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He feigned a look of horror "And it’s sheer torture Hoe survive the night?"

She shook her head, s you to keep me away from someone else"

"Keep you away? That’s odd My mother’s instructions were entirely different" He cocked his head toward the stairs, then whispered, "I can hear hilanced at the staircase but couldn’t see Carlos Or hear hiori suddenly pulled her into his ar instructions," he whispered in her ear "Carlos has reached the landing I’m supposed to make him terribly jealous"

"What?" Caitlyn turned her head, accidentally brushing her forehead against Gregori’s jaw Radinka wanted Carlos to be jealous?

"It’s working," Gregori ainst her terabbed her chin "Don’t look He’s glaring at us with laser-strength eyeballs The heat alone would ori a shove

He stepped back, glancing toward the stairs "Oh, Carlos What a surprise How’s it going, bro?"

Caitlyn flipped her hair over her shoulder and shot a nonchalant look in Carlos’s direction Her heart stuttered at the intensity of his eyes and the barely contained tension in his body Good Lord, if he just crooked a finger at her, she would run to hiori was fun, but Carlos was fire and passion A wildcat, dark and forbidding

Her breath hitched when she saw his hand on the banister Sharp, lethal claws had extended fro into the wood A shiver shi her skin

He didn’t scare her God help her, he ought to, but he didn’t She wanted those claws to peel her clothes off She wanted his lanced at his face, and his jaw ticked

"Well" Gregori watched the with a with you See you later, Carlos"

He inclined his head, his aori opened the door and ushered Caitlyn out "Sheesh, you two have got it bad" He shut the door

"Is it that obvious?"

Gregori escorted her down the stairs to the sidewalk "You took one look at him and your heartbeat shot off like a rocket Vamps can hear heartbeats, you know"

"So I’ve been told"

"And Carlos looked like he wanted to perforrinned "Your mother told you to ether" Gregori pressed a hand to his chest "I’m heartbroken, naturally, that I can’t have you forin the least "There’s no one special for you, Gregori?"

"Nope And that’s the way I like it" He strutted toward a black Lexus sedan "I’s, too sexy for o dancing, Toots!"

Chapter Fifteen

"Tiet up, Caitlyn" Carlos knocked on her door early the next

He heard a lowwas just as good as a Vaori must not be aware of that fact, either Carlos had heard their conversation the night before as he’d descended the stairs, so he knew their date had been arranged He also knew Gregori’s alleged affection for her had been staged But that didn’t ed inside hi at the bars of his cage

He’d had enough He refused to play gaori or anyone else who found his predica And he didn’t want to endure anyin her presence was painful Her turquoise eyes, her luscious body, her intoxicating scent, her brave spirit, and her sassy attitude - it all added up to sheer torture He’d never craved a woman like this before

The only way to find relief and keep her safe was to leave As soon as possible

"Caitlyn, wake up" He knocked on her door again This time he heard a muffled response "Toni will be here soon"

"Okay!" she yelled

He headed down the stairs, then paused on the landing to check the banister Last night while Caitlyn was on her date, he’d gone to the nearest hardware store Then he’d filled the gouges in the banister ood putty It had dried overnight, but needed to be sanded With any luck, no one would ever kno us asked at the foot of the stairs

Carlos straightened with a jerk "No You’re back early" He noted the bottle of Bubbly Blood and two chaus’s hands "Special occasion?"

"Aye ’Tis the anniversary of Eratulations"

Angus snorted "I wasna with her that night I felt too guilty for what I had done to her"

Carlos sed hard At least Emma had survived the transforuilt would be too limmered with emotion "I’ll always be there for her now"

Carlos lowered his voice "I need to talk to you about Caitlyn I asked Toni to take over her training"

Angus paused on the landing, frowning "We only asked for a week, and ye canna do it?"

"It’scolanced up the stairwell "I fought my attraction for Emma, but in the end I had to learn to trust the power of our love"

"The best thing I can do for Caitlyn is to stay far away fro for ht But first, I have to go to Dragon Nest Acade, and I need to take hius nodded "That’ll be fine Eo there, too, to check on security before we go to Russia We’ll talk tonight Cheerio" He bounded up the stairs, his blue and green plaid kilt swishing around his knees

Carlos sighed If only he could find a were-panther us felt for his wife What if he never found a woman he wanted as much as Caitlyn?

He descended the stairs and found Phineas in the kitchen, sitting at the table

"Yo, Catlass of synthetic blood "What’s up?"

"The usual" Carlos retrieved a new box of cereal froht?"

"Quiet Eus took over for a few hours so I could visit ood" Carlos set a bowl and spoon on the table, then noticed Phineas was frowning at his glass of blood "What’s wrong?"

Phineas took a sip froh school this spring"

"That’s great" Carlos fetched the e "You must be very proud of him"

"I am He’s real se, but he says I’ve been supporting the and he needs to help out"