“I want to be, Konstantin. I wish I could, but for now, I'm still his.”
“For now?”
“I'm going to help you find the murderer and then I'm leaving with you. If you still want me when this is over.”
He crossed the space between us with a single step and pulled me into a kiss. A soft movement of lips on lips, of tongues sweeping between to tease. Tender and hopeful. I ran my fingers up his throat, into his thick hair, and pulled him closer, showed him that this—thathe—was what I wanted.
Konstantin eased back from my mouth and whispered, “I will still want you. He can't change that with his body or will. Whatever you have to do to survive until I can get you free, you do it, baby. Do it without guilt. It's your only path to me, and I understand that.”
My breath trembled out of me. “Kon, are we really doing this?”
“I told you that I'd prove myself to you. Yes, we're really doing this. We'll find the murderer and force Nikolay to free you. Then I'm taking you to America.”
“America,” I murmured.
“Oregon,” he said. “It's beautiful there, though we'll be living underground. I promise, it won't feel as if you're underground, and we can go out among the humans whenever we wish.”
“You want me to live with you?”
“You can stay with me until you decide if that's what you want.”
“What does that mean?” I stepped back again.
“I want you, Misha, but I won't have you thinking that you owe me anything. When I get you free, you will betrulyfree, your own man. If you decide that you want something else, another type of life, I will help you get that. But if you want me, then yes, I want you to live with me.”
With a broken sob, I fell forward. Konstantin caught me and wiped away my tears even as they fell.
“I'm sorry.” I sniffed and straightened. “I'm just not used to someone . . .”
“Treating you like a person?” He smiled gently.
“No, I'm not used to a lover being kind to me without also being cruel.”
“Kindness without cruelty? That's the only kindness there is. Anything else is a lie, baby.”
“Forget it. Just know that I want you too, Kon. I'm not going to change my mind once I'm away from him. What I feel for you has nothing to do with him.”
“What you feel for me?” Konstantin grinned broadly.
“Stop.” I chuckled.
“You said 'lover.'” He eased closer and grabbed my hips. “You think of me as your lover?”
“I guess that's not technically correct, but I—”
“I think of you as such too,” Konstantin cut me off. “Just because we haven't completed the act, it doesn't mean we aren't engaging in lovemaking. You're my lover; it's decided.”
I laughed harder. “Good. I'm glad we've got the label out of the way.”
“Why don't we clear this matter up right now?” He glanced at the bed.
My face fell as I cringed.
“Or not.” He frowned at me. “What did I say? I thought you were ready?”
“I am, but I can't. Not tonight. Not after . . .”
“Afterhim,” he said softly, but this time, the low volume conveyed menace instead of tenderness.
