The Key (Heartfire) by Celeste Davis Page A

voice that was coming out of him. It was lower, more guttural. If he hadn't felt the rumble in his chest, he would have thought it was someone else speaking.
    But it was him. He was the monster now. He was going to make them pay for touching what was his.
    He grabbed striped shirt and threw him across the causeway. He hit the ground and lay there, unmoving.
    "Hey man, that's Dylan Westen."
    "Fuck. Let's get out of here."
    They took off at a run, the injured limping behind them.  
    "You'll regret this man!"
    Dylan grunted and turned to face Kaylia. She was breathing fast as she stared into his eyes. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her into the light, inspecting her for injuries. Relief flooded his body as he realized she was unharmed. Relief and something else. Something raw and unbridled.
    Desire.

Kaylia
      ♆

    His eyes were gold as he leaned toward her.
    Kaylia held her breath as Dylan grabbed her and pulled her against him. This was not the boy she'd met at the beginning of the semester. This was not the boy from her dreams.
    This Dylan was wild and untamed. He could have killed those men without breaking a sweat. And now he was focused on her.
    But she wasn't afraid.
    No. In that breathless moment that they stared at each other, she was not afraid at all. She felt herself opening up, accepting him.
    All of him. The sweet and the rough. The polite and the untamed. Everything.
    His lips came crashing down on hers a moment later.
    Her mouth opened in surprise and he groaned, pushing his tongue inside her. This was different from the other kisses they'd shared, in the dream and in real life. He wasn't just kissing her, he was taking her.
    Her back arched as his arms tightened, pulling her against his hard stomach. His arousal was pressing insistently against her. He lifted her slightly so that it pressed firmly between her legs.
    Her feet dangled helplessly as she struggled for breath, for equilibrium. The ground could have been the sky for all she knew. The world felt upside down enough.
    Her skin tingled where he touched it. His body was giving off waves of heat and she absorbed it all, taking it in. It felt like there was a pool of hot lava rolling around in her belly.
    She felt so alive, all her senses were suddenly heightened. She wanted him to keep going at the same time that she wanted him to stop, to slow down. Just a little. She didn't even know what she wanted, or how to put it into words. It was a deep animal need, a need to get closer. A need to meld with him completely.
    But...  
    It was happening too fast.
    Too fast!
    She wrenched away from him, panting as they stared at each other. He could have held her easily but he didn't. He let her go, breathing heavily. Watching her with those strange golden eyes of his.
    "What is it Kaylia? Don't tell me you don't want me."
    She shook her head, trying to get her bearings.
    "I won't. I mean, I do."
    "Come here then."
    He growled and reached for her again. She stepped away.
    "Just... can you slow down please?"
    He didn't move. She could feel his control, his power. He was just waiting to unleash it. She stepped closer, touching her fingertips to his face.
    "Dylan... what's happening to you?"
    His eyes pierced her, both angry and full of lust.
    " You did this to me."
    "What? What did I do?"
    "You changed me. And now you are going to make me better."
    "I don't understand Dylan... What do you mean? How can I make you better?"
    He smiled at her. It was not a nice smile.
    " Don't worry sweetheart. You'll find out."
    Her eyes widened as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. She stopped the scream in her throat. She knew Dylan wouldn't hurt her. Or force her.
    But he was scaring her all the same. She wanted to be with him! Just... not like this.
    Now she was upside down, the world turned over. Dylan ran, but he barely jostled her his control was so great. The ground was moving fast beneath his feet.
    She had no idea where he was taking her. Or why. So she held