Page 118 of Shielded Heart

“Do you like it?” she asked hopefully.

He stood up, pushing the chair away, and stepped to Samantha. For a moment, she stared up at him; he was about the same height as Arcanthus, but far broader. His expression was unreadable. When he leaned down and drew her into a tight embrace, she was caught completely off guard.

“Thank you, Samantha. For this…and for my life.”

Samantha smiled and wrapped her arms around him, returning the hug. Elation flooded her, spreading warmth outward from her chest, and tears stung her eyes. “I’d do it again.”

“But youwon’t,” Arcanthus said firmly.

She chuckled, turning her head to look at him. All three of his eyes were narrowed on Drakkal in displeasure.

Arcanthus stepped closer. “All right, that’s enough. Hand the female over.”

Drakkal laughed and whispered, “Run away with me, terran. I’ll treat you better than he does.”

“Are you looking to lose a few more limbs, azhera?” Arcanthus said. “I already treat her better than I do evenmyself. It’s impossible for you to do more.”

Samantha laughed and patted Drakkal’s cheek affectionally. “Maybe another time.”

Arc slipped his arm around her waist, wrapped his tail around her leg, and pulled her away from Drakkal. “No, notanytime. You’re mine, little terran.”

She grinned up at him. “Prove it.”

His answering smile was devilish and full of promise. He stooped down and swept Samantha over his shoulder, looping an arm around her thighs and settling his other hand on her ass.

She shrieked with laughter and pressed her hands against his back to claim some stability as he turned around. Shaking hair out of her face, she looked at Drakkal, smiled, and waved. “Enjoy the arm!”

Arcanthus carried her to the bedroom they’d been sharing while they stayed in this safehouse; everything was smaller here, but it didn’t matter, because she had him. She didn’t need a sprawling compound—though she knew he was preparing a new one for them to move into sometime soon.

Once the bedroom door was closed, Arcanthus tossed Sam onto the bed and lowered himself over her, caging her between his arms and wedging his hips between her thighs. His dark hair fell forward, and he stared down at her hungrily with glowing eyes. “So you need someproof, do you?”

Samantha settled her palms on his chest, curling her fingers in the fabric of his robe. Desire pooled low in her belly, sending a rush of heat to her core. “I mean, Drakkalispretty hot with that new arm…”

Arcanthus pressed his lips together, closed his eyes, and made a sound partway between a hum and a groan. “All our worst habits have rubbed off on you, little terran. You tease me.” He dipped his head and brushed his lips over her cheek. His warm breath tickled her ear. “And damn if I don’t love it.”

She giggled. “You love it when I call your friend hot?”

He lifted his head and met her gaze. A new, tender light had joined the hungry gleam in his eyes. “I love that you’re comfortable enough to tease me. All I have to do is look at you to know you desireonlyme.” Shifting one arm, he cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb across the same skin he’d just kissed. “You’re still the same little flower I plucked off that Undercity street months ago, but you’re so much more now. You’ve blossomed and found yourself. And I am so much better for it.”

Her smile softened as she slid a hand up, lightly tracing hisqalwith her fingertips until she reached the dot on his bottom lip. “I did a little research about yourqal.”

“Oh? And what did you learn? Please tell me you figured out how to turn these marks into an erogenous zone.”

She chuckled and shook her head. “I learned that the volturians take the markings of their mates upon themselves. Humans have a symbolic exchange, too, but it’s nowhere near as permanent, when we get married. We exchange rings and vows.”

His smile broadened into a grin. “Are you asking me to marry you, little terran? Trying to tie me down?”

Her cheeks warmed, and she glanced up at him for a second before returning her eyes to hisqal. “I…guess I am. That is…if you…” She grimaced. This wasn’t turning out at all how she’d hoped. “I thought with us being mates—”

“Samantha Dawn Wilder,” he said, calling her attention back to his face, “would you do me the indescribable honor of becoming my wife?”

Her brows rose in surprise that was rapidly swept aside by joy. “That’s exactly how a human would ask…”

“You aren’t the only one who’s done some research, Samantha. And, according tomyresearch, I would traditionally present you with the ring I purchased…but I don’t have it on my person currently. I was planning to wait until we were settled into a more permanent residence.”

Sam smiled up at him through tear-blurred vision, taking his jaw between her hands. She couldn’t believe he’d already obtained a ring, that he’d already been planning to propose to her according to human tradition. “I would much rather take yourqal.”

“Hmm.” His eyes swept over her face, and his thumb continued its lazy back and forth across her skin. “As flattered as I am by that, I don’t want my marks on your skin.”

---