“Right the first time. Any guesses on who did it?”
“You don’t think Nadiya . . .”
“Who else?”
“But why? She doesn’t know you killed Daryn and Marius.”
“I think she’s got a pretty good idea that I had something to do with Daryn’s death.”
“So, you think she’s in Tahoe?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out. I’m going home tomorrow.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“As long as it takes. I need to talk to the fire department, find out what they know. Get in touch with my insurance company. See about getting the mess cleaned up. Call the architect who built it the first time.”
“But . . . we’re getting married next Saturday.”
“Right. How do you feel about getting married in Tahoe?”
She blinked at him, and then shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t matter where we get married, as long as we get married. But . . . what about my mom and dad?”
“They can come with us. Hell, the whole family can come along.”
“Our marriages are usually private affairs, with just the immediate family present.” Of course, she’d already strayed from tradition by insisting on flowers and a church wedding.
“Really?”
Kaitlyn nodded. Weddings among her kind were not the romantic affairs of books and movies, since most marriages were arranged by the parents of the bride and groom. There was no music, no flowers, no reception afterward. At the Fortress, marriages were solemnized by the Master of the Coven. She wasn’t sure if that was legal in Nevada, but it didn’t matter. Wherever they were, her father would perform the ceremony.
She made a soft sound of contentment when Zack drew her into his arms. “I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“I’m kinda looking forward to that myself.” He hugged her close, his tongue sliding over her lower lip, slipping inside to mate with hers.
She was like a flame in his arms, igniting his desire, burning away all his good intentions. Her hands moved over his shoulders and down his arms, testing the strength of his biceps, then slipping under his T-shirt, her fingernails raking his chest, his back, sliding down to the waistband of his sweats. Every touch aroused him more.
“Katy . . .”
She covered his mouth with hers, swallowing his protest.
With a low groan, he surrendered to the need that would no longer be denied. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her fervently, his desire growing as his tongue dueled with hers. He took his mouth from hers only long enough to pull her nightgown over her head. He stared at her, speechless. She was beautiful from head to foot. Her skin was lightly tanned and perfect, her waist narrow, her hips nicely rounded, her legs long and shapely. He quickly rid himself of his T-shirt and sweats, then stretched out beside her.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” he asked.
“You are.” Kaitlyn rose on one elbow, her stomach fluttering as she admired his muscular arms and chest, his long legs and flat belly. “Definitely beautiful,” she murmured.
“You think so?” Slipping an arm around her, he buried his face in her cle**age. “So soft,” he murmured. “So warm.”
A needy moan rose in her throat as he nuzzled her breast. “Zack . . .”
He drew her into his arms, molding her body to his. The gentle abrasion of skin against skin aroused him still more. But it was the scrape of her teeth against his neck that carried him past the point of no return. Pleasure engulfed him as she drank. Only a taste, but it was enough. It heightened his desire and his thirst, made him forget everything but his need for this one particular woman above all others.
She turned her head to the side, offering him her throat. And he was lost.
Her musky scent filled his nostrils as his fangs pierced her tender flesh. She moaned softly, her hands clutching his shoulders as he rose over her. She cried out with mingled pleasure and pain as his body merged with hers.
He held her close for a moment, showering her with kisses while her body adjusted to his.
She writhed beneath him, urging him on, her hands caressing him as he moved deep inside her. She was silk and satin in his arms.
Kaitlyn clung to him, holding him so tightly it seemed as if they had melted into one another. Two made one, she thought, and felt the bond between them grow stronger even as tension built up within her.
She cried his name, desperate for release.
“Hang on, darlin’,” he said, his voice husky.
One soul-shattering kiss. One last thrust, and they tumbled over the edge to paradise.
Kaitlyn spiraled slowly back to reality. Never before had she felt so complete. So content. So utterly happy.
Opening her eyes, she saw Zack watching her intently. She smiled drowsily. “Wow.”
He arched one brow. “Wow?”
She kissed his chin. “It was worth the wait.”
“I’m sorry I waited so long,” he said, and then grunted softly. “So much for all my good intentions.”
Propping herself up on her elbow, she traced his lips with the tip of her finger. He had a remarkable mouth, she thought, capable of doing remarkable things. “I’m sorry for seducing you.”
He stared up at her, and then burst out laughing. “No, you’re not.”
“You’re right,” she admitted with a grin. “I’m not. In fact, I’m ready to do it all over again!”
Drake stood in front of the hearth, his arms crossed over his chest, as Zack told him the details of his phone call with Scherry that morning. “And you think Nadiya is behind it.”
“She’s the most logical suspect, don’t you think?”
Drake shrugged. “Why you?”
“Maybe she wants to separate the two of us. Or maybe she thinks if I go back to Tahoe, Kaitlyn will go with me. Either way, I’m heading home. I know this messes up the wedding plans, and I’m sorry about that, but I need to take care of this.”
“Of course you do,” Elena said.
Kaitlyn glanced at Zack, who was sitting on the sofa beside her, then smiled tentatively at her mother. “We thought we’d get married in Tahoe.”
Elena and Drake exchanged looks.
“Is that what you want?” Drake asked quietly.
“We want you both to be there, of course,” Kaitlyn added quickly. “And Grandmother and Stefan.”
“Whatever you want is fine with us,” Elena said. “It isn’t as though we’ve sent out a hundred invitations and rented a hall.”