Free Everlasting Bond by Christine M. Besze Page A

being late. Because there’s no way we can tell her the truth. Not to mention the fact that neither one of us called her.”
    “Do you want us to come in and smooth things over?” Cole offered.
    “No. That’s all right.” Jake shook his head and sighed. “We’re going to have to face her sooner or later.”
    “It’s no trouble.” Andrew assured him.
    “Thanks, but we can handle it. Kat and I’ll just have to get our story straight before we go in.”
    While they were talking, Katrina’s eyes started to roam through the field. She was trying to think of good excuse her mother would believe when something caught her eye. The moon only lit up a part of it, but she kne w what it was. “What the hell!”
    “What's wrong?” Cole asked.
    “Over there,” Katrina extended one of her fingers towards the side of the house.
    “How did the truck end up here?” Jake sounded annoyed.
    “Is this someone's idea of a joke?” Katrina grew pissed at the thought of it.
    “It’s not a joke. It’s them.” Anger and concern filled Cole's voice.
    At the same time, Katrina jumped. From the back seat Andrew let out a low hissing sound. When she turned around to look at him, she gasped in shock. His fangs were out and his body went rigid. It was obvious he was lost in his own world. There was a feral look burning within his deep cobalt eyes. One that screamed he was ready to kill.  And it made every hair on Katrina’s body stand on end.
    Even though it frightened her, Katrina found herself fascinated. She couldn’t look away nor did she want to. Adrenaline flooded her body and the sound of her pulse started to pound in her ears. She was so caught up in the sight of Andrew she almost forgot where she was. It wasn’t until Cole’s voice broke through the silence, that she came back to reality. “They’re gone.”
    “Who are they ?” Jake asked.
    “I’ll explain later,” A ndrew hissed through his fangs.
    Katrina's eyes were wide in shock and she couldn't look away from Andrew. Jake's description of him ran through her mind and she had to admit he looked every bit as fr ightening as Jake had said.
    She was still staring at Andrew when the sound of her door opening caught her attention. Katrina turned and found Cole waiting for her. How the hell did he get there so fast? She had been so caught up in Andrew's reaction that she never even heard Cole get out of the car.
    He must have caught the question in her gaze because his lips curled into a deep smile, as he offered her his hand. “Let me hel p you.”
    “Thanks.” As Cole's fingers curled around her hand, Katrina felt the familiar spark of current shoot through her body. His hand was strong as it held her, but still gentle at the same time.
    On her feet, Katrina slightly swayed back and forth. Cole wrapped his hands around her waist and held her tightly against him. If he had been anyone else, she would have knocked to the ground with her, but he wasn't. His abnormal strength was just another reminder he was definitely not human. And as the night began it scared the hell out of her, but now she wasn't sure what to think of it all. Having him so close caused her body to respond. Her head was still trying wrap around the fact that he wasn't human, but her body had its own agenda. Butterflies consumed her insides at the feel of his hands pressing into her.
    “Careful.” Cole was so close his cool skin brushed against her cheek.
    Real smooth! Katrina's cheeks blushed. “Sorry.”
    “Don't be.” A gleam of fire flickered through his pupils and he pressed his hand to her face.
    Katrina's breath caught. His voice was soft and smooth, like velvet. She stared at him too dumbfounded to speak. At the moment, time seemed to stand still. There was no one else but the two of them. She held onto that belief until she heard the sound of Jake clearing his throat. That brought her back down to reality and fast. What the hell am I doing! He's a vampire!
    Cole quickly removed