Page 295 of Primal Bonds

“Rosana.”

She jerked her gaze to him. “Yeah?”

“It’s okay.” He set his water on an end table. “There’s no rush.”

“There isn’t?” Oh, she was being such an idiot about this. But her insides were a big knot of tension.

“Of course not.” He caressed her shoulders. “Are you hungry? We could go out for a late lunch.”

“Not really. I had a big breakfast.” Which was churning undigested in her stomach.

“Then why don’t we go to the beach while the sun’s still out?”

She sent him a relieved smile. “That would be nice.”

“Okay.” He brushed his lips over hers.

They walked the two blocks to the beach. It was a crisp, sunny day. A number of the houses were shut for the winter, but they passed a couple of humans out running, bundled up against the cold, and a woman pushing a baby in a stroller who took one look at Adric and made a wide circle around them. A pint-sized terrier barked at them from a covered porch, and a tomcat trotted across the road on its way to some important rendezvous.

They left their boots at the head of a path through the dunes and wended their way through the scrubby bushes and grasses to the water. They were on the Delaware Bay, a large estuary at the place where the Delaware River emptied into the Atlantic. An icy wind blew from the northwest, but the bay’s winter-blue surface was calm. Long, low waves slid in, broke against the sand, and then slipped back out.

Adric took her hand. She tensed, and he brought her fingers to his mouth.

“Hey. I told you, there’s no rush. I’m just happy to spend some time alone with you. If you’ve changed your mind, I’ll live.” He gave her a crooked grin. “I won’t like it, but I’ll live.”

Her heart turned over. He was being so damn sweet. “It’s not that. At least, it’s not just”—she waved her free hand— “that.”

“Then what’s the matter?” he asked as they started walking barefoot along the bay’s edge.

“You know I’m a Seer.”

“I figured that out when your eyes went all scary black on me.”

She nodded. “Well, I never know when touching someone will set off my Sight, especially someone’s hand.”

“Even someone you know?”

“Yeah. At home, they think I’m a little strange.”

He frowned. “Your clan doesn’t know you’re a Seer?”

“Just my family and a few close friends—but no one else.” She lifted her chin. “I’m going to tell them. Soon.”

“Good. You shouldn’t have to hide your Gift.”

“That’s what Isa says. She’s the woman who helped raise me after the ice fae captured my mom and dad.”

“She’s right.”

“You didn’t tell anyone, did you?” Rosana asked.

“Just Marjani, but she can keep a secret. I’ll make sure she knows to keep it quiet. And if you don’t want to hold hands, that’s okay.”

She tightened her grip on his fingers. “No. I want to hold your hand.” She took a deep breath. “I want to do everything.”

“Good.” His smile was wicked. “Because trying to be nice about this is fucking killing me.”

She chuckled—and her tension eased. After all, he’d seen her in the grip of a vision, and it hadn’t freaked him out. Much. He still wanted her.

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