Page 111 of Destined for Dreams
“You know I can’t do that.” She swallowed hard. “I’m your mate.”
He narrowed his gaze. “You are nothing.”
“That’s not true.” She took a deep breath, drawing on her reserve of courage. “I’m the woman you care about. You kissed and hugged me only a couple of hours ago.”
Bartol’s gaze wandered around the area as if he hadn’t heard her, zeroing in on the few supernaturals who stood around. “I need blood and death.”
“No, you don’t.”
He stiffened when she came closer to him and put her hand on his chest. “What you need is me.”
“You are hardly worth my time,” he growled, picking her up underneath her armpits and holding her high above him so that her legs dangled nearly two feet off the ground.
Cori had never been scared of Bartol before, but right then she prayed Ariel’s protection spell held. Otherwise, she and the baby were doomed.
Her voice barely rose above a whisper. “Bartol, I’m the woman who loves you.”
She’d finally said the one thing she never thought she’d say to any man again. It was a relief to get it out, even under the circumstances. Bartol deserved to hear the words.
“No one loves me,” he said, clutching her tightly. “Least of all you.”
“That’s not true. Look into my eyes and tell me it’s a lie.”
He studied her closely for several long moments. A hint of recognition lit his gaze, but it quickly turned to distrust. “You left me and rejected me.”
“That was in the past. Now you are the only man I want—the only one I love.” Cori reached toward him and pressed her hands to either side of his face. “I dare you to kiss me and see if you don’t feel what I feel.”
Bartol held her there for more than a minute, staring hard at her. Part of him was still caught up by the demon essence, but he was starting to remember things. He just needed a bigger push for full sanity to return.
“Are you too scared?” Cori asked, taunting him.
“I fear nothing.”
She wasn’t going to point out that wasn’t true, not now. “Then kiss me.”
“I want to kill,” Bartol snarled.
“Then do it after you kiss me,” she said, licking her lips to tempt him.
“You are nothing but trouble—always have been.”
Cori smiled. “But I’m your kind of trouble.”
Still holding her tightly, he lowered her until their faces met. Bartol’s lips pressed roughly against hers. He left little room to work with, but she managed to wrap her arms and legs around him. His heat was scorching hot and took away the chilly outdoor air. For good measure, Cori rubbed herself against him, feeling a certain part of him harden beneath his pants. One thing about men—even those high on demon essence—was that it was rarely difficult to get their sex drive going.
Bartol growled hungrily, bracing one arm behind her back and angling the other to thrust his fingers through her hair. His lips trailed down her sensitive neck, nipping at her skin. The vulnerability of the position wasn’t lost on Cori, but she knew she had to give him the time and space to recognize her again. She ran her hands along his back, rubbing and encouraging him. He moved his head upward once more and plastered his lips to hers. This time their tongues met and dueled in a seductive dance. She kissed him with more passion than she’d ever shown before, letting him feel the love she had for him.
At first, he took all she had while returning little. But as the minutes passed, his hold on her softened. Unaware of their surroundings, Bartol let go of her hair to run his hands underneath her shirt. He reached her tender breasts, kneading them.
“Cori,” he said, raggedly breathing her name. “You have no idea how much I need you right now. How much I’ve come to love you despite my best efforts to keep my distance.”
She thrilled at hearing those words, losing herself in his embrace. He pinched her nipple, and she whimpered. How badly she wanted more—much more. But then men murmuring nearby stirred her attention. It took another moment for her to think clearly and remember they stood in the midst of a battlefield, complete with dead bodies.
“Bartol.” She cleared her throat. “We have an audience.”
“We…what?” he asked, pulling away to frown at her in confusion.
Cori was relieved to find none of the previous insanity in his golden gaze. Somehow, she’d done it and brought him back. “Take a look around you.”
