In Heat (In Heat Shapeshifter Romance Series #1) Read online

  She took a deep breath and held her nerve. “No.”

  “Let me just say something then.” There was a note of desperation in his voice so she stayed near the door a moment longer, wanting to hear what he had to say. He stared into the peephole and she waited. Nothing could have prepared her for what he said. “All I want is you, Kim. You're the only one for me. I've waited my whole life for you. I know you feel the same.”

  She sighed and nodded, having to acknowledge that he was right, even though he couldn't see her. She watched him move away from the door and lean against the banister again. Everything he'd said was exactly how she felt. When she was with him this weekend, even before that, she'd been so connected to him, as though she'd found the missing part of herself and the search was over. Here was a man that could love her, and she might love him too.

  She reasoned with herself that neither of them had hidden the attraction, and that Laura had been coming on to Erik from the moment he'd walked through the door. When she thought about it, it wasn't surprising that Laura had tried to get him. Heck, she'd do anything to have him as hers too.

  He raised his chin and loosened his tie, and then ran his fingers through his hair and heaved a sigh. It was probably sweltering in the hall.

  Her mind took her back to that day when they'd first met and were out on the balcony. He'd asked her if she liked the heat. The heat she felt with him was intense, a passion she'd never felt before. It was consuming and frightening. It made her feel so weak but strong at the same time.

  She sighed and thought about what she was going to do.

  She was about to walk away from the door when he spoke again.

  “If you come with me, I'll tell you anything you want to know. Anything...everything about me. No lies. Nothing held back.”

  She wondered just what there was he needed to tell her and remembered that when he'd first kissed her, he tried to tell her something and she'd stopped him. What was it about him that he felt she needed to know? Now she thought about it, she wanted to know and wished she hadn't stopped him, but she'd been so desperate to feel his lips against hers that she hadn't cared.

  Maybe he'd tell her about the paragraph in the contract too.

  She had a decision to make. Give him a chance to prove he really was only interested in her, or turn her back on him forever.

  CHAPTER 15

  Erik sat down on the floor, leaning his back against the banisters, and not caring that he was probably ruining his suit. He toyed with his car keys. He hadn't even put them away before he'd been running into the building. Thank God someone had been coming out just as he'd been going in.

  Laura had detained him, slowing him down. All he'd wanted to do was find Kim and straighten everything out, but by the time he'd finished arguing with Laura about client relationships and threatening to tell her superiors about her actions if she didn't let him go, Kim had been gone twenty minutes.

  He'd run two red lights to get here and broken the speed limit. He probably had a slew of tickets coming his way, but he didn't care. He'd run a hundred red lights and drive a thousand miles if it meant he got to see Kim.

  He hadn't planned on laying his heart out on a silver platter for her, but when she'd said she wouldn't let him in while she thought things over, he'd had to let her know how he felt. If she knew, then maybe she'd come with him. He looked at his watch. It was just gone ten in the morning.

  Heaving a sigh, he leaned his head back against one of the poles of the banisters and closed his eyes. She was going to say no. He could feel it. He hadn't done enough to convince her that it had been Laura kissing him and not the other way around.

  He was losing her.

  He frowned and tried to push those thoughts away, focusing instead on emptying his mind and passing the time until she made her decision.

  The world drifted away, disappearing into the blackness and he lost track of time.

  The sound of a door opening made him look around, his heart thundering as his mind said that it was Kim. He smiled at the elderly woman as she passed, giving him a reprimanding look for blocking the hall. When she'd disappeared down the stairs, muttering something to herself, he stretched his legs out and looked at his watch again.

  Almost two in the afternoon.

  Had he fallen asleep? It was hard to tell. He'd just been empty, surrounded by darkness as he waited for his sentence to be pronounced. It was either death or a reprieve. He hoped to God it was the latter. He wasn't going to accept the other.

  A beam of light shone on his legs when the door in front of him opened. His heart was in his mouth as he slowly raised his eyes, struggling to find the courage to see what the verdict was.

  She didn't look too angry.

  He got to his feet the second she dumped a bag down beside her and turned to close the door. He couldn't believe it. He wanted to smile but she looked at him with eyes that said he hadn't got himself off the hook yet.

  Picking her bag up, he frowned at the weight of it. How long did she think they were going away for? It felt as though she'd packed her whole life into this small suitcase.

  She locked the door and turned to face him.

  “I'll go with you,” she said, her voice showing a firmness he hadn't been expecting. “But only so you'll explain some things to me.”

  He nodded and waited for her to walk past him before following obediently. He'd barely known her a few days and she'd managed to become the alpha in the relationship, leading the way and being in charge of him. It was better this way though. She was in the strongest position after all, especially now Laura had kissed him and she knew. He didn't mind being the submissive one if it meant she stayed with him. There was too much to lose, and he had been hiding too much from her to be able to dominate her.

  He couldn't lose her.

  It had taken him twenty-seven years to find her after all.

  The warm summer air did nothing to lift his mood as they walked down the steps of the building. She stopped, looking back at him. He realised that she didn't know which car was his. He gave her a little smile, wishing she would say something to alleviate the tension between them and reassure him that there was hope for them, and pointed the way. She walked beside him now and he shifted the bag so it was in his other hand, away from her. She was close enough that he could almost feel her hand brushing against his as they swung past each other. He wanted to reach out and take it, to feel it held firmly in his, to feel it holding his tightly. He wanted anything, just a tiny sign that would reassure him and settle his anxiety.

  His eyes traced her profile as they walked. He hadn't been able to park close to her building. He'd driven into the first spot he'd seen, not risking there being one closer. It had been a short run to her apartment.

  The sun shone beautifully off her hair and her delicate perfume scented the warm air, making his heart ache as he looked at her.

  Just one small sign. It was all he asked.

  She looked out of the corner of her eye at him, giving him a sorrowful look, and the corner of her lips tugged into the briefest of smiles. He silently thanked God as a weight lifted off his chest and then pressed the alarm button on his key fob.

  Her brows rose when she looked at his car. He wondered what she was thinking as she stared at it, an amused twinkle in her eyes.

  It was just a car. A black, convertible, Aston Martin. Nothing fancy.

  Opening the door for her, he closed it again once she'd got in. He put her luggage in the boot and then went around and slid into the driver's side. Starting the engine, he revved it a little and put the roof down. It was too hot for being stuck in a car for hours. He was thankful that she hadn't asked how far away the place was that he was taking her to.

  Kim rifled in her little bag that was on her lap and he watched as she tied her hair back. She was still on edge. He could see it in her eyes.

  Pulling out into the quiet road, he focused on driving and what he was going to do to make things up to her. Things were becom
ing intense a lot quicker than he'd anticipated. The heat between them, the attraction, was almost unbearable. He wanted to touch her, to reach across and place his hand on her jeans-clad knee to reaffirm their connection. His gaze roamed over her as he pulled the car to a stop at traffic lights. He was guessing that this wasn't what she'd worn into work this morning. The dark blue jeans fitted her loosely, but the black baby doll t-shirt was snug, stretching across her breasts.

  He dragged his eyes away from them when the car in front began to move. At least she was coming with him, even if she was saying it was just so she could get some answers.

  The drive through London passed in silence. He was lost in his thoughts, going over things repeatedly in his head, searching for the right thing to do and a way of breaking things to her that would see her understanding and not freaking out.

  He pulled the car onto the motorway and frowned when the overhead signs warned of heavy traffic ahead. He should have avoided the M25. It was always hell unless you were driving along it after midnight.

  Shifting the car up a gear, he shot into the outside lane and sped along.

  The breeze the sweeping around him was refreshing.

  The silence in the car was stifling.

  “Kim?” he said, not wanting to disturb her but needing to.

  He felt her look across at him.

  “You do believe me don't you?” He glanced at her, just long enough to see that she really was looking at him.

  A pause.

  “Yes,” she said, her voice quiet and laced with muddled emotions. “She's a bitch like that.”

  Relief lightened his heart, making him relax into the seat. His shoulders lowered, his whole body slumping a little as the tension left him. It was good that he'd got that out in the open. He couldn't imagine having to drive over hundred miles with that playing on his mind. Another glance at her revealed that she was still looking at him. She was beautiful. The fine strands of her ponytail were being whipped around by the wind. They danced across her face, making her look mysterious. Her eyes were bright, not hiding anything from him, and he wished he could take a long look into them to see all her feelings for him. What he'd said to her was true. He'd waited his whole damn life to find her, and now that he had, he wasn't going to lose her. Nothing was going to come between them. He wouldn't let it. Fear crept into the corners of his heart as he thought about how she could react to the knowledge that he was a shape-shifter, that inside him was a primal side that he couldn't hold back sometimes. He stared at the road in front of him, hoping that she'd understand. She had to. He couldn't face life without her. He had to tell her how he felt.

  He felt her gaze leave him.

  He swallowed and considered what he was about to say.

  “Kim?” his voice shook.

  She turned back to face him.

  “Erik?” she said, her tone soft and coaxing, as though she knew what he wanted to say and that he needed gentle encouragement.

  He swallowed again.

  “Nothing,” he said, losing his nerve. This was no time for declarations of the heart. He had to be sure first. If she left and he hadn't said it, maybe his heart wouldn't break as badly. Maybe it would hurt less.

  He was glad she didn't push it, but at the same time, a part of him was disappointed.

  He glared at the long row of traffic in front of him and pulled into the next lane over. It was going to be a long journey.

  Kim shifted in her seat and he looked over at her. She had her eyes closed, her head resting against the back of the seat and her bag down between her feet now. She looked relaxed, and felt it too. In her, he could sense none of the tension that had been there when she'd opened the door and agreed to go with him.

  He pulled the car to a stop behind a dirty white van. A lorry pulled up behind him and he put the roof up. He didn't want Kim having to breathe in all the fumes while boiling in traffic. When the roof was up, he turned the radio on quietly and put the air-conditioning on. He flicked through the stations on the radio, trying to find something soothing. Some classical music came on and he left it on that. Kim smiled, her eyes still closed. He wondered if she knew he was doing all this for her. He'd always take care of her and not let anything happen to her. He'd protect her from the world.

  He looked at her, passing the time in traffic by studying her face, watching her as she started to doze. He smiled. She was trying hard not to fall asleep but he could see she was losing the fight. The heat of summer was making her sleepy. It made him sleepy too. He just wanted to stretch out under the sun and let it warm him right down to the bone.

  Driving the car forwards a little when the van in front moved, he frowned when he heard sirens and looked in the wing mirror. An ambulance and a police car were coming, fighting their way through the traffic.

  It was going to be a long, hot drive.

  But at least she was with him.

  * * * *

  Night had fallen by the time he pulled up in front of the house. He put the handbrake on and looked over at Kim. She was fast asleep. Getting out of the car, he went to the back and opened the boot. He took her luggage out and looked around when a light cut through the darkness. He smiled at the woman coming out to greet him and intimated for her to be quiet when she took the suitcase off his hands.

  Going around to the passenger side of the car, he opened the door and leaned in. He unbuckled Kim's seatbelt and slid it carefully off her, trying not to disturb her. He waited a moment before bending down and hooking one arm around her back, and the other under her legs.

  She weighed practically nothing in his arms as he lifted her out of the car. She stirred a little, opened her eyes and looked at him sleepily, and then sighed and went back to sleep.

  Kicking the car door closed, he decided to take Kim into the house and take care of the car later. He carried her through the broad front door and into the hallway. There weren't many lights on. When Kim had fallen asleep in the car, he'd called ahead to warn the housekeeper of his arrival, but she probably hadn't had the time to get most of the house ready. He didn't mind. He doubted they'd use more than eight of the rooms while they were here.

  The housekeeper closed the door behind him and smiled at the sleeping woman in his arms.

  “It's good to see you two finally together,” she whispered.

  He sighed and looked down at Kim. “Not finally yet. It's still more of a maybe. She doesn't know.”

  “She'll understand. I've got a feeling about it.”

  “You and your feelings,” he said with a smile. “Give her anything she wants, understood?”

  “I've already called and arranged all the necessary food. It will be arriving tomorrow morning. I'll make sure she's not left wanting anything.”

  He nodded and carried Kim up the stairs. She stirred a little again, looking up at him with sleep-filled eyes that said she wasn't quite aware of what was happening.

  “You need some rest. It's been one hell of a day.” He kept his voice low and soothing, almost purring the words at her.

  She smiled slightly and yawned, her eyes roaming the corridor they were walking down before coming back to meet his. They seemed to ask a silent question, and if he was reading it right, she was going to be disappointed by his answer.

  Setting her down in front of the door to her bedroom, he opened it for her and waited for her to walk in. He followed her, watching her yawning and taking in the large room. When she looked at him, he could see she was waiting for an answer to her question.

  He walked over to her and looked at her for the longest time before pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

  “I'll see you in the morning,” he whispered against her mouth and then drew back, adding quietly to himself that he'd see her in his dreams too. It was probably best that she had a night without him, a night alone with only their visions to link them. It would help bring out the bond between them again and hopefully remind her of how good they could be together.

  She gave him a tired
but confused look as he backed away from her. He wanted to give in to her, but even if he did, he wouldn't give her what she really wanted. The only place he could give her that right now without feeling terrible inside was in their visions. If he got into bed with her, all he'd want to do was hold her.

  She stepped towards him.

  He smiled, brushed the rogue strands of her hair back into place and touched her cheek.

  “Night,” he said, and turned and walked out of the door, closing it behind him.

  Tomorrow, he'd see just how open-minded she was and just where their relationship was going to go.

  CHAPTER 16

  Kim stretched as she woke, feeling relaxed as she sank into the soft mattress beneath her and vaguely recollected her dream. Two things stood out in it. One was the incredibly powerful feeling of connection between her and Erik. She'd felt as though they'd been entwined right down to their souls. The second was the handcuffs.

  It hadn't been kinky, not like she'd expected it to get when he'd pulled the handcuffs out. It had been intense and had shown her a different side to this strong man. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling above her, realising that it wasn't a ceiling at all. It was a canopy.

  She sat up and yawned as she looked around the room. She was in a four-poster bed in the middle of what looked like a very expensive room.

  A very big expensive room.

  Not really the kind of room you'd find in a little place in the country. She got the feeling that Erik had an odd impression of what was little. This looked like a big place in the country. She didn't have a clue whereabouts they were. The moment they'd hit traffic on the motorway, she'd been out like a light. The cool air and calming music had seen to that, and the comforting presence of Erik. Something about him made her feel safe, as though he'd defend her and protect her from anything.

  There was something sexy about that. A knight in shining armour.

  And his steed?

  That car was incredible. When she'd pictured the type of car he'd probably drive, she'd done a good job. It was definitely sleek, curvy and irresistible. She'd never been in an Aston Martin before. She'd give anything if he'd let her drive it. She could just imagine the thrill of being behind the wheel of something so powerful and eye-catching.