“In a hurry to tie the knot?” Zack took her hand in his and raised it to his lips.
The touch of his mouth sent a shiver of longing straight to the center of her being. “Of course.”
He grinned at her, a wicked gleam in his eyes. He knew exactly the effect he had on her.
“Zack, I have a favor to ask of you,” Drake said.
“Sure, anything.”
“I am going to meet Lucien at the Fortress tomorrow night. I would appreciate it if you would stay here with Elena and Kaitlyn.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go along to watch your back?”
“My brothers will be there. I need someone I can trust to stay here.”
“Whatever you want.”
“If anything happens to me . . .”
Elena quickly put her hand over her husband’s mouth. “Don’t say it! Don’t even think it!”
Drake stood and pulled Elena to her feet. “If you two will excuse us, I want to spend the rest of this night with my wife.”
Kaitlyn nodded. After her parents left the room, she turned toward Zack. “Let’s go outside.”
“I don’t think your father would approve.”
“Just out into the backyard.”
“It’s raining.”
She shrugged. “Afraid you’ll shrink?”
Laughing, he followed Kaitlyn into the kitchen and through a small door that led into a large garden surrounded by a high stone wall. He glanced around. He imagined the garden had once been beautiful, but no one had cared for it while Drake and Elena had been at the Fortress. The flowerbeds that lined the footpaths were filled with weeds. A small round fountain bubbled cheerfully in the middle of the yard; an ancient wroughtiron bench was located under a towering oak.
He followed Kaitlyn to the bench, which was surprisingly dry, and sat down beside her. “You’re worried about your father.”
“If anything happens to my dad . . .” She loosed a deep, shuddering sigh. “I don’t know what my mom would do without him.”
“I fought beside your dad,” Zack reminded her. “I wouldn’t worry about him.”
“I wouldn’t worry, either, if I thought Lucien would fight fair. But my mom’s worried that if Dad wins the fight, Nadiya will make certain he never leaves the Fortress alive.”
Zack grunted softly. It was a legitimate concern. Elena wasn’t the only one to think of it. “What do you want me to do?”
“Go with him.”
“No way. I’m not leaving you and your mother here alone.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Forget it, Katy. I’m not leaving you here, not with Nadiya running loose.”
“But . . .”
“No buts. And don’t think those tears will sway me. I don’t want to face your old man if anything happens to you or your mom. Besides, he told me he’s calling his brothers for backup.”
“He told you that?”
“We discussed his plans earlier. With all his brothers, half brothers, and brothers-in-law, he should be all right, even against the Korzha contingent.”
Knowing further arguments wouldn’t get her anywhere, Kaitlyn rested her head on Zack’s shoulder. “I hope you’re right.”
He winked at her. “I’m always right, Katy darlin’. And now that that’s settled, I think we should get down to some serious huggin’ and kissin’.”
“Oh, you do, do you?”
“Don’t you?” He made a sad face. “Your lack of interest cuts me to the quick.”
“Oh, shut up and kiss me, you fool.”
“You’re so romantic,” Zack muttered. “Is it any wonder that I love you?”
In a move that left her gasping with surprise, he lifted her onto his lap and kissed her, a long lingering kiss that started off feather-light and gradually grew in intensity until it was an effort for her to think, to breathe. His hands—those cunning, clever hands—slid seductively over her back, along her hips and thighs. She leaned into him, wanting to feel his skin on hers, wanting to drag him down to the ground and explore every inch of him.
Zack lifted his head, his eyes hot. “I’m willing if you are.”
“What?” She stared at him. “Are you reading my mind?”
“So it would seem.”
“But . . . how is that possible?”
“I told you, the more often we share blood, the stronger the link becomes.”
She blinked at him, her mind racing. “Zack . . . could you turn me?”
“What?”
“Make me a vampire like you are.”
“Why on earth would you want that? You’ve got the best of both worlds now.”
“I know, but I want to be able to zap myself across the street or across the world. I want to be able to dissolve into mist. Or turn into a wolf.”
“If you want to zip across the country, I’ll take you. As for dissolving into mist . . .” He shrugged. “It comes in handy now and then, I’ll admit, but mostly it’s overrated.”
“But being able to turn into a wolf, now that’s cool. I watched you when you were fighting Nadiya’s men. It gave you a real advantage.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
“So, will you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know if it’s possible to change from one kind of vampire to another. Even if was possible, what would your parents think? What would your father think?”
“That’s a silly question. We both know he’d be against it. I’m not sure about my mom.” Kaitlyn bit down on her lower lip. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. If she was a vampire like Zack, there would be no more shared meals with her mom, no more going out to lunch together and then on a shopping spree, no more balmy days by the lake. Of course, when she married Zack and they went back to Tahoe, she wouldn’t be doing those things very often anyway.
“Think about what you’d be giving up,” Zack said.
“The sunlight,” she said, thinking aloud. Would she be happy, living in a world of darkness? Never seeing the sun again, or feeling its warmth on her face? “And food.” She would miss real food—apples and oranges, artichokes and tomatoes, a good steak. Chicken and rice. And chocolate . . .
“Once it’s done, darlin’, you can’t undo it.”
Kaitlyn nodded, He was right, of course. She needed to think it through. And there was no hurry. In the meantime, she was wasting precious moments with the man she loved.