Primal Heat 05 - Darkness Reborn

connection.
    Kane was staring at her, his dark eyes grim with the realization of what she'd seen. His eyes were haunted, so weighted with the grief of Thano's death, with the visions of what Luc had showed him. The reality of who he was, and what he seemed to be. And suddenly, she didn't believe all the darkness swirling inside him. This was Kane, and there was so much more to him than the darkness. She didn't know how, she didn't know why, but there was more to him.
    Violence and self-hate stormed in his eyes. "I'm going outside with Ry." He tore himself away from her and strode toward the door, currents of dark energy rolling off him in thick waves.
    Sarah thought of the dark night, of the thick taint rolling through the woods, and she was struck with a sudden terror of what would happen to him if he went outside, if he exposed himself to it. "No!" She ran after him and grabbed his arm just as he reached for the door. "Don't!"
    Kane whirled around, and his eyes were a maelstrom of violence, lust, and so much deadly contamination. He pushed her up against the wall, his hands heavy on her shoulders as he pinned her there. His eyes were flashing with something dark, something oppressive. It was as if all the guilt, death and unknown had broken through his shields and were crushing all the truth and good out of him. Again, she could see there was no hope in his eyes, none of the belief in the good that could keep the destructive emotions at bay. "Kane—"
    "No," he snarled, leaning close against her. "Don't, Sarah. There's something happening inside me, and you don't want to be around when it goes—"
    "I can help—" She grabbed him around the neck as he tried to pull away.
    He swung around to face her again, and she saw the depths of agony in his eyes. And violence. And then, she realized what he was talking about. There was something else inside him. Something far more than either of them understood. Her heart started to race, and she pulled back. "Kane—"
    "Too late," he growled, before he locked his arms around her, yanked her against him, and consumed her with his kiss.
    His kiss was violent and dark, pulsing with desire so raw and carnal that it plunged right into her core. The kiss was dangerous and deadly. It wasn't a kiss of connection and support. It was the animal trying to erupt from him. Fear rippled through Sarah, but at the same time, her body trembled with desire, responding to his power, his strength, his unbridled need for her.
    He locked his hand around the back of her neck, trapping her against him as he kissed her, kisses so deep and strong that they tore apart her very soul. It wasn't the man kissing her right now. It was the tormented Calydon warrior, no longer in control of who he was or his need for her.
    Excitement raced through her, and her body trembled from the realization of how badly he needed her, how deeply his soul beat for her, how consumed he was by his connection with her. Yes. She whispered the word into his mind and laced her fingers through his hair, and committed herself to anything and everything that made Kane Santiago who he was.

Chapter Fifteen
    Kane felt the moment Sarah accepted him. It was like this freaking white light going off inside his skull and streaking through his body. A white light of brightness and warmth, of salvation. He pressed her harder against the wall, crushing his body against hers as he claimed her mouth, trying to get closer to the salvation she gave him.
    There was so much darkness inside him. So much pain. Visions of carnage and death flashing through his mind. Thano being ripped from his grasp and sucked into that noxious hell. Thano! Anguish tore through Kane, and he deepened his kiss, clinging desperately to Sarah as he fought the guilt and the grief of Thano's loss. All he could think of was Thano's cheeky attitude, the way the warrior brought levity and perspective into every situation. He was fucking gone.
    Sarah broke the kiss and pressed her lips to Kane's throat. He closed his eyes, bracing his head against the wall, his breathing so heavy he felt like his chest was going to explode. He didn't move, all his attention riveted by Sarah's incredibly erotic and tender kisses along his throat. Over his collar bone. Over his chest.
    Chills tore down his spine as she kissed him, his skin so sensitive that he could feel the warmth of her breath tickling over his skin. He could feel the seductive swirl of her tongue over his nipple. The sensual