The Wicked Kiss (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #2)(75)

“Oh, my dear wolf, you surely do coax the hunger within me.” Those dark eyes fixed on the pulse leaping in my throat.

An image flashed through my mind, one from the dream I’d had while at Raoul’s.

Oh please no, this couldn’t go down like that. I would force Harley to kill me before I’d let him bond me by blood. I couldn’t let him bite me, anything but that.

I was facing a decision, a reaction to his action. Time seemed to slow down, and I became aware of another undead presence just as Harley turned his attention to the door.

I identified Kale’s energy before he called my name. He couldn’t come in here. He’d get us both killed, or worse.

The door burst open with an ear-shattering screech of wood and metal. Kale’s energy was livelier than I had ever seen it when he burst into the room. His different colored eyes were entrancing, and I stared at him in wonder.

Harley waved a hand dismissively and hissed, “This had better be good, Sinclair.”

Then to me he said, “Don’t tell me he’s another one of yours.”

I was numb. I stared at Kale, afraid that he had just put himself in very great danger for me. It wasn’t worth it.

“Kale, what are you doing here?”

“Are you alright?” Looking to Harley behind me, Kale strode into the room. “Get the hell away from her.”

Harley barely twitched a hand, but it was enough to take Kale down. He writhed on the floor near my feet, anguished sounds coming from him.

“Stop it!” I stepped between them, attempting an energy wall that I expected to fall flat. It didn’t. It held, effectively stopping Harley’s attack.

Adrenaline crashed through my veins, and I whirled on Harley, fangs bared, a growl rumbling in my throat. “This is between you and me. You want me? Then come and get me, but I’m not going to let you hurt anybody else.”

Harley glanced at Kale as he struggled to his feet. I could feel him analyzing the connection between Kale and I, trying to determine how deep it went. I spoke to Kale but didn’t dare take my eyes from Harley or drop the wall I held strong.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“You know what I’m doing here, Alexa. I’d know your energy anywhere. Are you ok? Did he hurt you?”

Kale began to look me over, blatantly ignoring the other vampire. When he touched me, I couldn’t help but flash back to the kiss we’d shared and a fevered heat stole over me. Harley was smirking as he made a show of dusting off his suit jacket. I was sure I didn’t want to know what he was thinking.

“Kale,” I said breathlessly, pulling away from him before the tension could grow between us. The entire room was filled with way too much vampire energy. It was overwhelming my senses. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Too late.” He shot a dark glare at Harley who laughed wickedly and eyed my barrier. “Where’s Arys?”

“Good question.” Harley piped up. “I notice that he hasn’t come riding in to save you yet.”

“Kale, please.” I shut out Harley’s words, refusing to allow him to get to me. “You have to get out of here. I can handle this. I swear.”

“I’m not leaving you, Alexa. We’re partners, and this is just another dirty vampire to be wiped out.”

Harley quirked an eyebrow in interest at Kale’s words, and I cringed inwardly. “Is that so? Well, I’m sorry to have to disappoint you … friend.”

With a flick of his wrist, Harley destroyed the wall of energy I held steady. He literally jerked the power that fed it, and I stumbled, pained as the sensation became physical. He downed Kale with another powerful blast before stepping over his unconscious form to capture me in his arms.

Harley was done playing around. I cried out as he aggressively bit into my flesh, his fangs sinking deep into my neck just inches from Arys’ bite. It hurt immensely and yet, my body was still flooded with that sexual need for him. Just that easily, I had lost.

Chapter Seventeen

Pleasure flooded me, and the moisture grew between my thighs. I clung to Harley as he fed from me, wanting to feel more of him. More pain, more pleasure. My thoughts were dominated with the aching need to have all of him.

As Harley pressed deeper with his fangs, I squirmed against him, unable to fight the amazing sensations. There was a small sense of rationale left in me that urged me to fight back. If only I actually wanted to. The vampire energy in the room was too strong, and it literally swept me away. When he lifted me in his arms and carried me to the bed, I barely even noticed.

I moaned when he placed me on the soft mattress and slipped his fangs from my body. He licked and sucked at the oozing wound as my blood flowed. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him close like a lover.

With one hand, Harley stroked the inside of my thigh, and I shuddered in his embrace. His power called to mine, encouraging it to grow and to envelope us in a heady glow. It was electrifying, and yet it was nothing like anything I’d experienced with Arys.

My power didn’t try to bond with Harley’s. Instead, it seemed to roll over and around his energy, tasting and enjoying it, but never becoming one.

He brought his head up to look at me, and my intentions wavered. His eyes were absolutely jet-black, and my blood smeared on his lower lip reminded me that I should be afraid. Very afraid. I was an idiot. I had played right into his hands and proved to be less than a challenge.