Lust Unleashed (Night Seekers, Book One) by Desiree Holt

finish their coupling had taken less than ten minutes but the explosion rivaled a fireworks celebration. Every bit of energy had drained from his body and he was sure his heart would pound its way out of his chest.
    When he could finally catch his breath, he slipped from her wet grasp and went to dispose of the condom. Then he slid back beneath the quilt with her and wrapped his arms around her, tucking her against him. Her breathing was still choppy and she was still shivering, but not from a chill. Rather from the aftereffects of the intensity of what had just happened between them. They lay there quietly while the fire crackled and sparked and cast its warmth throughout the cabin.
    “Can I ask you something?” He kept his voice purposely low and even.
    Dakota stiffened in his arms. “About what?”
    “Had you been to the spot at Neil Washington’s before today?”
    “You mean where the men and the deer were…killed?”
    “Yeah. That place.”
    She shook her head. “No. Unlike a lot of other people, I didn’t have a sense of morbid curiosity about it. Why?”
    He ignored sideways dig at him. “The minute you stepped onto the ground where the slaughter had taken place you froze. You looked as if something had taken hold of you. Something you sensed there.”
    She was silent for so long he was afraid she wasn’t going to answer him. He tightened his hold on her, trying to assure her with his body that whatever she said was okay.
    “This isn’t a pass-fail,” he told her. “You just scared me with what happened. And you were still chilled when we got back here. I had to warm you up in a hurry.”
    Her laugh was strained. “You did a good job.”
    “So?” he prompted. “Can you tell me what happened?”
    “You won’t just chalk it up to some crazy Native American mysticism or hoodoo?” Anxiety edged her tone of voice.
    You have no idea what strange hoodoo really is.
    “No. Dakota, if you knew me better, you’d know I have no preconceived notions about anything. I just want to know what spooked you.”
    “All right.” She pressed a little closer to him. “You know I told you I don’t believe in the legend of the Chupacabra. And I still don’t. I think. But…there was something there. I can’t explain it exactly, but it was some kind of aura. Real malevolence. As if hell had opened up and scorched the earth. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
    Jonah tightened his hold on her. He understood what she was saying all too well. “Yes, I do. This beast I’m hunting could easily have escaped from the bowels of hell. I no more believe a bobcat or coyote killed those hunters than I believe any of the excuses for other killings. And a bobcat didn’t kill the two dogs in Eagle Pass, either.”
    She shivered. “I had the terrible feeling something had reached out and invaded my soul with a bloodthirsty wickedness. I felt it, Jonah. Whatever it is, it was there.”
    He kissed her forehead. “I agree. The amazing thing is, whatever we’re dealing with leaves little or no physical evidence other than the dead bodies.”
    “My grandfather would say it’s my Native American mysticism coming into flower.” She shivered. “I’ve tried to avoid any of that my entire life. I’d hate to think I have no control over it.”
    “Let’s not jump to conclusions.” He pressed soft kisses on her skin.
    You may have thought you were avoiding it, but it’s there all the same. I just have to help you control it.
    “Have you been working on this story long?” she asked.
    Since my heart was ripped out.
    “For a while. It may end up being a series of articles. Not just one. Listen. I have to send those pictures I took back to my office.”
    “I have a satellite connection for my television hookup and also for internet if you need it.”
    “No, thanks anyway. I’ve got a satellite phone that I can hook my camera up to and send from. But I’d better do it now.”
    With a sigh she pushed away and sat