Neither male answered.
She crossed her arms and watched lights go by outside. Itwasn’t like she could blame them for being irritated. Make that pissed off.While Klyde seemed more resigned to healing himself, Athan was angry. She knewthat much because his anger swelled throughout the vehicle, and goose bumpsrose along her arms. Her breath quickened, and she had to concentrate to lowerher breathing and heart rate. Those meditation classes her last identity hadattended came in handy very often.
Athan cut her a look in the rearview mirror, and her entirebody froze.
Forget angry. He was furious.
They drove through the town of Buffalo and finallymaneuvered into a private parking garage, passing through several automaticgates to do so. The garage lay underground, beneath what appeared to be about aten-story building. The structure was brick and at the end of town, surroundedby townhouses and what looked to be high-end restaurants and stores.
It was dark and innocuous but looked solid. Protected.
Ivy’s heart sank. She really needed to learn how to be a catburglar during one of her lives.
Athan drew the vehicle to a stop at the far end of theparking garage, which already held several dark and sparkling SUVs with shadedwindows. Each could be occupied, and she’d have no clue. He cut the engine andstepped out of the vehicle, swearing softly under his breath. No doubt his legstill hurt. With smooth and economical motions, he pulled open her door andheld out a hand.
She paused, indecision holding her in place. Then shegingerly placed her hand in his, instantly feeling a jolt of heat rush up toher shoulder. A quick glance at his rugged face revealed absolutelynothing...except the fiery goldish slices through his normally calm eyes.
When she tried to draw back, he pulled her out.
Silently, they made their way to the elevator and rodequietly upward. Klyde exited on the eleventh floor, not looking back. The doorsclosed again, almost in slow motion. Ivy leaned against the wall, her heartfeeling like the small organ had climbed right into her throat. Smoothly, thedoors opened to reveal a penthouse apartment with sparkling white tile, grayleather sofas, high-end artwork, and a wide wall of windows that showed thecity at night.
She walked out with her head held high and waited untilAthan followed suit. “Is this your place?”
“No. I’m meeting a friend here tomorrow. He said we coulduse the top two floors.” Athan leaned back against the doors and crossed hisarms. He was a foot taller than her, at least, and there was no doubt he wasstronger.
She sighed. “I know you’re mad.”
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “Mad?”
She gulped. Then her body took over, and she retreatedseveral steps.
“There’s nowhere to go, Ivy,” he said softly. Too softly.
The hair stood up on the nape of her neck. He’d spanked herwhen she’d merely kicked him. What would he do to her now that she’d shot him?“I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice.” He moved almost casually towardher.
She took another step back. “I had to help Leah escape.”
“No, you really didn’t.” He reached her and ran his knucklesgently over her aching cheek. “You can’t heal that?”
She swallowed and looked down at his bloody thigh. “No. Howabout you?”
“I ejected the bullets, but I’m having difficulty healingthe wounds.” He pushed her hair away from her face, sending spirals ofawareness down her torso to land hard between her legs. For years, it hadgotten more and more difficult to be near him and not react. Each time aftergiving him blood, she’d been in a constant state of need and curiosity fordays. Slowly, he lowered his head, giving her plenty of time to move away.
She held her breath and didn’t move.
Then he kissed her. Deep and hot, he dove in, his handflattening across her lower back to pull her body flush against his. He was onelong line of solid muscle and strength, and she moaned right into his mouth.
Pleasure slid through her, peaking her nipples and seizingher lungs. Her thighs softened. Heat blasted and fired her every nerve.
He leaned back, his hand a solid weight across her shirt.“It’s time, Ivy.”
It wasn’t a momentous declaration of love, but the simplewords still shot desire rippling along her skin. “You’re mad at me.”
“I’m pissed,” he agreed, his gaze darkening. “We’ll dealwith you shooting me later, and you probably owe Klyde Raider tickets for thenext decade. For now, the fact that you shot me shows you’re not remotelyafraid of me, which is what I’ve needed from you. If you decide to mate, you’redoing so of your own volition. This is your decision.”
They were already mated as far as she was concerned. Butevery ounce of her being wanted to complete the act. Then at least they couldhave sexual relations every time they met up to exchange blood. It was just anew facet of their relationship, and she wanted it. “We’re not going to agreeon many things,” she warned him.
