Page 25 of Which Witch is Willing?
Slowly, he leaned forward and laid his lips to her extended belly, his hands splaying wide over her abdomen, wonder in his gentle caress.
Her heartbeat kicked up a notch and her breath turned choppy. How could he do this to her with just one look, one touch? She had to take control of their conversation before he had her under him again and she lost all ability to think straight.
“What are the consequences?” she asked.
He flicked her a glance, letting her know he was aware of her tactics. “What is keeping you from admitting your love for me?” he countered, rising to tower above her. He reached behind him and grabbed a handful of his black t-shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing his glorious chest and ripped abdomen.
“You arenottaking a shower with me.”
“That is where you are wrong.” He unbuttoned his jeans and slid the zipper down.
“See, there you go, making decisions for me again.” She let her temper flood through her welcoming how it cooled the heat in her blood and the yearning to touch him, grab him, take him.
“When it comes to keeping you safe, I will do whatever it takes. You shouldn’t be alone. Not until you are back to full strength.” He dragged his boxers off with his jeans and stood resplendently nude in front of her, his erection jutting hard and proud.
She had to swallow in order to speak, her mouth watering at the sight of how much he wanted her. “That isn’t what I was talking about.” Well, it was, but it was just the zenith of the mountain between them when it came to him making decisions for her.
“Whatareyou taking about?” He clearly looked confused.
Men.
They were clueless creatures, no matter if they were of the immortal variety or not. But then had she really taken the time to talk with him like this, state her concerns?
Probably not.
She’d just figured he should know why she was upset, and that was on her. How did she put into words what she needed? Wanted?
“Never mind,” she mumbled, instantly regretting her choice of words.Sure, give him the classic female response.Never mind was right up there with fine. “Wait. I do mind. From the beginning, you have never asked for my permission, or for any promises from me. You have always decided what you think is best for us. That is medieval thinking and I don’t like it. I’m not a maiden of old. I’ve been born of this day and age and it’s past time that you adapted.”
His jaw clenched at her words.
“What if I want a divorce?” she continued. “Or whatever the equivalent is for breaking this bond you’ve forced on me.”
He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a hard shake. “That will not be happen. Ever. You are mine. I am yours. The sooner you come to terms with that the better for everyone.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Take it however you want it. I will never let you go.” He yanked her to him and kissed her. There was nothing soft or loving in the meeting of his mouth against hers, it was a branding, a searing pronouncement of possession. He released her as quickly as he grabbed her. “Open your eyes, woman. I know you love me. What more must I do so for you to see the forest through the trees?”
Her heart clenched at his words, his soul stripped bare for her to see, the pain swimming in his eyes at her attempts to push him away. “I need time. You just told me that I will live forever, forever with you. That’s a lot to swallow.” Especially with everything else on her plate.
He released her, his fingers brushing over the tops of her breasts. “Do you remember that night when you danced naked under the harvest moon for me?”
She gave a jerky nod, feeling the heat of her blush at the memory. She’d been drunk on him. They’d spent the whole day getting reacquainted with each other after she’d recused him from Hell, and he’d squirreled her away to the Garden of Eden. It had only been them, no end of the world problems to worry about, an abundance of food to eat, the temperatures tropical with just the right amount of humidity that the air caressed her bare skin. She hadn’t been able to get enough of him.
“Remember how you felt that night. How you loved me unconditionally with your body, your essence. The peace, the joy, the euphoria? That is our future, what we can have together for eternity. I knew I loved you before then, but I fell deeper under your spell that night. You delight and enchant me, my gazelle, forever and always. There is no one for me but you.” This time when he kissed her it was filled with wonder and tenderness like she was the most treasured thing in the world.
She melted against him, her arms tangling around his neck. He crushed her body to his for a brief moment and then broke the kiss. “Your body has never lied to me. It isn’t only desire that brings us together. We’ve always been fated. Everything I have done is for your protection.”
“Bonding me to you was for my protection?” Come on, she wasn’t born yesterday.
He paused. “In truth, it was more for my…protection.”
“How so?”
He shifted on his feet and it took him a moment to respond. “I couldn’t face losing you.”
“Losing me or access to our child?”
