Bound By Blood

Zack sent her on her way and then, unable to resist, he willed himself to Kaitlyn’s place. The house was dark, but that was no surprise. It was late.



Standing outside her bedroom window, he listened to the slow, steady beat of her heart, the quiet even sound of her breathing. Funny, he thought, how the sounds soothed him.



Assured that she was home and safely asleep in her bed, he headed down the mountain.



Chapter 6



Kaitlyn slept late, fixed a big breakfast, and then, at loose ends, wandered through the cabin trying to find something to do. The laundry was done. The dishes were done. She had vacuumed yesterday. Bored, she rearranged the dishes in the kitchen cupboards, rearranged the furniture in the living room, and then put it all back the way it had been before.



Standing in the middle of the room, she glanced around, thinking that, since she lived alone and was naturally tidy, the place would never really get dirty.



When she ran out of make-work things to do, she sat on the sofa and filed her nails and tried to decide what she should do, now that she was out of college. She didn’t need money, but she did need something to keep her busy during the day. A job, she thought. That was the answer. Of course, there wasn’t much call for an expert in comparative folklore these days. Still, she was reasonably intelligent—there must be something she could do.



With that thought in mind, she decided to walk down to the casino. She could buy a newspaper there and check out the want ads while she ate lunch at the restaurant.



And if she was lucky, she might run into Zack.



It took only minutes to make her way down the hill to the casino restaurant. After a short wait, she was seated at a small table near the back window. She ordered a turkey club sandwich and a strawberry lemonade, then opened the paper she had picked up in the lobby and perused the help-wanted section. She frowned as she looked at the available jobs. Waitress. Maid at one of the hotels. Babysitter. Clerk at the Pink Poodle Boutique. Dog walker. Checker at one of the local markets.



She folded the paper with a huff of exasperation. There was nothing wrong with any of those positions; they were all perfectly respectable. It was just that she had been hoping, foolishly perhaps, that she would find something where she could use her degree. Zack would probably laugh at that. She recalled his response all too clearly when she had told him she had majored in comparative folklore, the amusement in his tone when he had drawled, How’s that workin’ out for ya?



Maybe she could write a book on ancient folklore. In 1890, Sir James George Fraser had done a colossal study of comparative folklore. Originally published in two volumes and later in multiple volumes, an abridged version had been published in 1922. Considered a classic, The Golden Bough had greatly influenced psychology and literature, presenting, in detail, the parallels between the rites, beliefs, and superstitions of early cultures and those of Christianity.



She doubted she could pen such an important tome, but maybe she could write something a little less intense, perhaps something better suited to modern times. It was something to think about.



After finishing her lunch, Kaitlyn wandered out into the casino. It wasn’t nearly as crowded or as noisy at this time of day as it had been the other night. Most of the patrons were elderly. A few people stood in front of the Wheel of Fortune, others were trying their luck at the dice table, or playing roulette. The majority seemed to be playing the slot machines.



After a moment’s indecision, she took a seat at one of the quarter machines. It was an old one, with a coin slot and a handle to pull. After a few minutes of play, she found that she liked the old machine better than the new ones. It was more fun to actually put the money into the machine and pull the handle, to hear the clink of quarters falling into the tray when she won. It made it seem more like playing than merely watching.



She kept glancing over her shoulder, hoping to see Zack striding toward her, even though she knew it would be better for both of them if their relationship ended now, before it went any further.



After an hour, she was ahead by about twenty dollars. Gathering her winnings into a handy plastic bucket, she carried it to the cashier and exchanged the coins for greenbacks.



“Do come again,” the cashier said, smiling as she completed the transaction.



“Thanks, I will,” Kaitlyn said, stuffing the bills into her wallet. “Um, do you know if Mr. Ravenscroft is here today?”



“He doesn’t usually arrive until seven or eight,” the woman said. “If you’d like to leave a message, I’ll be sure that he gets it.”



“No. No, that’s all right. Thank you.”



Feeling more let-down than she should have, Kaitlyn left the casino. She stood outside a moment, then returned to the casino and headed for the dress shop.



Zack rose with the setting sun, his first thought for Kaitlyn. Although they hadn’t made plans to meet tonight, he headed for her cabin as soon as he made certain that everything was running smoothly on the casino floor.



To his surprise, she was standing on the porch looking sexy as hell in a pair of tight black leather pants, a matching midriff top, and black high-heeled sandals. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders like a fall of black silk.



He whistled softly as he climbed the stairs. “You look like a million bucks,” he said with a wink. “And I know what that looks like.”



She smiled, her stomach curling at his nearness. “I hope you’re out here waiting for me,” Zack said, resting his hip against one of the uprights. “I know we didn’t have any plans, but . . .”



She placed two fingers over his mouth, silencing him. “Who else would I be waiting for?”



“How did you know I’d show up?”



“I didn’t, but a girl can hope, can’t she?”



“So, what shall we do tonight?” He knew what he wanted to do, horny lecherous creature that he was, but he didn’t suggest the ideas that quickly came to mind, certain that her answer would be no. His lovely Kaitlyn didn’t seem the type to tumble into bed with a man unless there was a wedding ring on her finger.



“I don’t care. Anything you want to do is fine with me.”



He lifted one brow. “Anything?”



Kaitlyn felt a blush warm her cheeks. She didn’t have to be able to read Zack’s mind to know what he was thinking. Because she was thinking about it, too, and far too often for her own good. But there was no way she was jumping into bed with Zack, no matter how tempting he might be. She hardly knew the man.



“I enjoyed dancing the other night,” she said.



“Dancing it is, then. Shall we walk?”



“Why not?” She stepped out of her high-heeled sandals. Holding them by the ankle straps, she swung them back and forth as she walked. “It’s a lovely night.”



It was indeed, Zack mused as they strolled down the narrow path that ended at the casino parking lot. The air was warm, fragrant with the scent of Kaitlyn’s perfume, with the heady scent of the woman herself.



And overall, the siren call of her life’s blood running through her veins like a warm red river. The rhythm of her heartbeat hummed in his ears like a symphony only he could hear.



“Watch your step,” he warned when they reached the curb. He held her arm, steadying her, as she scrubbed her feet clean on the grass, then stepped into her shoes. He liked it that she wasn’t overly fussy, that she didn’t mind getting her feet a little dirty.



It was early Tuesday night but the casino was already crowded. With his preternatural power, Zack heard the hum of the air-conditioning, the whisper of cards being shuffled, the whirring of the Wheel of Fortune, the click-click of dice at the craps table, the high-pitched shout of a gambler who had just hit the jackpot on one of the slot machines.



“Have you had dinner?” Zack asked, raising his voice a little so Kaitlyn could hear him.



“I’m not hungry,” she replied. “I had a late lunch, but I’ll keep you company if you haven’t eaten.”



“No need. I had a bite before I came to your place.” Taking her hand, he headed for the elevator that led to the Skylight Room.



Since most people were more interested in dining than dancing at this hour, Zack and Kaitlyn had the dance floor to themselves.



Kaitlyn felt a sensual thrill when Zack took her in his arms. She marveled that they fit together so well, that his steps were so easy to follow, that the mere touch of his hand made her heart beat faster. It isn’t love, she told herself sternly. It’s just an old-fashioned case of lust. And who could blame her? She doubted any woman whose heart was still beating would be able to resist Zack, with his long black hair, enigmatic gray eyes, and delightfully wicked grin. His brows were slightly arched, his nose straight, his lips full, sensual. He was tall and broadshouldered, and sexier than any man she had ever met. He looked especially handsome tonight in a pair of black slacks and a long-sleeved midnight-blue shirt.



He lifted one brow, amused by her steady regard. “Like what you see?”



Embarrassment heated Kaitlyn’s cheeks. She wanted to say she had seen better, thank you very much. Instead, she shrugged and turned the question back to him. “Do you? Like what you see?”



“You know I do.” He twirled her around the floor, spinning her effortlessly until she was dizzy. “And I’d like to see more of you. Much more.”



She searched her mind for some witty comeback, but words failed her.



Zack chuckled as he pulled her closer. “I’m sorry if the truth makes you uncomfortable.”



“I guess it does,” she replied with unexpected candor. “A little anyway.”



“I don’t know why. A girl who’s as pretty as you must get compliments from guys all the time.”



“Yes, but . . .”



“But?”



She tilted her head back so she could look into his eyes. “They’re usually after something.”



“Can’t blame them for that,” he replied, his gaze drifting to the pulse throbbing in the hollow of her throat.



“What are you after, Zack?” she asked. “What do you want?”