Page 109 of Love Bites

“Is that better?” he asked.

I nodded, nuzzling his bare chest. His scent was intoxicating.

He groaned and the hand that was between my shoulders slid down to my waist, pulling me closer.

A jolt of need went through my body, like nothing I had ever felt before. I pictured him throwing me to the cave floor, covering my body with his.

“Stop that,” he whispered into my hair.

“I didn’t do anything,” I told him.

“Stopthinking,” he growled.

Oh.

“Can you… hear my thoughts?” I ventured, praying the answer was no. I had enough trouble watching what I said. I’d never manage to keep my thoughts in check.

“You know what I am,” he said, nuzzling my hair.

“A guardian?” I asked.

He pulled away slightly and it was all I could do not to try to drag him back closer.

“They told you about the promise between the guardians and the school?” he asked, his eyes glowing in the darkness.

“L-lord protector?” I stammered, frightened.

“Luke, my name is Luke,” he said.

“Luke, your eyes…”

“What exactly did they tell you about me?” he demanded.

“They said the witches protect the library, and the guardians protect the castle,” I told him. “They said you had the right to choose me as your mate, as our tribute to the guardians for protecting us.”

“I see,” he said. “And did they tell you anything else about me? About what I am?”

I thought back, but there was nothing more, not that I could think of. I shook my head.

“Gods of the underworld,” he muttered.

I waited, terrified.

“The Brotherhood of the Guardians is an ancient organization,” he said. “But our kind is dying out.”

“Dying out?” I echoed.

“We live longer than you, but our kind is not as abundant as yours,” he said. “We have no females left.”

“What do you meanyour kind?” I asked.

“We’re different from you, physically,” he said carefully.

“Bigger,” I said, feeling embarrassed almost immediately at the appreciation in my voice.

“Yes,” he said, and I could hear the smile in his. “But there are other differences too.”

“Your eyes,” I said.

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