What the hell. Kane stepped into her, pressing her against the wall.
Her eyes opened, and pleasure curved her smile. “I thought we didn’t have time.”
“I thought we agreed time didn’t exist.” His lips captured hers, and he coaxed her into relaxing. Into submitting. The second she softened, he pressed harder, lost in the whirlwind created by his mate.
His illogical, disorganized, emotional mate who loved so completely. He didn’t deserve her, without a doubt. But he was keeping her.
Slowly, he released her lips and drew back to gaze at the woman who’d taught him he had a heart. “I love you.”
Her smile rivaled any scientific discovery ever made. “I love you more.”
“That’s impossible.” He reached for cinnamon-scented shampoo to rub through her curls. “I’m a scientist and know quantitative analysis.”
She tilted back her head and closed her eyes. “You know it turns me on when you use such big words.”
“You turn me on just by breathing.” He helped her rinse her hair and then washed her head to toe. By the time he was finished, she was panting and he was in pain. He lifted her, impaling her in one smooth move.
Her eyes widened and she gasped. “Well now. We’re going to be late to the party.”
He kissed her again, trying to find the right words. When he’d thought the virus was going to make him leave her, he’d been full of more pain than he’d thought imaginable. Now, healed, he wanted to spend each day keeping her safe and loved. She continued to amaze him. “Not once did you give up hope, did you?” he rumbled against her mouth.
“Never.” She clasped her ankles at the small of his back, her fingers curling over his shoulders. “There’s no way you’d leave me in this life alone.”
Such absolute faith both intrigued and humbled him. “You’re right. Wherever you are, I will be.” He didn’t lie or evade, so when he gave the words, they were a vow. “I promise, Amber.”
Jase Kayrs stretched his jaw and rolled his dislocated shoulder back into place as he pushed open the front door to his home. Sparring with Conn had been fun. Over the top, joyous, hit after hit fun. Damn, it felt good to be strong again. He’d even commanded the oxygen to rip open and drop water onto Conn’s face. His brother was lucky he hadn’t created a snowstorm.
Chuckling, Jase shoved inside and shut the door.
His mate sat next to a crackling fireplace, a cup of tea in her hand, her face pale.
“Bren?” he asked, reaching her in long strides, her vanilla scent soothing him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She swallowed and gestured toward the sofa. “Have a seat.” Her gray eyes were veiled, and her hand shook as she lifted the cup to her lips.
He faltered and then sat, his knees brushing hers as he faced her. “Whatever it is, I’ll fix it.”
Her smile lifted his spirits. “That’s a sweet thing to say.”
“I’m not sweet.” Nobody in the world would accuse Jase Kayrs of being nice.
“Sure you are.” She reached up with her free hand and ran a finger down the long scar extending from his forehead to his jaw. Her very touch seemed to heal him. Then she sighed and removed her glasses, revealing those pretty gray eyes that held such kindness. “Very sweet.”
He took the cup from her and placed it on the table before taking both her hands in his. “What has you worried?” Though he could probably read her mind, that usually ticked her off, so he stayed out. For now.
“Our lives have been a whirlwind.”
“Yes.” He kept his hold gentle on her fragile hands.
She swallowed. “We mated to save my life, and between the war and the virus going airborne, we really haven’t had time to reevaluate.”
Panic lifted his chin. “There’s no reevaluating. Period.” His voice came out a low command, one most people would heed.
Bren merely lifted one dark eyebrow. “While the treaty may have covered all contingencies, we have still made our own way. But we haven’t discussed everything.”
His shoulders shot back. She’d heard about the trials to reverse the mating bond. “Oh baby, I have no idea where your mind is, but if you even think of negating my mating bond, I’ll have you on your knees to discuss it.”
Her eyes darkened to the color of storm clouds. “Last time I was on my knees, we decided to mate.”
