Free Kyn Series by Mina Carter Page A

dark eyes unreadable.
    “You look stunning.”
    He lifted a hand to tuck a stray curl of hair behind her ear. She shivered at the touch, unable to take her gaze off him as his fingertips trailed over her cheek.
    “Yeah right.” Her voice was a croak, her mouth suddenly dry. He’d only touched her cheek, yet her body was going haywire. “To hear them talk in there, you’d think…”
    She clamped her mouth shut midsentence, appalled at what she was about to say, ready to admit her innermost fears to him. She’d learnt early on never to let anyone see the chinks in her armor. Childhood bullies driven to their ways by the marks on her face and body had taught her to keep everything safely inside.
    It was too late, she’d said enough. She watched as realization flooded Kalen’s eyes. Even at Vixen’s height, she had to look up to meet them.
    “Ignore them, they’re just jealous.” His voice wove magic out of the moonlight and darkness, sending a shiver up her spine. She wanted to believe him, his words like a balm to her injured feminine pride. Then he surprised her.
    “Dance with me?” he asked, holding a hand out to her.
    She couldn’t help the shudder that ran through her as she cast a hunted glance at the tall windows, the light from the festivities inside spilling out into the night. She couldn’t bear to go back in, have them all watching her again, dissecting her every move, probably hoping she’d trip and fall over her own feet.
    “I don’t think I’m ready to go back in yet,” she admitted, although she desperately wanted that dance. Just one, then tomorrow they’d go back to sniping at one another.
    “Neither am I… I came out to escape as well. Out here, just you and me.” His voice was low and persuasive, and his gaze never left hers.
    It was her fantasy come true. Vixen reached out and placed her hand in his without speaking.
    Of course, in her fantasies—the ones she woke hot and flustered from—he’d pull her hard against him. Then, his hands would mold her softer body to his as he would plunder her lips, then draw her deeper into the shadows where…she would pull herself together, her heart racing, before the betraying blush on her cheekbones had the chance to warm half the city.
    She met his gaze as he pulled her into his arms, their bodies moving slowly to the music that filtered out onto the terrace. Slow and seductive, under any other circumstances, she’d never have agreed to dance to it with anyone, much less Kalen. Rock and heavy metal were more her style. But, the romance of the occasion mellowed her and she relaxed in his arms.
    They fit together well, moving so naturally it was as if they were made for each other. She sighed softly, the unaccustomed champagne flowing through her veins. It wasn’t enough to make her tipsy, she was too experienced to make that sort of mistake, but it was enough to relax her guard several notches.
    When the music changed to something slower, more romantic and Kalen pulled her closer, she didn’t argue. Instead, she sighed in pleasure and gave into the temptation to lay her head on his shoulder and close her eyes, luxuriating in the feel of his hard male body against hers.
    She had no idea of time as they danced, moving slowly to the music with his arms around her, hers around him. She felt safe and protected, a feeling Vixen had never experienced before. It was a feeling she found she liked. Eventually, Kalen stopped moving and murmured her name.
    She looked up, blinking as her eyes as they readjusted to the darkness, only to find he’d moved them farther into the shadows at the edges of the terrace, well away from the ballroom doors.
    “I’ve wanted to do this all night,” he whispered, tilting her chin up to claim her lips.

Chapter Three
    Hot. That was the only way to describe the way Kalen had kissed her the night of the reception. Hot and wildly erotic. Days later, Vixen still felt the imprint of his lips on hers, the way he’d