Arctic Bite Read online

  He could be a one-night stand.

  But what if he stayed around? That could be awkward.

  Or maybe it would lead to more than one night of hot, sweaty sex.

  Would that be such a bad thing?

  “Stop it,” she muttered, trying to silence the naughty voice in her head urging her to take him for a roll in her sheets.

  Cassie turned down the heat on the water, amping up the cold. Her body was pumping out enough heat to steam the room.

  Was he who he seemed to be? Suspicion was an ugly thing, but it had also kept her alive. Problem was, the only way to know for sure would be to use her gifts to take a peek. Even a small pulse of energy might alert any searcher in the area. Not to mention what Alexei might do if he wasn’t what he seemed to be.

  She hummed as she shut off the water and reached for her towel. It wasn’t a song she’d ever heard before. Just something she made up in her head. It calmed her and helped her think.

  After quickly towelling off, she pulled on the robe she kept on the back of the door. It was almost three o’clock in the morning. She should be exhausted, but if anything, she was more alert than ever. Before she’d defected from her job, she hadn’t needed to sleep at all, but now she needed a few hours to keep her energy levels up.

  You can do this.

  When she opened the door, he was seated on the ugly couch with his head tilted back and his eyes shut, exposing the strong column of his neck. She wanted to run her teeth over his throat before kissing him again.

  He was a great kisser.

  Sensing her presence, he slowly lowered his head and opened his eyes. She pulled the sides of the robe more securely around her neck and curled her toes into the thin, worn carpet. “Uh, the bathroom is yours if you want it. Good night.”

  She rushed into her bedroom and shut the door before she jumped his gorgeous body. There was no lock. It had never been necessary before. And, even now, she wasn’t sure if she was trying to protect herself or him.

  She could shove her dresser in front of it. It wouldn’t stop him from gaining access, but it would give her enough warning to bail out the window. In her heart, she knew if he heard her moving the piece of furniture it would hurt his feelings. Plus, she wouldn’t have asked him to her home if she didn’t trust him on some level. He’d obviously walked to The Pit. He could have gotten home the same way.

  God, she was dithering.

  “You’ve lost it.” She ditched the robe, pulled on thick socks and a pair of flannel pajamas, and dove into bed. Huddled under the covers, she listened intently. The shower came on a few seconds later.

  On a groan of frustration, she rolled onto her back. Unable to help herself, she imagined him completely unclothed. It wasn’t hard to do since she’d been mentally undressing him for most of the night. His sweater might be bulky, but without a doubt, there wasn’t a shred of fat under it. Only ripped, hard muscle.

  Sweat beaded on her brow. She was one giant bundle of sexual frustration. The throbbing between her thighs intensified with each passing second.

  Cursing herself as an idiot, she shoved her hand beneath the waistband of her pajama pants. She kept going until she was touching herself. The damp folds between her thighs were slick with need.

  She bit her bottom lip to hold back a moan, but it escaped anyway. An image of him formed in her mind—massive biceps, a thick chest, and ripped abs. And that’s just what was above the waist.

  She shivered and thrust two fingers deep into her moist core. Her inner muscles pulsed, clutching at them. How much better would it be if it were his fingers inside her?

  Or his cock.

  “Hmmm.” She didn’t bother to mute herself. After all, he couldn’t hear her. Might as well enjoy her fantasy.

  And that’s all it was, all it could be. Reality was a bitch. While she was attracted to him, it would be stupid to indulge. And she hadn’t survived since leaving her old life by making unwise decisions. One tiny slipup could lead to disaster.

  As much as she might want to jump Alexei and indulge her wildest fantasies, they’d have to remain just that for the foreseeable future.

  It was better that way, for both of them.

  …

  Frigid water bounced off his chest and trickled down to his groin as he ran the bar of soap over his torso. It had zero effect on his erection.

  He could jerk off in Cassie’s shower. But that seemed…impolite.

  Hearing something, he angled his head to one side and listened. Had she moaned? Had she injured herself?

  He was halfway out of the shower when he heard another. This one was long and sultry. It was a moan, not one of pain but pleasure.

  Dear God, she was getting herself off. Was she thinking of him? Please let her be thinking of him.

  His dick jerked in agreement.

  Giving into the growing need that would no longer be ignored, he wrapped his hand around his shaft and stroked, all the while listening intently for any tiny sound she might make. If he shut off the water, she might stop, fearing he’d hear her.

  Maybe she wouldn’t. It was better not to take that chance.

  The soapy water made it easier for him to pump his hand up and down his hard length. His balls, which had already been trying to climb up into his body, squeezed tauter. His breathing grew heavier, making it difficult to hear her in the other room.

  Then her moans grew louder, more frantic. He swallowed back a growl, wishing he could see her. Was she nude under the covers? Maybe she wore a skimpy nightgown? Her lush lips would be parted, her head thrown back in ecstasy. His brain seized at the images that poured through it.

  Release shot up his shaft and out the tip. He kept going, milking his shaft until there was nothing left.

  Pressing both hands against the tile, he sucked in a breath. Had he yelled when he came? He honestly couldn’t be sure. He’d roared in his head.

  It was time to get out before she started to wonder what was taking him so long. He washed and rinsed in record time before turning off the water. The silence was broken by only the drip of the faucet.

  It didn’t take him long to dry off and drag back on his clothes. He didn’t have anything clean, so it was them or nothing. In spite of just having an orgasm, his cock hadn’t relaxed, not one bit. The damn thing wasn’t content with a hand job. No, it wanted the real deal with her and not just virtual sex. And so did he. Not bothering to dry his hair, he left the bathroom.

  The couch didn’t look any more appealing than it had earlier, so he tossed the pillow on the floor and stretched out, rolling around until he was settled. Not exactly the most comfortable of beds, but nowhere near the worst he’d ever slept on.

  For a brief second, he considered shifting. He’d be much more comfortable in his polar form. But he couldn’t risk it. No telling how she’d respond if she caught him.

  Better to be safe and uncomfortable than take the chance. Just because she read as a non-paranormal didn’t mean she was.

  Or she might be exactly what she seemed.

  And his thoughts were going around in circles again. The orgasm hadn’t made anything clearer.

  To make himself more comfortable, he dragged the blankets onto the floor and made a pallet from them instead of using them as a cover. With his hands folded behind his head, he stared at the ceiling.

  He inhaled deeply, trying to scent her arousal. Had she found release? Impossible to tell. The bedroom door was a solid barrier between them.

  Alexei smothered a groan and rolled to his side so he was facing her room. She was in there, all snug and warm, probably sleepy from her orgasm.

  His erection punched against the zipper of his jeans, but he ignored it. He needed to think with his big brain, not his small one.

  Someone wanted her dead. And since the only people with knowledge about him and his Brothers were alm
ost exclusively other paranormals, he had to assume there was something about her he was missing.

  Because if she was fully human, any paranormal could have already taken her life. It would be ridiculously easy considering where she was living. It was so isolated here. And she lived alone.

  No, she wouldn’t have stood a chance against a real predator.

  He was glad he’d come and not one of his other brethren. There were some who might have already completed the job and moved on.

  A few teetered on the edge and needed to be watched.

  He inhaled deeply and forced himself to relax. “Good night, Cassie,” he whispered under his breath.

  Chapter Four

  As soon as Cassie woke, she glanced at the clock and her mouth fell open. It was nine o’clock.

  Now for most people that would be normal, maybe even early since she hadn’t crawled into bed until three in the morning, but she wasn’t anywhere near normal. Cloaking her abilities made it necessary for her to sleep, yes, but never for six hours straight. A couple of hours or so, and then she’d spend the rest of the night fooling around on her computer or watching movies or reading. She never let down her guard that much.

  Last night, she had.

  And the reason for that was sleeping out in her living room.

  She pulled her pillow over her head to smother a groan. She’d brought a strange man home last night, got herself off while listening to him shower, and then slept like a baby.

  I’ve lost it.

  There was no other explanation. Why was she so drawn to him? Was he more than just a nice guy who was totally hot?

  Since staying in bed wasn’t going to resolve anything, she flung the pillow to the side and crawled out of bed, all the while listening intently. Was he already up? Was that rustling she heard?

  Wasting no time, she yanked off her nightclothes and pulled on fresh underwear, jeans, and a long-sleeved purple T-shirt. She enjoyed wearing colors, something she hadn’t been able to do in her previous occupation.

  Death favored black. And they had a dress code.

  She topped it with a purple hoodie and a pair of canvas sneakers. Even with the heat blasting, there was still a nip to the air in the apartment. A pair of her favorite earrings, a glitter of stars for each ear, finished her look.

  Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. The couch was empty, and the blankets were neatly folded and sitting on one end with the pillow beside them.

  “Good morning.” The deep rumbling voice coming from her tiny galley kitchen made her blood thicken. Rumpled and as sexy as ever, he leaned against the doorframe, coffee mug in hand.

  He was only half dressed, his T-shirt tossed across the living room chair beside his sweater. But a partially naked Alexei was simply too much to ignore.

  His impossibly broad chest tapered down to a lean waist. His abs were the stuff of wet dreams. And the muscles in his arms flexed and rippled with every move he made.

  Was her tongue hanging out? She feared it might be but didn’t want to reach up to check.

  I’m supposed to be angry that he’s made free with my kitchen.

  “Here.” He handed her the mug of coffee. “No milk and two sugars, right? That’s how you had it last night.”

  And her anger fizzled and died. How could she be upset with a man who not only made her coffee but also remembered how she liked it? Not to mention he’d folded the blankets she’d given him.

  “Ah, thanks.” Their fingers grazed when he handed her the mug. Goose bumps raced up her arm. She took a healthy swallow, needing the shot of caffeine.

  “You’re welcome.” He turned away, treating her to a view of his back. His amazingly wide and sexy back. The man was incredibly built without the bulkiness of a weight lifter. All his muscles had to come from physical labor of some kind.

  That just made him even more appealing.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” he continued. “But I made breakfast.” He stuck his head back around the divide. “I’ll replace the groceries as soon as the stores open.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “I was hungry.”

  It was the grin that did it. Not a wholehearted smile. Just a tiny curve of the lips, but it was enough to have her almost melting at his feet.

  The man was lethal to her senses.

  “Why don’t you sit down,” he continued, “so I can serve you?”

  She could think of a hundred other ways he could serve her, and none of them had to do with food.

  Down girl. She made her way to the small table and sat, giving herself a perfect view. And not at the landscape beyond the window. No, she was much more interested in what was inside.

  Not the least bit chilled anymore, she unzipped her hoodie. With a dishtowel slung over one shoulder, Alexei finished scrambling eggs.

  No one had ever cooked a meal for her. She didn’t include eating out. She’d paid for those. But this—her traitorous heart skipped a beat—was different. He was cooking for her, just because.

  Because he’s hungry.

  Maybe so, but logic was taking a backseat to emotion at this particular moment.

  He turned, pan in hand, and poured the eggs into a large bowl. “I would have gone out for breakfast, but I wanted to do something to thank you for letting me crash here last night.”

  Okay, it was official. This guy wasn’t for real. He couldn’t be. “You’re a serial killer, right?”

  Unable to believe she’d blurted something so stupid, she was tempted to bang her head against the table. Control was her strong point, what she was known for. Being around Alexei was turning her into a blithering idiot.

  In her defense, she was used to knowing these things. It had been her job to be aware of every death. On the flipside, she also recognized the murderers. Having to figure this stuff out on her own wasn’t easy and gave her a new appreciation of what people dealt with on a daily basis.

  Was it her imagination or did those big shoulders slump slightly?

  He gently placed the pan in the sink, walked to the living room, and pulled on his T-shirt.

  “I’m sorry.” She jumped out of her chair. “I’m so sorry. It’s just that—” How could she explain this? “No one has ever made breakfast for me before.”

  He slowly turned and faced her. “I’ve never made breakfast for anyone before.”

  Wow, now she felt extra special, and twice as bad. “I really didn’t mean to call you a serial killer. It’s just that you seem too good to be true.”

  He flinched slightly and raked his fingers through his thick head of hair. The arms of his shirt strained around his biceps. She was sorry he’d put it on and had no one to blame but herself.

  “I’m not perfect,” he told her in a quiet voice. He was so still it was almost unnerving.

  “Neither am I.” She reached out and touched his arm. “Obviously. Now why don’t we enjoy this wonderful breakfast you’ve made?”

  “You’re sure?” That he would ask made her caution thaw the tiniest bit. And what a liar she was. She didn’t seem to have any caution around Alexei.

  “I’m sure.” She went back to the table, took her seat, and gave him a look of expectation.

  The grunt he gave was indecipherable, but he went back to the kitchen, picked up the bowl, and brought it to the table.

  …

  He’d almost blown it. Of course she’d be suspicious of a guy who stayed the night and then took over her kitchen and cooked her food. He’d already established she was friendly but kept people at arm’s length. Just allowing him to sleep on her couch—she didn’t know he’d slept on the floor—was a huge deal.

  She was probably hoping he’d be gone by the time she woke up. Maybe he should have left, allowed her to wake up in privacy, but he hadn’t been ready to let go.

  He’d told himself it was for work. There was so much more
he needed to know about her. But he also hadn’t been ready for the evening to end.

  A sleepless night spent on the floor, not even in the same room with Cassie, was one of the best of his life. What that said about him, he wasn’t sure. Maybe it was a testament to how much she drew him in.

  Maybe she was a siren. Not that he was sure they even existed. He’d heard rumors, but no one he knew had ever actually seen one. And if they were real, they would probably congregate nearer warmer waters. Not as many men to lure to their deaths around here.

  And it was all nothing but speculation.

  They were mostly silent as they devoured breakfast. He’d found bacon and ham and eggs and bread and had used it all. He wasn’t kidding when he’d said he was hungry. As soon as he left here, he was going to hit up a couple of restaurants for their breakfast specials. Until then, this filled a hole.

  “So what are your plans for today?” It was the first time she’d spoken since asking him to stay.

  “I’ll probably wander around town. See what there is to see.” There had to be something he could do to pass the time. He could always go back to the place he was currently staying and sleep.

  Unlike most vamps, Alexei could be up and about during the day, thanks to his shifter side. But he wasn’t at his strongest or his best and tended to nap a lot.

  Cassie picked up her mug and drank the last of her coffee. “You said you’re traveling, but what do you do for a living?”

  Without her asking, he retrieved the pot and poured them both another round before settling back at the table again. This was a question he was frequently asked when he was out in the world so he was ready with an answer.

  “I buy and sell real estate.”

  She paused in the act of adding sugar to her mug. “Real estate?”

  He shrugged. “People always need places to live.” That had always been true. And he’d picked up land over a hundred or more years ago for a song that was now worth a fortune. Rather than sell, he’d developed apartments, malls, and subdivisions all over the world. Or at least his company had.