He chuckled. “You do not.”
“Yes, I do. You’re strong and loyal. I just wish you’d share.”
“I’ll share anything with you,” he mumbled.
Did he have to sound so damn sexual? She wiggled to get more comfortable and ended up rubbing his erection.
He groaned.
“Sorry.” She stilled. Maybe she could get him to open up since he was almost out. “What are you so afraid of, Zane?”
He sighed, his mouth near enough to her ear to cascade a tremble down her back. “Failing. Losing family. Losing you.” With his hand flattened, the tips of his fingers brushed the underside of her breast.
She bit her lip to keep from turning around and jumping him. The guy needed sleep, and she had to think. Thinking was good, right? “What do you want?” she breathed. “For everybody?”
“Peace and to be left alone.”
Her eyes fluttered shut, captivated by his warmth. “You don’t want to rule the demon nation?”
“God, no.” His voice quieted. “Never.”
“What if you’re needed?” she asked. Life was all about duty, and Zane’s might suck. But surely he’d step up.
“Too bad.” He buried his face in her hair. “Smell so good,” he whispered.
She swallowed. “Night, Zane.”
“Night. And Janie?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t try to find Kalin. I’ll know, and you won’t like the result.”
Even his threat was sexy. She opened her mouth to retort, but a soft snore stopped her. He was out cold.
She blinked and shifted her weight. He tightened his hold, continuing to snore. Protective warmth surrounded her. All muscle, all strength . . . all male. She’d never slept the whole night with a man, nor had she ever been held so tightly. As if she were the only thing anchoring him to earth.
Zane.
The raw heat cascading off him loosened her muscles, and her eyes remained closed. A few hours of sleep wouldn’t hurt her any, and then she’d come up with a plan.
She awoke hours later, while darkness still ruled outside. The fire had dwindled to a crackle of embers, yet the vampire holding her close kept her warm. Or was he more demon? More important, did it really matter? He hadn’t moved an inch during sleep, except the erection against her butt seemed to have grown. How the hell was that possible?
He breathed evenly against her neck, still sleeping soundly. After teleporting so many times, it was amazing he could still function. Maybe something about crossing the two deadly races had given him extra stamina, because no way could her uncle Dage teleport that many times in a day. Nobody could.
Janie breathed deep, her body softening further at the scent of Zane. He smelled even better than she’d dreamed.
But for now, she had to get home to her family. Though she wouldn’t tell Kalin her location, she could seek him out for information. So she closed her eyes again and opened up a dream world, hoping Zane was too exhausted to take heed.
She slipped into the impossible realm between dreams and reality, making the sun bright in a pretty meadow lined with outcroppings of rock. Birds trilled high above, and a sweetly scented breeze lifted the rough wheat. She sat on a rock, swinging her leg and enjoying the mock sun.
Kalin stepped out from behind a row of trees, his white face already turned to the sun, which glinted off the red tips of his black hair. Long strides propelled him to sit beside her. “I appreciate your always making the sun available to me here.” His low voice carried across the meadow, filling the oxygen. Even in the dream world, he wore his Kurjan black uniform with the impressive red medals above his breast.
She took in his size, barely recognizing the boy she’d once known. “I’ve always felt bad that you can’t see the real sun.” Did it make a difference? Would he be a kinder person, less of a killer, if somehow he’d known true outside warmth?
His eyes flashed open—a melding of green and purple. “I’m glad you’re alive. When the demons attacked your helicopter, I was . . . worried.” His frown darkened his entire face. “Damn demons.”
She blinked. “I’m fine. Why didn’t you ever tell me Zane was a demon?”
