CLARA'S POV
This time, he let me go.
I jumped up, knocking over the narrow chair. "Not a chance in hell." I didn't recognize the snarl echoing in my own voice. I was in a safe building protected by the U.S. Marshal's service, for goodness' sake, I had nothing to fear here. My own voice rammed in my head
Slowly, Taki pushed to his feet and strolled across the conference room.
I took a step back, my breath hitching as I thought of a way to get out of this placed. But, he has learned against the closed door.
I would need to go through him to get out.
God, he was huge. Even if I had known how to fight, I doubted I would stand a chance when faced with such size and obvious strength. A feminine fear and a flutter I refused to identify whispered through me.
"I won't hurt you." His voice lowered, deepening to a tone that increased my flutter. He relaxed his stance against the door, his muscled arms crossing. "I won't let anyone harm either of you. Ever."
Okay. Fine. He was too big for me to fight, but I did have a brain. "Listen, Taki," I kept my voice soft, soothing. "It's great your dating pool just opened up and all, but I'm not looking for—"
A dimple winked in his cheek, stopping my words. I fought to keep my tone mild. "Am I amusing you?" I asked while trying to control my already rising anger.
"Yes." He replied, still smiling.
"Why?" I could even feel his amusement in the air, damn it.
"You humans, I've never understood why you ignore fate. She has her own plans."
"Fate?" He was throwing destiny at me? Come on.
He nodded. "Fate."
"Wow. That's poetic, Taki." Sarcasm replaced the softness. "But there's no way fate is involved here." I told him frankly.
"You're wrong." he tackled.
"Prove it." I said, not ready to give up.
"Okay." He lifted his right hand, palm out. A crest, an intricate one, spread across his calloused skin. Thick and black, a webbing of arcs together formed a knot with what might be an elaborate K in the middle.
"A tattoo?" I quirked an eyebrow, wondering if he had other tats on that magnificent body.
"No. A brand of sorts. It appeared earlier after I took your arm."
"A brand?" I snorted. "Bullshit."
Taki shrugged. "It's true, Clara. The mark usually doesn't appear until the mating act, but there are exceptions." Golden eyes pinned me. "Our bond must be strong."
"No." I refused to believe him. Then, he lifted a shoulder.
My mind rebelled at the physical evidence before my eyes. "I said, no. I choose to ignore your fate." How could the mark have appeared? Conviction sat easily upon his face and my stomach rolled at the question of how far he'd go to follow his fate.
"That is your choice," he agreed.
"Damn straight." I searched his face for a trick, determination tightening my own jaw. A raised eyebrow met my glare. "But, you don't know anything about me. I could be married." I said, still trying to refute.
"You're not." He said with full confidence.
"How do you know?" I was surprised by his confidence he exuded.
He shrugged. "My brother Dage shot your file to my smartphone."
Smart phone? Vampires used smartphones? Come on. "Where were you?" Damn my curiosity.
"In a meeting with my other brother, Ray."
Geez. Sounded like a family-oriented creature of the night. Or day. Or whatever. I tried another tack. "Besides, I have a date tonight."
I wasn't sure what my goal was, but I didn't reach it. A genuine smile played across his lips, and he uncrossed his arms. "You're not going to make it."
I inhaled the thick sweetness of the impatiens, trying to calm my nerves. Trying to clear my head. Most men relaxed when they smiled, became more approachable. With Taki, a showing of teeth seemed like a warning. His gaze ran over my face and my skin flushed in response. Enough. A creeping anger started to burn in my belly. "Get out of my way so I can get my daughter."
A slow shake of his head skittered unease down my spine. "While you may choose to ignore fate, the outcome of this day is inevitable."
"Outcome?" I asked shakily. I hated the quiver in my voice.
"We will be married before leaving this building and mated before another dawn emerges." He said he like owned me.
"I. Said. No." As I fought the urge to grab the chair off the floor and chuck it at his stubborn head.
"You may choose to ignore fate, and you may choose to ignore your own abilities, your own intuition that would tell you this is right, but"—angry green flecks swirled through the molten gold of his eyes—"you have no choice when it comes to the safety of your daughter. It is paramount. As her mother, you know that." He said as he reminded me that I had to save my daughter of the impending danger.
I stumbled back a step, fury slamming through me. "You're threatening my daughter?" Panic warred with my rational mind, and my breath caught. I needed to get to Janie. Now.
Taki straightened to his full height. "Hell, no. The most sacred duty I'll ever have is protecting that child." The green flecks in those eyes overtook the gold. "And any others we may have."
"I don't understand." Chaos and pure denial swirled through my brain.
"That's because you're not being rational." He replied.
"Rational?" my voice rose to an uncomfortable shriek. I wasn't a woman who shrieked, damn it.
"Yes. Stop for a moment and think. The treaty's over. You and Jane have been discovered. You are a potential mate, one the Kurgans will do anything to acquire. You don't want that, Clara. Do you?"
"I can keep my daughter safe." I told him full of determination. My eyes widened as he laughed. He actually laughed.
"I took you in less than three minutes, and that was to keep you from harm. With not scaring Jane. You can't protect her. Hell, your government can't protect her. Face it Clara, I'm all you've got." He straightened his stance.
I took another step back. "If our government isn't helpful, why are we here? Why are we meeting with them?" I asked feeling weak and tired from all the banters we've been having.
"I didn't say they weren't helpful. I said they can't protect you. They do come in handy for a good cover story, which you'll need. Since you just disappeared." He replied.
Disappeared? Oh God. A sob rose in my throat, and I stamped down on the fear. Who was going to water my plants? I scrambled to reason with him. "I'll hire you."
"I don't need money." He said as he pushed away from the door toward me.
"If what you say is true, and I'm not saying I believe it, but, even so, if I marry you, the Kurgans would still want me." I said.
"No. You only get one mate, darling. You'll be safe as soon as tomorrow. They won't be able to touch you. Literally." Two slow strides and he stood less than a foot away.
I lifted my head to meet his eyes, refusing to retreat another step. "Why?"
Taki pushed a curl off my cheek. "Chemicals. Something exchanged during the mating act." Another step, and I felt his energy swim over me, through me. The scent of man and purpose mingled with spiced pine to dance over my skin.
The gold of his eyes held me in place. My heart started to thrum. His hand cradled my chin and those eyes dared me to stop him. Tension threaded through the room, and a buzzing began between my ears. I opened my mouth to say something, anything.
He lowered his head. Then, fire. Firm lips heated mine, taking me under. His other hand moved to the small of my back. He pressed me closer. Into impossible hardness. Lava washed through me and I slammed shields into place, but this passion was my own. I couldn't shield myself from within.
He bent me to fit him, his mouth taking mine with a hunger barely checked. I forgot where I was. Hell, I forgot who I was. I returned his kiss, whimpered deep within, and pressed into pure strength. My body softened as his hardened.
Still, he went deeper.
His growl echoed in the blood racing through my veins. He pivoted, lifting me onto the table. My butt slapped hard wood as he stepped into me, one hand fisted in my hair, the other holding me upright. My knees clenched his hips, and his tongue took mine, fiercely and without question.
He lifted his head, and I could only stare, bemused. The green dominated the gold in his eyes. How was that possible? A dark flush worked its way across his high cheekbones, and his canines dropped low and sharp.
Alarm cut through my desire, my body froze, preparing to flee. My heart galloped into a run, and my mouth went dry. "Wait." I started to struggle.
Taki lifted his head toward the door like a wolf catching a scent. He released me and stepped away. "They're returning." His canines retracted again.
I jumped off the table to straighten my hair and clothing. What in the hell had just happened? Good God, I had kissed him like the truth to the universe existed on his tonsils. My breasts still ached heavy and full—for him. A deadly stranger with fangs—one who could probably kill me without breaking a sweat—and I had kissed him like he was mine. I needed a shrink.
"Still questioning our bond?"