Free Defeat the Darkness (Hearts of Darkness) by Eliza March Page A

difference between Atlanta and New Orleans. They had a few hours left before close of business, and she could still catch the later flight out tonight if they pulled the right strings.
    She went to the refrigerator and took out a chilled bottle of Merlot, poured herself a glass then emptied it down the drain and settled for a Coke. She had to keep her wits about her.
    Max would help her find Kyle because, one—it was the courteous thing to do, and two—he was his friend too. He cared about what happened to Kyle.
    No matter how many generations passed, southern towns liked to keep the status quo, and though they all loved Kyle, she recalled how her own mother had given her that raised brow and asked, “Now, Shelby, darlin’ why couldn’t you fall for Max? After all, Kyle is a Yankee. What do you know about his people?”
    At the time, Shelby had laughed. “His ‘people’ are old money, social blue bloods from Boston. You’ll have to do quite a bit of pruning on our family tree to match up to his ancestry.”
    Mr. Hamilton would help. No one disapproved of Kyle. In fact, everyone loved him. Right now, it didn’t matter if she and Max weren’t together. All that counted was, thank the lord, Max had the contacts and resources through his father’s agency to get her into Guatemala fast.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 10 Seduction
    Amyra’s Mountain Cave
    Kyle’s mind stirred as he felt rough hands moving over his wrists and ankles. Opening his eyes in the candlelit room, he noted the jaguar guards, in their human form who’d been with Amyra earlier, were the same ones who had carried him through the jungle trussed up like a slaughtered lamb. He had a hard time telling where they were taking him through the dense foliage, so he gave in to the need for sleep. They finally brought him to a luxurious room in a deep cavern. Two female jaguar guards joined the men and helped situate him on the mattress.
    Kyle struggled as they forced him onto the oversized bed with blood red sheets, tying his wrists and ankles to the four corner posts. When they eventually stepped back, he was spread-eagled, naked before them.
    Amyra entered the room also naked, but for a jeweled golden torc she wore around her neck and a matching girdle at her hips. The contrast with her pale skin, shimmering like diamonds in the candle light, astounded him. She was exquisite, with her ropes of long black hair draped around her breasts.
    Beauty frightening in its perfection.
    But, it didn’t fool Kyle.
    Her eyes were flat black, emotionless, drawing in her victim and seducing his mind.
    Kyle wondered why she’d chosen him. If a man was all she wanted, there were other men in the camp and villages. From the moment he saw her, the connection between them sizzled. He couldn’t deny she’d been able to force a reaction from him even when he resisted her.
    He couldn’t help asking, “Why me?” The words sounded dry as sand and rough as grit.
    “I sensed you were different when I first saw you. Then, when you were bitten by the jaguar and survived, I was certain. Now I know you are different—exactly what I need.”
    “What?” He struggled against the restraints, feeling exposed and vulnerable as she walked slowly around the bed inspecting him.
    “Only humans from certain backgrounds are strong enough to survive the transmutation—the species change.”
    The irony didn’t escape Kyle. He’d survived the jaguar attack, only to end up as Amyra’s captive. God knew what she intended for him.
    “That doesn’t actually answer my question. What do you need from me?”
    She flipped her hair behind her back and ran a long, pale pink fingernail down his chest, pausing at the thick vein in his dick. “You interest me.”
    “Sex? I’m not interested in having sex with anyone.”
    As her nail grazed his skin, his erection rose and he shuddered.
    “Really?” Her laugh was a deep sensual sound that sent vibrations straight to his balls. “If I want you