Awaken Me Darkly (Alien Huntress #1)(49)
Author: Gena Showalter

I shoved away from him, but he just rolled me to my back and fit himself more snugly against me. The apex of my thighs cradled his erection. Before I could utter a single protest, his lips once again took possession of mine. The softness of his lips…the lingering wine on his tongue…I almost caved. Almost.

I jostled him to his back.

“Enough,” I said, knowing hunger still glittered in my eyes.

His eyelids were at half-mast, and his features glowed, actually glowed, with ardor. He was elemental and raw, and the hard length of his body pressed against me, demanding attention. Duty and desire and fear warred within me.

Ultimately, duty and fear won.

I hated myself for what I was about to do, but even as I inwardly cursed myself, I reached out with my fingertips and latched on to a nearby porcelain bowl. Sometime during our kiss, I’d lost my anger, and I didn’t want to actually hurt him.

“I need to leave now,” I said. And then I smashed the dish against his temple.

His eyes went wide, then closed. His body jerked, then stilled.

I stayed where I was for a long moment, just watching him. A bump grew on his forehead, only to quickly disappear. His color remained good. With a shaky hand, I reached out and placed my palm over his heart. A gentle thump, thump greeted me.

Guilt wound through me.

“I’m sorry,” I said. I leaned down and kissed him softly on the lips. I stood. I didn’t know what part of the city I was now in. I wasn’t even wearing shoes, and I was 99 percent sure I looked like a  p**n  star. Still, if I had to, I was going to drag this rock-solid alien outside and flag down a car. And if I couldn’t find a car, I would drag him all the way to the station house on foot. There I’d stun him, then haul him to the hospital. After that, I’d lock him up until he gave me all the information I needed to find Atlanna. No more evasions.

I made a quick search for a phone unit. Didn’t find one. However, I did find a Road Kill special, an antique that used bullets instead of fire, and confiscated it. I strapped the barrel to my waist.

I stepped behind my captive and locked my arms around his chest, propping his back against my chest. Slowly I dragged him to the front door, each backward step I took requiring every ounce of my strength. The man weighed more than Dallas. Thankfully, the servants remained out of sight, just as Kyrin had promised.

Inside the foyer, I eased Kyrin to the marble floor. I turned the knob with my free hand and shoved open the front door. A cold wind immediately blustered around me, and a shiver raked my spine. Damn. I’d forgotten about the snow. If I had to, I could go without a coat, but I desperately needed shoes. Kneeling in front of Kyrin, I removed his boots and socks, then fit both on my own feet. They were too big, way too big, but they would have to work.

Thankfully the closet beside me boasted an assortment of men’s coats, so I wouldn’t have to go without one. I tore the one nearest me from its hanger and secured the heavy wool around my shoulders, then did the same for Kyrin.

That done, I once more gathered my burden and hauled him outside.

The moment I stepped beyond the threshold, a sharp, piercing ache began at my left bicep, exactly where the armband rested, then traveled and grew in intensity throughout the rest of my body. I was able to ignore the pain at first, but that soon proved impossible. Too much pain. Sharp, prickling. Everywhere. Surely my head would burst. I doubled over and dropped to my knees, barely feeling the ice as nausea churned inside my stomach.

“Did I not warn you of this?” Kyrin sighed beside me.

I gasped. “Why…aren’t…you…unconscious?”

“I heal quickly, remember?” He trudged to his feet.

The torrent of agony continued to beat at me, hammering, eroding my determination with the savage intensity of a tempest. I smashed my lips together to keep from screaming. I didn’t even think to protest when he draped his arm around my shoulders, helped me stand, and led me back toward the house. Along the way, he confiscated the gun I’d found. I couldn’t summon the energy to care.

When we eased inside, my pain instantly vanished. My head cleared. I drew in several shaky breaths. Kyrin positioned himself in front of me, and I pulled my gaze from his bare feet up his black trousers, and glared into his amused gaze.

“Take this damn thing off me.” I attempted to rip the cold metal away, yet it remained firmly in place, snaked around my arm.

“We still have much to discuss, so you will remain my guest. This I have already explained.”

“It’s you who refuses to finish our conversation.” My hands clenched into fists. “You will remove this band, or I will—”

“What?” He grinned. His hair was plastered to his head and gleamed with oil. There was a noodle stuck to his neck. “Try again to render me unconscious with a bowl of food?”

A muscle ticked below my eye. This situation was not amusing to me. “Don’t you ever kiss me again. Do you hear me?”

Grin slowly fading to a frown, he reached out and caressed a fingertip across my cheek. “We must find common ground or many of your people will die.”

I grabbed his jacket lapels and jerked him closer. “Is that a threat?”

“It is reality.”

“Why do you even care? You’re an other-worlder. Why do you care about human lives?”

“I live on this world, Mia. It is my home. I want peace with your people, and that will never be achieved when we are blamed for every crime.”

I pushed out a sigh, losing the darkest heat of my rage. “I’m willing to work with you, okay, but you have to compromise with me.”

“Compromise? All of your compromises aid you, no one else. You wish me to save your friend, yet remain unwilling to set my sister free.”

We stared at each other, both considering the other’s words.

Finally, he rubbed a weary hand down his face. “We are getting nowhere with this conversation,” he said, his voice turning deep, rhythmic, hypnotic. “You will sleep.”

That tart, cloying fragrance I was coming to loathe engulfed me. I fought against what I knew was coming, but darkness propelled me into sweet oblivion.

CHAPTER 16

My dreams were erotic.

Kyrin slowly peeled away my clothing, and I did the same to him. His breath was hot on my skin as he licked my neck, nipped at my chin. His muscles were hard and taut, and I knew he fought for control. That he wanted to take me, claim me.

“Don’t stop,” I said on a moan, arching into him. Only now, in this dream world, could I admit my deepest desires. “Don’t stop.”