Torn Desires 2(2)

It was important that they test their compatibility before continuing on this path. To rut with her in various positions. To test their fit. The urge to take her hit him hard. Somehow, he found the strength to ignore it.

“I’m afraid it’s not the mansion you’ve grown accustomed to, and unlike Brant I don’t have a servant at every turn waiting to wipe my ass.”

“Hey,” her eyes narrowed as she spoke. “It’s not very nice to talk badly about someone when they’re not even here to defend themselves.”

He fought a smile as he walked ahead of her, holding the door open so that she could enter first. He tried to view the cabin as she would. It was spacious with large windows and a high ceiling. The views of the lake and surrounding forest were spectacular. Otherwise there was nothing opulent about it. Sparsely furnished with a large rug in front of the fireplace. One sofa, a small table and chairs. The upstairs loft housed his king-sized bed. The only modern touches were in his kitchen. He liked it just fine. He came here as often as his vast responsibilities would allow. Sometimes he wished he could run away from it all. Being a king had its major privileges, but they always came at a price. Lately he was beginning to think that the price might be a little too steep.

“Which is my room?”

This time, he couldn’t stop a smile from forming. The little human wouldn’t like his answer one bit. Zane bound up the steep stairs to the loft, dropping her bag on his bed. “Two choices. On the left or”—he let his hands slide down his chest—“right here on top of me.”

Her mouth gaped for a half a second before she snapped it shut. “Is that the bed where you killed the girl?” Her eyes welled with tears.

Zane couldn’t help it when his hands curled into fists and white hot rage filled him. He leapt from the top of the stairs, landing in a crouch in front of her.



****



Tanya watched as the impossibly big man leapt from the loft landing in a predatory stance just a few feet in front of her. His muscled body was coiled as if to strike. A feral gleam in his eyes.

Her aunty had always told her that her sassy mouth would get her in trouble one day. By the look of Zane, she found herself wondering if that day had come.

The vampire pulled himself to his full height. Tanya craned her neck to maintain eye contact. If she was to die, she would maintain dignity doing it.

“I made a mistake with that female,” he growled.

Anger burned holes in her gut. “A mistake.” So mad she couldn’t think straight anymore. “Is that what you call it? What? You mistakenly tore her throat out? Or maybe you mistakenly snapped her fragile body like a twig? Mistake? Really?” She closed the small distance between them. It was over for her anyway so she may as well let him have a piece of her mind before he killed her. “Are you at least sorry you did it?”

Tanya must have completely lost what was left of her anger riddled brain because before she knew it she was beating her fists against his chest. The action probably hurt her more than it did him, but she couldn’t seem to stop.

Zane took hold of her wrists so she kicked him in the shin. Pain vibrated up her leg.

“Stop.” His voice was low, evenly delivered, for some strange reason it calmed her. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

Tanya sniffed and realized that she was crying. His eyes had softened. Zane released her wrist and used the pad of his thumb to wipe away a hot tear as it tracked down her cheek.

“The only mistake I made was to give her space…time to come to terms with her situation. I left her with the females—”

Zane shoved her hard and she crashed into the wooden floor. Her shoulder took most of the impact. Tanya kept her eyes firmly locked on Zane as she fell, fully expecting him to come at her. An arrow lodged into his shoulder.

She blinked hard. Sure enough, an arrow complete with feathered end jutted from his flesh. Zane dropped down next to her. There was a cracking sound and a grunt as Zane broke off the end of the arrow.

“Stay down.”

She knew from experience that vampires could be fast, but the way Zane moved was insane. A smudge of lightening flew across the room and out the door. Almost too quick for her mind to register. Tanya crawled behind the safety of the sofa. Once there, she was too afraid to breathe let alone move.

From outside she made out a man’s scream, a grunt and a meaty thud. Zane was out there fighting for his life. Make that for both their lives. It was clear that whoever had shot that arrow had meant to kill her, so it wasn’t Brant. She sure as nuts didn’t want to be here with Zane, but whoever was out there didn’t harbor any good intentions towards her. That was clear. So she could only pray that Zane managed to fight them off. She scrunched her eyes shut for a few seconds trying to ward off the panic. Why the hell would someone want her dead? Another scream punctured the cabin. She couldn’t tell if it had been Zane or another man making the god awful noise. Tanya clasped a hand over her mouth to smother a scream. If they managed to kill Zane then she was next, of that she was certain.