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  With one yank he tore open her top, buttons flying around them. She jerked her skirt down her hips before he could tear it as well. A heartbeat later her bra was unhooked and floated to the floor. Krista had never felt such raw desire before. The need to touch him, to learn him, consumed her.

  She pushed his coat off his shoulders. He let it fall to the ground as he kicked off his shoes and unfastened his pants while she yanked his shirt over his head. When the last piece of clothing hit the floor, Krista sucked in a breath at the heat that burned through her veins.

  He pinned her against the wall and slanted his mouth over hers in a fierce, consuming kiss that fanned the flames of her desire until she thought she might go up in flames. He cupped her sex and cursed in a language she didn't understand before he ripped her panties from her.

  His fingers parted her curls to tease her heated, throbbing flesh. Krista moaned when he grazed her pearl before he dipped a finger inside her. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he moved his finger in and out of her.

  She moaned as he bent and took a nipple in his mouth, swirling his tongue over the tiny bud. He added another finger to the first, stroking Krista so expertly that she would peak soon if he didn't stop. She wasn't ready for it to end.

  Suddenly, he lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he smiled. His cock rubbed against her, and she ground her hips against him. His eyes smouldered with need. He kissed her at the same time his cock pushed inside her.

  She tore her lips from his as the pleasure became too intense. He plunged deep and slow building her climax with each thrust. She sank her nails in his shoulders as her body jerked with the power of her orgasm.

  "Krista,” he whispered. He pumped inside her twice more before he threw back his head and shouted his release.

  Her breathing was ragged, and her body pulsed. When his gaze met hers, Krista knew something profound had just happened between them. She wasn't sure how or why, but it had.

  "Krista."

  She put a finger over his lips to silence him. “No words."

  He released her legs and lowered her so that she stood. He took her hand and led her to the couch where he laid down and pulled her down beside him. “You may not want to talk, but there are things I need to tell you."

  "They can wait.” She'd just had the most amazing sex in her life, and she didn't want it ruined by conversation. Men always managed to say the wrong thing, and this time, especially this time, it was important that he didn't.

  As if reading her mind, he nodded. “For now, I will let it go, but later we must talk."

  "Yes, later.” She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes as he caressed her back.

  Orrin tried to bring his breathing back under control, but it was difficult with Krista in his arms and her scent on him. He gazed down at her long brunette locks and creamy skin. Her blue eyes had sizzled with desire and fanned his own flames. She was small compared to his six-foot frame, but her curves were just what he liked.

  She mumbled something in her sleep, and he reached up to caress her cheek. She was stunning with her full lips and high cheek bones. The gentle arch of her brows only accented her big eyes and the vivid blue of her irises.

  His body hungered for another taste of her. It had been the first time he had ever made love to a human, and it made him wonder why he had stayed away from them before now. But Krista was different. As impossible as it was for humans to do, Krista had somehow made a connection with him. No human had ever had such a link, of that he was sure. It was his job to know, because a human who could contact a non-human could bring about the end of the world.

  For half an hour, he was content to hold her in his arms. He was forming the words in his head to tell her of the werewolves when his phone rang. Orrin reached for his coat and jerk his phone from the outside pocket. He had set aside his normal communicator for the human's cell phone so as to blend in better.

  He glanced at the caller id to find Stefan's name before he flipped open the phone. “What did you find?"

  "There are two of them,” Stefan whispered into the phone.

  "Did you find them?"

  "Not yet. I'm close though. It will take both of us."

  Orrin glanced at Krista. “Where are you?"

  "I'm at the docks at an abandoned warehouse. It's where I found their ship."

  "Stay put. I'm on my way."

  Orrin closed the phone. He hesitated as he looked at Krista. She needed to know of the Weres to protect herself and her friends, but there was a chance he and Stefan could end it all now before the slaughter began.

  He decided then not to wake Krista.

  He slowly moved off the couch and looked down at her. Regardless of what happened that night, Orrin was coming back for her. The intense attraction and desire between them couldn't be ignored. Once he was dressed, he looked around for paper and pen. He left her a quick note telling her to stay inside and that he would be back within the hour.

  He left the note on the bar and gave her a kiss on her forehead before he left.

  Orrin lengthened his strides as he walked to the docks. The quicker he found the werewolves the quicker he could end the threat they caused Cardiff. It was a constant battle he, Stefan and the other trackers faced. The Weres weren't the only species who wanted the humans.

  Ten minutes later, he spotted Stefan next to a warehouse. “Are you sure?” he asked his partner.

  "Positive. They won't go too far from the ship, either."

  Orrin nodded. “Show me."

  He followed Stefan into the abandoned warehouse. Dirt and trash littered the floor but nothing else. Stefan took him to the very back where they walked through several doors that led to a large room.

  Orrin whistled as he saw the sleek yellow space ship. “That's what we're looking for. Now we just need to find them. They'll be feeding soon, and with it being Halloween, anything can happen."

  "That's why we're here,” Stefan said with a grin. “It's been awhile since we fought these sons of bitches. I'm looking forward to a fight."

  Orrin smiled at his partner's need for blood, not that he blamed Stefan. If Weres had destroyed his family, he'd hunt them as well. “You'll get your fight tonight, old friend."

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  Chapter Two

  Five hours before midnight

  Krista awoke to the ringing of her phone. She leaned over the arm of the couch and grabbed the receiver. “Hello?"

  "You're not going to do it, are you?"

  Krista grimaced at Candy's thick Welsh accent. “What?"

  "The dare, Krista, the dare. You are going through with it, right?"

  She sat up and pushed her hair from her face. Krista still didn't understand everyone's desire to see her tromp out in the middle of the night to an abandoned house that everyone claimed was haunted.

  "You gave us your word,” Candy reminded her.

  "Yeah. Okay, Candy. I'll do it."

  Candy laughed with glee. “Don't forget to pick one of the roses."

  "It's a rose. How in the world will you know it's from Llanrumney Hall?"

  "Believe me, Krista. When you see the roses, you'll understand. Everyone who works at Principles does this dare at Halloween. It's a rite of passage in order to work here."

  It was a load of bollocks, but Krista agreed once more she would do the dare and hung up. She put her head in her hands and sighed. That's when she remembered Orrin. Her head snapped up. A glance at the floor confirmed his clothes were gone, and a quick dash around the flat proved he was gone.

  "Wonderful,” she murmured. “The first time I have sex with a complete stranger who I met just moments before, and he's gone."

  It was so unlike anything she would normally do, but Orrin had been different. She had seen it in his eyes and the way he moved. She felt it in the way he touched her, and when they had made love ... it had been better than any of her dreams.

  But why had he left? She didn't know whether to be r
elieved or hurt.

  Krista grabbed her robe from the bathroom and pulled it on as she walked to the kitchen to make some coffee. The clock above the sink showed it was only seven o'clock. Krista had several hours to kill before she headed out to Llanrumney Hall.

  Maybe she could have Orrin come with her, then she remembered Candy had told her she had to go alone.

  Krista had seen enough scary movies growing up to know her co-workers most likely intended to scare the pants off her. It wouldn't be hard either. She had always been easily frightened. She couldn't watch suspense movies without covering her eyes. And horror movies were pretty much a no-no for her or she'd never get to sleep.

  As old as the UK was, and as many battles that had transpired over the land, it was no wonder ghosts and other supernatural occurrences seemed to happen every other day. Krista didn't believe half of them, but then again, she wouldn't be surprised if they were all true. There was something about Cardiff that seemed ... different than any other city she had visited.

  It wasn't until she poured her coffee and turned to lean on the bar that she saw the note. She picked it up and read it twice before she took a sip of the steamy liquid. She stared out her window and wondered what had taken Orrin away so unexpectedly. He had said he was coming back, but he could be lying.

  You know he's not.

  She didn't know how she knew, but she did.

  Krista blew out a breath and turned to open the fridge to see what she could cook. “Oh, hell,” she mumbled. How could she have forgotten to get to the store? Other than a couple of cans of Coke, OJ and butter, there was nothing inside.

  The thought of ordering Chinese again turned her stomach. She decided to take a shower and wait for Orrin. Maybe they could go get a bite and talk. She was curious as to where he had come from, and how she had ‘called’ him.

  Krista took another sip of her coffee before she set it by the sink and hurried into the bathroom for a hot shower.

  * * * *

  Orrin inhaled deeply and curled his lip as he smelled the stink of the Weres. “They haven't been gone long."

  "I want in their ship."

  Orrin glanced from Stefan to the spacecraft. “That ship is smaller than I've seen before. They were in a hurry to get here."

  "And didn't want to be seen,” Stefan said as he walked around the tall and narrow ship. “They hid themselves well."

  "Not well enough from us.” Orrin studied the spaceship. The Weres had a thirst for technology that rivalled the Acanti's, but their base instincts prevented them from gaining a strong foothold in humanity.

  Stefan crossed his arms over his chest and braced his feet apart. “We could smell them out like we usually do."

  "There isn't enough time."

  "What's going on, Orrin? You've not been yourself since we landed on this planet."

  He turned to Stefan and shrugged. “By now, the slaughter should have already begun."

  "Maybe they're waiting."

  "Maybe they're after someone in particular."

  "Who?” Stefan's blonde brow's rose. “How do you know who it is?"

  "She called to me."

  Stefan whistled. “She? Sounds interesting. What makes you think it's her they want?"

  "She's the only human I've ever known who has been able to call to us."

  "I agree, but how did the Weres know she called you?"

  "That I don't know.” But how he wished he could discover it.

  Stefan dropped his arms and turned on his heel. “Then we need to find this woman before the Weres do."

  "I've already found her."

  Stefan stopped and turned to face him. “You already found her? How?"

  "The link between us is strong, Stefan. She says she doesn't know how she called to me, and I believe her."

  "That isn't possible.” Stefan ran a hand through his short hair. “No human, with advanced physics or not, has been able to reach us. Never, Orrin."

  "I know.” Stefan wasn't telling him anything he didn't already know. It's what intrigued him about Krista. And her body.

  Orrin took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. Just thinking of Krista's full breasts and her soft cries as she peaked made his blood heat. His balls tightened when he remembered her slick, hot sex surrounding him.

  "She had to have had some help. Is she with the Weres?"

  Orrin scratched his jaw. Stefan was distrustful of anyone connected to a werewolf. “I didn't get a chance to talk to her about it. I don't think so, though. Her surprise at seeing me wasn't an act."

  "I don't like this. There are too many coincidences, Orrin. The Weres have to know we'd follow them. If they are after this woman, wouldn't it stand to reason they would know she could contact you?"

  "Maybe."

  "It could be a trap for us."

  Orrin nodded. “I've considered that, which is why I wanted to see Krista myself. Trust me, Stefan. I'd stake my life on the fact she's not in league with the Weres."

  "You better hope you're right. Does this Krista know to stay inside?"

  "I left her a note."

  "A note,” Stefan shouted.

  Orrin fisted his hands as he realised Krista probably would leave the safety of her home. “We need to get to her."

  Once outside the warehouse, Stefan clasped him on the shoulder. “We're going to need more weapons."

  "Yes. See if we have another tracer on board. I want it on the Were's ship to track them."

  "I'll get it done."

  "Then meet me at Krista's. She's at One hundred forty Cathedral Street."

  "Be careful,” Stefan shouted over his shoulder.

  Orrin wasn't worried about himself. Being an Acanti, it would take more than a Were to kill him.

  * * * *

  Four hours to midnight

  Krista drummed her fingers on the arm of the couch. She had never taken so long to get ready for a man, not even for her senior prom. Yet here she was an hour later dressed in a dark red satin shirt that plunged down her neckline to her breasts.

  She lifted her foot to look at her black boots with their three and a half inch spiked heels. The boots were her favourite despite the fact they hurt her feet. They gave her an extra few inches on her short five foot two inch frame. Even the dark jeans she had on were her favourites.

  Though she tried to tell herself she hadn't taken particular care with her hair and makeup, or worn her favourite clothes for Orrin, she knew it for the lie it was. She wanted to look good for him.

  A man she didn't even know.

  You do know him.

  Sex dreams didn't count, even though she wished they could. She knew nothing of Orrin. Not where he came from, where he lived, what he did for a living. And most importantly, she didn't know how she had called him to her, if she could believe him.

  There was no denying who he was. He was the man in her dreams. It gave her a little thrill that sent her stomach aflutter to know he had also been dreaming of her.

  What worried her more was how easily she had succumbed to his touch and his kisses. She had been unable to resist his lure. What made it even worse was that she had wanted him with a desperation she had never felt before.

  And that scared the hell out of her.

  Krista glanced at her watch. She was hungry and confused, and she was tired of waiting for him. She rose and reached for her black leather jacket hanging by the door. After she'd shrugged into it, she reached for her purse and keys and grabbed the door handle.

  He said to stay.

  Something at the back of her mind warned her to stay in her flat, but Krista had learned the hard way not to put her life on hold for a guy. If Orrin wanted to return, he would. But she wasn't going to be sitting on the couch waiting for him.

  She yanked open the door before she changed her mind and slammed it shut behind her. Her boot heels clicked on the pavement as she put her hands in her jacket pockets. The night was growing colder, and the full moon hung in the inky sky as if watching her. A
shudder ran down her spine as she saw the faint red glow that encircled the bright orb.

  "Stop it,” she mumbled to herself. “It's just the moon."

  She squared her shoulders and continued on to the outside café a few blocks away near the bay. The restaurant was one she visited frequently, and by the time she reached it, her stomach was growling.

  "G'evenin', Krista,” said the bouncy redhead said as she walked up.

  "Hi, Shelly. You're busy tonight."

  The hostess smiled and winked. “Never too busy for you. Follow me."

  That was one of the good things about living in her little area. It was almost like a small town unto itself. You saw the same people day after day.

  "I appreciate this,” Krista said as she pulled out her chair at the table.

  Shelly shrugged. “We always leave a table open just in case."

  Krista watched the tall, lithe redhead walk away. Shelly was always smiling, always happy as if she took a bottle of happy pills every morning when she woke. Krista chuckled. Maybe she should find some of those happy pills.

  * * * *

  Orrin pounded on Krista's door. He gripped the doorframe and hung his head as the realisation sunk in that she had left. He knew he should have done more than leave a note, but he hadn't expected to be gone so long. Now, he had to search for her again.

  "Bloody hell,” he muttered and spun away from the door.

  His looked first one way then the other trying to determine which direction she had gone. He clenched his jaw and fisted his hands. If the Weres found Krista, if they touched her, there was nothing he could do to save her. The Weres would take her in a matter of moments.

  He should have told her everything. It wasn't like he had planned things though. One look at her, one smell of her desire and he had been unable to control the raging lust. He should have been able to control it though. Her very life depended upon it.

  Despite the many years he had tracked aliens, not once had he messed up so royally as he had with Krista. Orrin knew it was the unexplainable connection that had caused him to lose his tightly guarded control, but it had felt so wonderful to hold her in his arms, to taste her luscious mouth.