Black Magic (Alpha Pack #1.5)(6)
He managed a grin in return. "If that's what floats your boat."
Her laugh buoyed his spirits, lightened his soul in spite of the urgency pressing in on him harder than before, to get them the hell gone. Simply being near her was enough to send his senses reeling, cloud his judgment.
Mackenzie was quickly becoming his greatest weakness.
And he wasn't certain he cared one bit.
Chapter 2
Mackenzie studied Kalen as they walked in the darkness, their boots crunching on the gravel lot. The man was, hands down, the most intriguing guy she'd ever met.
Considering the guys she worked with, not to mention that at thirty-one she had a few years on Kalen, that was saying a helluva lot.
The Sorcerer/Necromancer might be only twenty-three, but the sorrow in his kohl-rimmed, jewel-green eyes was ageless. He carried his ancient power as easily as he wore his long, battered duster, silver pentagram pendant, and black-tipped fingernails-comfortably and without apology.
His beautiful face was an arresting combination of youth and maturity. His pale skin was smooth, unlined. Dark brows arched over large eyes framed with long lashes, and his nose was straight. His jaw was strong, with a faint shadow of stubble, his shoulders broad but not too much so, hips narrow. He was on the tall side, a bit over six feet, built lean, like the panther he was. Jet-black hair fell in long, messy layers to his shoulders, and she thought he'd look right at home with an electric guitar slung low at his waist.
Yep, the total package attested to the fact that this was no boy, but a man.
A man who'd captured her undivided attention from the moment she'd met him as the Pack's newest recruit, weeks ago. He'd been homeless, adrift and starving-not only for food, but for a place to belong. For people who cared about him. She sincerely hoped he'd found what he was looking for.
Because that meant he'd stay. At least for a while.
Yes, she knew it was silly to pin too many hopes on snagging an elusive man like Kalen. She didn't need to be told he'd had it rough, that his story, if he ever saw fit to share it, would be a heartbreaking one. Nick and the Pack knew some of Kalen's past, but they wouldn't gossip about something so private. Nor would she want them to, but she couldn't help but be insanely curious about the Sorcerer.
She longed to know him-in every way.
What would he look like naked? Gorgeous, no doubt. All sleek muscles, a firm, tight ass begging for her two hands to squeeze it as he-
"Here we are," he said, interrupting her fantasy.
Somehow they'd arrived at the back lot near the woods and were now standing behind her car, and she hadn't even noticed. Clearing her throat, she peered at him in the darkness. "Thanks for the armed escort."
"No problem," he said softly. For a moment he went quiet, simply gazing at her as though he wanted to say something. Or perhaps close the foot or so between them and give her a slow, delicious kiss.
Do it, she willed him. You know you want to!
As if he'd heard her silent entreaty, he stepped a little closer. His eyes never leaving hers, he raised an arm and reached out, smoothing back a lock of curly hair and tucking it behind her ear. Then his fingers grazed her cheek, traced her lips.
Heart tripping, she stood mesmerized by the sight of him, the expression of pure need on his face, body electrified by a simple caress. Any second, he'd move in for that kiss . . .
But then he gestured to her car, taking a step back. "Go ahead and get in. I'll follow you."
Smothering the sudden pang of disappointment, she nodded. "Okay."
He turned and she watched him stride for one of the compound's SUV's, admiring how his duster billowed behind him like a cloak. A really cool one, appropriate for a modern-day Sorcerer. She was so intent on her study of him, she almost missed the muffled grunt that sounded from somewhere behind her.
But Kalen heard it, and whirled, his face a mask of horror as he shouted, "Mackenzie, run!"
And so, like an idiot, she spun to look for the threat. The sight that greeted her turned her legs to noodles, and caused a scream to lodge in her throat. She'd seen one of these creatures before, but only inside Block T, the cell area where Nick had kept one incarcerated in hopes of gaining more information about it.
Standing at the edge of the woods, not twenty feet away, was a huge creature with leathery, bat-like wings and a pushed-in face full of razor-sharp teeth. It rushed forward with a screech and she ran toward Kalen. But she moved too late.
Pain blossomed in her shoulder as the thing struck, knocking her to the ground. She hit hard on her hands and knees with a cry, hearing Kalen's angry yell over the creature's roar. Kalen hauled her up, gave her a shove toward the SUV.
"Get in!"
She ran, but the thing was right behind her, swatting Kalen to the ground as it took off in pursuit. Oh, God! Please, please let him be all right!
Reaching the back of the Escalade, she barely had time to dive underneath the back end before the creature hit, shaking the whole vehicle violently. Crawling to the middle, palms stinging, she drew in her arms and legs as much as she could considering there wasn't much clearance between her body and the undercarriage of the SUV.
Panting hard, she saw the shadow of the thing's bulk as it crouched. One yellowed eyeball peered under the bumper at her and she whimpered, heart pounding. With another shriek, it swiped its arm underneath over and over, trying to get at her. One pass sliced a tire and it began to hiss, losing air.