Burn For Me

CHAPTER TEN

“I … didn’t expect you to come after me.” Eve’s voice.

Soft. Hesitant.

Cain turned away from the window and glanced back at her. This time, he’d picked the hiding spot. No more holes-in-the-wall. He hated those places. Instead, they were inside a luxury cabin on the top of the mountain—one that would let him see when any unwanted guests were coming. They’d driven hell-fast and hard to get to this refuge. Normally, the drive would’ve taken three hours. They’d made it to the place in less than two.

It was a cabin that he owned. This one and half a dozen others, scattered all around the Southeast. He liked to keep his options open.

And he liked to have a safe place to crash when necessary. The cabins couldn’t be traced back to him. He’d made sure of that.

Eve rocked forward on her heels. “Wyatt was counting on you coming. He wanted to trap you.” Her laugh was weak. Rough. “I was his bait, too. Seems everyone wants me to be bait.”

“That’s not what I want.”

She stared into his eyes. “What do you want?”

You. He hadn’t gotten her out of his system yet, not even close. But he looked away from her. Showing her how hungry he was for her … was one bad idea. She already had enough power over him. “I want to make Wyatt pay for what he’s done.” Death for death. Wasn’t that a fair enough exchange?

It was in Cain’s book.

“Cain … how can—how can you die?”

The question was the last he’d expected from her, and every muscle in his body tightened as he went on full alert. “I can’t die.” A lie. “Not really.” He forced a smile as he walked toward her. She was still just wearing the shirt he’d given her. She smelled of smoke and fear and woman. “I just come back, again and again.”

Her gaze searched his. Then she took a deep breath. “If you’re going to keep lying to me, how am I ever supposed to trust you?” Eve turned away and headed for the stairs. “Everything and everyone can die.”

True enough. The trick was to strike at the right time, and in the right way.

She was halfway up the stairs, and after all she’d been through, he shouldn’t have his eyes glued to the bare expanse of her legs.

He did, though. The woman’s legs were perfect. Sexy. Long.

Eve paused and her fingers trailed over the banister. “Sometimes I see you looking at me”—her shoulders fell—“and I can’t tell if you want to make love to me or if …”

She didn’t say more.

Helpless, he walked toward the stairs. Toward her. “Or if what?” A grandfather clock ticked slowly in the other room. Too loud in the silence that fell between them.

Her head bent. She studied the banister like it held the secrets to the universe. It didn’t. “If I were all-powerful, able to come back again and again—come back stronger with each death—I wouldn’t fear anything or anyone.”

He didn’t. He didn’t fear a damn thing.

“But even Superman had his Kryptonite,” she said, voice sad. “No matter how strong … everyone has a weakness.”

She was hitting too close to the truth for him.

“Weaknesses can make a person angry. So angry …” Eve glanced over her shoulder at him. Her bright gaze caught his. “And sometimes, when you look at me, I see that anger.”

Cain forced himself to speak. “The fury that I carry isn’t about you. It’s not for you.” There was just too much rage inside his beast. He’d never be able to fully control it.

Did he even want to?

“Wyatt was testing me.”

Yeah, Cain fucking knew that. Sick prick.

“He wanted to see how much heat I could handle.”

Cain saw the whisper of fear cross her face.

“I’d never … I’d never been in fire that hot. When the flames came at me, I thought I was going to die.”

Why was his chest aching? Cain pressed a palm over the spot, pressing back against the burn.

“You’re doing it again,” she whispered with a small shake of her head. “Staring at me like you don’t know … do you want me?”

Hell, yes.

“Or do you hate me?”

He cleared his throat. “Why would I hate you?” She’d never done anything to him. Never tried—

“Because according to Wyatt, I can kill you.” Her lips twisted, and her smile made the ache deepen in his chest. “I don’t think he was talking about the kind of death that just stops you for a few moments.”

No, Wyatt hadn’t been.

“He tested me to see if I was strong enough to handle the hottest fire that can burn from you. He tested me”—her hair brushed over her shoulders as she tilted her head to the right and stared at him—“because he wants me to kill you.”

Cain stared back at her. “Wyatt is a sociopathic prick who gets off on torturing people in the name of science.” He raised his brows. “I wouldn’t believe anything he has to say.”

She kept her gaze on him. “Can I kill you, Cain?”

“Anyone can—”

One of her hands impatiently waved that away. “A real death. One that doesn’t let you come back—come back from wherever it is that you go.”

Her stare was too bright. Too intense. But why hide the truth? She already knew anyway, thanks to Wyatt. “Yes, you can.”

A slow nod. “So that’s why you look at me that way.”

He looked at her with lust in his eyes because he wanted her so much he wanted to damn near eat her alive.

“You want me,” Eve said, “but you also want to get as far from me as you can.”

Because she could destroy him.

Or he could destroy her.

“So why did you save me? Why come after me at all?”

Because the thing that could kill him was the thing he needed more than breath.

But Eve had turned away. Her steps were slow as she climbed up the stairs. Cain didn’t stop her. Didn’t call out to her.

He heard the soft click of the door shutting a few seconds later, then the shower came on with a rattle of the pipes.

Why did you save me?

He hadn’t hesitated when she’d vanished. He’d known that he had to get to her as soon as possible.

She’d saved him. He’d saved her. They were even now. Right?

His gaze rose to the top of the stairs.

He’d wanted to get her back before Wyatt ran any more experiments, but he’d been too late. Wyatt had proof of what she could do, and the bastard wouldn’t ever let her vanish.

He’d want to do more tests. On Eve. On Cain.

And in the end, Cain knew that Wyatt would use Eve against him. It was just a matter of time.

The one thing he wanted … was the one thing that could cost him everything.

Richard Wyatt stared at the video screens. He’d watched the feed over and over, zooming in to catch every single shot. That fire had been glorious. So beautiful. And when it came at Eve—

She’d been afraid.

The woman didn’t understand her own power. Maybe because she didn’t realize what she was.

He’d set up his cameras outside the testing room. If they’d been inside, they would have melted almost as fast as Eve’s clothes.

The fire had burned her clothes, burned everywhere around Eve, but the flames hadn’t been able to hurt her flesh. Not her fingernails. Not even her hair. The fire couldn’t damage any part of her body.

“You ever seen anything like that before?” his assistant asked.

He didn’t bother glancing at Keith Ridgeway. The guy had so much to learn. Richard had pulled the geneticist from his ivory tower, just like he’d pulled a dozen others. But Ridgeway didn’t understand the paranormals. The fool had actually thought vampires and shifters were the only supernaturals on the streets.

They were just the ones that got the most attention.

“If we could replicate her skin,” Ridgeway said, excitement in his voice, “it would help so many—”

“I haven’t seen another like her before … but I’ve read reports… . My father had a test subject similar to her.” Richard’s words cut through the other doctor’s fast speech as he finally glanced at the younger man.

“Your … your father?” Ridgeway pushed his glasses higher on his nose. “A subject with the exact capabilities?”

“No. The first test subject could do even more.” Richard frowned, remembering. His father had spent so many years researching paranormals, conducting his painstaking experiments. Richard’s hands clenched into fists. Even before the paranormals had publicly made themselves known, his father had discovered them and started his research.

Jeremiah Wyatt had always been a very thorough man.

Richard exhaled slowly. “Unfortunately, the test subject objected to the experiments.” His father had noted that tidbit in his journal. His father wouldn’t have cared about the objections. He never did. “She escaped from the facility and attacked a number of guards.”

Ridgeway’s eyes widened. “What did she do to them?”

That part he remembered perfectly. “She burned every bit of skin off their bodies.”

Ridgeway weaved a bit. “W-what?”

“That subject wasn’t just immune to the fire. She could control it. Could send it out at specified targets.” He tapped his chin, remembering, “But that was only when she shifted.”

Ridgeway stared at him, eyes still too wide. “What could she become?”

“A beast of enormous power and strength.” A beast that his father had never expected. “You know those old stories about dragons attacking castles and burning knights?”

A quick nod.

“Those stories were based on truth. Dragon shifters existed once, but they were hunted to near extinction.” His father had thought they were extinct after the unfortunate death of his test subject but … Richard’s gaze turned back to the screen. Back to Eve Bradley. “But it seems we may have one left, after all.”

Silence. Then … “Uh, Doctor Wyatt, that woman doesn’t look like a dragon to me.”

No, she didn’t. And she should have shifted when the fire hit her. She would have shifted, if she’d been a full-blooded shifter.

Are you like your mother, Eve?

“There weren’t any of her kind left,” Richard murmured, still staring at that screen. “So she had to find a human to take as her mate. ”

His father had said that his test subject found sanctuary with humans. That she’d been hiding, using them for cover. Of course, Jeremiah must not have realized the truth. The test subject mated with a human.

If he had realized that important fact, then Richard figured that his father wouldn’t have told the soldiers to kill them all.

His father’s order. He’d wanted to cover his tracks. The test subject couldn’t be controlled, so she’d had to be eliminated. Jeremiah had wanted to make sure no witnesses were left behind.

The humans had needed to die.

Pity.

But … his father had kept meticulous research. Blood samples, hair, tissue—all of those still remained from the dragon shifter. It would be easy enough to discover if his own suspicions were true.

And if Eve did turn out to be the child of a dragon shifter …

Then he would be able to take his father’s research to the next level. He smiled. He’d finish what the old man started. Prove I’m better, stronger. He would be the one with the perfect killing machine. And his father could fucking choke on his success.

The water poured over her, ice cold because she needed the chill. Every time that Eve closed her eyes, she saw the fire.

But … it wasn’t just the flames that Wyatt had sent out at her.

It was another time. Another place.

Memories that haunted her.

Mommy! Mommy! The fire had been everywhere. Fire and blood and the flash of vampire fangs.

Bet you taste good. Kids always fuckin’ do.

Her eyes squeezed closed tighter as she pushed her head under the water. It should have cooled her down. It didn’t. It just made her feel hotter.

Her mother had died in that long-ago fire. Her father … he’d been dead before the flames hit him. The vampires had ripped out his throat.

Eve shuddered. I hate vampires.

Every time she turned around, a vampire was attacking—or selling her out. Thanks, Ryder. She’d be sure to pay him back.

If it hadn’t been for me, you would have burned at Genesis.

He’d returned her solid favor by tossing her right at Wyatt. What a prince.

She turned off the water with a yank of her hand. Stood in the shower, with her forehead pressed against the tiled wall.

“Eve.”

She’d known that Cain was there, so she didn’t jump or rush to cover herself. What would be the point? He had already seen all of her.

She turned. The glass door hadn’t steamed beside her and she could see right through to him. He watched her with eyes that were so hungry. Full of need.

Right then, she could only see the lust in his stare.

What happened when she saw more?

He walked toward her slowly, never taking his eyes from her. Drops of water were sliding down her body. Her nipples were tight from the cold water.

He opened the shower door and stared down at her. “I’d … never hurt you.”

He hadn’t. “But what if I hurt you?” Her fear. She knew Wyatt must have a plan. He’d tested her because he wanted to use her.

To hurt Cain? To kill him?

His hand lifted. Traced the curve of one breast. “You won’t.”

She couldn’t be so sure of that, but right then, she just wanted to stop thinking. To stop remembering fire and death. “Make it stop,” she whispered to him.

Frowning, he glanced back up at her.

“The fire,” Eve told him, her voice a bare breath. “The blood. I don’t want to think about it anymore.”

She didn’t want to see death.

Her eyes closed once more.

His lips feathered over hers. Soft. Gentle.

“No.” She turned her head away from him. Gentleness wasn’t what she needed at that moment. She was tearing apart from the inside out. She wanted to scream. To fight. To rage.

“Eve?”

Her eyes opened. “Wild.” That was what she needed, the way she felt inside. Too many emotions were splitting her in two. She had to stop the rush of feeling.

She needed … him.

Eve pushed him back and stepped out of the shower. He was still dressed, or at least, still wearing pants. She eased to her knees on the plush bathroom rug. She’d make him as wild as she felt. She could do it. She might not have been able to push her other lovers past the point of no control, but she hadn’t wanted them the way she wanted Cain.

She’d never wanted anyone this much.

His zipper eased down and the heavy length of his cock—fully aroused—pushed into her hands. She bent toward him, licking her lips. She’d nearly touched death.

Time to taste life.

She put her mouth on him. His breath hissed out as his hands clamped down on her shoulders. But he wasn’t pushing her away. No, he was urging her closer. Closer was exactly where she wanted to be.

Her lips opened wider. She licked him. Sucked. Tasted. Wanted more.

Her hand curled around the base of his shaft as she pumped him into her mouth. His taste was rich, salty, good. She licked the head of his cock, then took him deeper into her mouth. So deep she could feel him in the back of her throat.

“Enough.”

No, no, it wasn’t. He could still talk. She could still feel. They had to go further. Push more. She licked him. Sucked around his length.

And found herself pulled away. Pulled up into his arms.

“Cain—”

His mouth locked onto hers even as he carried her toward the bed. Then they were falling together. Crashing into the bed.

Her nails raked down his back. Hard. She opened her legs, wanting him to thrust in deep. “Lose control,” was her whisper to him. A desperate order. She couldn’t be the only one feeling this way.

He stilled. Cain stared down at her with the gaze she should fear. Too bright. Too hot. “You don’t want that.”

Yes, she did. It was the thing she needed most.

“Lose control,” she said again.

His hands were on her thighs. Pushing them farther apart. Then his fingers were on her sex. Stroking over her clit, pushing inside her. Deeper.

It wasn’t enough for her.

She grabbed his head. Kissed him with all the passion she felt. He still had his control. Why couldn’t it break?

She was breaking. Shattering on the inside.

Blood.

Her eyes were closed. Her body shaking.

Fire.

“No.” His growl. “Stay with me.” Then his fingers were gone from her body. His cock pushed against her. Her gaze flew to meet his.

“Stay with me,” he said again and drove into her. In that one moment, as she stared into his eyes, she saw the man’s control rip away.

And only the beast was left.

Eve smiled even as she held onto him as tightly as she could. His thrusts were deep, driving, plunging into her. The rhythm was fast and frantic. He held her hands down against the sheets. Pounded into her again and again and she loved it.

The rush of pleasure built fast. No gentle peak. A tidal wave that flooded over her and took her breath.

It didn’t stop. He didn’t stop. More. More. He rolled her over on the bed. Lifted her onto her knees. Surrounded her with his body and his heat and his power and—

Took.

Deeper. Harder. Her hands fisted in the sheets. She yanked, pulling the sheets toward her even as she arched her hips back against him.

The release hadn’t stopped. The pleasure pounded through her. Again and again and the scent of sex filled the air around her.

He was so big, filling her completely. His mouth was on her shoulder. Licking. Biting. She couldn’t suck in a deep breath. Couldn’t do anything but feel.

The pleasure hit her again, hollowing her out, leaving her shaking and weak.

He came inside her, exploding with a growl as his hold tightened around her. He held her so close. Held her so tight.

Right there, with him, death seemed so far away.

But she knew … the monsters were coming for her. Soon, they’d be at the door.

Her scream woke him at dawn. Eve was thrashing in the covers, struggling to escape.

Cain reached for her. “Eve?”

Her eyes opened, and she screamed.

What the hell? He pulled her close.

She was shaking. “V-vampire …”

“There aren’t any vampires here, baby.” Just a nightmare. So why was his heart racing so fast? “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

“Blood …” She sounded lost. Her eyes were open, but was she seeing him?

Cain didn’t think so. “There isn’t any blood.”

“I hate … fire.”

His body tensed. “There’s no fire.” His fingers tightened on her. She felt too cold in his hands. Trembles shook her body, and she didn’t sound like his Eve.

I don’t want her lost.

He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Wake up.”

Her breath came in low pants.

“Eve, wake—”

“Vampires are coming,” she whispered. Her voice was as cold as her body. “We have to stop them.”

Cain shook his head. “There aren’t any vamps here. You’re safe. You’re—”

He heard it. A thud from downstairs, at the door. His head whipped to the right as tension tightened his muscles. Wyatt and his men? Already? No way should they already be at the cabin. The place was secure.

He leaped from the bed, but Eve grabbed his hand. “Stop the vampires.”

It wasn’t the vampires. Vamps didn’t attack during the day. That wasn’t the way they operated. Most of them holed up underground during the daylight hours.

He went to the window. Searched below. Saw no one. But that just meant his prey was good at hiding. “Stay here,” he told Eve.

She was sitting up in bed, frowning. Her gaze didn’t look lost and when she said, “Cain?” he knew that she was back with him.

“We’ve got company.” And he was never a good host. He yanked on a pair of jeans and headed down the stairs. He heard the squeak of the hardwood floor behind him and knew that Eve was following.

Figured.

He eased open the front door. Listened for every sound and whisper. No cars had approached. He would have heard them. Their guest had to have come in on foot.

Cain inhaled, taking in all the scents. He focused his hearing, narrowed it down until he heard …

The creak of hardwood floor. One step. Two.

Eve, coming after him.

Another creak. And the smell of fresh blood.

Cain whirled around. The threat wasn’t outside, not any longer. He lunged for the stairs, his heart racing. Eve was heading toward him and she didn’t even realize …

A vampire stood two steps behind her.