Promises (Blood Brothers #1) (7 page)

“We had our good times and bad times, but for the most part it was a good life. Until my parents died when we were eighteen it was something I took for granted but never again.” She didn’t hear any grief or remorse in his tone, just the quiet acceptance of what was.

“Tell me about your brother,” she asked, turning to look at the pond. Rafe’s full bodied laugh filled the large room and caught Chayle off guard.

“My twin is the one you need to ask questions, lass. Not me.” He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and left her sitting there to contemplate exactly what he meant.

It was several hours before Kayne came back to the house and found .Chayle still sitting in the sun room lost in thought. He stood by the open French doors quietly watching her and felt a tug on his blocks, as if someone were trying to scan him without his knowledge. Only his brothers could reach out to him past his blocks without access and then only because Kayne had established those neural pathways long ago while they served in the service as a team. He watched the stunning young woman close her eyes and take a deep breath, centering herself. That’s when he again felt the gentle “push” that had drawn his team to the cabin where Chayle and the other girl had been found.

Kayne had his answers. This woman who seemed to touch a part of him that he thought was long dead was able to reach into the void and stroke his soul. Taking a deep breath he eased into the sunroom and up next to where she sat.

“That’s a neat trick you have, reaching out while meditating.” He didn’t want to startle her but wasn’t surprised when Chayle’s dark eyes flew open and her breath quickened.

“You scared the shit out of me!” She started to jump up from her chair but Kayne gently held her in place.

“How long have you been able to reach out like that and search for someone?” he asked, sinking down to sit cross-legged next to her chair. It was a position he used all the time when meditating and it seemed as close to non-threatening as he could get at the moment.

“I have no idea. I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember, but never encountered someone else who could communicate like I do.” Licking her suddenly dry lips, Chayle looked back down at the koi, trying to get her breathing under control once more. She had been blissfully unaware anyone had come into the room until Kayne spoke.

“Not many have the talent,” he whispered, watching her. “You do realize that is how we found both of you, don’t you?” He watched the sudden shock fill her eyes and confirmed she must have reached out unconsciously as she sank into oblivion hanging in that cabin.

“Can you tell me what happened to the other young woman who was there with me?”

“She’s safe. Rafe has her in another safe house about two hours from here. It was decided to separate both of you in case the crazies tried to grab either of you again.” He turned to look into the pool, aware she was still watching him.

“Until we can figure out who is behind the whole thing it’s best if we keep both of you in different places. But I promise, she’s fine and healing better than expected from what Rafe has told me. He gets daily updates on her progress and anything that might be a threat, no matter how small.”

She was so quiet for so long, Kayne wondered if she was meditating again. When she turned to look directly at him, her eyes were pools of dark despair.

“My life will never be the same again, will it?” Kayne could almost see into her soul and the unique connection that had begun in the deep woods of the mountains clicked into place.

He had been working himself to death, trying to figure out what it was about this female among all others that drew him. He wasn’t a monk by any stretch of the imagination, but no one had managed to reach into the dark places of his soul since he and Rafe had discovered the treachery of just how their own government had wronged them. It was hard to trust anyone now, few were allowed into the inner circle that the Team maintained and only a select few were aware of their mercenary-like assistance to a government that had no clue that its scientists were doing to their own armed forces. He remembered the exact moment when he realized their lives would no longer be as they were. Accepting that their very DNA had been changed and manipulated so their own government could produce superior armed forces.

However, the few men and women who banded together with the twins and fought their own government were now considered freaks and it was with a heavy heart that Kayne knew that the drugs used on Chayle were similar to those used on Kayne and his team.

“No,” he finally answered her. “Your life will no longer be the same but it can be better. Stronger.” He bowed his head, sorting out what to tell Chayle and what to leave out.

“Just say it, will you?” she huffed, leaning back in the winged-back chair and pulling one foot up in the chair as she got comfortable. “I know they shot me up with drugs while they had me. I figured it was illegal drugs of some sort so they could torture us.”

“They were illegal all right,” he growled, uncrossing his legs and leaning back on his forearms. “Chayle, are you aware of genetic testing that has been banded by all civilized nations?”

“What are you saying?” Her beautiful eyes got so wide Kayne was sure they were bigger than an owl’s.

“The toxicology reports can’t identify the drugs that were in your system because they have never been approved. Whatever they were doing and why, it is unclear what, if any, affect the drugs had or will have on you. We do know that right now your physically fine. It’s just that the drugs they used are slowing altering your DNA to something similar to what was done to my team” He wasn’t prepared for her sudden anger. Tears, yes. A female tantrum, surely.

“Are you saying those sons of a bitches altered, or tried to alter, my basic genetic code?” Chayle screamed, her eyes flashing with fire and her fists clenched on top of the chair arms.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. It’s the same for the other captive.” He let it sink in, watching her eyes blossom with fire, changing from dark chocolate to almost black.

“We have to stop them, Kayne. If they are trying to change the course of evolution then we have to put a stop to them now.”

“That’s exactly what Rafe and I are doing but it takes time, resources, and connections. We only have so many men and have to be careful who we trust with this information.” He reached up and took one small hand, uncurling the tight fist to run his fingertips over her nails. “Right now we have a great network that we’ve set up, and Gabriel Sorrel is the best IT hacker systems administrator genius alive. The government had no idea what they created when they added Gabe to the mix but he’s on our side and it’s a good thing.”

Chayle’s eyes filled with tears, her emotions so unguarded they rushed at Kayne’s blocks like an avalanche taking out everything in its path. No one had ever been able to breach his mental blocks without him allowing it except Rafe. For her to do it and not even realize what she was doing spoke volumes concerning her raw talents. It was no wonder the enemy went after her.

Kayne rose in one fluid motion, pulling her from the chair and into his arms. She clung to him like a spider monkey, her body shaking and almost coming apart as the knowledge of just what and who had taken her. It was a hard realization to come to when one realized their own government was allowing monsters to wreak havoc on unsuspecting citizens.

He tucked her head under his chin, slowing stroking her back and letting the tears soak his thin T-shirt. It didn’t matter how long he had to stand there or what she needed in order to feel safe but Kayne was determined this unique woman in his arms would get whatever she needed. When she looked back up at him, there was no way he could breathe. Those luminous pools of dark emotions struck fast and hard at his thickly guarded heart.

“Don’t let go,” she whispered. “Please, not this time!”

“Ah shit! Baby, are you sure?” he whispered back, unable to stop his mouth from descending over hers.

“Kayne, take me to bed. Help me forget the other hands that took from me! Please, don’t make me beg again.” He couldn’t have resisted her if it was his last breath. Taking her mouth once more he lifted her into his arms and headed for the stairs.

He slammed the door behind them as he entered the suite of room, unable to think of anything else but the woman in his arms. His teeth latched onto the skin just behind her ear and sucked, filling his nose with the unique scents of Chayle Olsen. The scent of warm vanilla and jasmine filled his nose, taking his arousal right to the edge. This woman did something to him that he had never allowed before, was able to get under his skin and right next to his heart.

Soft air brushed his cheek and he moved his head to take her mouth once more. Diving in, he went deep with the need to fill his mouth with her taste, feel her pulse race as he devoured the warm cavity of her mouth. It was impossible to think beyond her long, warm body curved against his hardness.

He pushed his thigh between her legs so she could feel his hardened cock graze the apex between her thighs. Instantly, she went wild as she rode his leg as he continued to take her mouth. Kayne knew if they didn’t stop soon he would take her against the wall and he didn’t want to hurt her. Gentling his hands, he moved them to the bed and took her down beneath him.

“Your are my heart, Chayle!” he growled low in his throat. He could tell she was so lost in the feelings he was feeding her, Chayle had no idea what was going on. “Look at me!”

Those eyes finally opened, awash with need and wide with questions. He grinned, knowing that this time there was no way he would be able to leave this room before he had her under him.

“Brother, I will be unavailable for a while.”
Rafe would understand but he needed to ensure his twin didn’t come looking for them anytime soon.

“All is well, brother. Keep her safe.”

The quiet strength that echoed along their unique bond left Kayne feeling almost sorry for his twin. Rafe continued to struggle with the same issues he had for so long, but Rafe had no one close. Refused to allow anyone too close in case they were able to touch his heart. He could only pray his twin found the same connection that he had with Chayle.

Chapter 9

Chayle had never been one to hide from the truth in her life. The death of her father her sophomore year of college had almost devastated her. He had been her rock, her anchor since it had always been just the two of them. Her father was an only child and Chayle’s mother had died when she was too young to remember her. As a military brat, she learned very quickly that change was inevitable, accept it or be left behind.

It was no wonder that she felt nothing but an aching need to connect with the man who had saved her life. The last month had allowed her body to heal but her soul needed to feel the warm touch of someone who cared and Chayle had no doubt whatsoever that Kayne cared. He may be able to protect his mind and thoughts from her but she could feel his emotions rolling over her own every time they were close to each other.

She was so lost in thought it was a surprise when the strong arms holding him against his chest gently laid her down on the king-size bed in her room. He followed her down, stretching that huge body of his out next to her like a feline stretches their back. Muscles bunched under her hands and his breath kissed her neck as he pulled back.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she whispered, clutching those muscled forearms like a lifeline.

“Not far, I promise.” She was surprised to see a crooked smile and a twinkle in his eyes as he pulled away.

“I know what I want, Kayne.” Chayle reached down and pulled the pretty short sleeved tank up and over her head, tossing her dark curls away from her face as she lay back down. The sports bra came next and then she was lying bare from the waist up as she watched his eyes devour her.

“Holy mother of god, woman! Do you have any idea what you do to me?” Kayne whispered, reaching for the snap and zipper on her pants.

It didn’t take but a moment for him to strip the light weight pants down and toss them over his head. The small boy shorts barely covered her hipbones and he ran a calloused hand up her thigh and over her flat stomach. He reached for his own T-shirt and pulled it over his head with a one-handed tug, tossing it somewhere behind him before lowering himself over her.

The warmth, the strong muscles were everything her dreams had imagined. Chayle had been afraid her subconscious would cause her to balk once she took this step but instead her breath caught and her heart raced in anticipation. Her hands couldn’t stay still as she rubbed across the sun kissed skin and corded muscles of those wide shoulders. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to finally feel something other than pain.

He took one nipple in that hot mouth while plucking at the other as she strained for more. Warm pulls sent shards of need snaking down the muscles of her stomach to clench her womb when common sense tried to intrude, telling her should be pushing this stranger away. Yet her body responded to the gentle pulls as if she had known him all her life, as if he had always been… there!

God… she could not stand the empty feeling needing to replace the clawing at her insides so she could finally feel alive. She needed a reminder that she was whole and new memories so she could banish the nightmares that continued to haunt her, the taunts and snickers from the monsters that held her. All she wanted to do was feel, hands that teased yet were gentle. Lips and teeth that created so much heat her skin felt like flames were licking along the surface yet his hands hadn't left her nipples, those lips hadn't stopped tugging and suckling. A wail escaped as he tugged once more just enough to border on pleasure/pain and Chayle felt herself begin to unravel.

"Not yet, sweetheart," he cooed. "I'm not done with you yet."

Callous hands skimmed over her stomach, past quivering muscles to the boy shorts and Chayle forgot to breathe as a warm tongue followed those hands, stopping along the way to distract her as he delved into the indention of her navel. The diamond stud she had previously worn in her belly button before her abduction was now gone, but the area was still sensitive and tender. Kayne's warm tongue was a gentle balm as he first circled it then softly pushed the tip of his tongue into the center several times.