeped out, and he sucked it into his mouth. Her body squirmed. He tightened his grip and clamped his mouth onto her clitoris. A few quick flicks with his tongue, and she screamed. Her body jerked, then her sex throbbed against his face. He inserted two fingers, and she screamed again. Her vagina contracted, squeezing his fingers and making his dick ache.
He couldn’t wait any longer. He slid into her.
With a cry, she wrapped her arms and legs around him. Her fingers dug into his shoulders.
The caveman in him broke free, and he slammed into her over and over. “You’re mine,” he growled. “Mine.”
His climax hit like a strike of lightning. He squeezed his eyes shut but saw bolts of light flash through the darkness. He lost control, pumping wildly into her, then he crashed beside her, gasping for air. His fangs shot out, but thankfully he was too knocked out to do anything with them.
Slowly, he became aware of her panting breaths and trembling body. He pulled her close and rested his chin on top of her head. His fangs receded.
“Russell,” she breathed against his chest. “Is it always going to be like that?”
“I don’t know. Give me about ten minutes, and we’ll find out.”
She snorted. “Are we going to mate all night long?”
“If you insist.”
She laughed and hugged him tight. “I insist.”
“Your wish is my command, princess.”
She scooted up so they were face-to-face. “I’m worried about my home and my people. Han is attacking Tiger Town tomorrow.”
“I know. I’ll take care of him.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Kidnap him. Take him some place where we can have a . . . talk.”
She frowned. “What if he just teleports away?”
Russell sighed. “I may have to knock him out and tie him up with silver.”
“I’ll help you. Take him inside the palace. I’ll wait for you there with the silver chain.”
“You don’t have to—”
She put a finger on his mouth to hush him. “I’m going to be there for you. We’re partners.”
“I’d rather you stay here, where it’s safe.”
She scoffed. “Don’t worry about me. I can shift whenever I want now. Besides, we made a deal.”
“We did?”
She nodded. “That we would never say good-bye. So you have to take me with you.”
He brushed her hair back from her brow. “If anything happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“What could happen? Even if I die, I’ll come back. And then I would be even stronger.” She gave him a pointed look. “Can you handle that?”
He smiled. “Yes, princess.”
She smiled back. “Don’t call me princess.”
He kissed her nose.
She rested a hand on his cheek. “I’m going with you because I love you.”
“I know.” Unease settled in his heart. No matter what she said, it would still be dangerous. “I love you, too.”