Desire the Night

“You’re a strong woman, capable of making your own decisions. It’s one of the things I like best about you. I’ll be nearby if you need me.”

“I know. Make love to me again. I want to forget everything but you for a little while.”

“Always my pleasure, darlin’.”

He kissed her then, his hands gently caressing her, arousing her, his own desire growing with the sweet seduction of skin against skin.

Kay raked her nails down his chest, then bit him on the shoulder. She bolted upright when she drew blood. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bite you so hard!”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. It didn’t hurt.”

“But … you’re bleeding all over the sheets.”

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Gideon went into the bathroom. After wetting a washcloth, he pressed it over the bite.

He grinned at Kay’s reflection in the glass when she came up behind him.

“I’m sorry,” she said again.

“It’s okay, as long as I get to bite you back.”

“Gideon …”

Turning, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Forget it, Kiya. You didn’t hurt me.”

“But I’ve never done anything like that before.”

“I guess I’m a bad influence on you.”

“It’s not funny!” she exclaimed.

“It’s not the end of the world, either. Lighten up, Wolfie.”

She rested her forehead against his chest. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Gideon stroked her hair. “There’s nothing wrong with you, sweetheart. It’s natural for you to be upset over your mother’s death, and all things considered, I’d be surprised if you weren’t more than a little edgy about going back home.” He put his hand under her chin and lifted her head. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Kiya.”

“I love you.”

“I know.” Cupping her face in his palms, he kissed her gently. “I love you, too, sweetheart. Believe that if you believe nothing else.”

“Are you ready?”

Kay closed her suitcase, then looked across the bed at Gideon. “I guess so.”

She had put this moment off as long as possible, but it was time to go. Her mother’s funeral was tomorrow afternoon. Gideon was going to transport them to their favorite bed-and-breakfast in Bondurant tonight. If they didn’t hurry, it would be dawn before they arrived.

They had made love several times last night, clinging to each other in silent desperation. She knew the risk she was taking by returning to the pack, but, regardless of the consequences, it was something she had to do. If she stayed away from her mother’s funeral, she knew she would regret it for the rest of her life. But, like she’d told Gideon, it was more than that. It was as if the pack, the land itself, was calling her home.

“Are you sure you won’t change your mind?”

“Gideon, we’ve been over this a dozen times.”

“I know.” Rounding the end of the bed, Gideon pushed a stray wisp of hair behind her ear. He had tried every argument he could think of, but there was no changing her mind. Resigned, he picked up her suitcase, then drew her body close to his. “Ready?” At her nod, he said, “Here we go.”

Kay experienced that odd queasiness in the pit of her stomach, the disorienting sense of moving rapidly through time and space.

Moments later, they were in Bondurant.

“This place is starting to feel like home,” Kay remarked, glancing around the now-familiar room.

“Yeah.” Gideon put Kay’s suitcase in the closet, then drew her into his arms. He hated the idea of her going home, but there was no point in bringing it up again. She knew how he felt.

“When the pack runs, it’ll probably be late.”

“I’ll look for you somewhere in the hills near the river,” Gideon said. If her father got her back into the compound, there was no telling if or when she would ever get out again. At least he didn’t have to worry about Verah hunting them down this time.

Knowing their time together was growing short, Kay held him tighter. “Where will you spend the day?”

He shrugged. “I’ll find a place, don’t worry. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I will.”

Gideon grasped her arms. “If I had any sense, I’d tie you to that bed and keep you there until tomorrow night.”

“Gideon… .”

“I can’t help it! Dammit, Kiya, this is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done!”

She glared at him. “I think you’d better go.”

With a sigh of resignation, he drew her back into his arms. “All right, you win. But if your father locks you up again, I don’t know how the hell I’ll get you out of there.” Which wasn’t entirely true, as long as Kusuma Ila was on his side. If not for the witch’s promise of help should he need it, he would have locked Kay up in one of his lairs and to hell with the consequences. He could live with her anger, but he didn’t think he could live without her.

Relenting, Kay said, “I’ll be fine.”

Gideon nodded. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a hundred dollars and pressed the bills into her hand. “Go rent a car,” he said, smiling. “And buy yourself a big breakfast.”

Shoulders slumped, she rested her forehead against his chest. How did you stay mad at such a man?

He glanced out the window, his skin prickling with dawn’s approach. “I’ve got to go.”

“Be careful.”

“Yeah, you, too.”

Drawing her body up against his, he kissed her, a long, slow kiss that made her toes curl inside her shoes.

And then he was gone.

Kay stood there a moment, her fingers pressed to her lips, before changing into her nightgown and crawling into bed. She lay there, staring up at the ceiling for a long time, wondering where Gideon had gone to spend the day.

Wondering if he was right and she was making the biggest mistake of her life.

* * *

Chapter 35

Kay took a deep breath as she got out of the rental car and walked up to the entrance of the house. She was surprised by the rush of unease that filled her as she opened the door. For a moment, she was tempted to turn around and drive back to Bondurant just as fast as she could, but the same instinct she had felt before propelled her forward.

She paused in the entryway, listening to the muted sound of voices coming from the living room. She quickly identified them—her father, Greta, Brett, Victor and his parents.