Page 26 of Total Eclipse of the Moon
"Are you still mad at me for…before?" Her voice had gone as husky as his. She waited two seconds before lifting her gaze to meet his, needing time to gather her strength. The clearness of his blue gaze mesmerized her, but they were anything but tranquil.
Shane closed the distance between them and gripped her shoulders. His attention drifted over her face and his non-expression softened. "I’m furious at you."
His name tumbled out unnecessarily and a little dreamily, "Shane."
His hold on her squeezed to a degree that had her heart pounding harder, but not in fear. He wasn’t hurting her. To be turned on was a gross disregard of self-preservation. Staring up into his face, she was aware he could kill her right here. A quick snap of her neck or he could knock her out and take her anywhere. But this was Shane, who just saved her. And whose core mantra was honor. He looked into the souls of his adversaries and judged. Was her soul worthy of life?
For breathless moments, they stared.
His forefinger moved over her forehead where she’d whacked herself on a branch during the fight. Then he lifted one hand to examine the defensive cuts across the back of her hand and wrist. His voice went to a hoarse whisper as his finger hovered over her cut-covered knuckles. "What happened to your powers? You’re in danger while this weak."
His vivid blue eyes were on fire when they locked with hers. The look had nothing to do with interest in her magic loss. He’d suffered for wanting her just as much as she’d ached for him. Her heart gave a little leap.
Although his features were completely absent a smile, she felt one—a blasted, wistful one—tug at her lips. Her mind was completely occupied by that night in Puerto Rico. "It’s complicated."
"How long have you been like this?"
She swallowed hard and struggled to maintain eye contact. "Eight months, give or take a bit."
He held up his wrist to show off his curse tattoo. His eyebrows rose.
"It was my choice to give you some relief from having to answer its call. I chose to pay the price."
"It wasn’t a price you needed to pay." He wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck. The warmth of his skin on hers in such an intimate location sent tingles down her spine. As he leaned in while fixated on her lips—oh my, he was going to kiss her—he whispered, "What do you need to do to get your powers back? Can you take it back? Undo it?"
Shane’s appeal lay in his certainty of what was right or wrong. He had tremendous loyalty to his convictions.
"If I answer your question, will you answer mine?" She traced the ridges of his chest to the collar of his shirt, giving in to the temptation to touch his bare skin above the collar, following the edge of his collarbone.
He stared at her finger where it touched his chest and bit the corner of his lip before looking back into her eyes. The brightness of his look disarmed her with its tenderness and passion. It made answering his question harder. She felt as if he could see past her tough exterior, straight to her soul.
"Fair trade, I suppose." He put a finger on her ear and traced its curved edge, the simple move sending chills scattering through her. "You answer first."
"How do I know you’ll answer?"
"Guess you’ll have to trust me. Do you trust me?"
She rested her whole palm against his chest over his heart where could feel its strong beat. "I’m not sure what I have to do to get everything back."
"And your question?" His mouth hovered over hers.
"Are you going to get revenge for me leaving you cuffed and then not staying put in Mexico?"
"I had to make a promise that I won't intentionally hurt you to get free of those handcuffs. So, you're safe. You were smart to not stay put in Mexico since I ended up in a complicated situation after I took care of MI6."
"Then why are you mad at me?"
"For putting yourself at risk here and almost getting killed. For making me feel this way." His face flushed.
"I didn't cast a spell. I swear. Stop glaring as if I did. I can't help that I'm sexy."
He said hoarsely. "No matter what happens, my priority is freedom for me and for my brothers. I’ll do anything to get it."
She lifted onto her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his.
It took him a second to respond. He gripped her arm, preventing any possible escape, and moved to deepen the kiss. She moaned, mouth open, her tongue searching for his. His answering growl had her pressing tight to him. So many months of unending torture dreaming of him. She wanted him to forget everything else and take her somewhere where she could strip him naked. She longed to hear him cry and scream her name over and over.
He pulled his mouth off hers but didn't let go of her. "Swear to me on your soul, Madeline, that you will never—and I mean never ever—again use a Sleeping Beauty kiss on me. No crossed fingers. Swear it."
