Page 51 of Another Damned Storm
His eyes widened.
Yeah buddy.He was just figuring out that there was a chance that old creep watched this sexy beast face fuck me. It definitely shouldn’t have been funny, but I had to bite my bottom lip to keep from smiling too big.
“Perhaps you should wear it indefinitely.”
I snorted a laugh. “No shame here, pirate. Given the chance, I would do it again, audience and all.”
A possessive growl rumbled from his chest as a deep, masculine pride welled up inside me. I might not appreciate every second of our magical connection, or how lopsided it was at times, but I loved having such intimate knowledge of the effect I had on him.
“I can’t tell whether you love that idea or hate it,” I teased.
“Perhaps you haven’t noticed yet, but I don’t share what’s mine.”
“And I’m yours?”
He wrapped his hand around my throat and squeezed gently. “Is there a doubt?”
I gave my head a little shake. “I just wanted to hear you say it.”
Hook brought his lips within a whisper of mine, our gazes locked. “You are mine, Never. Just as I am yours. Then, now, always.”
Swoon. He liked that word:Always.
As in forever.
All I could do was nod.
His grip tightened when he kissed me, still not cutting off my air but sending a clear message. Then the pressure was gone and he was stepping back.
It took me a minute to find my words after his declaration. He’d left the door between us wide open and it was… a lot.
I slipped the bracelet on my wrist. “You think it’s safe to talk now?”
He held up his own hand, revealing a small line of glowing symbols circling his wrist. They were there and gone in a blink. “I, too, am warded, though we should still be careful. I’m not sure how effective the wards will be in this realm.”
“If you can ward your body, why give me the bracelet?”
“You would have known right away what I was up to,” he admitted.
And I wouldn’t have been happy about him protecting me. As stubborn as I wanted to be about it, I could see the logic.
“Let’s get back to the god before my rebellious side kicks in.”
He smiled. A real, genuine smile that made my heart melt. “Very well. The god I mentioned is up to something, but I cannot be sure of what.”
“I didn’t recognize the name, and you said he was old. How old are we talking?”
“Nearly as old as the Titans themselves.”
“Super old. Got it.” I tapped my finger against my chin as Ithought. This guy was so old that I couldn’t remember learning about him. “Do gods need people to believe in them for power or something?”
Hook arched a brow. “Some do, yes.”
“And if they are forgotten?”
“Those who lose their following slowly lose their power. They don’t die. At least, not in the way mortal beings often think of death, but they will fall into obscurity and find themselves forgotten even amongst the gods.”
“Is he like that?” I asked.
