Born at Midnight (23 page)

She searched her instincts for anything resembling fear, and nope, it wasn’t there. What she did find was the memory of how tenderly he’d helped his grandmother into the dining hall. And then Kylie remembered how he’d protected her from the neighborhood bullies.

“You do know that if your girlfriend sees us together she’s going to be pissed, right?”

“What girlfriend?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes at him. “The one who is usually attached to your hip.”

The muscle in his jaw tightened. “Fredericka is not my girlfriend.”

“Oh, so she’s just the girl you make out with behind the office, then,” Kylie said before she could stop herself.

His frown deepened. “I figured that’s what you thought that day.”

“So I was wrong?” Kylie purposely allowed the sarcasm to play in her voice. “Do I look stupid to you?”

He stopped walking and swung around so fast that Kylie bumped right into his chest. He caught her shoulders and set her back. The feel of his hands on the shoulder straps of her white tank top sent heat flashing through her chest. But it faded the moment she saw his angry expression.

“No, you don’t look stupid,” he said in almost a growl. “But you are making assumptions without all the facts, and that’s not a sign of intelligence.”

Kylie’s mouth dropped open at his insult. “So what was she doing, showing you her new bra? Come on. She was buttoning up her blouse when I stumbled on you guys.”

He frowned and pushed a hand over his face. “You’re right. I’m sorry I said that.” He moved his hand and opened his eyes. “I admit you had a right to jump to that conclusion, but you’re still wrong.”

She offered him another eye roll.

“She wasn’t showing me her bra; she was showing me her tattoo. On her shoulder. She got a wolf tattoo and wanted me to see it.”

He started walking again and Kylie followed. “Well, she obviously has a serious crush on you.”

“I know.” He sounded frustrated. “She and I … we sort of hooked up last summer at the very end of camp.”

“So she
was
your girlfriend.” Kylie stopped moving and glanced at him.

He shook his head ever so slightly. “It wasn’t even like that. We … met up on a full moon, and … it shouldn’t have happened. But it did.”

Kylie had visions in her mind of two wolves playing leap frog, but not quite leaping, and she felt her face flush.

“We haven’t even spoken since camp last year. But she shows up here acting as if we’re together. I tried discouraging her.”

Kylie pretended to be interested in a bird singing in a tree so she wouldn’t have to look at Lucas. “She obviously doesn’t discourage very easily, or you’ve done a bad job of discouraging her.”

“Probably both. I’ve even talked to Holiday about it, because she’s driving me crazy.”

Kylie started walking again. It wasn’t her place to ask, but … “What did Holiday say?”

“That I’d probably have to be up front with her. But … I don’t know, I guess I don’t want to hurt her.”

That or you just like having a girl hanging all over you and unbuttoning her shirt to show off her … tattoo.
Kylie knew her last thought might be unfair, but it applied to most boys she knew. Heck, even her dad had warned her that teenage boys were generally after one thing.

Not that she was exactly listening to any of his advice right now.

“If you’re that worried about hurting her, maybe you do care about her,” Kylie said.

“No,” he said adamantly, and then added, “okay, I feel sorry for her. She’s had a rough time of things at home, and people judge her too harshly for it.”

Kylie, knowing Lucas’s past, read more into his statement than he knew. Or did he know? Did he realize she remembered him and that she knew he’d lied to Holiday about having lived with his grandmother all his life?

It suddenly occurred to her that when he’d jerked her aside to ask about what the FRU had wanted with her, maybe he’d been afraid she was tattling on him. Was he still afraid she’d tell?

The slightest hesitation about being alone in the woods with him wiggled through her mind, and that’s when she realized they were deeper in the woods than she’d ever gone before.

Deep enough that nobody, not even her campmates with super hearing, could hear her scream.

She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Exactly how far away are these dinosaur tracks?”

Chapter Thirty-one

“Not too far,” Lucas said. If he was aware of her sudden insecurity, he hid it well.

“They’re actually in a creek bed right outside the property line of our camp,” he added without looking at her. “But there’s this part of the fence that’s been cut that we can slip through.”

“I didn’t think we were supposed to leave the campgrounds.”

His focus shifted from the trail to her. “It’s only a few feet off the property. Hey, it’s up to you.” He came to a complete stop. “You seemed interested the other day on the hike. I just thought…”

Kylie swallowed hard and glanced from side to side.

His nostrils suddenly flared as if trying to catch a scent. “You’re afraid of me again? Damn, I thought you got over that.”

“I have,” she stammered, and wondered when he noticed her lack of fear. “I just … I’m remembering the snake the other day,” she lied.

The suspicion in his gaze faded, and he almost looked relieved. “Don’t worry, I can smell those things a mile away, and I’m faster than any water moccasin.” He started walking again.

She followed.

They walked without talking for a few minutes. The woods seemed to swallow their footsteps. His pace was fast, but not so fast she couldn’t keep up.

“Have you figured out what you are yet?” he asked.

“No. But there’s more than a good chance I’m just human.”

He stopped abruptly and looked back at her.

Kylie held her hand up in front of her forehead. “Don’t do it. And don’t say it. I know I don’t read like a human. But frankly, I’m tired of everyone checking out my head. It’s as bad as guys staring at my boobs.”

The moment the last sentence spilled from her mouth, she wished she could suck it back in, especially when she remembered him checking out her boobs the night she’d passed out.

“Sorry. I guess I can understand how that might get to you. Having us … stare at your pattern all the time.” He grinned.

And damn if it wasn’t the kind of smile that made a girl melt. They stood there studying each other and then it became downright awkward. He finally shook his head and started walking again.

They had walked another forth of a mile when she noticed a Band-Aid on his arm. “Did you … give blood?” She pointed to his arm.

“Oh, yeah.” He looked at the Band-Aid as if he’d forgotten it was there, ripped it off, and tucked it inside his jeans pocket. “I helped Chris with his drive.”

“Chris, the vampire?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said as if it was no big deal. And she recalled Derek acting the same way.

“You don’t find it … strange?”

He arched a brow. “Strange?” He studied her as if he didn’t get her question.

Kylie realized the stupidity of her question. Lucas turned into a wolf. Compared to that, drinking blood probably seemed like nothing.

Then he answered, “People donate blood all the time, Kylie.”

“That’s to save someone’s life,” she said, just to prevent the awkward silence.

“And vampires die if they don’t drink blood.”

Kylie wasn’t sure if she’d known that, but hearing him say it had her head swimming. “Can’t they survive on…?”

“Animal blood?” he finished her question. “They can and do drink animal blood, but to maintain proper nourishment, they need some human blood in their diet. It’s the same as donating to the Red Cross.”

Without meaning to, she let her next thought slip out of her mouth. “Sick people don’t drink it. It’s injected into their veins.”

“Does it really matter how it gets into their system? Personally, I don’t see the difference.”

She gave his analogy some thought and felt small and inconsiderate.

“Aren’t you rooming with a vampire?” he asked.

“Yeah.” But somehow in her mind she’d separated Della the friend from Della the vampire.

“And she hasn’t asked you to donate yet?”

“No.” And Kylie knew why, too. Della knew how Kylie and even Miranda felt about the whole blood issue. For some reason Della’s angry retort from this morning rang in her head.
You still think we’re freaks.

“All the vampires are supposed to get someone to donate. If they fail, they don’t participate in the rituals.”

Kylie remembered Della hadn’t gone to her regular early morning meeting today—then there was the argument Della had with another vampire. The memory of Della standing up to Fredericka flashed in Kylie head, then came the flash of how she’d protected Kylie from her cousin, Chan. Della had been willing to go the limit for Kylie, but Della hadn’t even felt comfortable enough to ask Kylie for blood.

You still think we’re freaks.

Della’s accusation rang again in Kylie’s mind.

Kylie didn’t consider Della a freak, but in truth, she hadn’t accepted her for who she really was, either. Sum it up and it meant Kylie hadn’t been much of a friend.

The realization hurt like a punch to her stomach.

“Is it safe?” Kylie asked.

“What?” Lucas asked.

“Donating blood to the vampires. Is it safe?”

“Of course it is. Holiday wouldn’t allow it if it wasn’t.”

Opening herself up to accepting Della took Kylie down other mental paths. “What’s it like?”

He shrugged. “It’s just like they do it at a doctor’s office.”

“Not that. I mean, changing into a wolf. I heard some others say it was…” She tried to think how to put it.

“Scary?” he asked, and arched a brow.

“And painful,” she answered, deciding not to try to sugarcoat it.

“I think it looks worse than it is.” He didn’t talk for a few minutes and then started again. “It’s sort of like a really sore muscle being massaged. It both hurts and feels good at the same time.”

“So it’s not like Perry when he changes?”

“No, it’s not like that. A shape-shifter’s body changes on a whole different cellular level and speed. When we change, you can see the process as the body takes on the new form.”

“It doesn’t sound fun.”

“But it is. It’s exhilarating.” His eyes lit up and Kylie didn’t doubt he was telling the truth.

“And what’s it like afterward? When you’re changed, do you … are you still you?”

“Am I still me?” he asked, not understanding.

“Do you think like a human, or do you think like a wolf?”

“I’m not human, Kylie,” he answered. “I’m a werewolf.”

She felt her face flush. “I just meant—”

“I know,” he said, and let go of a deep breath. “When I turn, I have very heightened senses and instincts. To hunt. To mate. To protect what’s mine. They could be called very humanlike instincts. However, in werewolf form the instincts are harder to deny.”

So maybe his killing her cat hadn’t been out of meanness, but more from his instinct to hunt. Until that thought hit, she hadn’t realized she’d been trying to find a way to forgive him.

The silence grew awkward.

“And when you’re not turned, what are your gifts?” she asked.

“Heightened hearing, smell, strength, and agility.”

“So it’s the same as a vampire?” She recalled Della pointing out that vampires were the more powerful species, not that Kylie honestly believed her. Della was biased. Then Kylie suddenly remembered one of Della’s gifts. “Can you hear my heartbeat?”
Could he also tell if she was lying?

“Depends. Our strength and senses increase the closer we get to a full moon. But for the most part, our hearing is tuned to listen for intruders moving in and not so much for things such as heartbeats.”

She recalled he’d jumped out of the tree the night of the campfire. It struck her as odd that he could do that but a wolf couldn’t. Then again, she supposed there were lots of benefits to having fingers and thumbs.

“The fence is right here.” He pushed the loose edge of the barbed-wire fence back, and motioned for her to slip between him and the opening of the wire. “Be careful not to get your shoulders cut.”

The gap was small. Kylie squeezed by him and her breasts brushed up against his chest. The warm and tingly sensations shot through her so fast that she started to jerk away.

Before she moved, he must have sensed her tension and he pulled her against him. “Careful.” His head lowered and his gaze met hers. They were so close that his nose brushed up against hers. “You’re going to cut yourself on the wire.”

She nodded and slipped through. The fence could have been wired with electricity for the tingles running through her body.

As soon as she was clear, he stepped through and dropped the wire. Their gazes met again. Somehow, she knew he was thinking the same thing she was—about how close they had been to each other. She could still feel the blood flowing to her cheeks.

“It’s this way.” He motioned her along, but she saw him take in her face—no doubt she was blushing. In just a few minutes, they got to the creek bed. He studied the water. “The water’s up a bit,” he said. “Usually, it’s only trickling down. The tracks are right across the stream. It’s only a foot deep, but you might want to take your shoes off if you don’t want them to get wet.”

Kylie sat down and removed her tennis shoes and socks and rolled up her jeans. He stood over her and watched. She looked up. “You’re not going to take yours off?”

“Wet shoes don’t bother me.”

She stuffed her socks in her shoes and set them away from the water. The splashing sound of water filled her senses. Looking toward the stream, she asked, “Is the waterfall close to here?”

“It’s a mile, but on camp property.”

“Have you ever been there?” she asked.

“Once,” he said.

“Was it as scary as everyone makes it sound?”

“A little,” he said. “But I didn’t see any shadows.” He chuckled.

Was that because he couldn’t see ghosts?

“You ready?” he asked, when she sat there thinking.

“You bet.” Standing up, she dipped her toes in the creek. “It’s cold.” She smiled.

“Yeah, but in the afternoon when the sun is at its hottest, it feels great. Up about a half a mile there’s a place that’s deep enough to swim in. I try to go there at least once a week.”

She got a vision of him swimming, and remembered her dream.

He stepped into the water and reached back and took her right hand in his. She looked down at his fingers locked around hers, her mind still trying to push the image of the two of them standing in waist-deep water, her breasts pressed against his chest.

“The rocks are slippery,” he said, following her gaze.

“I think I can handle it.” She pulled her hand free.

“When you fall on your ass, you’ll be sorry.”

“I won’t.” She smirked at him. But on her very next step, her foot and her pride hit a slick spot and without warning her legs slid out and up and she landed on her butt with a big splash.

“Crap.” The cold water soaked through her jeans to her butt. Laughter, very deep and very contagious, rang out. He stood over her, his arms crossed over his wide chest, his blue eyes dancing with humor.

“Stop it.” Almost laughing herself, she cupped her hand, caught a handful of the water, and tossed it at him.

He laughed harder, but then offered her his hand. She took it this time.

She was on her feet and went to take another step when she slid again, only this time she didn’t go down alone. She landed on top of him, her face buried in his shoulder. She raised her head, and watched the cold water rush over his shoulders. Then she saw him looking down at her, still smiling. And looking good doing it, too.

“That’s what you get for laughing at me.” She grinned.

His chest expanded beneath her as if he took in a deep breath. And suddenly she didn’t even feel the chill of the water—all she felt was the warmth of his body against hers.

“And this is what you get for laughing at me.” He pulled her up a few inches until his lips touched hers.

She didn’t try to stop him. Oh no, she actually climbed up higher on his chest so the kiss wouldn’t be awkward. His hand moved up to the back of her neck. He shifted her head slightly so her mouth was more accessible to his. The slightly rough texture of his shaven cheeks felt wonderful. His tongue moved inside. Slowly at first, then without hesitation. Warmth built inside her and she couldn’t seem to get close enough to him. Everything felt different from the kisses and caresses she’d experienced with Trey.

More,
her instincts seemed to scream. She wanted more.

She ran her fingers through his damp, dark hair, loving how the strands felt. Loving all the emotions swirling through her, over her, making her feel so alive, so new.

Her breasts pressed against his chest felt fuller, and maybe it was the dream driving her, but she wanted to feel him touch her. It wasn’t until she heard voices nearby that she came to her senses. She pulled her mouth from his and pushed up a few inches off his chest. His eyes opened and he stared at her with a hooded gaze. She saw the wildness in his eyes, a hunger like she’d never seen before. More than anything, she wanted to be the one to feed his hunger and taste the wildness. Then the voices drew closer. And right then, everything she felt was just too much.