“What did you do to him?”
“I sent him to hell.”
She should have been afraid of him. Any sane woman would have been scared.
She wasn’t afraid. Maybe she wasn’t sane, either. “Do you know who the others are that betrayed you?”
“Two vampires are already dead, but there were more.”
The puzzle pieces slipped into place for her. “When we went into that bar, Bran—”
“I wanted word to spread that I was free. Those who worked against me . . . now they’ll know that I’m back. Soon I’ll be hunting them.”
“Or they’ll be hunting you.” Would they just sit back and wait for death to come? Not likely. They’d fight. Try to attack first.
He simply stared back at her. “Let them come. There isn’t another vampire on this earth who is stronger than me.”
She had a flash of the vampire who’d attacked Vaughn. Her heartbeat kicked up. “What about that freak who came after us before? The one who bit Vaughn?”
“I can handle the primals.”
Primals?
“They’re . . . after you.” His words were halting.
Surprise barely flickered in her. Because, sure, whatever, of course they would be. Was there anyone who wasn’t after her? “Why?” Sabine asked. But she really wanted to know . . . why can’t they all just leave me alone?
“Wyatt made them. At least two others that I know about. I can’t control them, but I can kick their asses.”
Her heart kept beating too fast. “Made them how?”
“He used my blood. He injected it into test subjects that he’d been experimenting on for years. The blood amped up their power. Made them into something else.”
Something right out of a nightmare.
“But why do they want me?” Maybe she would be better off not knowing this part, but sticking her head into the sand wasn’t exactly an option that she wanted to take.
“Because I do.” Gravel-rough. “With my blood, somehow, they got my cravings. I think Wyatt linked you and me. Made me want you. Made me—”
“Crave?” His word. But wasn’t that just the way she felt? Like she craved his touch? His body? The wild pleasure he could give her?
She’d worried that the emotions she felt were too intense around Ryder. Were the feelings she had the result of some experiment? Was she not even controlling herself any longer?
“I’ve never wanted anyone this way before,” he said. His pupils spread, pushing darkness across his eyes. “So badly that I’d do just about anything in order to have you.”
“J-just about?”
“You know all of me.”
She could taste him.
Could feel him.
Her breasts ached. Her sex . . .
“If you want to run from me, that might be wise.”
She tried to control her breathing. Tried not to look like she was panting.
Ryder shook his head. “But the truth is that even if you ran, I’d follow you.”
Because he craved her? Because Wyatt might have drugged him? Her?
“I don’t even care why I’m this way.” His hands finally came up. Curled around her hips. Brought her against the—wow, yeah, that was some serious arousal there. “I just want you. I need you, and to hell with the reason why.”
Okay. Her mouth opened for his. His tongue pushed past her lips even as her fingers sank into his hair. Their bodies brushed, the need spiked higher, and Sabine realized that, right then, she didn’t care why she wanted him so much.
She simply needed him.
His hands went to the snap of her jeans. She heard a pop, then the hiss as her zipper was lowered. His hand pushed inside her jeans. Eased past her underwear. His fingers brushed over her sex.
She stiffened, then tried to widen her stance. Sabine wanted to feel more of him.
“Already wet,” Ryder whispered against her mouth, “and you feel so damn good when you squeeze around me.” His tongue tasted her. “So. Damn. Good.” His fingers thrust inside of her.
She pushed against his hand, wanting a harder touch. Arousal had her blood pumping faster in her veins. Her nipples were tight points, and she wanted his mouth on them. Wanted the wild rush of pleasure that he gave to her.
He gives the pleasure.
Her hands slid to his shoulders.
The last time they’d been naked, he’d given her so much pleasure that she’d gone a little crazy.
His fingers pushed into her. She gasped into his mouth.
In another few minutes, he’d have worked her to orgasm. Just with the skillful roll and thrust of his fingers. The man knew how to touch.
She knew how to kiss. She’d always been good with her mouth.
Her tongue slid lightly over his. Teasing now, when she wanted to sink into him. Hold back. Give to him. Sabine knew it was time for a fair exchange between them.