Sweetwater: The Kihn (The Sweet Series) (40 page)

Dominic laughs. “She may not be so easy to tame, my friend.”

I give a “humph” and try to pull away from Lucas, but he holds fast, leading me toward the Hummer.

Lucas stops us half way across the lot, calling back to his friend. “Dom! Sofie wanted me to let you know your sheets are still clean.”

I gasp, turning beet red. Lucas chuckles, then grunts when I elbow him with everything I have. Dominic laughs as he heads back into the club. As Lucas holds my door open for me, I give him a look filled with murder. When he gets in behind the wheel, he’s smiling.

“I cannot
believe
you said that,” I hiss.

“What?” Emma Rae asks.

“Nothing!”

Poor Emma Rae, I practically yelled at her, and I hear her mutter, “Fiiine!” Lucas laughs again, and I’m so glad he’s finding this amusing.

On the outskirts of Sweetwater, Lucas’ cell rings. From the dash lights, I see him look at the caller ID and frown. “Yes,” he answers. I wish I could hear the conversation on the other end because his expression is not happy. “What?” he asks, surprise in his voice. “How long has he been waiting?”

Andy and Emma Rae have been talking softly in the back, but they are silent now, listening as I am.

“We’ll be there in about ten minutes.” He snaps the phone shut. When he doesn’t look at me and continues staring straight ahead, I suspect it has something to do with me.

“What?” I ask him.

He glances at me and takes my hand. He brings it to his mouth to kiss the backs of my fingers as he glances into the rearview mirror. “Emma Rae, could you spend the night at the house with Sofie?”

Emma Rae leans forward as I look back at her. “Yeah, sure.”

“Andy and I have something we need to take care of, and it can’t wait.”

“What’s going on, Lucas?”

“Nothing, sweet, just a matter we need to handle.” I give an exasperated sound. “Someone I know has stopped by, and I need to talk business with him,” he explains. I continue looking at him, but he keeps his eyes on the road.

I can’t believe this! I am tired of all the secrets and the so-called private meetings that concern all of us in Sweetwater. He says he wants me in his life, well, that means he shares things with me!

Okay, Reece, calm down, he said he would work on it, and it’s only been a day.
I take a deep, calming breath. I realize that this is something that can’t be accomplished overnight. He did say he had never confided in anyone but his men. I am just going to have to be patient.

Lucas slows the Hummer to turn onto Walker Road, and I look over at Ben’s and then my house as we drive by. When we reach Lucas’, we drive right through the open gates and he barely slows the Hummer. I notice why when I look over at the guardhouse. Something is going on, and he clearly doesn’t want me to get a good look. He pulls up to the front steps and stops the Hummer.

“We’ll be back soon, and I want you girls to stay inside,” Lucas says. “If you’re not too tired, we’ll do the hot tub later.” He smiles suggestively at me.

“I want to go with you,” I say.

“You are not going, and I don’t have time to argue with you.” He reaches across me to open my door. That pretty well pisses me off, and I let him know it with the look I give him.

Emma Rae is already climbing out of the back. I get out, and Andy climbs in up front. The door hasn’t even closed when the Hummer shoots off down the driveway.

“Come on,” I urge as I hurry up the steps.

“What?” Emma Rae asks, following me.

I rush into the bedroom as I undo my dress. Emma Rae is right behind me. I grab a sweatshirt, pull it on, and throw a pair of Lucas’ sweat pants at Emma Rae as I slip on a pair of mine.

“Sofie, this is a bad idea.”

“Thank goodness you wore boots,” I tell her as I pull mine on. I grab a couple of Lucas’ black hoodies. “Let’s go.”

“Sofe, I’m not sure about this,” she worries as she follows me down the front steps.

“Emma Rae, we need to see what is going on down there. If they’re keeping things from us, we need to know.”

“I’m just not sure—”

“Okay, we have to stop talking,” I state, “and we’re going through the trees now.”

Emma Rae stops right where she is, and I take a few steps before I notice. I turn back toward her. “I am
not
ruining these boots,” she says firmly in a hushed tone.

“Okay, stay here but be quiet.” I turn and continue down the hill toward the guardhouse.

“Well, shit!” I hear her loud whisper, and then I hear her follow me.

We hurry as fast as we can down the hill, but it’s hard going with the snow and the dark. As we near the gates, we see Lucas’ men moving about. The gate area is lit up, so as long as we stay in the shadows, they won’t see us. From our angle, we can’t see into the guardhouse, we’ll just have to wait and watch. It’s chilly out here, so I’m hoping for a short wait.

Emma Rae keeps shifting her weight from one foot to the other. I hold my finger up to my lips, reminding her to be quiet. About the time I’m wondering how much longer we can wait out in this weather, several of the Guard show sudden interest in whatever’s across the road from the gates.

What I see next turns my blood cold.

Chapter Twenty-Three

W
alking out of the woods are four large Kihn. I barely keep myself from gasping. Emma Rae, on the other hand, does—loudly.

I motion for her to keep quiet and turn my attention back right as Lucas and a giant of a Kihn emerge from the guardhouse. They walk to where the other Kihn stand at the gate. I know Taylor told us the Kihn disguise themselves, but these look the same as the one at my door the night of Dawn’s shower: big, ugly, and dangerous. Just like the ones in my nightmares always have. Lucas escorts his guest to the gate and the Kihn cross the road, disappearing through the trees.

I sit on the ground in shock.
What the hell?
I look at Emma Rae and shake my head in bewilderment. A look passes over her face right before she shrieks and takes off running toward the driveway. I look up and maybe twenty feet in front of me is a large, dark shape, moving quickly toward me.

I don’t have time to stand, so I crawl backward on my hands and feet. The dark shape looms over me, and I roll over as I try to scamper away. I’m suddenly hauled up by the back of my sweatpants. I kick and flail my arms wildly. An arm of steel encircles my waist, pulling me up against a hard chest and squeezing tight enough I can’t breathe. I quit flailing about when I realize who my captor is.

“I ought to wring your lovely little neck,” he hisses in my ear.

“Let go of me!” I yell. And he does.

I land on my feet, but I wasn’t actually expecting him to let me go, so my feet fail to hold me up. I stumble back and manage to land on some rocks protruding through the packed snow. “Ow!”

He reaches down to help, but I slap his hand away. I stand on my own, rubbing my posterior. I instinctively back up, he’s still one pissed-off man. He doesn’t let me get too far before he grabs my arm and proceeds to drag me up the hill.

I pry at his hand. “Stop it! Let me go!” He pays no attention to my pleas.

When we reach the house, the Hummer sits out front, but no one is about. Lucas continues right up the front steps and he doesn’t let go of my arm until we’re inside. By now, I’m as pissed as he is.

He strides to the liquor cabinet, jerks the lid off a bottle, and pours a liberal amount of amber-colored liquid into a glass. Picking it up, he tosses the liquor back and pours himself another one. I snort softly and turn to leave. I need a shower.

“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice is intentionally sharp.

I turn back to face him. “To take a shower. I’m not going to stand here and watch you get drunk.”

“What did you think you were doing down there? I told you to stay here.” He speaks in an awful voice, and the way he’s looking at me isn’t much of an improvement.

I exhale sharply. “What were
you
doing down there, Lucas? What were you doing having a private meeting with the Kihn?” I see surprise cross his face before his mouth lifts at the corner. I gape at him. “What’s so funny?” I demand. I want to kick him and wipe that smile off his face.

He crosses his arms over his chest as he peers down at me. “You think I’m collaborating with the enemy,” he says with wry amusement.

My anger deflates. He laughs, pulls me into his arms, and threads his fingers through my hair as his mouth comes down on mine. He tastes of warm whiskey, and I melt against him. When he raises his head, he stares down into my eyes. He takes my hand, the one I’ve scuffed, and I flinch.

Looking down, he frowns. “Let’s go clean your hand and get something on it.”

“It’s okay,” I reassure him.

He insists with a look, and we head for the bathroom, where he washes and dries my hand with care. I sit on the closed lid of the toilet as he applies antiseptic to my hand. He’s squatted before me, and I study his down-turned face.

“I—I’m sorry for implying—” I shrug with embarrassment.

He looks up at me, his eyes serious. “My main concern for you being down at the gate earlier—” he stretches a bandage across the palm of my hand “—is that Dar knows you are here now.”

My mouth opens in surprise. “Oh.”

“I caught your scent as soon as I stepped outside the guardhouse. I know Dar did too.” I guess Dar is the big-ass Kihn he met with tonight. Lucas stands and leans against the counter top and I suspect he’s considering what to tell me. “Dar has the unique ability to differentiate between scents. To the other Kihn, you just smell human, but I know Dar recognized you immediately. I believe that, at some point, he has been in your uncle’s house.”

“What?” I gasp. “Why?”

“So he could become familiar with your scent.”

I swallow hard and shiver at the thought of that monster in my home. “What’s going to happen now?”

He studies me for a few moments, making me uncomfortable. Something else is going on behind those eyes. He pulls me to my feet. “Let’s go to the kitchen. We’re going to have a quick meeting, and you’ll get some answers there. Then you and I are going to—discuss a few things.” I shiver slightly. That sounds a little ominous.

The kitchen is crowded, and I’m surprised to discover Jake and Sawyer are both present. I immediately go to them. Taylor and several of the Guard are in attendance too. The Zelts stand at the back of the room by the door, and I smile a greeting they both acknowledge with a nod.

And—Nick. Nick is back. He stays in the shadows, avoiding eye contact with me—not that I’m trying to make eye contact with him.

I lean against Jake, and he drapes his arm around my shoulder, giving me a quick hug. I start to ask about Diane, but I hear her giggle as the basement door opens. She and Emma Rae enter the room with Brit Zelt right behind them. Brit rambles on in her quick manner with Diane inserting an occasional giggle. The three of them make their way over to us without Brit breaking stride.

When Brit does stop speaking, it takes me a moment to realize that she’s waiting for an answer from me. Her round face radiates happiness. She just makes me happy. “Brit, it’s good to see you!”

She grabs me for a hug, and I hug her back. I don’t usually feel comfortable hugging someone I don’t know well, but for some reason, I don’t feel my normal reservations with Brit. Diane giggles. I can tell she isn’t sure what to make of the witch.

Taylor speaks up at that moment. “Brit, if you and Sofie will listen up, we’ll explain what’s going on.”

“Oh Taylor you know I always listen when you talk you naughty boy you I will go back by my brother and sister and let you get on with the meeting Sofie I want to speak with you again Oh! My! Who is this gorgeous man here with you?” Brit stands in front of Sawyer, batting her eyelashes at him. It’s plain to see that Sawyer is the gorgeous man. “You are a handsome one too but I know you belong to the sweet Diane.” She says that to Jake, who is unsure if he should respond or not.

“Brit, this is my cousin Sawyer Walker. Sawyer, this is Brit Zelt. She lives with her sister and brother at the old Rogers plantation.” I know he’s already figured that one out since I previously told him of my visit with her.

She reaches out, takes his hand, and squeals. “Oh! You come back here with me big boy I want to get to know you better imagine I have been here for quite some time and I never dreamed that someone as handsome as you could be living around here well not any—”

She pulls Sawyer with her to the back of the room. Sawyer turns to give me a priceless look, and I smile and give a little wave. Diane giggles and stands on her tiptoes to see where Brit is taking him.

“Okay! Listen up!” Taylor is ready to get down to business. I stifle a yawn and catch Lucas’ dark gaze.
What?
What is that look for? “Earlier tonight, four Kihn approached the gates. They informed us that their Wanax wished to speak with Santiago.”

Lucas continues to lean against the counter, watching me. My gaze slashes to Taylor. What the heck is a Wanax? I’ve never heard that term. Taylor glances at Lucas before coming to stand beside me, giving me one of his radiant smiles.

Lucas pushes away from the counter, glances around the kitchen, and everyone becomes silent. His presence fills the room. As they say, “you could hear a pin drop.” His gaze settles back on me.

“Dar, the Wanax of the Kihn—that is what they call their leader—” he smiles at me “—informed me that the Kihn’s alliance with Ezra has been broken.” I hear the reaction from the back of the room. “Dar has decided that the Kihn will no longer—actively pursue or hunt Sofie.” His eyes are intently watching me.

What?

“Thank God,” Jake responds, squeezing my arm.

“What does that mean?” I ask.

Jake looks down at me. “It means you can come home.”

“Thank goodness,” Diane says.

I look back at Lucas. His eyes watch me with their silver-green intensity.

Everyone starts talking at once, and Lucas holds up his hand. The room falls silent once again.

“Ezra was the main force behind the attempt to take Sofie. I could not get an answer from Dar why Sofie is so important to Ezra. Either he doesn’t know, or he is being cautious.
We
will need to continue being cautious of Ezra. All of us who know him are aware of the danger—what it means to let our guard down or to underestimate him.” Lucas’ attention focuses on the Zelts.

“We must stay focused on the fact that the Kihn are still looking for the gate, as is Ezra. It may be they are no longer allied, but they both still have the same goal.” His words almost have a double meaning, but I have no way of knowing—since he never tells me anything.

Lucas meets my gaze again before looking around the room. “We have allies coming in tomorrow, and we’ll have a more official meeting then. So, that’s all for tonight, we’ll take this up again tomorrow. You’re all welcome to spend the night.”

I tune out the rest of what he has to say. I can leave. A few days ago, even earlier today, I wanted that more than anything. Everyone starts talking at once, discussing the Kihn’s meeting with Lucas and plans for the coming allies. I look around and see Nick coming my way. I quickly duck out, heading for the safety of the bedroom.

I peer at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I don’t look different from a month ago, but I am. Lucas has changed me, and once again, I am dependent on the whims of another human being. I swore that after my parents abandoned me, I would never let that happen again. But here I am, and the very thought of leaving Lucas makes it hard to breathe.

I step into the bedroom, but I stop as soon as I see him waiting for me across the room. He’s leaning against the mantel, still wearing the black knit sweater he changed into at Impulse. And as good as he looked in the white shirt that he started the night in, there’s no denying that black is his color.

“Are you okay?” he asks. His voice is rich and dark, his gaze intense.

I nod, not trusting my voice as he watches me. I’m biting my lip so I won’t cry, but there’s no guarantee that it still won’t happen.

Lucas turns toward the liquor cabinet. “Would you like something to drink?” he asks, holding up a glass.

What?
“No, thank you.” My heart flutters as I wonder why I’m getting this awful vibe.

He takes his time pouring his drink and returns to lean against the fireplace mantel. “The way I see it, we have three problems here, Sofie.” He takes a sip, watching me over the rim of the glass with an unsettling expression in his silver gaze.

I frown. “Okay.” My voice sounds a little shaky with my apprehension.

He sets the glass on the mantel and his eyes lock on mine. “First, you are not—leaving,” he says, in a dangerously quiet voice, his eyes gleaming.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “That’s... not a problem,” I whisper. I fly across the room to him and he catches me up, holding me tight against his chest. Pressing my face against his neck, I inhale his warm scent.

He gathers a handful of my hair and pulls my head back so he can look into my eyes. “You belong to me,” he says forcefully. Then he’s kissing me as if he’ll devour me. His kiss is rough, possessive. And I love it. It’s Lucas. I moan as his hand rests on my bottom and pushes me against his erection. Releasing my lips, he latches on to the side of my neck where my pulse flutters. I whimper as he sucks the delicate skin and I grab his shoulders.

He laughs softly, his lips moving up to the spot behind my ear. He inhales deeply and my body trembles. “You smell so good.” He nibbles on my earlobe. “You taste good too,” he growls.

I twine my arms around his neck and thread my fingers into his raven locks, pressing my nose into the hollow at the base of his throat. “You scared me. I was afraid you were going to tell me I had to leave,” I say softly.

He pulls his head back to look down at me. “Is that, right? Well, if you thought that—then you haven’t been listening to what I’ve been telling you.” The tone of his voice alerts me to his quiet anger. “Maybe that’s why you disobey me at every turn.” I stare with unease into his eyes.
What the hell?
Are we really going to have another fight?

“Which brings us to problem number two,” he says in a scarily quiet voice. “Maybe you just weren’t listening when I told you to stay here in the house earlier.” Anger flashes across his face. I realize, a little too late, that his eyes have gleamed silver since I entered the room. I swallow noticeably. “Could that be the reason, Sofie?”

I gape at him. I don’t even know what to say. I remove my arms from around his neck. Without warning, he scoops me up, and I grab his shoulders in surprise. He settles us in the high-backed chair by the fire with me on his lap. I lean my head against his shoulder feeling somewhat disheartened.

He sighs deeply, leaning his head against the chair back, and I feel him watching me. “Hey,” he says. His tone is gentle as he lifts my chin and rubs his thumb across my bottom lip. He tilts his head in consideration. “That mouth,” he growls softly. My eyes fly up to meet his, catching the flare of heat in his eyes.

He leans down and kisses me gently. “We’ll discuss problem number two tomorrow.” I wrap my arms around his neck, relieved his mood is better. I don’t think I’m up for another round with him. “It’s late, and all I want is to take you to bed and lose myself in you,” he says.

“Okay,” I breathe. Embarrassingly, I’m already starting to pant. He smiles seductively, knowing just how he affects me. He gathers me into his arms to stand.

“Wait!” I say. He cocks an eyebrow. “You... you said three problems.” My voice is breathy, hesitant.

He settles back against the chair. “Why yes, Sofie, I did. Problem number three—” his eyes are alight with wicked humor as I peer into them “—is that I was informed earlier tonight I don’t know shit about dating.”

Startled laughter escapes me. I compose myself quickly. “Imagine! The audacity!” I say in pretend indignant surprise.

His mouth lifts in a slow, amused smile. “Yes—funny thing about audacity.” He leans in and kisses me deeply. I turn my body fully into him and run my hands over his chest, shoulders, and arms. He feels so good with just the right amount of muscle. I moan into his mouth, wanting him beyond reason. When he raises his head, I see a ghost of a smile on his lips.

“What were we talking about?” he asks, clearly amused.  I couldn’t care less what we were talking about; I just want him to take me to bed. “Oh yes—audacity. On the one hand, it can mean a willingness to take bold risks.” He bites my earlobe and sexual need forms in the pit of my stomach. His laugh is husky and masculine, penetrating to my core.
The bastard!
He doesn’t play fair.

“On the other hand…” He swiftly stands, and I grab around his neck in reaction. He carries me to the bed, lays me down, and quickly follows to lie on top of me. I hook my legs around his and run my hands through his silky hair.

“Audacity might also be a sign of rudeness or disrespect—impudence,” he continues, as his hand moves up under my sweatshirt. “Miss Reece, tsk-tsk! No bra?” I writhe beneath him, whimpering softly as his hand molds around my breast and his thumb rubs my nipple. He leans back between my legs, on his knees, and removes my sweatshirt in one swift move. Grabbing the waistband of my sweatpants, he yanks them and my panties down. He has me naked in seconds. Without hesitating, he pushes my legs wide and comes to rest on top of me pressing his jean-covered erection into my softness. I moan as I slip my hands under his sweater and up his back, feeling his muscles bunch and contract.