Amy Blankenship - Heat

This was just another thing to blame Quinn for. He’d only been gone two weeks and they had let her get sick. Micah frowned, not remembering Alicia ever getting sick.

“Are you running a fever?” he asked as he let her slide back to her feet. He smiled seeing she was still shorter than him, even though she was now standing on a higher step, but then his eyes were drawn to the still healing bite mark on her neck. He brushed her hair to the side to get a better look but before he could say anything about it, she cut him off.

“Are you crazy,” Alicia wiped at the tears blurring her vision. “Last night I thought you were dying… and now?” she cupped his cheek with her hand wanting so much to kiss him. “How are you standing here bigger than life?”

The front door opened and Micah looked over his shoulder seeing Michael and a blond-haired man staring up at them.

Alicia wondered if the gods were making fun of her when she chose that moment to remember she was more naked than not. Shifters usually didn’t worry about things like that as much as humans did, but she could still feel the lingering effect of the dream she’d had only a few minutes ago.

Locking eyes with Michael, she could see the instant heat in his gaze then held her breath as his eyes lowered to her breast.

Micah moved his sister more in line with his body so she was hidden from the men below. That’s when he glanced up the stairs toward Damon. His view was now better than anyone else’s. To his surprise, Damon wasn’t staring at Alicia. Instead, his angry gaze was directed straight at Micah’s hands where he was still holding her.

Feeling the silent threat, gold flared within Micah’s pupils as they enlarged. He had a feeling he was looking at the owner of the bite mark Alicia was wearing.

Leave it to Kane to notice the fact that Michael was frozen to the spot and Damon was about to commit murder. Kane quickly thought of a way to break the ice. “Alicia honey… I think you forgot something important upstairs.” He smirked.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Micah said keeping his eyes on Damon, “Go get dressed while I talk to Michael.”

Alicia quickly kissed him on the cheek then turned to run back up the stairs. She almost missed a step when she saw Damon only a couple feet from her. His shirt was open and his pants were zipped but not buttoned, causing them to ride dangerously low on his hips. She felt her cheeks flame even hotter as the dream came back like a dirty thought in a nice clean mind.

The look in his eyes as their gazes met was dark and dangerous… soaked in sexual tension. She hoped she was imagining it as she felt that gaze follow her past him and the rest of the way up the stairs.

Micah wasn’t the only one who watched the exchange between Alicia and Damon. It took Kane elbowing him in the back before Michael finally turned his attention to the man coming down the stairs. Clasping hands with the cougar, he nodded toward the living room, “I’m sure you have questions.”

“If he doesn’t then I do,” Kane announced wanting to make matters worse. He’d complained before about hearing other people’s thoughts, but it was times like this that made it all worthwhile.

The funniest part was the fact that Damon had no clue Micah and Alicia were siblings… though he would give Damon credit for detecting the fact that she harbored a not-so-sisterly crush on her clueless brother. But, if the dream she’d been having a little while ago was any indication… it wouldn’t be hard for Michael or Damon to change her mind.

Michael blinked trying to get the image of Alicia in that towel out of his head so he could focus. He wanted to get the obvious out of the way first. “I didn’t expect to see you out of bed this soon.”

Kane heard Michael’s heart rate speed up and wondered at it. Trying to listen in on his thoughts, he was disappointed to find complete silence. Nice, his little Michael was keeping secrets.

“I haven’t a clue,” Micah answered honestly then changed the subject, “I thought you lived alone.”

Kane rolled his eyes when he heard Michael sigh in relief.

Upstairs, Alicia ran for the bathroom where she’d left her clothes. Frowning at what she’d unthinkingly picked out to wear, she decided it wasn’t good enough. Micah had said he wasn’t going anywhere and she trusted him, so she went back into her room to find something nicer. She wound up blow drying her hair and even adding a touch of makeup before she was satisfied.

She glanced in the mirror seeing that the color was still high in her cheeks and that her eyes were overly bright. Waving her hand as if to erase the facts, she rationalized that it was just because she was happy that her brother was back and somehow uninjured.

”That better be all it is,” Alicia mumbled self-consciously trying to second guess her first diagnosis. The last thing she needed right now was to be in a house full of attractive men and be in heat. It didn’t happen often, but if a female shifter went in heat without a mate, then the female had two choices… lock herself away and suffer for as long as it took, or have a string of one night stands until it was over. Or at least that’s what the girls she’d gone to boarding school with had told her.

“Either way,” Alicia cocked an eyebrow at her reflection. “Getting out of this house is a good idea for everyone.”

Packing all of her stuff back into the suitcase, Alicia figured she might as well take it downstairs since she would be leaving with her brother. She’d miss the freedom but smiled softly knowing she would be near Micah again. Still lost in thought, she left the bedroom and turned the corner to go downstairs only to run into what felt like a brick wall.

Damon reached his arm out and wrapped it around Alicia’s waist, pulling her flush against him to keep her from falling down the stairs. Being in a bad mood, he had planned this little encounter if for no other reason than to prove a point… that he wasn’t the only one feeling this attraction. He wanted her to notice before Micah took her out of his reach.

The moment he touched her, he could hear her pulse speed up. Already feeling justified, he let his hand slide just under the rim of her short shirt and across her soft skin as he righted her. He had to admit Micah was right about her having a fever.

Alicia’s lips parted as she inhaled sharply and gazed up at Damon feeling every inch of him pressed against her and liking it. He was mad at her… she could see the anger in his eyes. And why shouldn’t he be. She’d tried to kill him… and in return he’d saved her life. She owed Damon more than one debt and it wasn’t right to just leave with Micah without telling him how grateful she truly was.

She would be leaving in a few minutes and that alone gave her the courage she needed. Rising up on her tip-toes, Alicia placed a slow gentle kiss on Damon's lips wondering if it felt the same way to him as it did to her. He smelled wonderful and his skin was smooth and cool to her heated lips.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she withdrew.

“For what?” Damon asked feeling like she’d just thrown him completely off balance.

“For saving me again,” she smiled.

For a moment, Damon felt the heavy weight that had been crushing his chest ease… until she had to go and ruin it.

“And for helping to bring Micah back to me.” Alicia picked the suitcase back up and started to slip past him, but to her surprise Damon grabbed her upper arms and backed her up against the wall, pinning her there. He leaned down within an inch from her and she watched his dark eyelashes lower as he gazed at her lips.

“If it’s rewards you’re handing out, then let’s up the stakes.” Damon slashed his lips across hers, showing her the difference in the kiss she’d just given him and the one he needed. He made sure it was one she would remember for nights to come.