“No, you didnot.”
“And you don’t find the sight of the scars repellant, just the fact of how I got them.”
“I could never find you repellant,” she said, appalled that he could even think such a thing.
“Then why are you still all the way over there?” He crooked a finger at her. “Come here.”
Uncertain of his mood, the welter of emotion in his aura, she nonetheless didn’t hesitate to do as he asked. She didn’t want him to think, for even a second, that she could be repulsed by him. That she could think of him as anything but the most attractive and wonderful man in the world. She opened her mouth to say so, but all that emerged was a whoosh of air from her lungs because his arms closed around her like bands of steel, pulling her onto the bed, locking her against him.
His face buried in her hair, he whispered, “Thank you. For being in my corner.”
In those words, he conveyed a world of feeling, similar to when he’d thanked her for believing in him. Now she understood even more why that was so important to him. That even a god could be besieged by inner monsters and be in need of reinforcements. And she vowed to herself that she would never let him down.
“I’ll always be in your corner.” She hugged him back. “I’m your wife. I… care about you.”
She caught herself in the nick of time. She knew his views on love and intimacy, but surely he wouldn’t mind having her affection? After all,heshowered her with affection all the time. With his gifts. His endearments. The way he made her feel like the most desirable creature in all of Christendom.
His fierce words rumbled into her ear. “And you’re loyal, devoted, and protective of those you care about, aren’t you?”
“You make me sound like a well-trained spaniel,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
His hold loosened enough for him to look down at her. Although his pain hadn’t faded entirely, something else bloomed in his aura: hope. Blue and so beautiful it made her throat convulse. And something else beneath that, dim yet glimmering, something that she didn’t quite recognize but which made her heart pound…
“Not a spaniel.” He smiled slowly. “You’re more of a… guard kitten.”
She huffed out a breath. “That’s hardly intimidating.”
“I don’t know. At certain points last night, I felt your little claws biting into me.”
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Worriedly, she searched his shoulders for marks.
He laughed and kissed her soundly on the nose. “No, you didn’t hurt me. God, Polly, as if you could. I’m teasing, of course. Although, if you want to kiss it all better”—he waggled his brows—“I wouldn’t stop you.”
The heavy moment had passed. In its place was a different sort of tension, one that made her pulse quicken, her body blossoming with awareness of him. Of his addictive male scent, his strong and virile form, his eyes radiant with sensual heat. Desire soared in her, tempered by the need to show him how much he mattered.
He made her feel beautiful, and she wanted to return that gift. To make him feel every bit aswantedas he made her feel. Thus far, she’d been content to let him take the lead in their lovemaking. Could she be bold enough to try something different?
When he bent his head to kiss her, she ducked out of his way.
“Polly?” he said, his brows knitting.
In answer, she placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed. She saw his look of surprise the second before he fell back, his head landing on the pillow. Before she lost her nerve, she clambered atop him, straddling his hips.
“All right,” she said.
His brows shot up. “Er… all right?”
“All right, Iwillkiss it all better,” she clarified, “so don’t stop me.”
~~~
What kind of an idiot did she think he was? Of course he wasn’t going to stop her.
He would never look a gift horse like this in the mouth—and, ah, God, what amouth. Sinjin’s gaze honed hungrily on his wife’s ripe lips at they descended toward his. She kissed him with a tenderness that made his head spin, her tongue lapping at the seam of his lips. He invited her in, relishing her newfound boldness, the sensual confidence he knew he’d had a part in unleashing.
Her tongue swirled against his, and arousal sang in his blood.Christ, the passion in her. That itself made her the most tempting woman he’d ever known, but she gave him even more. Something he’d never had and never thought he’d find.
I’ll always take your side. I care for you.
