KINDRED

Chapter Two                                                                                                                                                                            To read a short excerpt of Chapter Three Click Here

"Who are you?" Avery peered up at him, eyes wild with fear. With a swift movement, she jerked to a sitting position while Jax took a seat on the edge of the bed next to her.

He wanted to say I can save you, but he really wasn't into the superhero bullshit. The truth of it was, she might not be able to be saved.

"Doesn't matter."

"The hell it doesn't," she spat out, crawling further toward the headboard like a frightened animal.

"Avery."

"How do you know my name?" Her chocolate eyes held mistrust and fear. It was only natural for her to be unsure of her surroundings. The fog Devlin induced was enough to cause confusion without adding the new environment.

Behind his strict reserve to complete the mission, Jax felt a slice sorry for her.

"Well --" He paused, trying to come up with a better excuse than rummaging through her things, but thought of none.

"That's what I thought." The low tone of her voice played over his senses.

"You were hurt," he explained and rubbed his hands along the sides of his pants. "We brought you here to help you."

That was stupid. Use the old damsel in distress excuse.

She glared at him as if she expected him to strike out at her at any moment. "You work for him, don't you?"

"I work for myself."

Avery tilted her head, studied. "I suppose you do. What do you want with me?"

What he really wanted was to give her a tongue bath from head to toe. To taste the salty flesh of skin glide under his lips while he feasted...Stop. Jax's fangs throbbed at the thought. Biting Avery wasn't the answer. Seducing her sure as hell wasn't. It would only make things worse.

"I'm here to help."

"Good. Show me the quickest way to the exit and  you'll have helped plenty." Avery pitched back the duvet. Jax offered her a hand but she shied away.

"People are after you."

"You're fast on the uptake."

Jax smiled at her wit. Oh, she had some bite, didn't she? Good. "The questions I want answered from you, is who?"

She shot him a glare. "Who are you?"

A tic worked its way along his jaw. He wasn't used to being ordered around by mortals anymore. It wasn't something he wanted to get used to , although he'd play the game if he could get an edge on the Etrux.

"Call me Jax."

"Jax do you have a last name? Or does 'Jax the kidnapper' work for you?"

"Jax," he corrected. He hadn't taken a last name. Didn't need one, it reminded him of ownership and no one owned him.

Those eyes...those lips...

They were all too familiar. Jax moved from the bed, folded his arms over his chest.

Avery stood to meet him. The white-laced shirt hugged her curves, accentuating her shapely figure. She sauntered with purpose, seductively, over to where he waited. "I know you, don't I?"