Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Should she be disgusted or curious? Was it possible to be both? “The partners? They were willing?”
“Very. Apparently, Kurjans are unique even in the world of sex and money. Don’t forget that we can read people. I promise, with my utmost assurance, that I’ve never been with an unwilling partner. We’re not the monsters you think.”
It was the most he’d ever said to her at once. “But you’ve forced females to mate through the centuries.”
“So have the vampires and demons, until recently. Same with humans—who still do so. There are plenty of human countries where fathers give daughters away, even today.”
She couldn’t argue with his facts. “It’s wrong.”
“Yes. Which is why we’re changing. You saw Paxton sign the new directives into law.”
She had, which is why she felt comfortable with the speed dating. “Besides these sex houses, have you ever been with a female? Or a male?” Curiosity. It had its grasp on her.
“Yes. Female, not male. No judgment, but I like females.” Still too close to her, his gaze swept her body, leaving tingles everywhere those twilight blue eyes lingered. “The sun harms us. Not the moon. My cousin and I often ventured into human cities and bars to meet females.” His thumb caressed her cheekbone again. “That’s a familiar practice for all Kurjans. By masking the red if there’s any in our hair, wearing contacts, and darkening our skin, we look almost human.”
Oh. Well, all righty then. “Good. I’m happy for you.”
His lips parted. Not in a smile but perhaps the promise of one. “Disappointed?”
“No,” she lied.
“Hmm.” Now his gaze dropped to her lips. “Falsehoods from you don’t seem right,” he mused. His fingers tangled in her hair and he tugged back her head, his mouth on hers before she could take a breath.
Rough, wet, and hard, he kissed her, forcing every thought out of her brain. Liquid magma poured down her throat, turning her body into an inferno surrounded by frigid air.
Hot and cold.
Fire and ice.
Passion and need.
His tongue swept hers, and her body burned hotter. Blood pounded into her clit. He pulled her closer, against unmovable hard muscle.
She kissed him back, overtaken. All of her softening into pure female, a hundred percent, in a way she’d never imagined.
He lifted away, and she murmured in protest, slowly opening her eyelids. Needing him. He slowly turned his head, his gaze sharpening as it landed on the main lodge.
“Wha—” she started.
Then the windows on the top floor blew out in a shattering explosion, glass flying and fire shooting outside only to be sucked back in as if swallowed by a massive vacuum.
“Paxton!” Vero yelled, releasing her and running toward the flames.
Chapter Eight
Vero barreled toward the burning building and cleared the stairs before kicking open the front door and running inside. Jonathan and the other males herded the females outside to safety. “Go with them,” Vero ordered Lyrica.
She grasped a visibly shaking Genevieve to escort out.
Smoke had already filtered down the stairs to choke the air in the main gathering room. He ran to the right and took the stairs five at a time, skidding on the landing just as Paxton careened out of his room with Hope in his arms.
Vero reached him almost immediately. “Is she okay? How bad is she hurt?”
Hope looked at him, her blue eyes blinking. “I’m fine. I might’ve gotten crushed by this guy when he jumped to cover me, but I’m good.”
Paxton stood in black boxers and nothing else. Smoke lifted from behind him, surrounding his face.
Vero squinted through the murky air as the smell of burned flesh filled his senses. “Shit. You’re on fire.” He immediately pivoted around his brother and started slapping out flames with his bare hands.
Paxton didn’t so much as grunt.
Hope struggled in his arms, looking over his shoulder at Vero. “The explosion happened between our room and the twins’.”
Flames licked across the floor. Vero slapped a flame out on Pax’s lower back. “I’ve got it. You take her outside.” He couldn’t see through the smoke and his lungs rapidly began to protest. Embers and ash floated down to burn his head, but he pushed his way through the crackling air and kicked open the bedroom next to his brother’s.
“Collin, Liam!” he yelled, his eyes watering, his body shuddering.
He coughed several times, squinting through the thick, dark smoke. Fire licked up the entire wall by the windows. He knelt down, hoping to see better beneath the smoke, and spotted a foot. Grunting, he grabbed an ankle and pulled an unconscious body toward him. Fire burned over the male’s torso, so Vero wildly slapped out the flames with his hands before ducking his head and jerking the body over his shoulder. He didn’t know which twin he carried, but he turned, coughing, stumbling and limping into the hallway.
Paxton immediately stood in front of him, burns down the side of his face. His black hair smoked, and his eyes blazed through the darkness.