Kraven Read online

  “What’s wrong?”

  She looked up from her food, the fork paused in midair. “Nothing.”

  He arched an eyebrow, staring at her. It was clear he didn’t buy it.

  “Nothing I’d like to share,” she corrected.

  “Bat.”

  “Kraven.” She stabbed her fork into a chunk of sesame chicken. “I was just thinking about something. That’s all. My thoughts are private.”

  “What are you plotting now?”

  “Who says I am?”

  “It’s what you do. Tell me what put that expression on your face.”

  “I was worried about Dusti, of course.”

  “Don’t lie to me. Something else is wrong. I told you she was fine.”

  He seemed to be getting to know her a little too well. She refused to admit it depressed her, thinking about when he finally went home. They could never make a relationship work between them. He didn’t seem comfortable in her world and she never wanted to step foot in Alaska again.

  She studied him across the table. Kraven was a very attractive man. There was no denying that. His eyes were unusual with their light blue intensity, and fascinating. She could stare into them all day. He had handsome features but no one would ever compare him to a pretty boy. The hair looked a thousand times better without the spikes. His broad shoulders and muscles couldn’t be ignored either. He dwarfed her dining room table and looked out of place in her condo.

  It was best if they just ended it for good.

  A memory flashed of the day before on the plane, when she’d told him they wouldn’t have sex again. That had lasted about five minutes or less. He’d kissed her on his lap and she’d ended up joining the mile-high club. It was impossible to think when he touched her. The sexual attraction was too strong.

  She was screwed. Literally and figuratively, she admitted.

  She’d invited him to share her bed. That had been a mistake, but one she didn’t regret. The time they had would be over once her grandfather gave up whatever the hell he’d hoped to do. She wasn’t going to agree to live with some guy who did a statue impression in his spare time.

  “Bat,” he urged. “I’m waiting.”

  “Fine.” She looked up, holding his gaze. “It’s been a rough few days. My life has changed and I’m evaluating what that means.” That was close to the truth.

  “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  Who’s going to protect me from a broken heart? She shoved a bite of chicken into her mouth. It tasted sweet for such a bitter moment. She’s sworn she’d never fall in love with another man. The first time had been too painful. But she feared Kraven would make the past look tame in comparison.

  “I’d do anything to protect you.”

  She swallowed. “Stop.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t say things like that.”

  “It’s the truth.”

  “Well, it shouldn’t be.” She stabbed another piece of chicken with her fork. “Just like you urging me to trust you. Enough already.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  She lost her appetite. “I’m tired. That’s all. I’m going to bed.”

  “You barely touched your food.”

  She set the fork down and pushed away from the table, standing. “I’m getting a headache. It’s probably because we’re finally out of that damn car. Like reverse motion sickness.” She just needed to put some space between them to think. He was too damn appealing. “Make yourself at home and climb into my bed if you really think some rock guy is going to burst through the windows at some point.”

  Kraven frowned.

  “Good night.”

  He rose fast and came around the table to block her from escaping. It wasn’t a surprise. He wasn’t the type to just let a woman walk away. She stared up at him.

  “Hellion,” he rasped. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”

  “Stop calling me that.”

  “You like giving me hell. It fits.”

  She’d give him that. “I just need some space, okay?”

  “Why?” He reached out, seeming intent on stroking her arm.

  “We just spent a really long time sharing a front seat. Isn’t that enough?”

  He tried to touch her again.

  She backed away and bumped her ass on the edge of the table. “Don’t.”

  “This again?”

  “What?”

  “Are you going to keep fighting what’s between us?”

  She held his gaze. “No. I learned that lesson yesterday. You can seduce me easily. I have the carpet burn on my ass to prove it.”

  That earned her a scowl. “You’re hurt? Let me see.”

  “Forget it. It’s not bad. I’m just a bit tender in that region. The skin isn’t broken or anything, just a little red. I wasn’t even aware of it until I used body soap. It burned a bit. Sitting in a car through three states probably didn’t help either.”

  “I can heal it.”

  “No thanks.”

  “I want to take care of you.”

  She decided to just be honest. “That’s the problem. I don’t want to trust you. And I don’t want you to make offers like that.”

  “Your life has changed, Bat, and there’s no going back to the way it was.”

  “Bullshit.” Her temper flared. “My grandfather will get a damn life or drop dead, whatever works, and you’ll go back to Alaska. I belong here. You don’t. This can’t go anywhere. I don’t want to depend on you for anything, Kraven.” She glanced down his body, then back up. “So keep your hands to yourself and let’s make it easier on both of us when the time comes to say goodbye.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Yes, it will. You’re Alaska and I’m Southern California. See the problem?”

  His frown deepened.

  “I’m a lawyer. You’re an enforcer. I don’t really even know exactly what your job entails but I have a good idea. You kick ass with your body for a living and terrify people. I use my mouth to defend the type of people you probably beat up. You can control minds and literally go all beast. I can’t do that. Sex isn’t everything—and that’s really the only thing we have in common. It’s not enough. It’s all good at first but we have to get out of bed at some point. You know what I mean. Then what do we have? Nada. Nothing.”

  He inhaled and blew it out. “You’re my mate, Bat.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Hell no.”

  He actually smiled. “I thought that myself when I realized what you were to me. I understand we’re vastly different.” His expression sobered. “It doesn’t change the truth. We are mates. You’re mine and I’m yours.”

  “I’m not an animal. I can’t have a mate.” She slid along the table to avoid touching him. “I refuse.”

  He sidestepped and pinned her with his big body. “It doesn’t work that way.”

  “This is your problem, not mine. No.”

  “We’ve already begun the bonding.”

  She sagged against the table, happy it was behind her as she used it to support her weight. “What in the hell does that mean?”

  “I’ve taken your blood, and you’ve had mine.” His tone softened. “Remember when you had that headache after crossing the river? I fed you my blood to heal you. And I took a lot of yours when my back was torn up. I’m certain we’re mates. You might not have the instincts I do, but trust me, it’s a fact. We’re going to be together.”

  She just gawked at him, speechless. It couldn’t be. She wasn’t an animal. Animals mated. People dated, made commitments, and married. Then divorced, more often than not.

  “Easy, baby.” He reached out and gently grasped her upper arms. “Breathe. You’re hyperventilating.”

  She was. She forced her eyes closed and focused on her body. Her heart pounded and she was having a hard time catching her breath. She also felt faint. It made her panic. Passing out was for wimps, something she wasn’t.

  “Fuck.” Kraven just scooped her i