His temper combined with hers to form a volatile mixture that blew the top right off his control.
Despite that, if she’d shown any reluctance, he would have found the strength to stop. But she didn’t; instead, her fingers were digging into his back, pulling him closer, holding him in place as her tongue mated and danced with his. He cupped her bottom with both hands, holding her against the rock-hard evidence of the effect she was having on him.
“Conlan!”
Her voice was husky with heat and hunger, driving him crazy. In this, they were equal, honest. He picked her up and pressed her back against the closest wall. She immediately wrapped her legs around his hips and rocked against him. If they weren’t careful, it would all be over before the party really got started.
He grazed the side of her neck with his fangs, then soothed her skin with a kiss. Chancellors didn’t take blood to live, but it definitely heightened the sexual experience for both partners. As he bit down gently, he cupped her breast with his hand, kneading it hard, remembering how much Kat had liked how he’d done it exactly that way.
Back when he’d damn near killed himself to satisfy her in bed. Back when she’d waited for him to fall asleep and then took off. Just that quickly, good sense returned and desire died. He lowered Kat to the floor and stepped back, both of them breathing hard and hurting.
“I can’t do this. I won’t do this.”
He managed another step back and then another. Kat wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, the same regret he was feeling burning in her eyes.
It was tempting to reach out to her, to apologize, but he couldn’t risk touching her again. Not now.
He needed a few minutes to regain his control. “Go sit down while I fix us something to eat.”
If Kat was surprised by the sudden change in directions, she gave no sign of it. She simply nodded and put as much distance between the two of them as the small apartment allowed.
Chapter 9
Okay, kissing Conlan again was a mistake of monumental proportions. If she’d ever wondered if the passage of time had somehow exaggerated how amazing the sex with Conlan had been, she now had her answer. One touch, one kiss, and she’d been on fire for him. Again.
Heck, she’d almost come when he pushed her back against the wall. They had to be out of their minds to risk something so stupid. This whole situation was precarious enough without complicating it with sex. While she wasn’t naive enough to think he’d been a monk for the past three years, she hadn’t dared take a lover for fear of discovery.
Hadn’t wanted one, either. Regardless of what Conlan and his friends thought, she’d slept with him for no other reason than she’d cared about him. If the circumstances had been different, she was convinced the two of them would’ve shared something special, maybe even something permanent.
Not that there was any chance of that happening now. She watched as Conlan rooted through the cabinets and slammed a couple of pots down on the stove far harder than was necessary. Obviously, she wasn’t the only one whose emotions were in turmoil, but at least he had something to do to work off some of his leftover frustration.
Even in a temper, the man moved well. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep her eyes off the flex and play of his sharply defined muscles. He’d had the same effect on her three years ago, but there were definite differences. All the hell he’d been through had chiseled away any hint of softness. A weaker man might have been shattered by the experience, but she suspected Conlan had been tempered by the fire.
As if feeling her gaze, he gave her a questioning look and asked, “What?”
No way she was going to admit the direction her thoughts had taken. “I was wondering if you’d like me to set the table.”
His eyes narrowed, obviously detecting the lie, but he answered the question anyway. “I’ve got it covered. If you want to feel useful, you can be on cleanup duty.”
Then he pointed toward the doorway on the far wall.
“The bedroom is through that door. Go grab some rest while you can. I guarantee it’s going to be a long evening for both of us.”
The last thing she wanted right now was to be alone with her thoughts, but he’d given her no choice. She