Page 70 of Bound By Blood

Kaitlyn nodded. Zack knew her better than she knew herself. “You won’t tell Dad where I was?”

“No. But remember this, next time it could be your father knocking on the door.” Elena looked up. “Zack, come in.”

“I see you found her,” he said, striding into the room.

“She told me everything,” Elena said, rising. “In the future, I hope the two of you will be more discreet.”

Zack waited until Elena left the room, then, grinning, he took Kaitlyn in his arms. “Looks like we dodged a bullet that time.”

It surprised Zack to learn that the vampires who dwelled within the Fortress spent their waking hours pretty much like everyone else. They watched satellite TV and DVDs, they read a lot, they danced up in the ballroom, they argued and bickered like most married folks, they played with their kids and made sure they were well educated.

It was all a revelation to Zack. The vampires he knew were a solitary bunch. Occasionally, one or two would band together for a while, but as a rule, the vampires of his acquaintance didn’t share territory or lairs. They didn’t trust each other and pretty much avoided one another whenever possible.

But this was the Carpathian Fortress, and tonight both vampires and mortals had gathered in the game room downstairs to play cards. In order for the games to be fair, the vampires and the humans played at separate tables, since the vampires could read mortal minds. Most of the women played canasta or rummy, while the men, and a few of the women, preferred poker.

Zack glanced at Kaitlyn, who stood behind his chair as he shuffled the deck. Zack rarely played cards. Being able to read human minds made winning all too easy, which took all the fun out of the game. Playing with the vampires was far more challenging. He had met a mortal or two who had what was called a “poker face” but they didn’t hold a candle to the vampires. Kaitlyn’s father was a natural at the game, as was another vampire known as Josef.

Zack played for an hour, scooped up his winnings, took Kaitlyn by the hand, and excused himself from the game. He was keenly aware of Drake’s narrow-eyed gaze following them as they left the room.

“What do you want to do now?” Kaitlyn asked as they climbed the stairs to the main floor.

“Doesn’t matter. I just wanted to be alone with you for a while.”

“Sounds good to me.” She nodded as they passed a couple of young vampires. “But I don’t know where we’ll find a place to be alone at this time of the night.”

He grunted softly. The corridor was crowded with vampires and humans.

Hand in hand, Kaitlyn and Zack checked the music room, the library, and the art gallery, but all the rooms were occupied. Zack suggested the dining room, but it was filled with teenagers chatting, listening to music, and playing with the latest electronic gadgets.

“Maybe the council chamber,” Kaitlyn said. But when they opened the door, they saw a number of vampires engaged in a chess match.

“The ballroom?” Zack suggested.

“It’s probably crowded, too,” Kaitlyn said, “but I can’t think of anywhere else.”

Zack was thinking that, if necessary, he would physically eject anyone he found inside, but this time, luck was on his side and the place was empty. Empty and dark, save for the silvery moonlight that filtered through the windows.

“Ah, perfect,” he murmured. Taking Katy into his arms, he kissed her. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night long.”

“And I’ve been wanting you to.” She glanced around, wishing there was a sofa or a love seat. The only seat for two was the piano bench, or one of the window seats that looked out over the valley. Tugging on Zack’s hand, she moved toward the window at the far end of the room.

She sat down on the velvet cushion. Zack sat beside her, his arm going around her shoulders to draw her close.

“Pretty view, isn’t it?” she murmured. “Especially at night.”

“Very.”

“You’re not even looking.”

“Yeah, well, you look at the view you like and I’ll look at the one I like.” His hand cupped the back of her head, drawing her closer. He kissed her gently, as if she might break at his touch. Gradually, his kisses grew deeper, longer, hotter. His tongue teased her lips, dipped inside to duel with hers while his hand slid slowly, seductively, up and down her back.

Kaitlyn slipped one hand under his shirt, her fingernails raking lightly over his back, while her other hand slid up into his hair.

Time lost all meaning as their kisses grew more intense, their touches more intimate. She didn’t protest when he lifted her onto his lap, merely wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again. And again. The evidence of his desire sparked her own until she felt as though she was melting inside.

With desire came the urge to taste him. She bit his ear lightly. Zack?”

He drew back, a knowing look in his eyes. “Yes, love?”

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