Enemy Mine (2 page)

Despite the night they’d shared together, they hadn’t done any of the more erotic things he’d eventually planned. If he answered truthfully she was likely to jump out of the car at the next stop. Or hell, while he was still driving. Instead of traveling down that path, he reeled in his thoughts and libido—sort of—and switched directions. “Do you like dancing?”

She seemed thrown by the abrupt change of topic, but that sweet scent slightly dimmed. Which was good and bad. The more he could smell her arousal, the more his brain short-circuited. “I love it.”

“Good.” Considering she’d been dancing the night they’d met, he had a pretty good idea what kind of place she’d prefer. He’d picked a low-key restaurant right on the water with authentic Cuban food and dancing. He didn’t think she’d appreciate anything pretentious. And he hated that shit.

“That’s it? Good? You’re not going to continue your earlier conversation?”

Was she trying to kill him? “Not right now.”

She sighed and the scent that came off her was a mixture of relief and disappointment. “So how old are you, anyway?”

“Two hundred.”

“Oh.” A quick glance showed her eyebrows raised.

“Is that good or bad?” he asked wryly.

“Neither. I’ve just never met a vamp that old. Well, I had never actually met a vampire, not really, not until that night. . . .”

Now that was a surprise, though he knew the night she was talking about. The night he’d met her in a bar, gone back to her hotel room, and had sex so many times he’d been completely drained. Which was the only reason he hadn’t heard her sneak out in the early morning hours. “How is that possible?”

Her shoulders lifted casually. “There aren’t many vamps living in Miami, and I’ve never had reason to interact with the ones who do. I grew up very . . . sheltered.”

Something about the way she said that made him look at her. “Why does that sound more like smothered?”

A small smile tugged at her lips. “I’m the baby of the pack and my brothers are way older than me.”

He couldn’t bite back the bark of laughter. He didn’t have any sisters but he had female cousins and understood perfectly. “I don’t blame them. So you were smothered growing up, huh?”

She shrugged. “I’m twenty-five and all my brothers are over a hundred. What do you think?”

Kiernan nodded but didn’t respond. The last thing he wanted was to talk or think about her brothers. He knew the only reason she’d agreed to go out with him tonight was because she’d thought she’d scare him off. Since it hadn’t worked, he had a feeling tonight might be his only chance with her, and he wasn’t going to fuck it up.

“They’ve always tried to monitor everything about my life; where I went to college, who I dated—”

He didn’t realize he’d let out a low growl until Melina stopped talking.

She gave him a sharp look. “Did you just seriously growl at me? I thought only shifters did that.”

Kiernan shrugged, not willing to apologize. The thought of her with other males made all his territorial instincts come clawing to the surface. He didn’t care that he had no claim on her. Well, not yet. That was about to change very soon.

Chapter 2

Melina glanced in the bathroom mirror as she dried her hands. She loved the restaurant Kiernan had picked but she’d needed a little breather. The man made her lose her train of thought. Well, that wasn’t true. Her thoughts were solely focused on seeing him naked again and having lots of sex, but when she was away from him she could actually think about other things. Like what the heck had she been thinking by coming out with him.

Mentally preparing herself, she paused when the same woman who’d been subtly watching her from the bar area of the restaurant entered the room. She knew what the redhead was, but she wasn’t afraid. Even though Melina was young and not as strong as she would one day become—if she lived that long—she could defend herself if necessary. But something told her this vampire wasn’t going to attack her in a relatively public place. There might not be anyone else inside the bathroom now but there was always the chance of someone walking in.

“He’s just using you, you know.” The redhead spoke as the machine drying Melina’s hands cut off.

Turning to face her, Melina lifted an eyebrow. “Is that right?”

The woman’s perfect, bow-shaped lips curved into a cruel smile. “Your father—yes, I know who you are—just bought him out of some property downtown. And it’s not the first time it’s happened. The only reason in the world Kiernan Doyle would be out with a shifter is if he was using them.”

“Excuse me.” Melina skirted past the woman. She wasn’t going to bother with this conversation. Not when the redhead wore her cruelty and maliciousness like a second skin.

The woman laughed and the sound was surprisingly real. “I’m just warning you. Every vamp knows that shifters killed his brother. He hates your kind, though I thought he’d be a little smarter than to go after the youngest daughter of Nevada Rodriguez.”

Melina swallowed at the ring of truth in the other woman’s voice. “Why are you telling me this?” It certainly wasn’t out of the goodness of her heart, that much was evident.

The redhead shrugged. “Because Kiernan’s a coldhearted bastard and whatever he’ll do to you, you don’t deserve.”

Not bothering to say thanks or give any type of response, Melina exited the room and made her way back to the table where Kiernan waited, an easy smile on his face. Easy, yet somehow predatory.

And she knew she was his prey. A few minutes ago that hadn’t sounded like such a bad thing. She’d already experienced how great things could be between them and he’d had the nerve to pick her up from her house. Now, however . . . “Why have you been pursuing me so relentlessly for the past few months?”

His dark eyes widened slightly, the lust rolling off him almost tangible. “I think that much should be obvious.”

She didn’t respond but bit her bottom lip, trying to work up the courage to ask the question she really wanted the answer to. Yes, the sex between them had been amazing, but she already knew Kiernan had no problem getting women into bed. The thought of him with other women made something dark inside her flare to life, so territorial and possessive she almost jerked back from the intensity of it.

He continued before she could speak. “Now I get to ask a question. Why’d you run from me?”

Her answer was automatic even if it was a lie. “I didn’t run.”

Dark eyes narrowed. “Then what would you call it?”

She shrugged, hoping the action came off as casual and not jerky. “We had a good night and I knew it was a onetime thing. I didn’t want any awkwardness.” Not exactly the truth. Okay, not even close.

That night with him had scared the hell out of her. She’d never had a one-night stand before and could count the number of lovers she’d had on one hand—and still have fingers left over. She’d known she was in way over her head the moment he’d kissed her. But she’d been away from home, away from her annoyingly overprotective pack, and she’d wanted to have fun. Kiernan had certainly provided that and then some.

The freedom of being on her own without a dozen different pack members breathing down her neck had made her more than a little impulsive that night. Not that any man would have been fine to warm her bed. She certainly hadn’t planned to sleep with anyone. But Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy had approached and it had been over for her.

“Why don’t I believe you?”

“Believe what you want.” She took a sip of her wine, eyeing him over the glass rim. When he didn’t respond, just stared at her with those smoldering eyes she could drown in, she nervously cleared her throat. “Did . . . did shifters kill your brother?”

Now he straightened and his face became an unreadable mask. His jaw clenched once before he spoke. “Why are you asking?”

Okay, deflecting with a question. Not a good thing. “Are you using me? Is that what tonight is all about?” Why did she have to sound so damn hurt? She tried to keep the note out of her voice but she couldn’t help it. It didn’t matter that she’d learned to cover her emotions since the time she was a cub, the thought of this man using her made something deep inside her ache. “Did my father purchase some property you wanted?”

His jaw clenched again and she realized the redhead had been telling the truth. Damn it. Something foreign twisted in her chest, like a silver dagger. The man had made her feel physical things no one else had. Maybe he’d wanted to get back at her for leaving him in that hotel room, and the fact that she was Nevada Rodriguez’s daughter was icing on the cake.

“I’m such an idiot,” she muttered, standing and grabbing her purse.

One of his hands snaked out, grabbing her wrist. Not hard, but with enough pressure that she couldn’t move.

“Let me go,” she said through gritted teeth, glaring at him.

“Stay.” A guttural growl, practically a demand.

A flush speared through her body at his commanding tone, but she ignored the way he made her feel. “Are you going to answer my questions?”

A quick shake of his head.

“Then I’m not staying.” She yanked hard this time, but he let go so quickly she almost stumbled back.

Surprising her, he stood and threw a few bills on the table. Definitely enough to cover their drinks and the meal that hadn’t yet been served. “I’ll take you home.”

“Don’t bother.” She turned on her heel, not wanting to make a scene. She’d thought tonight would end much differently. Even though she’d been avoiding going out with him for months she’d been excited at the prospect of sleeping with him again. A lot more excited than she’d admit to even herself. A girl only had so much restraint. But she wouldn’t be used by someone. If he wanted to get back at her family for some real estate bullshit or some shifter vendetta, no thank you.

As she reached the front of the restaurant he called her name. When she turned she found the redhead from the bar in front of him, her perfectly manicured hand on his chest in a blatantly possessive manner.

To give him credit he looked annoyed, but Melina just rolled her eyes and headed out the front door. Ignoring the valet drivers, she strode toward the first cab in a line of three idling under the giant stone overhang. “Will you take me to Star Island?”

At the name of the exclusive area, the cabbie jumped up from his position lounging against the side of the vehicle and opened the back door for her. “Of course.”

She slid into the backseat and restrained herself from looking back. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against the seat. Maybe leaving so abruptly had been a mistake, but he obviously hadn’t been willing to answer her questions and she refused to become a pawn in some stupid game between her pack and Kiernan’s coven. She’d had her share of would-be lovers trying to use her against her family—hence her pack’s crazy overprotective tendencies. For some reason she’d thought Kiernan would be different, though she didn’t know why. Her assumption was based on nothing more than the way he’d made her feel on the one intense night they’d shared together. How stupid was that?

Sighing, she opened her eyes and flipped open her purse. Pulling out her phone, she scrolled down to her cousin Alexis’s name. Yeah, she was definitely going to need some girl time tonight, and her cousin was the only one who’d understand. She was the same age and Melina could be honest about who she’d gone out with tonight. If she mentioned anything to her brothers—or worse, her father—they’d probably want to hurt Kiernan.

“Oh shit!” The cabbie’s shout and the sudden burst of fear rolling off the human made Melina’s head snap up.

Panic shot into her heart when she saw an SUV barreling down on them. The cabbie had pulled through an intersection and this vehicle was hauling ass straight for them.

There was nothing to do. The cabbie gunned the engine but it was too late. Even though time seemed to slow, everything happened in a split second. The car jerked forward as her driver attempted to get out of the way in time, but the SUV T-boned them.

The sudden impact jarred her straight to her bones. Crunching metal and the cabbie’s shouts filled the air as the vehicle shifted. She was thrown across the vehicle, slamming against the side of the door. Spots danced in front of her eyes as she reached out, trying to grasp onto anything for support.

They kept skidding along the pavement under the force of the SUV. After what felt like an eternity, though she was sure only seconds had passed, everything completely stilled and a deathly quiet descended on the interior of the cab.

Melina might heal a heck of a lot faster than humans and even witches, but she wasn’t invincible. Stretching out her arms and legs, she tested to see if anything was broken. Blinking away the haze covering her right eye she realized blood trickled down her face. Reaching up she gingerly touched the side of her head and came away with more blood on her fingers.

A similar, coppery scent of someone else’s blood teased her nose. Trying to shake off the chill snaking through her body she focused on the man in the driver’s seat. “Are you okay?”

He didn’t answer.

Unstrapping her seatbelt, she slid across the backseat and reached forward, running her fingers along his neck until she found a pulse. It was faint but at least he had one. Shaking her head she tried to focus on what needed to be done.

Looking around the floor she found her fallen cell phone. Scooping it up, she started to dial 911 with shaking fingers. Smoke billowed up from the front of the cab’s engine and from the vehicle that had plowed into them. Briefly she wondered if the other occupants were okay but jerked out of her thoughts when there was a moan from the front seat.

Reaching forward she grasped onto the man’s hand, fearful that the crimson streaking down his arm was from a fatal wound. “You’re going to be okay. I’m calling for help.” Her voice came out scratchy and uneven.

As she started to hit send she realized she didn’t know where they were. Melina moved back, hating to let the driver’s hand go, but she couldn’t see from where she was. Sliding back to the other window, she struggled with the door handle. Finally it creaked open. Brushing her hair back from her face, she stepped out and tripped over her heels, but somehow managed to stay upright. A wave of dizziness washed over her as she took a step.

Before she called she needed to find a street sign, to figure out where they were. As she took a few steps forward she spotted two green street signs, indicating what intersection they were at. Feeling incredibly drained, she pushed the send button. A sluggishness overwhelmed her, threatening to pull her under. Maybe she’d hit her head harder than she’d realized.

Before she took another step two giant arms surrounded her from behind, lifting her off her feet. The viselike grip stole her breath as her cell phone tumbled to the black pavement.

“You’re coming with us,” an unfamiliar male voice snarled in her ear.

Struggling through a sluggish haze, she tried to kick back at the man holding her. Her heel connected with his shin, but he barely seemed to notice it.

She tried to breathe but the stranger just squeezed harder, dragging her backward. “Let me go,” she rasped out as she tried to fight.

Why wasn’t anyone else out tonight? Thrashing out, she began kicking backward as hard as she could. From the intense grip she realized whoever was taking her wasn’t human. He was too strong. When her kicks didn’t do anything, she slammed her head back.

Pain ricocheted through her skull, but she also injured her would-be kidnapper. His nose crunched only to be followed up by curses.

But he didn’t let go. Just continued dragging her backward. She couldn’t see where they were going.

An ear-splitting explosion ripped through the air, nearly deafening her.

Her captor let go and suddenly she was falling through the air. Her butt slammed against the pavement, but she didn’t stay down long. Rolling over, she pushed up on her hands and knees and struggled to her feet.

A white van twenty yards away was engulfed in flames. Two men spilled out from it, burning. Their screams filled the air as they ran around, arms flailing as they tried to put it out. The man who’d been holding her was running away now. She stared in horror, trying to figure out what was going on, when Kiernan appeared out of nowhere.

He scooped her up then grabbed her fallen phone and purse. “Are you okay, Melina? Talk to me!”

Blinking, she looked up at him as he placed her in the front seat of his car. Fear slithered through her. Were there more kidnappers? She tried to look around but the action made her dizzy. “What happened?” Her question came out slurred.

“Shit, you’re bleeding a lot.” He reached up and it felt as if he pulled something from her head. Raw agony ripped through her, like silver shredding into her skin.

She’d used so much of her healing powers today at the clinic she was weaker than usual. Otherwise this wouldn’t have happened to her. She would have recovered quickly after hitting her head.

Before she could think about asking what was going on, Kiernan’s fangs lengthened as he bit into his own wrist. He placed it at her mouth. “Drink.” A harsh order.

She shook her head. She wasn’t going to drink freaking vampire blood.

“Damn it! You’re too weak, Melina. It’s either this or a hospital.” There was no room for argument in his voice.