Chapter 6
Devon stared at Kohl, unsure if what she was seeing was actually what she was seeing.
Light reflected off the surface of his face and right arm, much like the moonlight shimmered on the surface of the water.
Jewel-like colors rippled across his skin in tiny waves that rose and fell into something that nearly resembled scales, but… not.
She blinked and looked again. Tilting the bottle in her hand, she read the label, wondering what the hell was in the wine. But all she saw were the normal ingredients and warnings.
When she raised her head to ask him straight out if he’d spiked her drink, Kohl’s fangs were fully extended and bared to her view, and his eyes glowed with that strange golden light she’d seen earlier at the club.
Was that normal for vampires? She’d never read anything about that in the files at work.
Recorded observations said only that their eyes would go black when they were “emotionally charged or feeding.”
“Kohl?” She tried unsuccessfully to keep the tremor from her voice.
He stood, the movement so sudden he was sitting in front of her one second and standing twenty feet away the next. With his back to her, he rubbed the back of his neck and stared out at the water.
Concerned, Devon stood also and went to him. Unsure what to do, she lightly touched his arm. “Kohl?”
He exhaled a short hard breath out his nose and let his head fall back, blinking up at the night sky. Then he dropped his hand from his neck and glanced over at her. “It’s okay. I’m good.”
She tried to lighten the mood. “Funny. You look awful.”
He barked out a laugh. “I’ll be fine. I just need a minute.”
His fangs weren’t quite as noticeable now, his skin appeared perfectly normal, and the glow was fading from his eyes.
Devon linked her fingers together in front of her and turned to look out over the water.
“Okay.” She didn’t say anything else, just stood there beside him, giving him the time he needed.
Maybe she was trying to prove to him that she wasn’t afraid of him.
Maybe she was trying to prove it to herself.
It was quiet here. Peaceful. Devon took a deep breath of the crisp, clean air, and let the gentle lapping of the water soothe her, and throw off the funk she’d put herself in by opening up old wounds.
She’d thought, after all this time, she’d be able to tell her story without it affecting her as much, but she’d been wrong.
Maybe she’d never get over it. Maybe she’d always be a pariah of society.
She sighed again, glad she had no family, no close friends, who were hurt by what had happened.
Not really. Her parents were both gone, and Devon had been an only child.
The friends she thought she’d had had abandoned her when the scandal broke out.
She was used to being alone. It didn’t bother her.
Much. And she had Frank. He was all the friend she could handle at the moment.
After a few minutes, she felt Kohl’s eyes on her. Standing side by side like this, the top of her head barely topped his shoulder. It was kinda strange for a girl who was used to being as tall or taller than many of the men she met. She felt tiny beside him. Fragile. She wasn’t sure she liked it.
“I’m sorry that happened to you because of us. Because of things like…me.”
Surprised his thoughts were running in that direction, she frowned up at him.
“It wasn’t because of you. It was because they thought the fact that they were human gave them the right to decide who lives and who dies.
They thought they were acting for God. Or that they were better than God.
I disagree with that logic. Who are we to decide what souls should be allowed to live, or not? ”
“Do you really believe I have a soul?” The words were hesitant, as though he were almost afraid to ask.
“Of course. We all have souls.”
“Hmph. If I have a soul, then it must be damned.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I’m a killer, Devon. I’ve done things.
Fucked up things. Things I couldn’t stop myself from doing.
Especially when I was young. I can try to act differently.
I can try to control it, and I usually can—now.
But at my core, I’m a predator. A killer.
” He watched her closely. “Thou shalt not kill, right? So, if you’re right, and I do have a soul, it must be damned. ”
His argument didn’t hold for her. “Animals are killers. They hunt for their food, or just for sport. Even sweet little cats and dogs. I don’t believe their souls are damned, because that’s how God made them.
It’s an instinct for them and, I would imagine, for you.
It doesn’t make you bad. Or evil. Not when you’re doing what you need to do to survive.
” Her voice rang with conviction, conviction that was real.
She truly believed everything she’d just said.
The Christian’s judgmental and vengeful God was not the God she believed in.
His eyes were intense on her face, as though he was trying to see right through to her soul.
It made her uncomfortable, and she twisted her fingers together self-consciously in front of her.
His interest in her as a person was more than she was ready for.
Hot, sweaty vampire sex she could handle.
But not more than that. Not right now. Not with him.
Forcing a smile, she said, “Should we get back to our picnic before the ants carry off my dinner?”
The spell was broken, and she watched as the tension visibly left his body. “I have them spray for ants.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, then, how about we get back to dinner because I’m still hungry, and I don’t want all of the trouble you went through to go to waste?”
“We can do that,” he said. “But first…”
Devon blinked as he disappeared from her line of vision. A second later he was back. Music drifted to her from the direction of his bike. The song was slow. A bluesy, soulful mixture of country and rock she instantly fell in love with.
He held out a hand. “Will you dance with me?”
The old-fashioned gesture was out of place in this day and age…
and completely endearing. Her heart pounding out of her chest, she took his hand and stepped up to him, her other hand finding his shoulder.
Muscle moved beneath her fingers as he pulled her in close and tucked their joined hands against his chest, and she found herself swaying in perfect time to the beat.
She fit against him like a puzzle piece. “Who is this band?”
“They’re called Lucero.”
“I like them.”
He rumbled a response, and his arm slid beneath her open jacket and tightened around her back. Devon closed her eyes and laid her head against his chest, happy to shut up for the moment and just enjoy the warmth of his body and the pleasure of being so close to him.
They danced in silence for a while, swaying to the raw twang of the singer’s voice.
She felt drunk. And it had nothing to do with the wine.
Kohl’s heartbeat was strong beneath her ear, and his big arms held her safe against him, shielding her from all of the messed up shit in the world.
For that short time, there was no one and nothing else but the two of them, and Devon found herself wishing the song would never end.
Until it did.
As the last notes faded away and their dance gradually slowed until they were no longer moving, she went to step away. But instead of releasing her, Kohl slid his hand up her back until he reached her nape. Gripping a handful of hair, he tugged gently until she tilted her head back.
His eyes travelled over her face and locked on her mouth. “I want to kiss you.”
Her breath hitched as she waited. But he just stared at her lips, his eyes bright with hunger.
Was he waiting for her permission? “You can kiss me, Kohl,” she said.
His heart began to pound so hard she felt it vibrate in her own chest. Or maybe that was her heart. It was hard to tell where he ended and she began at this point.
His upper lip lifted, flashing his fangs. A growl rumbled low in his throat and his hand tightened in her hair. But he still made no move toward her.
“Kohl, please kiss me.” She tightened her hand on his shoulder and rose up onto her toes, bringing their lips closer. “Kiss me,” she ordered.
That strange light came on behind his eyes until they glowed the color of amber.
Releasing the hand he still held, he cupped his large palm against the side of her face.
“So beautiful,” he whispered. His head lowered inch by inch, until he was so close she could smell the sweet scent of the wine on his breath.
Devon’s blood pounded through her veins, making her lightheaded.
Her entire body clenched with need. Sliding her free hand around his back and up to his other shoulder, she pulled, closing the distance between them until his lips touched hers.
He moaned at the contact, and she tentatively tasted him, running the tip of her tongue along his lower lip.
He tasted like wine and wind and barely restrained passion.
She wanted to break through that restraint, wanted to feel him unleash the animalistic lust she felt simmering beneath the surface.
She wanted to feel like a woman desired by a man above anything and everything else.
Sucking his lip into her mouth, she bit him.
He released a growl of need and pulled her head away until she could see his face. “Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked her. “You see what I am?”
Devon met his glowing eyes. “I see you, Kohl. I’ve never wanted a man more.”
He frowned at that. “I’m not a man, Devon.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that I’m aching for you to touch me.
” She wasn’t lying. She did ache—her breasts felt swollen, her nipples overly sensitive.
Heat pooled between her legs, and her loins felt heavy, raw lust rolling through her in waves.
“Please,” she whispered. “I want this. I just want tonight.”
With a sound of surrender, he relaxed his grip on her hair and lowered his mouth back to hers. This time he kissed her with a need that matched her own.
Yet, he trembled with unleashed power in her arms. He was still holding back.
Linking both arms around his neck, she slid her tongue into his mouth, skimming his fangs to either side, and without thinking, she touched the tip of one with her tongue.
Kohl’s fingers dug into her back and his entire body jerked against her.
There was a brief sting of pain when his fang cut her, and she moaned.
With a low growl, he sucked her tongue into his mouth, lifted her off the ground, and held her tight against him.
He ravaged her mouth with his, kissing her with a desperation Devon felt all the way down to her bones.
And then, suddenly, he dropped her back onto her feet and pulled away.
Devon took a step toward him, but he threw both hands up in front of him, palms out.
However, that didn’t stop her as much as the predatory look in his eyes.
Once more, she saw the skin ripple on his arms as he dropped them back down to his sides, his chest rising and falling with deep, ragged breaths.
“Stay there.” His voice sounded harsh and the words came out sounding thick, like he was having trouble pronouncing the sounds.
Devon stopped. “Kohl? What’s wrong? Did I do something?”
He shook his head, but kept his eyes on the ground.
Not knowing what else to do, Devon pulled her coat tighter against the sudden chill that ran through her.
After a few minutes, he scrubbed his face with his hands and raised his eyes to hers. The light was gone, but that didn’t make them burn any less. “I’m sorry,” he told her. “I lost control.”
“So, is this…” She stopped. Tears blurred her vision. She didn’t know why. She barely knew the guy. Devon cleared her throat. It was probably just a reaction from being so worked up only to come crashing down again. “So, is this something that can’t ever happen between us, then?”