Shadow Hunters (Portal Jumpers) by Yezall Strongheart Page B

fireplace.
    Vlad followed her in and closed the door.  He left the rifle on the kitchen table and helped Callie with the candles.  They stood close together with the candlelight illuminating their faces.  He really did look like Bernie, but way better.  Maybe they were related.
    “I must so und like a real nut job, huh?” he asked.
    “Y eah, kinda.  I’m a little afraid of you,” she confessed.
    “I’m sorry , Callie, I’ve just been through something I don’t know how to handle, and I’m a little scared too,” he confided.
    All sense left her as she instinctively hugged him.  He hugged her back, and her libido stepped to the front of the line.  Apparently, so did his, clearly evidenced by the arousal she could feel against her abdomen along with a sudden aching tension building between them.  Surprised, she looked up at him.  His desire for her was visible in his eyes.  Slowly, he pulled her snugly against his chest.
    As his eyes narrowed to half-mast, he cupped her chin in his hand, kissing her gently.  This wasn’t the drunken groping she so often had to settle for.  This was a sensuous, experienced, exotic kiss that had the hot flavor of desire.  It was akin to the lighting of a fire.  His rough hands moved over her bare shoulders with the agility of a skilled lover.
    When the kiss ended, he stayed close to her face.  Seeing his smoky gaze peering back at her, she became embarrassed.  She asked if he wanted something to drink.  He nodded.  As she tried to move, he held her arm, tugging it slightly
    “Vlad?” she questioned, trying to figure what out he was doing.
    He pulled her back into his arms, kissing her lips with a promise of fulfillment and breathed into her ear.  “I want inside you.”
    “Wow, I usually get dinner first…” she teased, trying to push away.
    “Please Callie, you know you want me to o, let’s not play games,” he reasoned.
    That part was true .  It’s what she had set out to do tonight, and it had been several days since she had been with anyone, but the playing games part…no, Callie liked that.
    “Slow down cowboy, we got all night .  Let’s get something to drink and go into the living room,” she suggested.
    He didn’t say anything but his grasp on her loosened enough for her to pull away and walk to the fridge.  Opening it, she grabbed two beers and handed them to Vlad then searched for a bottle opener.
    “Voila!” she exclaimed, finding one in a drawer and holding it up in the air.
    He took it from her and opened the bottles before they walked into the living room.  A comfortable C-shaped couch pit was in front of the fireplace.  To the left and up a few steps was a dining table in front of a huge window that looked out on the lake.  They sat down on the couch, setting their beers on the small table between the couch and the fireplace.
    Vlad had removed his leather coat and cowboy hat, throwing it on the back of the couch.  Callie sat with her legs under her; Vlad was turned sideways, his feet on the floor.  He pulled her to him, causing her ass to rise in the air.  Kissing her softly, he rubbed the skin of her arm with his warm, calloused hand then slid it down to her hip.  His large hand spread out over her upturned ass, pulling her closer. 
    With the other hand , his fingers combed into her hair and tightened over a mass of the fiery red tresses.  Pulling her head to the back of the couch, he leaned in.  There was a noise outside.  Instantly, Vlad pushed her down on the couch to her back, rolling over quickly to lie on top of her.  He was looking out the window in the dining room intently.
    “Is somebody there?” she whispered.
    “We have to go ,” he answered, grabbing her shirt and pulling her with him.
    “We?” Callie asked weakly.
    Vlad grabbed the rifle , then they left the cabin by the back door, sneaking down to the lake.  Lying flat as they could in the sand, they waited.  When the shadows appeared again, he