They were shocked apart when a throat was cleared and a gruff voice said, "Kayden?"
Kayden snapped to attention, releasing her so fast she stumbled. He crossed the room to speak to the stern-faced man before she could right herself. She watched them speak and chastised herself for kissing him that way, but she couldn't actually bring herself to regret it. Kayden turned and waved her over.
When she reached the men, Kayden put his arm around her waist. "I'd like to introduce you to my father, Gage Paris. He is the commander of the warrior class. Dad, this is Danielle Scott."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Paris." She stepped forward, extending her hand. She cringed a bit at the use of Jared's last name. Gage was tall and very muscular, just like Kayden. His hair was dark with just the slightest hints of gray at his temples. His eyes were the same hazel green as Kayden's. Gage looked rather young to hold such a high-ranking position, but she hadn't figured out all the vamp stuff yet. She really shouldn't have tried to guess his age. He could have been hundreds of years old, and she wouldn't know. How old would she live to be?
"The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Scott. I'm very sorry we had to meet under these circumstances, but I hope you'll be comfortable in our home." He bent to kiss her hand. It was an odd gesture, but it felt genuine and right.
"Please, call me Dani. I truly thank you for your hospitality. I needed to get away," she told him honestly.
Gage took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up for a better look at the cut on her head and her bruised cheek. "How did this happen? It's a shame to mar such a lovely face."
"It's nothing, really." She smiled wryly. "I had some aggression to work out today."
Kayden looked sheepish.
Gage laughed and shook his head. "No wonder you and Kayden get along so well. Perhaps you're right, Kayden. I'll see you two later at home." He bent to kiss her hand again and looked at Kayden knowingly before he departed.
They stood there, uncomfortable for a moment before he asked, "Are you ready to head out? I bet you'd like to rest awhile before dinner."
She just nodded and went to grab her other clothes and phone from the corner.
The ride to his home was short and silent. Dani felt like some kind of vamp slut. She really enjoyed that kiss and wouldn't mind another. Kayden also looked lost in thought.
The house was set back off the road, down a long driveway and behind a row of concealing trees. She wouldn't have seen it from the road if she'd driven by on her own. The large, red-brick house sat on beautifully landscaped grounds with flower gardens on either side of the road and a fountain out front. Kayden parked in a huge garage that housed several other cars, motorcycles, and four-wheelers. He came around to open her door before he grabbed her bags.
The house was modern and unassuming inside. The first floor was open and inviting. The dining room table was huge with large, sturdy chairs. She could imagine the room frequently filled with warriors visiting from the Enclave.
The guest room was on the first floor in the rear of the house. He carried her things into the room and placed them on the bed before kissing her on the forehead. She felt comfortable with Kayden and his affectionate touch, as if he'd done it a thousand times.
"I think dinner will be later than usual tonight. You can relax, and I'll come for you when it's ready. There are towels in the linen closet if you want to clean up, Tyson. I'll be here if you need anything." He smiled and tilted her face up to examine the cut and the bruise darkening her cheek. He tsk-tsked and left the room with an obviously guilty expression for having hit her. It wasn't his fault. He had tried to get her to wear headgear.
The room had a king-size bed and looked more like a master suite than a guest room to her. She looked around, noticing the French doors that led out to the back of the house and a yard that looked as if it were used frequently for entertaining. There was an outdoor kitchen and a pool fit for an Olympic event.
Eventually she made her way to the shower in the large, marble bathroom, and wondered at Kayden's comments about his humble home. Sure, it wasn't as big as the Vaughn estate, but the home would be a dream come true for most people. She was so tired, the hot water made her eyes want to close. She found a fluffy terry robe in the linen closet and wrapped it around herself. Staggering out of the bathroom, she fell on the bed. The bed was like a cloud, and she quickly felt herself slipping into a blissfully dark oblivion.
Kayden knocked on the bedroom door at dinnertime. It'd been nearly two hours since he'd left Dani to get settled. She didn't answer the door, so he knocked again but heard nothing from inside the room. The thickness of her scent told him she was there, so he turned the unlocked doorknob and peeked into the dark room. He really hoped he wouldn't get choked again.
"Dinner's ready, Dani," he said into the darkness and drew in a lungful of her sweet scent. She didn't answer. He opened the door farther to let in the light from the hall. The light splayed across her on the other side of the bed. He entered to wake her. "Dani, dinner's on the table."
He walked around the large bed and froze in his tracks. She wore only a bathrobe and, dear God, it was open. He could see the luscious curve of one breast, and half of her nipple was exposed. Most of her left side hung out. Her bare leg drew his eyes all the way up her thigh to the triangle of feminine beauty he so desperately wanted to touch and taste. She slept so soundly, with her soft lips parted and inviting.
He remembered the feel of those lips under his when she'd kissed him. He'd been shocked but elated to have her willingly bless him with such hot affection. Her lips were so damn sweet. Not only did she smell like floral vanilla, she tasted like it, too. In the moments he was allowed to worship her mouth, he could smell the blood on her face and was so confused by the intoxicating allure of it.
He again thought of tasting her blood and making love to her at the same time. The thought shocked him. Tasting her would have bonded her to him for the rest of their lives, and he had never wanted that with anyone else. He had never really made love to anyone. He'd had a lot of sex but never actually loved anyone. Looking at her made him want to find out what that would feel like. He wondered if he could love her.
Stepping closer to the bed, he wanted to touch that creamy bare skin with his hands, his body, and his lips. He needed to leave, before she woke and caught him gawking at her like a pervert. If he woke her, she'd be embarrassed that he'd seen her that way. She must have been exhausted after the day she'd had, so he let her sleep. If she were hungry later, he'd get her some food.
Kayden left the room quickly, quietly securing the door, and went straight to his room for a cold shower. He needed to get his head on straight if Dani was going to be staying in his home. He would need to learn how to balance his desire for her with his duty to protect her as his charge.
Dani woke up hours later and couldn't believe how long she'd slept. It was ten thirty, and she wondered if Kayden had ever come to get her for dinner. She dug out a nightgown and put it on under the robe to go look for him. The house was completely quiet, and she felt like an intruder walking around their private space. She smiled, imagining Kayden growing up there. It was the home that had helped shape him, just like her home had shaped her.
Her tummy rumbled-unsurprising, since she hadn't eaten all day. A creaking noise sounded from out back. Dani crept to the kitchen window, imagining assassins creeping around the yard looking for a way to get at her. She didn't see anyone at first, until a small movement caught her eye at the far end of the yard. There was someone swinging in a hammock out there. An odd thing to be doing on a fall night, she thought, but the day had been warm, and the night was supposed to be the same. She figured a killer wouldn't stop for a swing, and she wondered if it was Kayden out there. She wanted to talk to him. Her mom and Mason hadn't told her much about life as a vampire, and she wanted some more answers about vampire behavior and protocol. Kayden knew she wasn't raised among his kind, so he might answer her questions without too much suspicion.
She crept out of the French doors in the guest room onto the back lawn. She was fairly sure it was Kayden out there, and if it wasn't, she just hoped it wasn't a crazed vamp hunter on a break.
She padded softly over to the hammock and was relieved to see that it was, indeed, Kayden. He didn't open his eyes, so he startled her when he said, "Good evening, Danielle."
After finding her voice, she replied in a breathy whisper, "Hello, Mr. Paris."
"What are you doing out here?" He opened his eyes and gave her a crooked smile.