Kiss of Moonlight (8 page)

Cat looked up at Tam then back at Kyle and finally at
Tivr
, still behind him.

His attention focused on Cat, Kyle walked to within a foot of the girls then knelt, not wanting to tower over them.

He smiled at Cat. “The moon’s full, isn’t it? I forgot. Not as smart as I think I am, huh? I’m sorry, baby. This isn’t your fault.”

With one final look at Tam, his daughter stood, careful not to scratch Tam with her sharp nails, and walked over to him. Those bright blue eyes he loved so much stared at him as he ran one hand down her back.

“It’s
gonna
be fine, honey.”

“Kyle, let me take her upstairs.”
Tivr
walked up behind him, his voice hard.

Cat shifted her gaze to
Tivr
for one brief second then back to Kyle. She shook her head. He knew that look. Determination was his daughter’s other middle name. She didn’t want
Tivr’s
unspoken help to shift back into her skin. She wanted to do it herself.

But the moon still hung in the sky. And she’d only been shifting for a couple of years. She still didn’t have as much control over the moon’s power as she would when she was older.

He didn’t say
anything,
just let her come to her own decision. Finally, she snorted, shaking her head, and walked over to
Tivr
.

Reaching down, the god put his hand on her head and in an instant, his daughter stood before him in all her beauty, naked as the day she was born.

Kyle reached for his shirt…and realized he didn’t have one.
Tivr
had already whipped his over his head and dropped it down over Cat.

For several seconds, his daughter locked her gaze with
Tivr’s
and something passed between them, something Kyle couldn’t decipher. He couldn’t tell if Cat was miffed that she’d needed help or if she was silently thanking him. But when she turned to face him, he knew exactly what she was thinking. Her lips quivered before she could firm them and she blinked back tears.

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her in close.

“Daddy—”

“No, Cat. It’s okay. It’s
gonna
be okay.”

He figured if he kept saying it, it would be. Hell, something had to go his way sometime, right?

When Cat pulled back, he let her, knowing exactly what she was about to do. His daughter drew in a deep
breath,
her mouth set in a quivering line, and turned back to Tam.

But before she could open her mouth, Tam shook her head and stood, reaching for Cat’s clenched fist. “Please don’t apologize. I’ve never seen anything so amazing in my life.”

Cat bit her lip, indecision clear on her expression. “You’re not afraid of me? Of…what I did?”

Tam’s answering smile loosened Kyle’s lungs. She didn’t look like she was in shock. “I’ll admit I was…amazed. Watching someone turn into a wolf isn’t something you see every day.” Tam looked over Cat’s shoulder at Kyle, her smile disappearing. “You were at my house last night, weren’t you?”

He knew where this was going, knew she’d make that connection. He’d been hoping she’d at least give him a few hours to prepare. Apparently, she really was thinking clearly.

And he saw she wanted answers.
Now.
Without looking away, he said, “Cat, you and
Tivr
go upstairs. Tam and I need to talk.”

“Dad—”

“No, Cat.” Tam’s smile returned for a brief second just for Cat. “It’s okay. Your dad’s right. I’ll be fine.”

He stiffened as if she’d hit him. Did Tam actually think he’d hurt her?

Cat hesitated another few seconds before she finally sighed and headed up the stairs,
Tivr
at her heels.

Leaving Kyle and Tam staring at each other.

Finally, she crossed her arms over her chest as if preparing for a battle. “You know everything, don’t you? I gave you enough information last night that all you had to do was Google my attacker’s name and ‘rape’ and it was all there for you to read.”

Her expressionless voice made him flinch but the increasing despair in her eyes cut into him like silver blades.

He didn’t want her to be hurt. He’d much prefer she get angry. Scream and yell at him so they could move on. So he wouldn’t have the urge to grab her and hold onto her so she wouldn’t shatter. But as much as he wanted to skip this part, he knew it’d be better if they got it over with. So they could move on.

“Yes, I know everything.”

Her chin lifted, almost as if he’d hit her with an uppercut. “Cat does too, right? I talked to her for two nights before you showed up.” She shook her head, her mouth twisting into a grimace. “You know, the hospital shrink told me I should find someone to talk to. Someone I trusted. She suggested a professional but I wasn’t ready. Not then. It’d only been a few weeks after the attack and I could barely look at myself in a mirror much less talk about what happened.”

“Tam—”

“No!” She slashed one hand between them, finally starting to show a little bit of the anger he’d wanted to see. “I thought I was talking to a
dog
. That I was pouring my heart out to an animal that couldn’t understand me.
That my feelings would be
safe
.”

Her fist rose to pound against her chest in the exact motion he and his fellow soldiers used. But her action wasn’t a salute. “I’ve been carrying this weight with me for
months
. Then I finally decide to spill my guts, to actually open my mouth and speak about what happened, thinking my confession was safe. So tonight, when Cat changed into that little black wolf, I honestly thought I’d lost my mind. But then I knew
,
I
know
I’m not that damaged.”

She pointed a finger at him. “What I saw was magic. I know it even though I never believed there was anything like it in the world. I’ve seen the bad stuff. This…” She shook her head, “this was amazing. And I handled it. So don’t you
dare
look at me like I can’t handle whatever else
happens.
”

Tam finally stopped to draw in a deep breath as she continued to stare at him.
Waiting.

Vaffanculo
, she was going to give him a heart attack. He’d never gone from fear to arousal so fast in his life. He wanted to grab her and kiss her because she stood before him strong and proud.

But she might just hit him. And he might like that a little too much.

Her ice-blue eyes burned and that heat called
up his own
.

But first, he had to tell her what was going on. Had to explain why she couldn’t return to her house. Why she had to stay with him.
Even if she didn’t want to.

And because he wanted her to understand exactly why she had to stay, he didn’t temper his words.

“The men in the forest were looking for you. They’d been sent to kidnap you. They didn’t know who’d sent them. They didn’t know why this person wanted you.”

He moved closer, breathing a little easier when she didn’t pull away from him, just stared at him with utter confusion.

“But…why would someone want to kidnap me?”

“I don’t have any idea. But I want you to stay with me until I find out.”

Her mouth dropped open in shock seconds before she started to frown. “What? Why?”

“Because…”

I want you where I can watch over you. I want you in my bed even though I know you’re not ready for any kind of physical relationship. Because I can’t breathe at the thought of you out in the world somewhere I can’t protect you.

Which of those explanations didn’t sound completely irrational? Which of those wouldn’t have her running for the nearest door?

“Because I can protect you better if you’re close while I try to find out who those men were working for and why they want you.”

There, that sounded rational enough.

But
Tamra
was shaking her head. “No. I need to go to the police, tell them—”

“You don’t have to worry about the men.”

She drew in a sharp breath. “What do you mean?”

“I took care of them. They won’t be able to hurt you again.”

She paused, her eyes widening. “You
killed
them?”

He didn’t answer, didn’t want to lie to her. But he also didn’t want her to get a false impression of him right from the start. He was what he was, damn it. She’d have to know that sooner or later, though he hoped the entire truth wouldn’t need to come out until later.

Yes, he was an assassin. But for now all she needed to know was that he was a soldier. And he didn’t take prisoners. He got answers,
then
he disposed of the problem.

“They couldn’t be released. They knew you were living in the house.”

The color drained from her face and he realized he might have pushed her too far. “I don’t understand.”

Before he realized what he’d meant to do, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her against him, surrounding her smaller body with his much larger one. She didn’t soften against him and her hands came up to press against his chest.
But she didn’t push him away and he considered that a win.

“Neither do
I
.” He spoke directly into her ear. “But I will. I have resources. I’ll find out who they were working for and what that person wants with you.”

“But why?”

“They didn’t know—”

“No, not the men you— Not them.
Why would you do this for
me
? You don’t even know me.”

She looked up at him, confusion dulling the brightness of her eyes.

He wanted to kiss her, to replace the confusion with heat. And he was so damn worried he’d scare her away, he froze.

Until he remembered her earlier declaration.
She’d stood up to him.

So he leaned down and put his mouth on hers. Not hard. Hell, he didn’t even really kiss her, not like last time. He just pressed his lips to the warm silk of hers.
And pulled back before he lost his mind and slipped his tongue into her mouth.

He hadn’t closed his eyes so he’d watched every stunned emotion flit through her gaze.

And the one emotion he’d dreaded never showed.
Fear.

She wasn’t afraid of him.

He drew in an easier breath.

“I don’t want you to be hurt, Tam.”

She shook her head, her eyes huge. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t have to.
At least not now.
Just agree to stay here tonight. Get some sleep. In the morning, we can start looking for some answers. Just stay. Please.”

Tam stared into Kyle’s eyes and knew she’d agree to anything he asked.

That kiss had had the power to shut off her brain for the few seconds it’d lasted.

And that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing right now.

She’d begun to feel dizzy, a little nauseous and confused. So far she thought she’d held up pretty well.

This morning for the first time since her attack, she’d been attracted to a man. She’d taken it as a sign that she was finally beginning to come out of the fog she’d been drifting in.
A good sign.

Then she’d kissed Kyle.
If you could call that a kiss.
More like devoured him.

And then she’d witnessed actual magic, the kind she never would have believed if she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes. But she had. And she’d survived without curling into a ball in a corner and whimpering.

If that wasn’t enough, she’d learned someone had sent men to kidnap her. Someone who’d been able to track her to a house even she hadn’t known about until just a few months ago.

Any normal person would have been justified in having a slight nervous breakdown, right?

But she’d managed to hold it together.

So why had Kyle’s brief press of his lips against hers just now made her nearly swoon?

Why did she want to wrap her arms around his shoulders and let him take over her life?

Probably because she was an idiot.

No. No, that wasn’t acceptable.

She knew it had more to do with the strength she saw in this man. The love he had for his daughter. The sense she had that he would do whatever it took to keep his loved ones safe.

And for whatever reason, that list now included her.

She didn’t fool herself. The man wasn’t in love with her. Yes, he wanted her but more than likely he saw a scared, damaged woman and he was the kind of man who wouldn’t leave her to fend for herself.

But how do you explain that kiss? And the
feeling that he wants you just as much as you want
him?

Wishful thinking?

His eyes narrowed as the silence stretched on, tiny worry lines radiating from his narrowed eyes.

God, the man had the ability to make her heart pound just by looking at her.

“I’ll stay.”

He closed his eyes for a brief second then released a heavy sigh. From the way he looked at her, she thought he might kiss her again. And when he didn’t, when he took her hand and pulled her after him up the stairs, disappointment made her shake her head.

Back in the living room, Kyle headed for the couch where Cat sat with the teen she’d called Ty. Still wearing the boy’s t-shirt, Cat had also donned a pair of gray gym shorts. With her legs hugged to her chest, Cat rested her chin on a knee and stared at Tam with those beautiful aquamarine eyes. Then her gaze dipped to her hand still linked to Kyle’s.

Tam gave an experimental tug but Kyle refused to release her. And she had to admit she liked having his larger hand wrapped around hers.

Kyle nodded at Cat. “I’m going to call Dan and you’re going back to the
boschetta
tonight.” He held up his free hand as Cat opened her mouth. “No, it’s not punishment, Cat.
Just a precaution.
We don’t know what’s going on and I’m not willing to risk your safety. Dan and your mom would agree.
Tivr
, will you stay with them while I go get some of Tam’s things from her house?”

Tivr
nodded, running a hand through his short hair, scrubbing until it stood on end. It made him look like a rock star.
“Of course.
Do you want me to call
Margorie
?”