Kiss Of Twilight (16 page)

"Be stupid to clean out a safe and not physically check the sides and top."

Gray cocked an eyebrow. "Really? Make a habit of breaking and entering do you?"

"Ha ha. Funny man, aren't you, Grand Master?"

"Not really," he said wryly.

"No checkbook. No computer," Dupree said, turning back to the matter at hand. "How does he pay his bills?" Dupree shuffled through the loose papers. "He has to have personal records. Probably a journal of some kind, personal letters, that sort of thing. That's probably what the key opens."

"Could be a storage unit."

"Too obvious," Kara interjected. "There can't be that many in town. Did he keep an office at HQ?"

"Yeah. We all have one there. Attached to our quarters."

He glanced at Kara and she shrugged. "It's probably a waste of time but let's check it out," she said.

They didn't have any better luck searching Contee's rooms at HQ. Dupree did an internet search for local storage units from Gray's office. When he only came up with three he decided to expand the search to a sixty mile radius and added five more to his list. They'd get a few hours' shut eye, then he and Kara would start the search in the morning unless he could convince her to stay behind. She stifled a yawn and he turned to tell Gray they were leaving.

"We have a couple extra rooms upstairs."

"John is putting us up." John was the leader of a special squad of hunters and an old friend.

"Long drive." He arched his eyebrows. "Even you can't teleport that far. Don't trust me, Dupree?"

Hell no. He took Kara's hand and headed for the door. "I haven't decided yet," he told Gray, who walked with them. "I definitely don't trust the other people who live in this house."

His words touched a nerve. "Probably wise."

"I'll let you know if we find anything." Dupree had the key in his pocket. They'd decided someone might notice if Gray changed his normal routine. Disappearing without explanation for the extended time needed to search for storage areas was out of the question. Dupree was relieved that conversation had gone so well. He didn't want the Grand Master hanging over his shoulder.

"Do that."

Gray opened the door and Dupree rushed Kara down the steps, through the rain to his car. She was quiet on the drive in a way that made him nervous. She was chewing over something and he had the feeling when she was done, she'd be chewing him out. Weeks ago that would have irritated the hell out of him and he would have preferred this silence. Now he was surprised to learn he hated the stewing and preferred an argument.

Two hours later she still hadn't said a word and they pulled down a long dirt road that ended at John's compound. The door opened while he was getting their bags from the trunk. Kara met him, took her laptop bag and followed him up the steps.

"I didn't know you were bringing company," John said, smiling, but it was really a question. Dupree didn't know how to answer it.

"This is Kara. She's taking over Gia's job for the time being. This is John," he said.

John looked uncomfortable, and turned to lead them into the house. They went down one hall and then another. "I've got a full house right now. Only one extra room."

He felt that surge of panic mingled with anticipation again. "That's fine," he said, amazed at how calm he sounded.

Kara looked up at him like he'd lost his mind. "Where are you sleeping?" she asked sweetly.

John stopped at an open door. Kara took her overnight bag from Dupree and went in. He looked past her at the king sized bed that took up most of the space and every drop of blood in his body rushed to his cock.

"You okay, man?" John asked softly. "She's the one?"

"She's a little pissed at me right now, so I better not try to answer that."

His old friend laughed. "Women. Can't live with them and don't dare try to live without them."

"Something like that."

"Most everyone's asleep now." He glanced at his watch. "Next meal isn't until tonight, but you two are free to raid the kitchen."

"Appreciate it."

John walked away, probably going back to his own bed, and Dupree entered the room, shutting the door behind him and turning the lock. He leaned back and watched her. She'd taken her jacket off and draped it over the back of the desk chair, which she sat on unlacing her boots. She radiated anger. She'd gone quiet when Gray questioned him about bonding, and it had worsened as each hour passed. Had she expected him to acknowledge her to Gray? To John? He got the feeling there was more to it than that.

"Talk to me, darlin'."

"About what?"

"Whatever's got you wound so tight your head is about to explode."

She glared at him, dropped one boot to the floor and went to work on the other one.

"You and Winter talk about you bonding often?"

"No."

She looked up and glared again. "Ignore me if you have to, but don't lie to me, Dupree."

He sighed. "Fine. She's brought it up once or twice." Or half a dozen times.

She dropped the other boot and stood. "Is it that bad?" she asked softly.

"I'm pretty old to not be bonded, but I'll be fine."

She saw right through that answer and paled. "How long do you have?"

"I don't want to talk about this today." Hell, no. He couldn't do anything until after she merged and settled into it. He'd held onto his sanity this long. He'd hold on until she was ready to make the choice. He refused to take the choice away from her. "Of course you don't. How 'bout the other thing? Do you want to talk about not trusting me with Vic?"

Christ. Hell no, he didn't.

"It isn't like that, Kara." He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, wondering if he could explain without sounding nuts.

"Right," she replied sarcastically. "It's him you don't trust, I guess."

"No," he snapped. "He's still in love with you, and he left you open to attack. Until he earns that trust back, he won't be guarding you. I won't risk your life."

She shook her head sadly. He hated himself in that moment as he never had before and he didn't know how to make it right.

She picked up the sweats and a shirt she'd left on the desk and turned to enter the bathroom.

"Don't."

"I'm exhausted, Dupree. I just want to change and sleep for a few hours."

Shaking his head, he straightened from the wall. He only knew one way to make her understand how much she meant to him. How terrified he was of losing her. "You can sleep. But don't change."

"Why not? Jeans aren't the most comfortable thing to sleep in."

She was turning again. He should shut up and let her go, but his mouth suddenly had a mind of its own. "If you change I won't be able to peel you out of that shirt."

She froze, finally turned to look at him and gasped. He was pretty sure his eyes had gone red. He took a couple steps forward and she didn't move an inch. He couldn't tell if that stillness was from shock or fear.

"Well, so much for being pissed off, huh?" Kara asked.

"Worried, not pissed." He smiled. "And it doesn't change how we feel about each other, Kara. Yes or no, darlin'? I can go find a couch to sleep on."

"Don't you dare," she whispered and tossed her change of clothes aside. He thought his heart might burst from his chest.

He approached slowly, eyes glued to the tiny, teasing buttons up the front of her tight blouse. He'd been wanting to get his fingers on them since she'd shown up for the drive north. Had wanted to start at the top and slowly reveal her breasts to his gaze. Breath held, he stopped in front of her, struck by what a huge step forward this was. Anticipating taking it. Scared a little.

"Still angry?" he whispered.

"I'll get over it." She gave him a half smile and he sighed in relief. She would forgive him.

Right, but he had more pressing matters on his mind at the moment. His hands shook when he lifted them and the shaking didn't stop as he worked the top button loose. By the third button he was steady, but then two buttons later the top of her bra was visible. He saw just a hint of lacy white, enough to make him desperate for more, but he forced himself to go slow. He wanted to savor this experience. No matter what happened later, he wanted this to be a perfect memory. He almost stopped when he reached the bottom of her ribcage and the shirt gaped open to expose her breasts. With a groan he kept going. If he paused now, he might never get her undressed.

It was with a breath of relief that he freed the last button and reached to pull off one sleeve, then the other. He tossed the garment on the desk behind her, put his hands on her hips and stared down. God, she was beautiful. Her lacy bra left the top of her breasts exposed to his gaze. Her nipples were tight points that were barely covered. Groaning, he pushed the top of the bra down and leaned over, unable to resist sucking one into his mouth.

She arched into his hold, raising one hand to cradle his head as the other gripped his shoulder hard. He swirled his tongue around her nipple, closed his teeth over it gently until she whimpered and then switched to the neglected breast. She rose on her toes, pressing her body closer, and her fingernails dug into his shoulder. He wondered if--hoped--she marked him. He'd wear them proudly.

"Dupree," she murmured, rubbing her hips against his. "I want more."

He was going to give her a whole lot more, but at his pace. He released her and smiled at her dazed expression. "Patience, darlin'."

"Patience? I've been patient for years. Enough already," she grumbled.

But her eyes widened when he pulled his shirt over his head and sat to take off his boots. He returned to her before she could fumble the button free on her jeans. He moved her hands away. "Oh, no, I'm doing the undressing, remember?"

She was a present he'd waited too long for to rush through the unwrapping. He unbuttoned and unzipped the jeans, slowly drew them down her legs and helped her step out of them. Her panties were just as lacy and skimpy as her bra. They clung to her curves the way he wanted to. He led her to the bed, spread her out in the middle of it and stepped back to stare at the treasure.

"I'm not always going to be so accommodating," she said, voice laden with frustration.

He froze at her words. He specialized in no strings attached, no emotional involvement sex. He never went back for seconds. This was different. He'd never be able to look at another woman after he had Kara. Hell, he couldn't now.

"Oh no," she murmured, teased. "I'm scaring him off again."

No, she wasn't. It wasn't fear of her expecting something permanent that held him so still. It was how much he wanted it, how deeply it shook him, and the fear she would change her mind later. He shook away the thought. He wasn't going to worry about that today. He joined her on the bed, moved so that her thighs cradled his hips. She sucked in a sharp breath.

"You're overdressed, baby," Kara whispered.

He laughed. "No, I'm not." If he took his jeans off now, it would all be over.

She draped her arms around his neck. "Don't tease me. I really might kill you if you decide to get up and walk away from this bed."

"I'm not going anywhere," he murmured against her lips. "I'm not in a hurry either. I want to savor this, darlin'."

He moved to trail kisses down her neck to her shoulder before she could answer. By then she seemed to lose interest in arguing. He smiled. That was good. He wanted her wild, incoherent, incapable of thought. He kissed his way back to her breasts, fascinated by the plump mounds, by her hard rosy nipples. The bra fastened in front and he leaned back to pop it free, then helped her wiggle the straps down her arms. She grabbed it from him and tossed it away. He wanted to laugh at her haste, delighted by her eagerness, but the view took his breath away.

He tasted her again, teasing each tip until they were wet and swollen before inching his way down her body. Her skin was smooth and soft, pale in the afternoon light. He paused to swirl his tongue in her navel until she squirmed and he moved down. Propped on his elbows, he spread her thighs wide and licked the skin around the edge of her panties. He took in her scent, sweet and uniquely Kara, ran his fingers over the cloth that covered her sex. She was already damp and hot. He had to force himself not to rip them free, but before he had to lean back to remove them, he dipped his fingers inside to stroke over her.

Crying out, she bucked in his hands as he slid a finger inside her. Tight, wet, heat. His cock throbbed. "Damn, sweetheart, I might not survive this," he groaned.

The panties had to go. He needed to see her, to touch her. He sat up, got her out of them, and forgot all about going slow. Lust roared through him and the demon rode him hard. It didn't know gentleness, didn't understand wanting to be tender with a lover. It only wanted to take, to claim. Fast and hard. Over and over.

"Dupree," she pleaded.

He looked up to see she'd grabbed one of the rails that ran from one post to the other. Her body bowed into his. She was flushed, her eyes bright and feverish. Stunning. He loved seeing her like this. Spread out like an offering. He smiled, holding her gaze as he lowered his mouth to her sex. When he licked her, she trembled. He went back for a second taste, then a third. He might never leave. He slid his hands under her butt and pulled her closer, thrust his tongue into her slick channel until she begged him for relief. Such sweet sounds. Her pleas rang in his ears and he moved to twirl his tongue over her clitoris. The small nub pulsed with sensation and he felt an answering response in his cock. He went back to it, over and over, drawn by her cries, until he couldn't stand it anymore and grazed her with his teeth. Her whole body convulsed as the orgasm took her and this time her cry was his name. It was the most perfect thing he'd ever heard.

Kara was on fire. The orgasm was marvelous, but it wasn't enough. She wouldn't be satisfied until she felt him moving deep inside her. He didn't give her what she wanted, though. His mouth covered her. He made her come again and again. He was at turns demanding and tender, as if he was fighting himself, his own needs. But it was the love she felt in his touch that undid her, knowing this was the only way he'd ever admit it. Tears leaked from her eyes.