Blonde & Blue (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #4)(8)

“Yay me.” I pushed back against him, creating resistance, like two opposing magnets. “Can’t say I’m proud to be credited for your return to murder and mayhem.”

Kale held the resistance between us until I visibly shook from the effort it took to push against him. I almost fell forward when he dropped it suddenly. Taking advantage of my drop in control, he drew on my aura. Pulling my energy to him, he was able to manipulate what I was feeling.

I knew what he was doing. A careful push and pull that created a growing, heady wave that surrounded us. It called to the core of my being, enticing my hunger for his power. Kale knew damn well how strong my desire to consume him could become. He was playing off that, trying to stoke the flames of my hunger in an attempt to lose us both in the fire. Bad vampire.

“It’s more than that though.” His whispered words were laced with longing. “You made me feel alive again after decades of self-imposed confinement. You set me free.”

“Don’t forget who you are, Kale. I like that person.” The air seemed to grow thick, making it hard to breathe. He was seriously testing my control. All but offering himself to me, Kale was making it difficult to convince myself that I didn’t want his blood and everything he offered with it.

He still wasn’t touching me, but he might as well have been. As much as I’d mastered control over my power in recent months, it didn’t take much to test that. Kale was doing a fine job of it.

“When was the last time you had a really satisfying hunt? Tell me, Alexa. How long has it been since you held down a struggling victim, feeding off the fear, spilling the blood? You know how the power grips you, how it holds you. You know how good it feels when that first drop of blood spills, and there is no turning back.” Kale clenched a hand into a tight fist, opening it suddenly to reveal a spiraling silver psi ball that spun several times before dissipating. “It’s better than an orgasm.”

He was right. What I felt when I killed was very sexual but also very deep and dark, a power that I possessed but never truly commanded. Lost in that power, we became little more than conduits for something bigger, something that wouldn’t be denied.

“It certainly is.” I dropped my gaze to the floor in a vain attempt to escape his effect. My hunger stirred for the thrill he spoke of, and I groaned inwardly.

“We would be beautiful together, you and I.” Kale slipped a finger beneath my chin and lifted my gaze to his. His touch was warm.

I pulled away and in one smooth motion grabbed hold of the pulsating mass of power he had stirred to life. I drew it close, binding it so that it reacted to my manipulations. Absorbing Kale’s power into me along with my own and bending it to my will was something I’d learned not so long ago. It worked quite nicely with the right focus.

Kale looked pleased with himself. “So, you do want to play.”

“You, my friend, are asking for trouble.” I was caught in the intoxicating lure of dizzying energy.

“You know you want to. How long do you think we can keep pretending there isn’t something between us?”

“You play dirty, Kale.” I shook a finger at him, refusing to answer.

Kale’s eyes narrowed when I automatically reached for my keys. “You’re going to bail out of here like a bat out of hell now, aren’t you?”

“You’re dangerous when you’re like this. I’m not sure I like it.”

“You know that you do.” He smirked, and I flipped him off.

“What it means is that I’m going home to pour a glass of wine and slip into a hot bath. We’ll talk when being face to face doesn’t result in a power play.”

“Leaving me with thoughts of killing and you naked in the bath. You’re evil, Alexa.”

“What can I say? I do my best.” I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I didn’t trust the darkness in his eyes. Maybe it was my imagination, but it seemed to be growing.

“So um, killing and me in the bath, try not to think about those things at the same time. Ok?” It wasn’t easy to slip by him and down the hall without turning my back on him. I must have been incredibly obvious.

He didn’t laugh like I’d hoped. His serious gaze followed me. I was painfully relieved when he didn’t move. I still had the urge to run. Dammit.

I waved when I was a safe distance away. “Goodnight, Kale. Try not to be the monster beneath anybody’s bed for the rest of the night, hmm?”

His jaw clenched, and he forced a smile. “I’ll see what I can do.”

****

An old Joan Jett song played quietly on the radio. It was approaching three in the morning, and I was starting to burn out. I could feel the approach of dawn just a few hours away. Once I was on the highway headed for home, the effects of Kale’s power games and Arys’ fierce insistence began to ebb.

I really was looking forward to that bath.

Shaz had insisted on staying behind a bit longer when I left. We didn’t carpool due to our unpredictable schedules.

I was waiting expectantly for him to call so that I knew he was safe.

My phone rang as expected, but it wasn’t Shaz calling. It was my best friend Kylarai, a divorce lawyer that kept more frequent daytime hours than I did. She usually didn’t call at this time of night.

I hit the hands-free button and was about to say ‘hello’ when the sound of sobbing filled my car. “Kylarai?”