Dark Stranger

Avriel - Part 14

Case 3 - "Dragonfire"

Kirstie's POV

There was something itching my nose. I wrinkled it, but the feeling didn't go away and so I reached up one hand to rub the irritation away and found that it was hair. Hair attached to the very muscular and well-defined chest of one very masculine Avriel Kaplan. The reason for it irritating my nose? I was sleeping against his side, pulled in by one strong arm against his chest, my head resting atop one perfectly formed pectoral muscle.

I swallowed and quickly glanced up to his face to see if he was awake. Sleepy but open green eyes met mine, his arm tightened around me and he smiled, before he realized where we were and that the last thing we had done before we had gone to sleep was trash an F.B.I. vehicle and escape their pursuit. Zass must have put the whammy on us, because I hadn't expected to sleep a wink after our little adventure last night. I remembered lying down with Avi on the other side of me, I didn't remember the night time shuffle that resulted in being in this compromising position I now found myself in.

Avi looked happy enough to have me in his arms. It was apparent that when I hadn't freaked out over him going 'dragon' again was a turn on, because he wasn't letting go. I smiled hesitantly back and found myself being blinded by the first real smile I had seen on his face. If the voice hadn't been enough of a reason to want to be right where I was, seeing that man light up like the proverbial Christmas tree just made my heart leap into my throat. My breath caught and I knew it had nothing to do with being scared or worried anymore. It was pure desire, and it embarrassed the hell out of me.

Avi must have caught the heat in my expression though, because he used the hand not holding me against him to tip my chin up so he could get a better look at my face. When I didn't pull away he gently brought his lips in to touch mine. Damn, they were perfect and so was the slightly rough feel of bristles against my delicate skin. I must have made an approving sound because before I could even think about the need to clean my teeth, he was kissing me deeper and I was enjoying the heck out of it. When he pulled back so we could breathe, he asked "Are you OK?"

"Super." I replied. "I just need a shower, to clean my teeth, coffee and I'll be perfect."

Avi chuckled, the sound rubbed against those places that were only touched by a man when you let them in completely. I could feel myself falling for him and although the idea of that possibility should have filled me with apprehension considering the marked differences between us, right here and now I was beginning not to care.

"Dibs." I said and got up, heading for the bathroom. Avi stayed where he was and I walked out of the room with a little more hip in my step than I usually used just for his benefit. I heard a sharp inhale from behind me and threw a flirty look over my shoulder before closing and locking the door behind me. 'Woah' that expression on his face... Damn.

....................

Scott's POV

Before my eyes even opened I knew something was different. I could feel every inch of my body thrum, like a plucked harp string. Tension built then ebbed away as quickly as I had become aware of it. I don't know what was different, only that I felt strength coursing through my muscles, I felt like I could bench press a car, that or run 30 miles without breaking a sweat. I took a deep breath in, and could smell the slight hint of musk in the air from our lovemaking. I could smell the cool silk and brandy feel that I associated with Zass as if it was a real scent in the air. Wait, it was.

There was a hint of a coppery smell that made me think blood and I remembered the blood I had sucked from Zass's neck. I breathed in deeper and smelled the moisture in the air coming from the bathroom next door, and a hint of feminine perfume before the water washed it away. This wasn't just my senses being heightened from the Mark. It worried me that I was turning into something inhuman. Was that even possible? I knew my heritage was unusual. Could the things that I was becoming exposed to make that much difference to me on a cellular level? If I was feeling like this now what was going to happen in the future? My heartbeat sped up and I felt when Zass reacted to it and began to rouse.