Chapter Six

When Kesi had received the call from Bo, a unit leader stationed in Florida, telling her Zane had captured the Venom of Eden, her relief had been indescribable. Bo, also a vampiress, and her warriors had taken the half-demon into custody and were shipping him to a specialized prison in Upstate New York. Bo had also informed her that Zane had taken the first available flight back to Boston for his debriefing. Apparently he had completed his assignment without injury, and her worry had been misplaced.

She was working in the den when she heard the cab pull into the driveway. Her pulse quickened with anticipation, and she couldn’t resist walking to the window and gazing out. Her belly clenched as she saw him standing outside the car, paying the driver. The sight of his trim physique in a snug blue sweater over jeans that accentuated the length and hardness of his legs sent a rush of desire through her.

As if sensing her presence, he tilted his gaze toward the window. Even from such a distance her keen vampiric vision noted the coldness in his expression that took her aback. Her fists clenched and she returned to the desk, her gaze fixed on the computer screen though she found it almost impossible to concentrate on work.

The front door opened and closed and she heard Zane and Caitlin talking in the foyer. Kesi had assigned Caitlin to do the debriefing, stating that she had too much work to catch up on. The witch had cast her a scolding look but dared not argue. Since their conversation regarding her feelings for Zane, Kesi had been nothing short of a grouch and nobody crossed her when she was in such a mood, even the impertinent witch.

After several hours Kesi stood and stretched. One thing she detested about her current job was all the sedentary hours going over reports and taking business calls. Tonight was especially bothersome because she desperately wanted to find out what had happened between Zane and the Venom of Eden.

She removed a bottle of blood from the desk’s lower left drawer and took a long sip. What she really needed was a drink from a live donor, preferably a gorgeous weretiger with eyes that sent shivers down her spine.

“Damn, Kesi, you need to stop thinking about him in that way,” she murmured and placed the bottle back in the drawer.

A short workout in the gym should put her back on track. Then maybe she could finish all this tedious paperwork. She wondered how Raine had handled this job for so many years.

On her way down the hall to her room, Caitlin met her.

“Everything wrapped up with Zane?” Kesi asked, making a conscious effort not to sound as curious as she felt.

“Yes,” Caitlin said, her jaw set in a manner that told Kesi she was pissed off.

“What?”

“Can I speak frankly or are you going to pull rank on me?”

Wow. The witch really must be mad. “When have I ever stopped anyone from speaking her mind?”

“Good. Because I’m in the mood to give you a piece of my mind,” Caitlin said and stalked toward the kitchen.

Kesi followed. “What the hell is going on?”

“You almost got what you wanted this time, Kesi,” the witch snapped. In the kitchen she opened the freezer and removed a couple of ice packs then took one of her potions from a cabinet. “He was lucky to get out of this assignment alive.”

“Is he all right?”

Caitlin turned, her blazing green eyes fixed on Kesi. “Do you really care? I thought you might have, but now I’m starting to wonder if you remember what it’s like to care about anyone or anything except vengeance. You were the one who was pissed off at Saloni when she manipulated the Wakened Veils into punishing her lover for something that was as much her fault as it was his. At least she had a fairly legitimate complaint against him, but there’s no excuse for what you’ve done to Zane.”

“What I’ve …. If you remember correctly danger is part of our existence. I put our women in danger every time I send them on an assignment. Was I supposed to treat him any differently?

He wanted to know what it was like to be a Wakened Veil.”

“And you wanted him to fail. You wanted to punish him simply because he’s a man. The Veils only punish those who deserve it. Would you have sent one of our warriors, alone, after the Venom of Eden or would you have sent a unit?”

“Most of our warriors don’t have the power of a weretiger,” Kesi said, though her stomach twisted with guilt and self-loathing. Caitlin was absolutely right. She wanted to prove a point.

More than one point, actually. She wanted to prove to Zane that the Veils were as tough as his weretigers and she wanted to prove that she didn’t care about him. The truth was she did care about him very much. She was sick at herself for risking his life for her stupid, childish pride.

Caitlin shook her head. “If I wasn’t so mad I’d be sorry for you, Kesi.”

“I don’t need your sympathy.”

“Well you sure as hell don’t have it. Tonight it’s all for Zane.”

“Is he all right?”

“For a man who’s been bitten by a few dozen snakes and nearly strangled and crushed by a boa constrictor he’s doing okay.”

Kesi’s teeth clenched. “He should have sent for backup.”

“It seems he’s as stupid and stubborn as you are. In that way you two make a perfect match. If you’ll excuse me.” Caitlin brushed past Kesi and walked down the hall.

Kesi followed. “Are you bringing that stuff to Zane?”

“No I always go to sleep using pain killing potion and ice packs.”

“You can quit with the sarcasm, Caitlin. I get the point.”

“Do you?” The witch paused and stared into Kesi’s eyes.

“Yes. I’ll take that stuff to him. It’s the least I can do.”

“One capful of the potion in a glass of water. He can have some every four hours if he needs it.”

Caitlin handed the items to Kesi.

“If poison doesn’t work on weretigers then why would potions?”

“Because it’s enhanced by my magic. Natural poison like from the snakes’ venom or traditional medicines won’t affect him, but this potion will.” Caitlin placed a hand on Kesi’s shoulder. “I know it’s not easy for you to show how you feel, at least when it comes to showing tenderness. It doesn’t detract from your strength. Knowing when to be gentle is a strength in itself.”

Kesi felt uncharacteristically vulnerable. She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed deeply.

“I’m not sure I even know how to be gentle. Even when I was mortal it was something foreign to me. No one was ever … No one was ever gentle with me. Maybe I’m just not capable of it.”

Caitlin’s expression softened and she slipped an arm around Kesi. “Yes you are. You’re tough, Kesi, but I know how much you care about your friends and the sisterhood.”

“But Zane is different. If I let myself care about him ….”

“He’s a good man. You don’t have to be afraid of him hurting you.”

Kesi stiffened. “I’m not afraid of him.”

“Yes you are. You’re afraid of letting yourself care about him.”

“Caitlin, even if there had been something between us, after what I’ve done how can he possibly give a damn about me?”

“There’s only one way to find out.” Caitlin nodded toward the door.

Kesi placed a hand on the doorknob, but before she turned it, she glanced over her shoulder at the witch. “You wouldn’t happen to have a love brew or something like that?”

Laughing, Caitlin nudged her toward the room. “Forget the love potions. You want the real thing. The other stuff never lasts.”

Kesi took a moment to compose herself then stepped into the room.

Zane lay, shirtless and barefoot on the bed. Tiny fang marks riddled his torso, though most of the marks had already faded to pink due to his impressive regenerative powers possessed by most were-creatures. The injury to his ribs and neck must have been far worse, however. His sides were completely black and blue and his neck bruised as well. Paler than usual, he looked rather tired with dark shadows beneath his eyes.

He glanced at her with contempt. “I have given my statement to Caitlin. Leave me.”

“Caitlin sent a potion for you,” Kesi said, completely ignoring his cold tone. In the bathroom she filled a paper cup with water and mixed in the potion. She brought it to him. “Come on. Sit up and drink it.”

He opened his eyes and glanced at the cup with loathing. “I need nothing from you except my next assignment which can wait until tomorrow.”

“You’re off duty until you’re healed. Can’t have you screwing up on the job.”

“I am not in the mood to spar with you, Kesi, verbally or otherwise.”

She curled her lip. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means leave me to my rest.”

“If you won’t drink the potion at least take the ice packs.” She placed them against his ribs and he drew a sharp breath, his flat belly tightening whether from pain or the chill of the ice she wasn’t certain. A twinge of sympathy darted through her. In spite of what people seemed to think, she did have feelings. Most of the time those feelings terrified her, so she brushed them aside. These waves of emotions Zane stirred made her uncomfortable, yet she knew she could no longer ignore them.

“Sorry,” she said and sat on the edge of the bed. Her fingers ran lightly over his bruised ribs and again his belly tightened. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“No you meant to kill me.”

Her temper reared, but she forced it into submission. The man was obviously in pain. She had come to make peace with him, so getting angry wouldn’t help the situation. “I didn’t mean to kill you. I just wanted you to know that the Wakened Veils aren’t just a group of women, but warriors.”

“I never insinuated otherwise.”

“You insinuated that we need an alliance so the big male weretigers can fight our battles for us.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“Simply that we will be glad to serve you in your worthy cause and that all men are not against you. I thought perhaps you might dislike the violence, but I can see now I was wrong. You relish pain.”

“I do not relish pain,” she snapped.

He sat up, his intent blue gaze fixed on her. She knew his abrupt change of position must have hurt, but he revealed no pain, only anger. “Tell the truth, Kesi, if you’re even capable of it.”

“I am always honest.”

He snorted. “Even that is a lie. No one is always honest, least of all you. Your intention wasn’t to share information and experiences with me, but to prove that my clan and I are unfit to even breathe the same air as your Wakened Veils. Had it not been for Caitlin and members of the units I’ve worked with, I would believe your desire for an alliance to be a farce.”

“How dare you ….”

“Or perhaps the problem does not lie with the alliance but with your lust for me.”

“My lust for …,” Kesi stood, torn between amusement and disgust. “I’ve got news for you, weretiger. You’re not all that. Damn. I knew you had a big opinion of yourself, but this is too much.”

“It has nothing to do with my opinion of myself, but your opinion of me. I would not presume that you were attracted to me had you not so willingly bedded me on our first night here. Still it was not the physical pleasure you couldn’t abide, but the fact that I might actually like you in return. You can’t handle it, warrior. You can’t handle the fact that I might have grown to care for you if you let me.”

Kesi reined in her temper and shot him a look of pure loathing. “You’re nothing but a child.

What could I possibly want with you other than to fuck a weretiger for the first time.”

“If that is the truth, which I seriously doubt, then we are even. Until you I had not fucked a vampire. And I must say the experience was not nearly as pleasurable as the legends say.”

Kesi could actually feel her nostrils flare with rage. Placing a hand on her hip she snarled at him.

“Maybe I should have let you bat me on the head and drag me to your cave by the hair. Would that have been more pleasurable for you? Maybe that would make you feel like a man.”

“Why did you come here?”

“If you must know I came to apologize and see if you were all right. I actually felt guilty about sending you on that assignment alone, but the truth is you should have called for backup if you needed it. If proving yourself meant so much that you were willing to risk your life and possibly blow the assignment then you don’t need sympathy. You need brains.”

She turned and headed for the door. With a savage growl he leapt from the bed, pinned the door shut with one hand and grasped her chin with his other. The only thing that stopped her from knocking his hand away and giving him a good kick in the family jewels was the way he looked at her. His huge blue eyes gleamed with a barrage of emotions. They were so intense that she couldn’t look away even if she wanted to.

“You would have loved it if I called for backup, wouldn’t you?” he said in a dangerously soft voice. He leaned a bit closer, his lips almost touching hers. “Then you’d have beaten me.

Speaking of brains, what sort of leader uses her position of power to fight personal battles? Love battles. You should be demoted.”

Kesi hissed and bared her fangs, wrenching her chin from his grip. “I was fighting battles before you were born.”

“Like I’ve suspected. That is your problem. All you know is war. What made you like this, Kesi?”

“Men,” she said, glaring into his eyes. That single word dripped with hatred. “Men who think they should rule because of their sex. Men who think women are their toys, their slaves, and the vent for their anger. Men who cause pain for the simple pleasure of it. That’s what made me like this, Zane. That’s what inspired the Wakened Veils. Do you still want to ally yourselves with us?

To fight against other men? I don’t believe it. You haven’t got the stomach to go against your own kind.”

His brow furrowed and he stared at her for a long moment. Some of the anger faded from his eyes, replaced by a look of sympathy that sparked her rage even more.

“The men you describe are not my kind,” he said quietly. “They are not like the members of my clan. We have fought and many have died fighting the sort of creatures you describe. If you can no longer see the difference between us and them, then perhaps you’ve succumbed to the evil you sought to fight. I don’t want to believe that. I can’t look into your eyes and believe that. I’ve heard you’re a woman of honor. That you have never punished those unworthy. I had looked forward to working with you, Kesi. I’m sorry you can’t feel the same about me.”

He opened the door and stepped aside for her to pass.

Kesi felt almost dizzy with emotions. Never in her life had she felt so torn. He inspired feelings in her that made her act in ways she never thought possible. It was like a madness, her attraction to him. Or perhaps the madness was in her denial. Her courage was a point of pride, but underneath it, was she afraid? Until Zane she had never allowed herself to feel for a man. She’d satisfied sexual urges and sated her bloodlust with them, but none had managed to penetrate the shield over her heart.

She stepped halfway through the door, then turned to him and gazed into his eyes. He didn’t step closer nor did he move away. It was as if he was waiting for her to decide. There was no challenge in his eyes, only curiosity and a hint of longing.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Sorry this alliance took place?”

“Sorry that I fucked up whatever might have been starting between us,” she said quickly. Heat rose in her face and she hurried down the hall. He caught her by the shoulders and gently pressed her against the wall, seeming to devour her with his eyes.

“You didn’t fuck it up,” he said. “Not yet.”

“Zane, after how I’ve acted how can you possibly ….”

“We both made mistakes. Assumptions. Bad choices. We can start again right now. I’m willing if you are.”

Kesi smiled slightly, so many emotions churning inside her that it took her a moment to speak.

Finally she said. “I’d like that.”

His lips covered hers in a kiss that, in spite of its gentleness, sent waves of desire crashing through her. Moaning softly, she wove her fingers through his hair as her tongue met his, stroking and exploring with weeks of pent-up desire.

When the kiss broke, they gazed breathlessly into each other’s eyes. Kesi glanced toward his bruised ribs and gently ran her fingertips over them. “Are you sure you don’t want that pain killing potion?”

“There’s another method of relaxation I’d prefer,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips. He kissed her neck, and Kesi closed her eyes, her palms roaming over his shoulders and back.

“All right. I’ll be gentle with you,” she said, a teasing note in her voice.

Again his lips hovered over hers and he whispered, “Not too gentle.”

Kesi kissed him, then took his hand and tugged him back into his bedroom.

No sooner had they stepped inside than they fell onto the bed, tearing at their clothes until they lay naked in each other’s arms.

Zane rolled her onto her back and held her gaze. She stared at him, wondering how she could have treated him so miserably. Had she really been so afraid of love that she’d tried to destroy the only man who had ever tried to get close to her?

“What’s wrong?” he asked gently.

“Nothing. I ….”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry for everything. I can’t believe that after how I acted you still want ….”

He silenced her with a kiss so deep and tender that all thoughts except those of desire were driven from her mind.

His tongue thrust between her lips and explored her mouth with wet, gentle strokes while he moved slightly aside and began caressing her soft mound with his hand. One finger slid into her wet sheath then he slowly withdrew his finger and used it to circle her clit. A quiver of passion tore through her, and she wrapped her arms around him. Her tongue danced with his and when he once again used his whole hand to cup her sex, she thrust her hips against him, following his slow, steady rhythm.

His hard cock rubbed against her, and she knew by the sound of his heartbeat and the rhythm of his breathing that he wanted her as badly as she wanted him.

“On your back, weretiger,” she said, gently pushing against his chest.

“Why?”

“Because, I said I’d be gentle with you and the least I can do after nearly getting you killed is see that you enjoy your rest.”

He lay on his back, an almost boyish grin on his lips. “I like the sound of that.”

“I thought you would,” she said, her tone teasing in spite of the ripples of desire coursing through her.

She straddled him, supporting her weight on her knees, grasped his thick, hard shaft and guided the tip of his cock to her damp sheath. With almost painful slowness she lowered herself onto his staff. Damn he felt good! So big, hard and touching her in all the right places.

Gazing at him, her heart nearly leapt through her chest. The smoldering look in his eyes was almost enough to send her headlong into orgasm. He reached up and took her breasts in his hands. His palms swept over the smooth globes then he took her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers and rolled them gently. Ever so slightly he raked his nails over her breasts. Kesi sighed with pleasure, closed her eyes and arched her neck back. Those tender scratches were a major turn-on. Not even hard enough to leave the slightest mark on her flesh but just enough to arouse her. To her it was an entirely new sensation.

She rode him faster, driving them closer and closer to climax. Zane’s hips lifted, joining her frantic rhythm as their lust grew.

“Oh, Zane!” she gasped, her legs trembling. Damn, she couldn’t take much more of this. She tried slowing down, but he placed his hands on her waist and thrust his hips upward.

“Don’t stop,” he growled, his breathing ragged. “Ride me hard, Kesi.”

She didn’t need any further prodding but rocked even faster than before. Raw gasps of pleasure escaped her throat, and her entire body quivered with delight. Her nipples tingling and clit nearly bursting with pleasure, she rode him until she exploded. Her orgasmic pulsations drove him over the edge and he came, his body taut and heart pounding in a rhythm that was beautiful to her vampiric ears.

Still tired from his injuries, Zane was nearly asleep even as Kesi slipped off him and lay beside him. She raised herself onto her elbow and watched him sleep. With uncharacteristic tenderness, she caressed his chest, her touch almost imperceptible so as not to disturb him. She thought how close she had come to losing him. What a fool she’d been to risk his life out of her own selfish fear, but that was a mistake she would never make again. She was so grateful for this second chance with him.

His eyes opened and he smiled at her.

“Didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispered.

“You didn’t. I was just resting.”

Her brow furrowed and she tenderly stroked his ribs. “How did you get away from the snakes anyway?”

“The Venom of Eden had built a trap. A hole in the ground. It’s embarrassing to think I quite literally fell for such an old trick. My father would be ashamed.”

“I thought your father was dead?”

“I think of Sanjay as my father. My own wanted little to do with me once he found out I had the power of the tiger. He feared me, as did my mother. India is my home and the clan my family. In answer to your question, I had fallen into the pit which is how I got bitten by the smaller snakes.

I climbed out and was attacked by the boas and tumbled back into the pit. Since I was in a manbeast form, I shifted to the full tiger. The snake expanded its coils to fit the new form and I changed quickly to my man shape. This confused the creature and I managed to jump free. The snake could not climb out of the pit. The Venom of Eden did not expect me to escape so I took him by surprise while he was in his house. It was simple enough to knock him unconscious.

Once that happened, he lost control of his snakes and I was able to call for backup. Bo and her unit were most accommodating.”

“I’m sorry, Zane,” she said. “You probably don’t believe me, but I was getting ready to come after you.”

“Caitlin told me. She said you were concerned.”

“I’ve been a damn fool.”

He caressed her face. “I’m sure you had reasons for mistrusting me.”

“Not any good ones. It’s been over fifteen hundred years since I was a weak, pathetic mortal. It seems like no matter how much power I’ve gained and how much ass I’ve kicked somewhere deep inside I haven’t changed at all.”

“Some experiences we can’t forget and some wounds never quite heal. Where did you come from, Kesi? What was your mortal life?”

“I was the daughter of a tribal leader in Africa over fifteen hundred years ago. My father was a cruel, violent man who sent my mother to an early death. As an arrangement between our tribe and a neighboring one, I was given in marriage to their leader who was even worse than my father. He had many lovers outside our marriage bed, not that I minded. If he was ravaging some other poor woman then he left me alone. He made love with the same violence with which he went to battle.”

“That isn’t making love,” Zane said quietly.

“No.” Kesi smiled slightly and brushed his lips with a kiss. “For the first time in so many centuries I finally know what making love is.”

“How did you escape from your situation in the tribe?”

“One night I simply had enough and mixed poison with his meal. Then I ran away. I don’t know if he lived or died from my poison. I’m not sure how long I ran. It seemed like weeks. I was near death when a woman found me. Not just an ordinary woman. She was a vampire, living alone off the blood of animals. But she was independent and free of tribal laws. She helped me regain my health and seemed happy to have company. We became friends and she made me a vampire.

Later I found out that she was one of the First Wraths, a founding member of the Wakened Veils.”

Zane nodded. “Masika.”

“Yes. She saved me in body and in spirit.” Kesi rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. “I can’t believe I argued with her when the First Wraths ordered me to work with you.

If I had known then what I know now ….”

He chuckled. “You would have done exactly the same thing. I had to prove myself to you, Kesi.

We had to prove ourselves to each other. Maybe that’s why our leaders assigned us to one another. We’re cut from the same spiritual cloth.”

“Yeah.” She lifted her head to meet his gaze. “We are.”

“I have never been to Africa. One day I would like to go.”

Smiling, Kesi stroked his hair. “I think you’d like it there. It’s heaven for weres.”

“You’re heaven to this were,” he said, pushing her onto her back and covering her body with his.

Kesi closed her eyes, relishing the sensation of his lips on her neck and his warm, hard body claiming hers.