Page 18 of Bound By Blood

“Whoa, girl,” he muttered. “Unless you want me to ravish you on the porch, right here, right now, you’d better tell me to go.”

She hesitated only a moment but then, as common sense overrode desire, she murmured, “Good night, Zack.”

Stepping back inside, she quietly closed and locked the door.

And instantly regretted it.

Chapter Nine

Zack’s head was spinning when he left Kaitlyn’s house. Who the hell had taught her to kiss like that? In his time, he had kissed hundreds, maybe thousands, of women, but none had ever affected him like Kaitlyn. He hadn’t been kidding when he threatened to have his way with her right there on the front porch—although a bed would suit him better. He wanted to make love to her in every way possible, to caress every inch of her sweet flesh until she cried for him to take her. And at the same time, he wanted to fold her into his arms and make love to her gently, tenderly, all night long.

And nibble on her neck while he was at it.

Returning to the casino, he went to the bar to get a drink, but he wasn’t in the mood for bottled blood. He wanted something hot and fresh. Which wouldn’t be a problem. Standing with his back against the bar, he unleashed his preternatural power. He could almost see it as it flowed through the room like some irresistible, invisible lure. All he had to do was focus on the woman of his choice, and wait.

Within minutes, a buxom redhead wearing a low-cut, skintight green dress and three-inch heels sashayed toward him, her bright green eyes slightly unfocused.

“Hi,” she purred in a soft, Southern accent.

“Hi, yourself.” He smiled as he ran his fingertips over the inside of her wrist. He could feel the blood flowing just below the skin, hear the nervous beat of her heart.

She returned his smile, moving closer so that her thigh brushed his. “Buy me a drink, handsome?”

“Sure, honey.” Grabbing a bottle one of the bartenders had left on the bar, he took her by the hand. “Come on, let’s go someplace where we can be alone.”

“Whatever you want, sugar.”

Zack chuckled as he led her up the stairs to his private suite.

Whatever I want,he thought as he closed and locked the door.

She had no idea.

Chapter Ten

Kaitlyn woke to the bothersome sound of her phone ringing. Her first thought was that it was Zack, until she realized she had never given him her phone number, an oversight she planned to remedy as soon as possible.

She smiled when she said hello and heard her father’s voice on the other end of the line.

“Kaitlyn, is everything all right?”

“Of course,” she said, surprised by the worry in his tone. “Why do you ask?”

“It is probably nothing, but there are rumors circulating—”

“What kind of rumors?”

“At the moment, they are vague, with no way to ascertain if there is any truth behind them. All I know is that Nadiya’s name has been mentioned a few times, and that her son, Daryn, hasn’t been seen lately.”

“So you had to call and check up on me,” Kaitlyn interjected, smiling.

“You are my only child, after all.”

“Well, I’m not hiding Daryn, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Nadiya was one of her grandfather’s many wives; Daryn was her son. Kaitlyn had only met Nadiya once, but once was enough. She had never met Daryn.

Her father’s laughter reminded her of home and of how much she missed it. And him.

“Seriously, I’m fine, Dad.”

---