Chapter 5 #2
He wanted to kiss those lips. The urge to taste them came upon him so strong and sudden he even leaned toward her a little before he remembered himself and snapped up straight.
But he couldn’t stop his eyes from traveling down her body.
Tonight, she wore flat-heeled black shoes, a pair of dark jeans that hugged her hips and thighs, and a silky looking red top—the exact color of blood when it first left the body—open at the throat just enough to expose a “V” of smooth skin.
She had a small beauty mark that was slightly off center at the bottom of her throat.
A solitary diamond pendant sparkled just above the swell of her breasts, slightly larger than the one in her nose.
Her eyes widened as she took in his appearance. “I think I’m underdressed. Let me go change. I’ll just be a minute.” She set the basket down on a side table that sat near the door and started walking away before he could answer, leaving him on the other side of the threshold.
“Uh, Devon—”
She stopped and turned. “Oh! I’m sorry. Please, Kohl. Come in.”
He did, shutting the door behind him. “You don’t need to change. You look…stunning.”
“But you’re all dressed up and I just threw on some jeans.”
“I like your jeans,” he told her honestly. “I really like your jeans.”
She stared at him wide-eyed a moment, then burst out laughing, and he felt himself relax as he grinned back at her without shame.
When she could speak again, she put her hands on her hips. The movement widened the “V” at her throat, exposing more of her sun-kissed brown skin. “Well, where are we going? And I’ll decide if I need to put on something nicer.”
Kohl tore his eyes away from her neckline, his tongue touching the tips of his fangs before he spoke, attempting to ease the ache there before they fully descended and made him look like some kind of prepubescent vampire who had no self control.
“Actually, I thought we could have a picnic. Somewhere away from the crowds, if that’s okay?
It’s a warm night for January, but I don’t think it’s going to rain.
I have a blanket, and I can start a fire.
I also picked up some food for you on the way over.
I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just got a little of everything.
And wine. White and red. I don’t know what you prefer… ”
He trailed off as she stared at him with a smile touching her lips, her head tilted to the side. “I’m talking too much again.” Shoving his hands in his pockets to hide his nervousness, he looked down at his shoes, wondering what the hell was the matter with him.
Something about this woman just…undid him.
“A picnic would be nice. Honestly, I really don’t like going out in public much, for obvious reasons. Let me grab my coat.”
He exhaled the breath he’d been holding as she walked into another room.
Without her taking up his focus, he noticed his surroundings for the first time.
The apartment was roughly the size of a shoebox.
He could reach the opposite wall in three strides.
And he knew that because he counted as he walked over to the window.
But the view of downtown Austin was beautiful.
The city lights sparkled against the night sky like something out of a movie.
He glanced up, hoping the weather would hold.
It was cloudy, which was good because it wasn’t too cold for her.
But it also meant things could change at any moment.
Texas weather was unpredictable as fuck.
“Okay, I’m ready.” Her black jacket fell just below her hips and looked warm.
After making sure she locked her door behind them, he escorted her out of the building to his ride.
When she saw it, parked in the guest spot directly in front of the building, she pulled up short. “Wow. I’m glad I didn’t change into a dress.”
Kohl studied her reaction, wishing he had Hawke’s gift of reading people. “We can take your car if you’d be more comfortable.”
A huge grin broke out across her face, lighting up the night, and he lost his breath once more.
“Oh, hell no. This is perfect.” She grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward. “Come on, Kohl!” Without waiting for him, she threw a leg over the seat of his Harley and put her hands on the grips as she admired the matte black paint job.
He had to admit, she looked damn fine straddling all that power.
“How do you start this monster?”
“It’s a 2014 Harley Fatboy.” Kohl unbuckled the helmet from the strap of the saddlebag and handed it to her. “And we’re not going anywhere until you put this on.”
Rolling her eyes, she took the helmet from him and stuck it on her head. “What about you?”
“I’ll be all right.”
All of the light left her face and she was suddenly serious. “Oh. That’s right. I almost forgot for a minute.”
He watched her intently. “Does it bother you that much? That I’m not like you?”
Devon met his eyes as she buckled the strap under her chin. “No. Not tonight.”
“Are you sure?”
The smile returned, not as bright as it was, but still there. “I’m sure.”
But the shift in her energy didn’t match her words, and Kohl felt a sharp prick of pain in the center of his chest. It swiftly stretched and grew until his sternum felt on the verge of collapse, and he silently cursed.
Vampire emotions ran higher than humans, but dragons…
well, dragons were jacked up empaths. Between the two, Kohl felt things on a level that was unheard of, even for other supernatural creatures. “Devon. I won’t hurt you.”
She frowned, her hands falling into her lap. “I know you won’t.”
She sounded more convinced than he felt. “Good.” He approached the bike and indicated for her to scoot back.
With a sigh of disappointment, she did.
Kohl lifted the bike off the kickstand and got on in front of her, glad he’d worn pants with a little give. He made sure it was in neutral, put the key in the switch on top of the gas tank, turned it to the on position, and pushed the start button.
The engine rumbled to life as Devon’s arms slid around his waist. She linked her fingers at the waistline of his pants and leaned into him, her open coat falling to either side of his hips.
He was so aware of her, he could feel the heat of her skin and the lace of her bra through her shirt.
His cock, semi-hard since she’d opened the door to her apartment, swelled to an uncomfortable size.
Kohl had never been so grateful that he had no need for protection against the cold.
He kicked the bike into gear and eased out into downtown traffic, needing to focus on something other than his passenger. He managed, barely, even with her full breasts pressed against his back and his ass nestled between her thighs.
The forty-minute ride was way too short, and he spent most of it wishing they could just keep going. Leave everyone and everything behind and live on the road, with the cool night air in his face and this woman tucked up warm against his back.
But instead, Kohl slowed down and turned onto a narrow paved road, ducking his head to avoid the low hanging branches of the trees that formed a canopy overhead.
They’d left the city a while back, and a few minutes later, he saw moonlight glittering on the surface of a large lake as it peeked through the clouds.
The road ended abruptly, dead-ending into the grass, and Kohl turned the bike so it faced back the way they’d just came and turned off the engine.
The gentle lapping of water hitting the shoreline and an easy breeze rustling through the trees were the only sounds he heard.
It was too early in the year for the hum of cicadas or the songs of crickets.
And other than some rabbits and perhaps a coyote or two, most of the animals in the area were sure to be hunkered down for the night.
Putting the kickstand down, he braced the bike while Devon climbed off. She pulled off her helmet, trying to fix her hair as she looked around. “What is this place? It’s got to be someone’s property. Is it okay that we’re here?”
He opened one of the saddlebags and pulled out a blanket and a battery-operated lantern. “It’s mine.”
She swung around to look at him. “Yours? This land is yours?”
“Yup.” He walked out into the grass and found a good spot close to the water. “I bought it a while back, before everyone started moving out here.”
“That must have been a long time ago.”
He didn’t answer, wondering if knowing his true age would bother her.
Eventually Devon looked around again. “How big is your lot?”
“It’s about ten acres.”
“Ten acres of lakefront property. Wow.”
Kohl laid the blanket out and glanced around as he rolled up his sleeves.
At one time, he’d had thoughts of building a home here.
A place for him and his mom where they could be themselves.
Back then, the closest neighbor was miles away.
But after she’d died, it took him a long time to come back here.
And by that time, humans had started buying up the available land surrounding his property.
“I hired people to keep an acre mowed and free of fire ant mounds, and to take care of the trees—” He glanced overhead and she followed his gaze.
Mostly tall, leafy oaks and maples, which is what had attracted him to this acreage in particular, even though he’d never be able to enjoy warm days on the lake.
“The rest of the land I’m leaving the way nature intended. ”
“What are you going to do with it?”
He glanced at Devon as he turned on the lantern and set it beside the blanket. “Nothing.”