...At the moment, not a soul occupied the room but him. He skittered toward the gowns opposite the railroad car and read the placard in front of a stunning silk floral. Under normal circumstances, he’d linger awhile to admire the raspberry and olive print fabric elegantly adorned with gimp braid at the sleeves and neckline. Rather, he worked a plan in his mind to step over the corded rope barrier and duck behind the full skirt and flounced sleeves if need be.

“Lovely, wouldn’t you agree?”

Kale spun around. Up close, the gleaming strands of his ebony hair nearly blinded him. His features were perfect…absolutely perfect. His gaze fell upon his broad shoulders and the bulging biceps beneath the black silk shirt before traveling to his narrow waist and lean, flat hips.

He took a step back and met the rope at the back of his thighs. Panic churned in his gut. Struck by the pure physicality of the man’s presence, he couldn’t deny the overwhelming attraction to him—his killer, the rogue mercenary someone had sent to end his life.

He opened his mouth to scream, but the sound stuck in his throat.

“No one will hear you, nor will anyone enter the room. I’ve barricaded it.”

Kale looked over the Roman god’s shoulder, no easy feat, his eyes fixed on the door to the room. The man had obviously closed it behind him when he entered, but he saw no locks, no furniture shoved against the door.

“Barricaded?” His voice shook. “I don’t see—”

The devastatingly wicked smile stopped him short. “No, you can’t see the impediment, but I assure you, no one will enter this room until I remove it.”

Damn the cocky bastard; if he only knew who he was messing with. He might be a trained assassin for all Kale knew, but he’d have a fight on his hands if he wanted one. “What do you want and why are you following me?”

He advanced with the agility of a lynx, all loose-limbed muscle, sinew and grace. “Follow,” he paused. “It’s such a cold word. I prefer watched over you.”

The smooth, rich voice delivered him into a trance-like state. Kale fought the calming transfers filtering into his mind. Shit, the man had the capability of controlling his thoughts? His actions? It should be the opposite. Anger pedaled through his veins. He drew on a lifetime of practice and tossed up a few of his own mental blockades.

The stranger put his arms out at his sides, palms up, and took another step toward him. “Won’t work, my power is stronger than yours.”

Every nerve cell in Kale’s body launched into high alert. “Stay back, I’m warning you.”

“As for your second question, you asked me what I want.” Another hesitation while the eyes narrowed, pierced clear through to his soul. “I want you; have wanted you longer than I can remember.”

This was madness. He stood in a museum having a conversation with a stranger who’d just said he wanted him, had wanted him for a long time. He had to get away from this maniac, didn’t want to hurt him, yet the animal tore at his insides, begged for release. He tamped down his bloodlust and willed his fangs to retract.

With his fingers at his temple, he wondered why his tongue felt thick and his hard cock strained against the zipper of his jeans. “Longer than you can remember?” A sardonic chuckle left Kyle’s throat. “You know nothing about me. If you did, you’d run, fast and far.” Damn, who’d sent the fog rolling into his befuddled mind?

“I don’t fear you.”

“You should,” he said stepping over the corded rope one slow leg at a time with one eye still on the man. “You need to leave now. I don’t know how much longer I can control?”

“You know me, Kale. Have we not met in the land of dreams? Haven’t you basked in my love a hundred times, traveled with me to distant realms?”

“Stop!” he said. “I don’t know you, not your name or anything else.”

“Sevastian. Sevastian Mercado, but you can call me Sev.”

How had the man managed to get so close? He saw every silver fleck in his eye, smelled the amazing masculine aroma of his being and felt the heat emanating from his body.