Let our son be hers… and free of all of this sick, dark blood.
Please.
10. Precious
SOUNDTRACK:On the Runby Katie Garfield
~ DIADRE ~
Jann shocked me, and startled Caelan, when he tore into the suite so fast the door flew back and banged on the wall.
By the time he had me naked on the bed, some of my alarm had passed—especially when he met my eyes with such love and warmth shining in his. As if this mask he’d been wearing the past few days was discarded. My heart leaped to meet that expression. And when he lowered himself between my thighs, buried his hands in my hair, and devoured my mouth, it was such a relief.
My mate. My love.He was back. The wall he’d erected between us the past few days was suddenly gone… and he’derectedsomething else. I would have laughed at my own joke, but relief made tears of joy prick my throat as I felt him, his heart, open to me again. But then he pressed me to the mattress with his weight, and his lips and tongue pressed and slid. My skin prickled, starting under the scrape of his nails on my scalpand washing down my body, raising every thrill of pleasure as he followed the wave of goosebumps down my neck, my arm, my side, my thigh…
I gasped and arched, opening my knees wider because I could feel him, hard and long, nudging and sliding against me, and I ached for him.
He’d been so attentive, so clear with his instructions in the past few days. Leaving no room for me to misunderstand what we were doing, or what role I played in it. Yet, it had seemed at most times that I took instruction from a superior officer—one who cared for my safety. But who evaluated my needs with cold detachment.
I’d found myself staring at the ceiling of the bed each night, fighting the kind of insecure questions and doubts I’d always despised.
Did he really love me?
What was he hiding?
What did he do when I wasn’t there to witness it?
I’d swung desperately between fear and certainty. I couldfeelJann, deep in the hollow around my heart. He held us together tightly and didn’t waver.
He also played a very dangerous game. His mind was closed to me more often than not—his thoughts obscured by a shroud unless he sent orders, or asked questions.
I knew it was necessary. He had to hold himself so tightly, to make certain he gave no hint of his true allegiance in these maneuverings.
He’d done such a good job of painting himself as the strong, self-serving Nephilim Captain, the one who followed power, heedless of the implications, the one unconcerned to deal directly with the Fallen, that even I’d started to believe him.
And in recent days, while I could feel his fear increasing, I also sensed his determination. The cold, ruthless side of a warrior that fought to the death. For me.
The question was… against who?
“Jann—” I gasped.
He dove for my throat, and his lips and tongue danced up the side of my neck, and his breath rushed against my skin, fluttering in my hair.
Jann trembled, writhing as he groaned against my lips. A jolt of fear sang through me—what was wrong? Why was he so frantic?
“Jann,” I breathed, reaching for him, intending to push him back and make him meet my eyes, but one of those impossibly quick hands caught mine and pressed it back down on the pillow above my head, as his hips rolled and he slid against me.
“I need you, Diadre. Every day—all of you,” he said hoarsely, then opened his mouth on the sensitive skin under my ear and sucked.
I arched, and his hard length slid against my most sensitive flesh. Both of us groaned.
I lifted my hips, bumping at him, pleading in the bond for him to join with me.
With a low, shuddering moan, still kissing and sucking at my neck, he let one hand play down the length of my body, curling his calloused palm under my thigh to catch the back of my knee and raise my leg, hooking it over his hip.
Holding me like that, legs stretched wide, he came off my neck with a biting suck that would leave a mark, then braced himself over me.
A rush of need washed through me at the sight of him—hair mussed and tangled, the tendons on his neck standing proud. His shoulders and arms carved from marble as he bridged his weight over me, jaw tight as he fought for control. He staredat me through eyes hooded with need, and glittering with admiration. As if I were a prize.
